This is (one of many reasons) Why EA Sucks

[glo]

So, essentially my Origin account was compromised and the d-bag that did so advertised a website to download hacks on Crysis 3.

I had no idea whatsoever that anything had happened until I received an email from EA saying that my multiplayer access had been removed permanently. I haven't touched the game (or origin for that matter) aside from a day or two after release. I've had too much going on IRL to really get into the game. I got absolutely no warning, just a random perma ban.

Anyway, I email Origin's support appealing the ban describing in detail what happened, and if they checked IPs and whatnot, they would clearly see it wasn't my normal IP address logging in. They apparently "fully investigated" and told me the ban wasn't in error.

So what I gather from this email is that one of the following is happening:

1. If you so happen to have your Origin account compromised, you're simply out of luck. Apparently they don't care and will never lift your ban, regardless if you had no part in it.

2. Whoever they have investigating these reports aren't actually doing so.

I've contacted phone support twice now, and sent another email which has gone completely unanswered. The only thing I got from the people on the phone was "just email them again, I can see exactly what you're referring to and agree it was in error, I just can't change it for you". The people on the phone also said that the ban was requested by the game studio, not an anti-cheat client or Origin themselves.

Said phone calls took well over an hour of hold time, and the email took almost a week. However, I got this gem in my inbox a few days ago:

Dear Customer,

Product Name: Crysis 3
Email address: [...]


Thank you for contacting us regarding the action that has been taken on your account.The sanction on your account is pertaining to the following violation:

Promote, encourage or take part in any activity involving hacking, cracking, phishing, taking advantage of exploits or cheats and/or distribution of counterfeit software and/or virtual currency/items.

Having completed a thorough investigation into your account and the complaint that you have made, we must advise that your account was actioned correctly, in full compliance with our policies and procedures.

Following our review into the actions taken on your account we wish to confirm that we shall not be removing this ban from your account, nor will we be pursuing this issue any further at this time.

Thank you for bringing this matter to our attention. As a valued customer, your feedback is very important to us.

Yours sincerely,

Matej
EA Customer Service

EA.com Customer Relations

As if that wasn't annoying enough, I posted a thread asking for help on Crytek's Crysis forum. It got locked almost immediately:

http://www.mycrysis.com/forums/viewt...p?f=58&t=64200

Here's the best part! After my thread got insta locked, I PMed the person that locked it asking why they did so, and again asked for help. It turned out to be an actual Crytek employee over in the UK. Not only was the guy a complete dick about the situation, but also implied that I was lying! Fun times!

[Evil Inside]

Well, they rightfully deserve the title of worst company in gaming. That's just ridiculous, not gonna be buying any other EA games anymore. I hope they crash and burn tbh.

[Xl House lX]

Damn that sucks, have you looked into actions that can make them look bad? I mean you have obviously already posted pictures of their terrible customer service but if there is literally nothing they can do to find out the truth then thats fucked up because they are a huge company, they should have the resources to figure this kinda shit out.

I would call BBB or something and file complaints. You have some power as a customer.

Hate this happened to you brotato, fuck em.

[Sankir]

That sucks, I don't know if they log ip's (they should) but you think they could check to see if your account was logged in under a different ip.

[Aeluron Lightsong]

Holy crap. It seems like they didn't do it, they just said "NOPE YOU'RE BANNED!!"

[Daerio]

How did you pay for the game? How long ago was it? You can probably get a refund through your payment method (bank, paypal, etc) without permission from the company you purchased it from.

Paypal for example, will refund your money no questions asked, and there's nothing they can do about it.

[wombinator04]

My Origin account just recently got hacked. I got it back. But why the hell do you not get any emails saying your email was changed, I got nothing? Really? Origin accounts must be incredibly easy to hack. You get no warning, none.

[glo]

Damn that sucks, have you looked into actions that can make them look bad? I mean you have obviously already posted pictures of their terrible customer service but if there is literally nothing they can do to find out the truth then thats fucked up because they are a huge company, they should have the resources to figure this kinda shit out.

I would call BBB or something and file complaints. You have some power as a customer.

Hate this happened to you brotato, fuck em.

Yeah, I'm seriously debating the investment in time with the BBB just based on principle.

How did you pay for the game? How long ago was it? You can probably get a refund through your payment method (bank, paypal, etc) without permission from the company you purchased it from.

Paypal for example, will refund your money no questions asked, and there's nothing they can do about it.

That's the problem though, I got the game bundled in with my video card, along with Bioshock: Infinite. Getting both of the games for free with it was my primary reason for going with AMD over Nvidia, or at least partly. Otherwise, I'd be all over filing a dispute.

Thanks for the support though guys.

[wombinator04]

I would never waste my time dealing with the BBB. They can't do anything. Also they probably have 50000000 other complaints being filed about EA.

[Libram]

That really sucks, sorry.
I doubt you're missing out on a whole lot though.

[docterfreeze]

Seriously, I hope EA goes bankrupt some time during my life, they have ruined so many of the franchises i used to actually like...Madden....

THEY WENT 4 YEARS WITHOUT UPDATING THE ENGINE!!

/sigh....

I feel for you, dude.

[celinamuna]

To be from fair from their perspective, you could've been playing through a proxy, and when you did get banned, just turn it off and complain about it.

[Meatboll]

I don't know it sounds pretty obvious to me you're a Calvin Johnson hating homophobe, maybe you're ban was deserved.

Obviously kidding.

[Nirawen]

If they unban you you'll have no reason to go and buy those games again, where's their incentive?

[ralh]

It sounds to me like the last pm from the Crytek employee is just a way of saying "we don't log IPs, so we have no proof, so you're screwed". He just didn't want to say that directly, perhaps not to reveal Crysis's technical details. I mean, it's not like they have to log IPs, it doesn't give them anything except proof in cases like yours.

Also, I'm not sure you should be blaming EA when it's the studio's request and it's the studio that talks with you like that.

[wynnyelle]

That really sucks, but doesn't surprise me at all. EA doesn't care. They already got your money and as far as they're concerned, they don't care about your account. Sorry about your luck dude.

[Evil Inside]

If they unban you you'll have no reason to go and buy those games again, where's their incentive?

I daresay he wont be buying their games from now anyway, so either way they're screwed.

[Curanhadin]

I could give a shit about you getting banned from a game but you anger towards EA is good, now if only people would have boycotted them long ago for destroying every great franchise they bought up like Red Alert things like this wouldnt happen

[Rucati]

I don't really see how Crytek did much wrong. I do agree EA handled the situation poorly though.

EA obviously should have done more to try and get things resolved, and they didn't seem to do a good job of that.

As for Crytek, banning people wouldn't do anything if a forum post could get you unbanned. Isn't surprising to me that they doubt you were hacked, I'd do the same if I were them.

[Rorcanna]

I feel for you, really! I've completely stopped buying games from EA since TS3 turned out to be not only terribad in performance, but also coming with micro-transactions and YOU taking on the responsibility for making the game run...ie downloading addons clearing certain parts of the game to stop it from lagging and taking ages to load after a while...and then, they released a demo for The Sims 3 pets, and that demo corrupted the game and save files for thousands of players, making us lose our saved families.

Not to mention what they did to Spore...such an amazing idea, ruined.

Bad company is bad.