STEAM - Account Suspended

[Serg2K]

Hey guys, just a heads up if you use Steam for your PC games...

A few days ago I bought NFS Shift 2 (st btw), I noticed at the checkout page that Paypal was now available as a payment method, I thought great I don't have to fill up this form again, just log in to Paypal and done. So the purchase appeared to go ahead successfully as I was able to download and play said game.

However, without my knowledge it was not OK, the charge was attempted whilst my Paypal account was in a security alerted state... because my bank had frozen my account until they phone me to verify a totally unrelated transaction was genuine.

So, without my knowledge Paypal triggered a charge reversal for the game I had purchased - NFS Shift 2 - Unleashed

Which triggered the immediate suspension of my Steam account! on which I have purchased hundreds of pounds worth of games I have literally been buying Steam games since day one!

Now because Paypal completed the charge reversal and the issue was closed, Steam now say my there is no way to re-activate my account. My dozens of games including Portal 2 which I have bought a couple days ago (just before the suspension) are lost for ever!!!!! They dont accept any way of paying for the game!!!

Check out their automated response...
"A different payment method can not be used for this game; the money must be returned by the PayPal account that made the original purchase. If the dispute is closed and the funds are released back to Steam, the account will be reactivated. However if PayPal closes the dispute by “Reversing the Payment”, meaning they send the funds for the purchase back to you, the Steam account will remain locked and you will lose access to all of the games on the account. There are no options to resolve a dispute once PayPal has closed the case"

Anyway, if you use Steam + Paypal ... beware...

I'm fuming, I want Steam destroyed

[PintOfKittens]

Howd you pay for portal 2? If by credit card, do a charge back - I *THINK* the time limits on charge backs are 90 days - if so, go through bank statements and do as many chargebacks as possible.

[chris watton]

I had the exact same problem last year, when they suspended my account due to Paypal reversing the charge for no good reason! I now use Visa only, Paypal is way too risky - especially if you have 90% of your game catalogue linked to steam!

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... Steam account disabled!&mid=18432

Edited by chris watton on Thursday 21st April 13:59

[shivars]

I have also seen reports of this happening to people on the Steam forums.

Only workaround = don't use Paypal.

but yes it is particularly lame on the part of both Steam and Paypal. How anyone can justify taking away *all* someone's purchases through something as trivial as this is beyond me...

[MattyB_]

Its an interesting series of cases, I wonder how this would hold up legally? I mean, you legally own the rights to play the games you've purchsed previously, and Steam are stopping you from doing that, based on nothing more than a 'mix up' ...

TBH, I'd be doing everything I could to get it back - whatever legal channels I could find.

[LukeBird]

MattyB_ said:

Its an interesting series of cases, I wonder how this would hold up legally? I mean, you legally own the rights to play the games you've purchsed previously, and Steam are stopping you from doing that, based on nothing more than a 'mix up' ...

TBH, I'd be doing everything I could to get it back - whatever legal channels I could find.

This.

Surely a big moan to Steam is likely to get your account reactivated or at least all of your downloaded games ported to a new profile?

[MattyB_]

Although apparently as they're US based, they're outside the juristiction of our Small Claims/Consumer Rights laws, so you might have to think bigger, but I'd certainly try all possible avenues.

[Taita]

Gobstes have done this to me too today.

Installed on new laptop, logged in, Account Suspended.

Yeah cheers for that you thunders. I have to find a DVD case with a key on it (400 miles away) and write the ticket number on it, then send a photo to them. No explanation of why it is locked and a 'do as we say or kiss goodbye to your account' email.

I use Steam so I don't HAVE to move fking loads of DVD cases from camp to camp, you knobbers!

[V100]

fking hate Steam. Set of wkers. There is however a way of hacking it to get your games back, certainly not going to post it though or I'll end up in the sin bin.

[Taita]

Any chance of a PM? I feel I'm being screwed for NO reason at all!?!?!

[V100]

Sent...

As explained in the e-mail, use it at your own risk.