The 12th Fleet: Starbase Valhalla

So they're refusing to believe that two payments were taken from your account and they're holding the goods your paid for hostage until you allow the second payment to be processed?

Go to the citizen's advice bureau. The may be able to dig into it and find the exact laws that Steam are bending to suit their own purpose. If you have the time, a lot of lawyers will offer a free consultation.

This is Steam's Latest reply:

Hello,

Steam Support has provided you with all of the relevant information regarding this issue. You can log into your account at support.steampowered.com to review your Steam Support tickets.

You will receive no further correspondence regarding this matter.

We, as a fleet, friends, or gamers could create an letter of awareness of the issue and send it to all members of Valve as well. The letter would state that we are aware of the issue, including all correspondence between parties, regarding his issue and as long as the policy punishes legitimate error along with those who abuse the system we are willing to boycott Steam and make aware any media outlets that will hear his case. We are sending you these emails in hopes you will amend your policy to include an exception that if a second copy of a product is purchased within seven days and not used a refund should be offered or chargeback not penalized. Just an idea as much as I love Steam their support is among the worst I have yet encountered.

Just an idea

Im going to post my experience on the Steam forums, I need to find other types media to publish it too as well.
I want to try to contact Gabe, its doubtful of a reply but its worth a shot.

Right not im in Awe about this whole Steam support debacle.

This is my message to Steam, I deem it as my last response as it is absolutely futile speaking to them.

Steam support HASNT provided me with all the relevant information, you cant even confirm you have read my messages.
If I wanted to be told to contact my bank and cancel the chargeback, I would have simply read Steam Support Alert message that I have attached to this support ticket as a screenshot, I have taken the time and effort to contact Steam and discuss about this situation and why Steam's policy punishes those with Just intentions due to a legitimate error to those who abuse the system.

What you are doing is issuing a "canned response" that is not unique to my individual query and now you are closing the door on me because I deem that unhelpful and unacceptable.

Iv taken a note from Kajjah, stating why is it acceptable to treat those with legitimate reasons similar to those who abuse the system.

Prototype_No.98 wrote:Im going to post my experience on the Steam forums, I need to find other types media to publish it too as well.
I want to try to contact Gabe, its doubtful of a reply but its worth a shot.

Right not im in Awe about this whole Steam support debacle.

Gabe has an email on the list I posted, and history suggests PR reads it first.

Hit the whole list, like I said. A few others are likely mirrored to PR.

As for other media, Consumerist loves this kind of stuff. Send their link to every gaming site youncan find with a tip address and post it all over aggregator sites like Fark, the Steam social media accounts, Reddit. Steam forums are a trap as they are moderated by the same script drones you've already dealt with.

Other than Steam, fill the net. Only takes Escapist or Kotaku or Jimquisition to pick it up to get it going.

Steam support seem to think they are jokers by sending me the same message over and over again.

This is my reply:

Alright, if you want to play this game, try and find a pre-made response to this query...

If I cancel this chargeback, will Steam refund the £25 that was taken from my account?

I'd love to see what their reply would be, Im guessing the word "No".

Prototype_No.98 wrote:Steam support seem to think they are jokers by sending me the same message over and over again.

This is my reply:

Alright, if you want to play this game, try and find a pre-made response to this query...

If I cancel this chargeback, will Steam refund the £25 that was taken from my account?

I'd love to see what their reply would be, Im guessing the word "No".

the oracle of 8 says: Reply hazy. Try again later.

Any word at all from them since the last post?

I think you are not reading their replies carefully enough. Their goal is to force you to reverse the charge back before they have any other dealings with you. They want your money back in their hands first and foremost. It is the only priority for them. They are saying that, once you give them the money you stole from them back, they *might* be willing to discuss giving you the money they stole from you back ... at least that's the implication. They can't outright say that, as it would probably be admitting to some form of fraud or blackmail.

You are in a pissing contest with them whether you know it or not. They take your money. You ask for it back. They say no. You respond by having your bank take it back for you, thereby taking away something they care about. They respond by taking away something they think you care more about than the amount in dispute. They are betting you will blink first, as that is almost always the outcome.

You have been entirely to nice about this. Have you done any of the things suggested to you (I heaven't looked for other posts)? Raising awareness? Contacting authorities? You need to do something that ups the ante by threatening or actually taking away more of what they care about, or give them something worth more to them than your 25 pounds. The only incentive you are offering right now is blah blah blah words.

"Here. I will give you an email full of words if you help me not give you money or even help me take some away! That's a fair deal, right?"

You need to give them another incentive, like "Hi! If you help me resolve this, I will not put any effort into making sure other people don't give you money."

Again, you can't say exactly that because it could be considered some kind intention to commit the defamation form of libel against them. To that end, be careful of what you personally post, especially on their forums. You are better off, and your story will carry much more weight, if you let a reputable third party distribute the story and publish the accusations.

There are likely easily approachable consumer affairs departments in your government who can give you advice, if nothing else. You can probably even find them listed in the very front of your phone book. As others have mentioned, there are many official consumer rights advocacy groups and news agencies that eat this stuff up. They have lawyers and experience. Let them do the work for you and absorb much of the risk.

Set phasers to kill. Fight the good fight! :D

I never cared much for STEAM. I don't understand the prospect of buying games I won't actually own by agreement.

All I ever bought on there was old games that had trouble running on newer OS. If I lost my account, the only game I would truly miss is Frozen Synapse. But, I have other options for that now.

If I lost access to STEAM, I only only be out 75 bucks I think.