So I had this encounter with the customer support

https://i.redd.it/kgyqgo5fx1y21.jpg

So I would like to hear the community's thoughts on this. Please let me know if I'm in the wrong.

What bothers me is not even basically having bought the same product twice, it is the amount of "screw you, I don't care" vibes I'm getting from the customer support.

I have worked in retail before. Never would it have happened that we let someone wait for 2 years for a reply, just to say "lol, it's too long ago"

Please excuse the bad formating, as this is from gmail and the sorting there is pretty weirdly split, so I had to screenshot the single messages and sort them by hand.

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Azathoth

I don't know, I see both sides to be honest. I do think the delay from Oct 2017 to May 2019 was extreme and not being able to use your original ticket date is odd. However, you did upgrade your package already and you purchased a second package at PAX that was mostly not similar to an existing package you have.

My experience with customer support throughout most of Fall/Winter 2018/19 was patchy at best too. My password reset was literally Ih8teu, which seems more suggestive than perhaps it was meant to be, but this was in response to me pointing out I could 'still' not log in every time I saw a FB update.

In short, I am sorry for your double billing. Maybe you can sell your package? I'm not sure what the rules on that is or if you can talk about it on the forums.

Good luck!

Damokles

You should have most likely wrote them once a week after they didnt answer in the next two weeks.
I worked as a customer service guy myself and let me tell you, such things slip through the gaps faster then water xD
We helpdesk guys (normally) need a lot of reminders to show the superiors, especially if it needs the help of a dev member to solve.

(Ofc i was not working for IS, but helpdesk is normally the same everywhere trust me)

amievenreal99

I can see it not being technically possible, even though that sounds like nonsense to me (why wouldn't it).
I could see that maybe she doesn't have the authority to do so. But someonein there for sure can.
I don't want to be a Karen and drop the "Let me talk to your manager" though

I worked in customer service before for certain warehouses and cellphone providers.
Not always could we do exactly what the customer wanted, due to technical reasons or whatever, but we would at least try to accomodate somehow.

Punishing me, the customer, for ignoring my ticket for 2 years seems ridiculous.
If that would ever have happened to any of our customers when I was working in retail, we better accomodate to that person instead of refusing service for... too much time having passed (?)

"Come up with something, this is someone who paid hundreds of EUR in advance for a service they have not even received yet, because they placed their trust in you and there is nothing you can come up with to at least try accomodating to that person?
Paying 300 EUR for exclusive items while wanting the A2 access (which I received after upgrading myself, since your customer service refused to assist with this incident for 2 years) is not very pleasant at all.
I'm seriously disappointed."

Is what I wrote in my final mail. And that's seriously how I am feeling right now.
Shit happens and I'm not even upset about having paid double. What upsets me even more is the "I don't care lul" vibe I'm receiving from the customer support. I'm basically talking to a wall, they are not even trying to come up with something to accomodate to me.

Karthos

So here's why this is 100% on you. Warning, harsh truths ahead.

It's common knowledge AND widely known you could update KS packages. I was aware you could do so just after Kickstarter ended.

I won't hold you accountable for knowing something you didn't know, but I will hold you accountable for not finding out before buying a whole new package. This question was asked hourly on the Discord for a while.

This is basically like buying a TV, and then buying a new better TV but never seeing if you could use that money to just upgrade your first TV. Then holding the company responsible for your ignorance and getting upset when they won't bail you out.

The only thing that isn't your fault is the extreme amount of time it took them to respond to your ticket. A ticket you needed because you didn't bother to understand what you bought in the first place.

I'm also unsure why you decided to try and solve your problem by purchasing yet another pack/upgrade, but that's neither here nor there at this point.

Fact of the matter is, you probably should have asked a question or two before you bought that second pack.100% your fault getting into this mess.

The slow response is in part due to the fact hundreds of other people have made the same blunder as you. So don't feel so bad. You're not alone. Plenty of people couldn't be bothered as well.

amievenreal99

I see your point and not knowing that is on me, that's where you are right.

However, in their refund policy it clearly states that I can refund a package within 30 days of the purchase.
I did ask them to either credit towards an upgrade or refund the PAX package I bought 3 days after the purchase (purchased on Oct 15, ticket opened on Oct 17, time zones not considered).

https://ashesofcreation.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/360018517854-Refund-policy

I did upgrade it myself - 3 months after, in January 2018. That's when I had already followed up twice and received 2 responses telling me they will "come back to me".

All I want is for them to do what clearly is partof their policy: Refund me something I purchased on Oct 15 and that I wanted refunded on Oct 17 2017.

Telling me now - after ignoring my request for 2 years - that the time passed is to long is ridiculous, regardless of anything else, don't you agree? It's clearly not my fault it took them 2 years. I wanted it refunded 3 days after.

Karthos

On the plus side, the "Flame and Shame" approach you're taking now has a good chance to catch their attention.

amievenreal99

Well good. Because "Lol, we let you wait for 2 years, so we can say it is not within 30 days anymore and just ignore your request" is terrible customer support.

OrcLuck

I would bring this up with someone higher on the totem pole.

amievenreal99

Zomnivore wrote: »

I would bring this up with someone higher on the totem pole.

