Creating an account with a game card

[Mr_Teatime]

So, I had cancelled my account a while ago due to a glitch that prevented me from creating new characters. For months I contacted GMs and Blizzard Reps again and again and again, and was basically left with "sorry, you're screwed." So I've cancelled my account and plan to start up a new one.

So I went and bought a game time card. I went to the website right on the card (worldofwarcraft.com/gamecard) and followed the instructions through creating a new account...I entered in the code on the 10-day free guest pass with the intend of using the game time card to continue the account once the 10 days were up. The instructions say quite clearly:

"4. Select Game Card as your payment method, then click continue."

Well, when I get to payment method...there is no game card option! It's requiring me to chose one of the four credit cards to pay with, which I am unable to do. Is this because I'm trying to use a guest pass key, or what?

[Tanitha]

I believe if you are in the US/playing on an US server you need to open the account with a credit card. This is to verify that you are of the legal age to enter into a contract or something like that. Once you've done that you can switch over to a game card as your payment method. Leastways, that's what I had to do to get mine started and I use game cards since day one.

[Mr_Teatime]

So, I got a credit card, and used it to verify my trial account. Great, awesome. I wanted to upgrade my account as soon as possible, so I clicked the button to do so...and the only way I can upgrade my account is by getting billed on the credit card!! It took a lot of convincing that she wouldn't billed in order to get my mom's credit card, and now there seems to be absolutely no way to just put in a freaking game card to upgrade the account. Do I have to just press the "yes, bill me on my credit card" button, and then I can quickly cancel that and put in a game card? Frankly, I'm very nervous and unwilling to try. Blizzard is starting to pretty piss me off, first with this glitch, and now by making it unreasonably confusing and filled with blatant lies in the process of creating a new account. Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!

[Kalos]

It is not so much lies as it is legal necessity. The Patriot Act, amongst other things, necessitates the authentication of any identity on the internet engaging in a financial transaction with a US business. Game cards don't do that, but creditcards do. I'm fairly certain that switching to a gamecard a few days before the card is actually charged will result in the game card getting billed and not the credit card, as past people who have come through this forum with questions have found in thier dealings on this issue.

[Mr_Teatime]

"Blatant lies" comes from the fact that they tell you you can use game card as a method of payment when creating a new account, and that simply isn't true. I quoted that part of the instructions in my first post. It is a blatant lie.

I'm perfectly fine with having a form of authentication to prove I'm allowed to play WoW. But saying that I don't have to be billed there, and then requiring that I get billed there is another blatant lie. Considering the fact that Blizzard completely screwed up my old account, and is now making it near impossible for me to get a new one without re-buying both WoW and Burning Crusade (another $90 investment or so), I'm heavily considering giving them the metaphorical finger and taking my business elsewhere. Which is sad, because I really liked playing WoW. =/

[Kalos]

But, you don't actually get billed in past user experiences. You see, Credit Cards are profit organisations, not charities, they don't like verifying people's identities needlessly, it costs them money while gaining nothing in return, unless there's the promise of payment. By agreeing with Blizzard that they will get paid upon a delay, they comply, thinking they'll be getting business to counteract the expense of authentication of identity.

Then you simply change the payment method once the account has been created and is operational. Snub the credit card company, but it's a legal loophole many users have exploited, and the law of the land is still forfilled. The only person who loses out is the credit card company, who have lost money in needless administration costs and gained no transation because of it.

It is complicated, but Blizzard are perfectly right. In other countries outside the US, it is not a problem, both are valid. Blizzard aren't lieing when they say that you have a choice, it's just complicated by US legislation if you're part of the minority from the NA region. Everyone else can off the bat.