Defrauded by Gamersgate!

[Mouzafphaerre]

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So, I read the praises here, went to the site, saw the games and alluring prices. Registered and ordered a game. Paid via Paypal, which reported that the operation was complete, apples and carrots. What next? They are supposed to make the game available in "My Games" so I can download it, right? NONE! NOTHING! NÎST!

I check if the page loaded properly, force reload and wait. NOTHING! I wait about half an hour, check to see if something went amiss with Paypal, but everything is perfect. I send them an email and wait another half an hour. Nothing but a damn automatic reply and no improvements.

Finally I opened a dispute in Paypal demanding a refund. No response for about eight hours yet. I'm afraid this thing won't resolve so quickly. I get bloody angry when I smell scam. The last time something close to this happened (not online, in a flea market purchase) we ended up storming the crook's shop with friends and got back my money with the threat of brute force, to which we were definitely going to resort.

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[Beskar]

I send them an email and wait another half an hour. Nothing but a damn automatic reply and no improvements.

Takes more than a half-an-hour in any on-line issue from experience. The usual time is 24 hours.

[frogbeastegg]

It's after 6PM, and Saturday night. There won't be anyone in the office to reply to your email. Personally I wouldn't expect a reply until Monday.

First suggestion would be to try again now. Their server appears to have had a bit of a hiccough this evening - I'm redownloading one of my games from them and the rate went from 600kbs to 3kbs and stayed there until a few minutes ago. It's now back to a steady 600kbs so the hitch appears to have passed.

Hmm. Other suggestions. Possibly a problem with cookies or your browser? I'd log out of gamersgate and then log back in, if you haven't already tried it. If you have more than one browser installed on your PC then try using the other. I can confirm that Firefox has no issues with the site.

When you open the 'my games' page via the left hand menu do you get a list of 3 options in the top middle section of the new page? You should have these options: purchased games, wishlist, and how to download and install games. Make sure you're in purchased games instead of one of the others. (yes, I know chances are slim that you're in a different one but I'm throwing out every idea I can come up with)

Did you get a confirmation email after the purchase? You should have. I always get that within seconds of my order, and my game appears in my account immediately.

Which game did you buy, if you don't mind me asking?

I'm surprised to about this; I've brought 14 games from them without any problems at all. I'm sure it will all sort out.

[Mouzafphaerre]

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Beskar,

Never more than a couple minutes in my vast experience with Amazon, Alibris, eBay, PayPal, NoteWorthy Software, TaleWorlds...

Her Frogship,

I did all of them but I didn't receive any confirmation. Usually working through PayPal their confirmation is all I need. Btw, when I sent their support the email it was about noontime and opening the dispute at Paypal was at most an hour later than that. Right now I'm checking again, removing cookies and all... Nothing. It's just than stıpid Volvo something and none else.

The trouble seems to be that my order is listed "pending" although PayPal reported it transacted and my bank clearly displays the provision.

As for the Saturday thing... There must be merits of shopping online as opposed to picking up items at malls, even some of which work on Saturdays and Sundays if not 7/24. No, I don't buy it. If they accept orders (are open) then they have to seat somebody on that bloody desk.
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[Monk]

The trouble seems to be that my order is listed "pending" although PayPal reported it transacted and my bank clearly displays the provision.

Sounds like a problem with their server rather than they purposefully defrauded you. Either wait to get your refund from Paypal or continue with seeking help from their support. Though i have to agree with Beskar, email support systems normally take a full day to get back to you.(or have in my online ventures) It would be much easier if they had a contact #, i'm surprised they don't.

Hmm. Other suggestions. Possibly a problem with cookies or your browser? I'd log out of gamersgate and then log back in, if you haven't already tried it. If you have more than one browser installed on your PC then try using the other. I can confirm that Firefox has no issues with the site.

Noscript and adblock both play absolute havoc with transaction processes. I would highly recommend disabling any program of their ilk before attempting to purchase something online.

