banned ... again ... by the same GM!? WTF?!

[atomik]

So it happened again. (original thread - Banned! /cry ('http://www.dual-boxing.com/forums/index.php?page=Thread&threadID=10500'))

After getting my accounts back I was on Friday and Saturday (Aug.1,2) then did a bit of shopping for a new quad core (ordered, should arrive next week) then did not play at all on Sunday and Monday. Then Tuesday I tried to log in and I discovered that it happened again. I checked my email and sure enough the accounts were closed by Nalost. Even after explaining my situation, Calisto who unbanned my accounts and apologized, only to have them re-banned by Nalost again. This time he cited "intended exploitation" and "against the essence of the game". I've sent yet another email to the admins at WoW with all the previous emails included. This is starting to get annoying.

[Sarduci]

Call their phone number for customer support and complain about the GM. They can't fix your account, but they can take the issue up with the GM repeatedly banning you from the game unjustly. Then start the process (again) to get your accounts back on. After the reinstate you accounts do this: file a complaint against them with your Better Business Bureau and send them a copy of it. Make it clear that your were banned the first time without violating the TOS or EULA. The explain that you were banned again by the same employee and were reinstated a second time since you did not violate the TOS or EULA. Make sure it gets to not only customer support but also their PR department.

They'll hang the GM out to dry to placate the BBB complaint. Low level employees are a dime a dozen to these companies especially when they are heading the company into potential legal issues like terminating customer accounts for the wrong reasons.

And yes, I know the EULA give you no legal leg to stand on for anything, but lawyers cost them money and small claims court default judgments against them only cost you your time.

[OzPhoenix]

Atomik,

Very disappointed to see you banned again. That GM needs to be canned ASAP. Hopefully you get this fixed real soon as that tard of a GM is looking for another job somewhere almost as soon.

[Rigz]

This time he cited "intended exploitation" and "against the essence of the game". I've sent yet another email to the admins at WoW with all the previous emails included. This is starting to get annoying. Thats messed up, he probably has an axe to grind, since those are two of the most undefinable and nebulous charges he can throw at you. I mean wtf is "intended" exploitation? You were going to exploit but just never got around to it?!

Furthur the second charge is just as wishy washy, I mean wtf is violating the "essence" of the game. Sounds like some shit you would get in a freshmen Philo 101 lecture to menatally masturbate about for an hour.

Before you get this sorted out take care of the root problem and get it sorted out with the superior of that gm.

[Naysayer]

Did you happen to /flirt with his girlfriend/sister?

[Basilikos]

Did you happen to /flirt with his girlfriend/sister?

LOL.

But seriously, this is disturbing. I've had some unnecessarily negative GM encounters, but this is beyond the pale.

[Otlecs]

Yeah, this is really outrageous.

I'd file a complaint against him this time, through the GM concerns email address that I don't have handy at the moment X(

[Steph]

EU

I have concerns about a particular Game Master. Who can I talk to about it?
If you have problems with a Game Master, please email WoWConcernsEU@blizzard.com.
http://www.wow-europe.com/en/support/gamemasters.html
US

Rather than disobeying in protest against the request being made or the action being taken, please oblige him/her and later express your concerns to the wowgmfeedback-us@blizzard.com email address. Emails sent to this address go directly to the Senior and Lead GMs, who will investigate and address any instances of potentially inappropriate GM actions.
http://us.blizzard.com/support/article.xml?articleId=21503&searchQuery=gm%20concerns&pageNumber=1

Get him a nice whack on the head by his boss. As far as I know, GMs get complimentary WoW accounts that they can play for free. That means you may have met the GM in-game while he was playing a regular char, potentially hurting his or her feelings in PvP. In any case, using GM powers to resolve a difference of opinion is clearly not professional and should land this CSR in trouble.

[Oatboat]

sorry to hear about your troubles.... sounds like a certain GM is multi-box jealous. Probably got ganked on his alt by one... and is taking it out on you.

