"Permanent Ban" - No Reason Given - ?!

tchen12.swat_ESO

Dear Zenimax,

I don't normally pre-order MMOs, but when I do I prefer around 4-5 days of game-time followed by a permanent ban.

I have been permanently banned from your game and thought it appropriate that we at least get to know each other first before our relationship becomes so darn hostile. When your support team finally called me, I was told that whoever permanently banned me did not leave ANY reason of ANY kind. See, we don't even know each other! Making matters worse, the support agent could not attend to my request AT ALL and forwarded the request to the "appropriate" department. I was also told that the "appropriate" department would "hopefully" contact me within 24 hours. 24 hours came and went. So did four hours, twenty minutes and counting on hold with your customer service hotline...

Seriously, if customer service cannot handle these requests, why bother? I even put as the very TOPIC of my response that I was contacting Zenimax to appeal a ban or suspension. Maybe those requests should go directly to this mysterious department?

Oh that's right, I said four plus hours on hold. I will attach a photo on my phone screen if this forum will allow me. Perhaps the most hilariously ironic part of this predicament is that when I called, a human operator picked up the phone. Once I told her my call was ESO-related, she was never to be seen again. I'll miss you, Zenimax operator. Your office has long since closed and you are no longer manning your post. But I've stayed strong, 4 hours and 26+ minutes strong.

I sent my dear friend from the phone conversation an email tonight detailing the fact that I've been on hold for hours. She responded a mere 12 minutes later, telling me that the super special department should "hopefully" reply "soon!" Her email also stated that my issue would be considered resolved if I did not respond within 120 hours. I was also sent a survey asking how Zenimax was doing. Why send me a survey if I'm permanently banned?

I have always been a sucker for MMOs. Blown so much hard-earned money, bought almost every new MMO hoping for something to waste my life away on. I love the genre. But in all my years I have never heard of anything like this ever happening. That's why I'm so perturbed.

My $60 is just a drop in the pond. My forum post is a mere petty nuisance. I get it. But you keep treating people this way and it will certainly add up.


Disclaimer: I am posting on my buddy's forum account - he is not connected to this issue in any way. Apparently only beta accounts can access the forums, and I did not make a character in the beta. My account name is (was?) Chop - character name Tisket (27 Nightblade). RIP Tisket. Tasket will miss you.

To answer some possible questions:

• No addons
• Upgraded to 64 bit Windows upon the arrival of ESO, so my computer is completely clean
• No IP scrambling - I live in New York and play on a secure home wifi connection.
• I cannot think of any possible theory or set of circumstances that could set me up for a ban or suspension of any kind. I sold a few items in chat, made some friends, outleveled much of the gold spam, and did everything completely legitimately.

tchen12.swat_ESO

I guess permanent bans without reason are the new norm... /shrug

Hilandra

unlucky.. someone hates you.

Salvius

Wow, I hope your issue gets resolved very soon

Elsonso

Sadly, you probably just got your buddy's account banned.

tchen12.swat_ESO

lordrichter wrote: »

Sadly, you probably just got your buddy's account banned.

You're probably right.

As far as I can tell they'd now have a greater cause to ban him than they did me...

Insane

Edit: Thank you Salvius. It's difficult to suppress the frustration over here..

Loxy37

Its against the forum rules to discuss bans, suspensions and moderation rulings. You will prolly either get your friend a warning, suspension or ban for his troubles.

Jadeviper1974

Permanent ban without a reason should get someone fired. My bet is that it is a complete mistake and someone who is inexperienced just hit the wrong command, especially since no comment was left on the ban.

tchen12.swat_ESO

Loxy37 wrote: »

Its against the forum rules to discuss bans, suspensions and moderation rulings. You will prolly either get your friend a warning, suspension or ban for his troubles.

Honestly if speaking out against getting banned from a game for absolutely no reason 4-5 days after paying $60 is enough to warrant my friend getting a ban too than I'd rather put my money elsewhere - perhaps you should too.

tchen12.swat_ESO

Jadeviper1974 wrote: »

Permanent ban without a reason should get someone fired. My bet is that it is a complete mistake and someone who is inexperienced just hit the wrong command, especially since no comment was left on the ban.

Exactly - that's my main problem. No comment whatsoever was made on the ban. I have read other posts of people having some form of response from Zenimax (third party software/bots, a mistake involving a bot picking up "gold selling" verbage, etc.) but to be told both over the phone and in email that no reason was logged when making the ban yet refusing to lift the ban is just absurd. She spoke to me over the phone and I exchanged 3 emails.

I believe I would be doing a disservice to myself and other customers to not bring this issue to light. At this point I would be satisfied with a full refund and to never touch another Zenimax product again...

My jaw completely dropped on the telephone when this woman told me someone had issued me a permanent ban and no reason had been logged for the action. So wrong on so many levels. Even moreso when she said she couldn't act on it, despite specifically filing my request under the "appealing a ban or suspension" category.

ZOS_MichelleA

Hello, @tchen12.swat_ESO. If you have questions or concerns about an in-game disciplinary action, please contact http://help.elderscrollsonline.com/ to ask about a suspension or ban, and any other support-related feedback. We cannot assist with in-game violations on the forums, and as such, we will be closing this thread.