I thought about that too, but I wouldn't know whom I can contact.
There is no other way than the customer support e-mail provided, is there?

Wandering Mist

amievenreal99 wrote: »

Zomnivore wrote: »

I would bring this up with someone higher on the totem pole.

I thought about that too, but I wouldn't know whom I can contact.
There is no other way than the customer support e-mail provided, is there?

Maybe @LieutenantToast can recommend what to do.

amievenreal99

I will drop her a message, thank you very much!

tugowar

I’m not aware of a single refund ever having been granted. If anyone is aware, I’d love to hear.

Birdie

To be honest, Danielle has helped me before. Been very kind.

[Deleted User]

I am no lawyer...... but, to my understanding you should get a refund, based on legal grounds.

Intrepid are only offering refunds because legally they have to, ie, consumer law gives a 30 day 'change of mind' on digital goods / distance purchasing etc etc.

If you asked for that refund within 30 days, they have to give it, they don't actually have a choice in the matter.

My concern would be, how, short of taking them to court to get them to force them to reveal this information, can you prove the date the ticket was initially raised?

Your reddit thread post only has date/month, not date/month/year that I can see.
Screening a copy of any year date proof you can give as to the refund request here, should straighten things up with them swiftly. However, good luck with that, the ticketing system all got changed with the migration.

I believe that all of the community should stand behind you with this one. The very best of luck!

Zomnivore wrote: »

I would bring this up with someone higher on the totem pole.

Sorry to say but based upon my experience that won't work - Intrepid are very much a 'top down' company.
The policy is dictated by one Individual, and that's what everyone has to adhere to / try to make happen.

My own tedious experience:

Not wanting to piss off the company by going on the attack, when I first requested a refund I attempted to give them a face saving out, by using my own health condition, as a reason. (MS/Cognitive damage/brain atrophy).
I'm not stupid, seeming to attack them would only ever result in the drawbridge being raised.

Denied.

So having no choice I went back and requested the refund based on the actual reason that I couldn't stand the game anymore:
That they had lied about something vital.
Refund denied by none other than Steven himself.
Grounds?
Word play and semantics to redefine their own actions in light of the disparity between said/did.
They then refusing to engage with me in further discussion of the situation.
They had a choice to engage with me and clear up the situation, they choose not to, they had a choice to quietly let it all slide, they.... just appear to want/need your money above all else.

I do strongly feel that I have reasonable grounds for taking them to court... but I quite like being able to see and be as healthy as I can... stress triggers old nerve scarring / damage to be inflamed, causing Oscilopscia and nystagmus at them least.
So yeah, not worth it for me.
If anyone else wants to though, I'm happy to chat / offer support as far as I can.

Their actions imply that thy aren't interested in refunds except when forced by law....

... That your own personal reasons / circumstances don't bother them....

.... and that they would rather force you take them to court than to decide to take any stand themselves based on 'doing the RIGHT thing'..

They are just out for the cash. *shrugs* C'est la vie

Nagash

tugowar wrote: »

I’m not aware of a single refund ever having been granted. If anyone is aware, I’d love to hear.

You are right no refunds have been given by IS.

Karthos

@megs

There are no such laws in the US. All returns and refunds are policy based at the company level. Consumer protection in the States is a joke to put it bluntly.

Atama

karthos wrote: »

@megs

There are no such laws in the US. All returns and refunds are policy based at the company level. Consumer protection in the States is a joke to put it bluntly.

Some states have laws governing certain kinds of sales. For example, many states have a lemon law for auto sales. You might be able to check with your state’s Attorney General office to see what can be done.

However you’re right that federal law doesn’t govern things like refunds. Most laws at the federal level are concerned with fraud rather than unfair transactions.

unknownsystemerror

Remember there are two sides to every story. As an example, someone who has been very vocal about getting a refund bought their package with the express intent of trying to make money off a utility for the disabled using Intrepid's IP. When they were told no is when they started their push for a refund.

[Deleted User]

atama wrote: »

karthos wrote: »

@megs

There are no such laws in the US. All returns and refunds are policy based at the company level. Consumer protection in the States is a joke to put it bluntly.

Some states have laws governing certain kinds of sales. For example, many states have a lemon law for auto sales. You might be able to check with your state’s Attorney General office to see what can be done.

However you’re right that federal law doesn’t govern things like refunds. Most laws at the federal level are concerned with fraud rather than unfair transactions.

*shakes head sadly*
I'm surprised, I honestly thought that this was a universal now, it's definitely the state of affairs in the UK, but as I said, I''m no lawyer.

I am now however a massive IC (Intrepid cynic) and would then assume that they are only offering it because of the UK/ EU law and they intrepid don't want the USA player base to get upset that they can't do the same.

I'm so sorry if there isn't that same consumer right support in the USA.

unknownsystemerror wrote: »

Remember there are two sides to every story. As an example, someone who has been very vocal about getting a refund bought their package with the express intent of trying to make money off a utility for the disabled using Intrepid's IP. When they were told no is when they started their push for a refund.

It doesn't appear that this is the case though with @amievenreal99 and their situation. Sure some people ARE slime-sucking bottom feeders, but if the policy states 30 days, and the only thing that stopped getting a refund was Intrepids lack of urgency, then surely everyone here should be supportive of this being achieved?

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