[atomik]

When I get the accounts back, I'm going to open a ticket and hopefully chat with a GM online. The 'GM feedback' is a good idea and I'm definitely considering it. At this point I'm wondering when I activate the accounts next week, whether I will run into the same problem. If it happens again I'm going raise a big stink about game time lost, harrassment, etc.

Plus I never got an explanation for the original ban. I guess it comes with the territory when you decide to multibox.

[Xealous]

Idd I am also sorry to hear of your troubles, however not to stir the pot or anything, but we are only getting one side of the story. I'm not accusing you of anything, but is it possible that you may have exploited in some other way? Maybe double check your system, could be something on there that is perhaps flagging suspicion etc :/ As it all sounds very peculiar, i just feel it's pretty unlikely that a certain gm is after you personally.

Either way good luck, and hope you're back to multiboxing soon :)

[Ughmahedhurtz]

When I get the accounts back, I'm going to open a ticket and hopefully chat with a GM online. The 'GM feedback' is a good idea and I'm definitely considering it. At this point I'm wondering when I activate the accounts next week, whether I will run into the same problem. If it happens again I'm going raise a big stink about game time lost, harrassment, etc.

Plus I never got an explanation for the original ban. I guess it comes with the territory when you decide to multibox.I would definitely raise a complaint if things don't get rectified quickly. Your experience is most definitely is not normal for multiboxers. I've seen a few of us get accidental bans or bans for non-multiboxing-related violations (like different names on the accounts, harassment, etc.) but never the stuff you're getting. I'd be very suspicious of that GM, especially if it's the same GM that did it to you the first time.

[Sarduci]

When I get the accounts back, I'm going to open a ticket and hopefully chat with a GM online. The 'GM feedback' is a good idea and I'm definitely considering it. At this point I'm wondering when I activate the accounts next week, whether I will run into the same problem. If it happens again I'm going raise a big stink about game time lost, harrassment, etc.

Plus I never got an explanation for the original ban. I guess it comes with the territory when you decide to multibox.I'd leave the other GM's out of it. Handle it through the feedback links provided. All you need to do it tick off one of them by trying to get another GM in trouble and you'll have more issues. They may even consider it harassment of their staff if you go about it that way. That is definately against TOS.

[BobGnarly]

While I'm sure this is very irritating, I'd recommend giving him the benefit of the doubt before sending him off to the stockades.

I'd go about it like you did before, but also point out that this is the second time in a week and ask if they can annotate your account stating that you're multiboxing so that this doesn't happen in the future.

Then, if it happens again, you're pretty sure it's personal and you can go for the throat. ;)

[Malekyth]

Agreed with Bob. It sounds obviously vindictive enough that I wonder whether it actually is ... I mean, he must know that re-banning you will look bad for him, so why would he do it? It's possible that he was not in the loop when you were un-banned, assumed it was an error on their end and rectified the perceived error. Or maybe he is just a jerk with the self-preservation instinct of a lemming :) ... but I'd give the benefit of the doubt before getting incendiary about it.

[Vyndree]

EU

Quoted I have concerns about a particular Game Master. Who can I talk to about it?
If you have problems with a Game Master, please email WoWConcernsEU@blizzard.com.

http://www.wow-europe.com/en/support/gamemasters.html
US

Quoted Rather than disobeying in protest against the request being made or the action being taken, please oblige him/her and later express your concerns to the wowgmfeedback-us@blizzard.com email address. Emails sent to this address go directly to the Senior and Lead GMs, who will investigate and address any instances of potentially inappropriate GM actions.

http://us.blizzard.com/support/article.x…ns&pageNumber=1

This is very good advice.

Make sure you very politely but very firmly make clear that this GM has been harassing you unjustly on more than one occasion.

Furthermore, I would open a thread on the official customer service forums (without naming names) to let the other GMs know that you are being harassed by a "blue". Make it public, but polite. Blizzard does not need negative feedback from their "law-abiding" citizens but in this case they deserve it.