[frogbeastegg]

Wish I'd had responses that quickly from amazon! I always end up waiting over a day, and once had to email then four times in as many days before I got a response. Fastest response I've had from any internet shop is within a couple of hours; that was stardock.

I always use my credit card so I don't know how a Paypal transaction normally goes on gamergate.

I took a quick glance through the gamersgate help forum on paradox's boards and found a customer with the same issue; he doesn't come back to say if this was fixed or not. Someone else in reply to him said they'd had the same problem and it was caused by paypal having the wrong address linked to their card. That could be one thing for you to check? Saw another reply on the matter in a different topic; they said that they had two accounts and hadn't realised, and that the game was in their second account. I guess there's no fear that's your problem.

I found a few others but none had anything worth reporting back here. I didn't go past the second page of the forum so if you haven't already I'd suggest looking through the forum to see if there's anything else relevant. You could start your own topic if you like, I've never seen anyone go unaided when they have done so. Paradox usually then picks the issue up via PM or email. That's why there are so few 'resolved' type posts on the forum.

[caravel]

Noscript and adblock both play absolute havoc with transaction processes. I would highly recommend disabling any program of their ilk before attempting to purchase something online.

It might sound insane but I absolutely concur.

[Mouzafphaerre]

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Noscript is disabled, I don't like it. Adblock's reigns are tight in my hand. Nevertheless, it forwarded to and fro Paypal without hassles. As for other things; I have a single account, I don't have any idea how you directly pay with your card: two of the other systems listed failed to process my order and I finally used Paypal. (It's my part of stupidity not to use it as first choice, since it's never failed me for years now.)

Also, there's a misunderstanding on my side in this thread: I didn't mean contact emails but the purchase processes themselves returning in a few minutes. Apologies.

Thanks for all suggestions.
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[Husar]

You're a bit nuts. ( )

Opening a dispute on PayPal an hour after the incident?

I'd give the shop at least 24 hours on workdays to mail me back, any sooner and I'd be pleasantly surprised. You can open a dispute on PayPal a few days later if they really seem unwilling to resolve the issue.
What you did now is that they might solve the issue and then take your game away again because PayPal removed the money or whatever and you will have to juggle around between two companies.
Sounds like more work to me than just being a bit patient, patience is a virtue after all.
That your bank has gotten the PayPal translation within an hour sounds weird to me as well, for me it's usually next day or the day after that.

I mean, you turks need to chill, doood, and I thought you were more relaxed than us.

[Mouzafphaerre]

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Paypal disputes don't work like that mein Herr...

Posted at their forum...
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[Mouzafphaerre]

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Browsing the support board helped nothing but getting me more concerned. One particular guy with identical PayPal problem didn't get any response from support for over a week and the last post (from 20 days ago) was his, talking about demanding refund.

I'm not that patient. However small the amount (£14.95 for EU Rome Gold) my money is hardly earned. September 5 is my deadline, which is when I can escalate my dispute into a claim at Paypal. I hope it resolves before getting into that.
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[frogbeastegg]

Give them until late Monday to reply to your email, then start your own topic on their forums.

If you want to try again elsewhere, the EU: Rome bundle can be had from Impulse or Steam for £14.99. I can't personally recommend Steam as my sole experience with it was dire beyond words. Impulse has worked fine for me for several purchases, and I contacted Stardock once and had a reply within a couple of hours on a weekday. There is a CD based version of the gold pack; might be worth asking about it at your local games shop.

You say you couldn't pay by credit card when you tried? That might be an important detail in unravelling what went wrong. It should pop up a little Paynova mini overlay inside your actual browser window. You then enter your details and click pay. My card has an added security feature on it so at that point I get a separate overlay to confirm passwords and such. Once that's done I drop back in at the order confirmed page. The game's immediately in my account page, and there's a confirmation email waiting in my inbox within a minute of placing the order. If that process couldn't launch then it's likely that something in your browser's security suite got involved and blocked the process, which would then have implications for the later transaction. If you got all of that and the site just didn't like your card then we're no wiser.

[Jolt]

Results?

[Mouzafphaerre]

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Nothing. I'm waiting until Sep 5, at which time I can (and will) escalate the dispute to a claim.

DON'T SHOP AT GAMERSGATE!
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[White_eyes:D]

I mean, you turks need to chill, doood, and I thought you were more relaxed than us.

Turks are pretty gruff guys, respectable but gruff.

I recall getting scamed once.....thought it was my own fault and re-payed it..

What can I say? I am Canadian.....we don't like to hold things against people

[Veho Nex]

Just because I trust Mouzaf I wont till he gets sorted out orrrrrrrrrrrr something happens.

[Tratorix]

What can I say? I am Canadian.....we don't like to hold things against people

Sometimes I really wish this wasn't true. We're one of the only nations in the world who got their independence by asking politely. Can be a pain when you have a legitimate problem though.

I've bought quite a few games off of Gamersgate, and I haven't had any problems. Sorry to hear about your troubles, but I'm not going to stop using it because of someone else's bad experience. Hope this gets sorted out.

[Jolt]

I strongly advise you to send a PM to one (Or several of the following people): Johan, King, Susanna and Frederik. Send them telling what happened and saying that noone is answering your question in their forum, and ask for pointers/help. One of them will probably put you in the right direction or get someone onto your problem on the double.

[pevergreen]

Sometimes I really wish this wasn't true. We're one of the only nations in the world who got their independence by asking politely. Can be a pain when you have a legitimate problem though.

I've bought quite a few games off of Gamersgate, and I haven't had any problems. Sorry to hear about your troubles, but I'm not going to stop using it because of someone else's bad experience. Hope this gets sorted out.

We're independant, just too lazy to become a republic thats all.

Or the official reason:

"What? If we left we couldn't win every gold medal in the Commonwealth Games!"

[Mouzafphaerre]

I strongly advise you to send a PM to one (Or several of the following people): Johan, King, Susanna and Frederik. Send them telling what happened and saying that noone is answering your question in their forum, and ask for pointers/help. One of them will probably put you in the right direction or get someone onto your problem on the double.

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One last try before Sep 5, thanks.
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[Mouzafphaerre]

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Sorry. Those users don't seem to exist at that forum.

There appears to exist one Frederik II, moderator.
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[Mouzafphaerre]

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Fredrik II turned out to be the Paradox CEO. He has been very Kendal in promptly replying (more than once) and promised that the problem would be sold. For that to happen he said that he would contact the GG CEO.

Fingers crossed. (Thank you Jolt. )
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[Monk]

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Fredrik II turned out to be the Paradox CEO. He has been very Kendal in promptly replying (more than once) and promised that the problem would be sold. For that to happen he said that he would contact the GG CEO.

Fingers crossed. (Thank you Jolt. )
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I believe all of the people Jolt referred to are high up on the Paradoxian ladder. If anyone can get you results it is them.

[Mailman653]

The thread might get a happy ending after all.

[Mouzafphaerre]

The thread might get a happy ending after all.

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We shall see yet.
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[FactionHeir]

Maybe its buy one get one free day for you. Some compensation ought to be in order, no?

[Gregoshi]

I do love happy endings, so my fingers are crossed our Dear Mousa will be happy once more. Disney may be waiting in the wings for the movie rights.

[Jolt]

Yeah, Johan is the leading programmer for Paradox, King is some sort of developper as well, Susanna is in charge of the marketing department of Paradox while Frederik is the CEO.

[Veho Nex]

Wow talked to the CEO that musta been cool. Only CEO I know is my friends dad and its his lawyer firm. lol

[Beskar]

I was really tempted to start a joke topic with the username called "GamersGate" with the Subject "Defrauded by Mouzafphaerre!" with a complete parody with mentioning they tried to contact you, but their emails kept ending up in your junk mail inbox, etc.

However, even though there was humour in it, I probably would have been banned. It wasn't worth it for the lulz.