[Vyndree]

Plus I never got an explanation for the original ban

This is typical procedure.

They don't tell you HOW they find people, because if they did the ACTUAL botters/cheaters would know how to circumvent the system.

[zanthor]

Get him a nice whack on the head by his boss. As far as I know, GMs get complimentary WoW accounts that they can play for free. That means you may have met the GM in-game while he was playing a regular char, potentially hurting his or her feelings in PvP. In any case, using GM powers to resolve a difference of opinion is clearly not professional and should land this CSR in trouble. GM's do not have access to the servers they GM on. If they have gained player access on that server they are already in deep shit.

[Anjuna]

Sounds like a certain GM got ganked by a multiboxer on his regular account. ^^

[Bradster]

Sounds like a certain GM got ganked by a multiboxer on his regular account. ^^I'm starting to think that as well, sounds personal. I would be really pissed off at this point, i'd at least ask for a free month x5.

[Anjuna]

Sounds like a certain GM got ganked by a multiboxer on his regular account. ^^I'm starting to think that as well, sounds personal. I would be really pissed off at this point, i'd at least ask for a free month x5.Seriously. That would be reasonable compensation for dealing with some psychopathic fool with a vendetta against multi-boxing.

[succulent]

Atomik, what realm are you on? So we know where this GM is causing troubles.

[Ellette]

That's BS! I would definitely be writing a very lengthy "GM Feedback" e-mail, as well as opening a ticket ingame. If they said you were doing nothing wrong and gave you your accts back the first time, then why the 2nd ban? And by the same GM? I just don't think that's a coincidence. Plus I highly doubt that he was out-of-the-loop for the whole unbanning of you thing. It's kinda impt that they know who's banned and who's not isn't it?

I really am sorry about all this tho :( It's so unfair! :thumbdown:

[atomik]

realm: Area52
exploits: none, like I said before I'm only using keyclone, I levelled to 14 doing quests in Durotar, and ran RFC a couple of times. My system is clean, I ran a scan the first time I got banned to make sure nobody hacked my accounts, plus each of my accounts all use different 8 character passwords. No trade channel spamming, no begging for gold, no ganking (no PvP whatsoever).
naming names: I'll keep names out of it, I'm sure if a senior GM wanted to find out, they could look up who's been banning my accounts.

If I manage to actually chat with an in-game GM I'll inquire whether my accounts have been flagged as multibox accounts and/or request that a note be added.

I wonder if it's just the fact that they are trial accounts? Because my main account was unaffected. If I was doing something wrong wouldn't all my accounts receive bans?

[Caspian]

Just keep it nice and polite. Don't threaten them with the BBB or anything like that. I know you must be fuming but don't let that come through in any of your communications.

It sounds like you are on the right track with what you are doing. wowgmfeedback is also a good secondary followup but you might want to wait until the situation is resolved, either good or bad.

good luck

[Pent]

sounds like the GM just hates multiboxing, although it seems alot of trials get banned right off the bat from the look of these forums..

[robbotats]

People dont understand boxing and assume its cheating so they report you as a bot.

Every experienced botter always starts a new account on trial, to protect against a possible ban pre lvl 20 which saves them $20 so blizz are a little trigger happy on trial accounts

Also, there are no legal issues for blizz in banning accounts, we signed a TOS that allows them to ban us for any reason and no reason.

[Doubleo7]

I think some of you are being too nice. If this shit happened to me I would prolly flip a lid. Then again, a long long time ago, I used to work in customer service, and maybe I expect a higher quality now. Sometimes we forget that GMs aren't just game 'police' they are customer service in a game we are all paying for! I would fight to get your accounts back... and then I would stop giving them my money, and make sure they know why. If they take steps to assure you that this kind of harrassment won't continue, and they attempt to compensate you in some way, then that's another matter I suppose. However, if they give you the same craptastic customer service they have already been dishing out, in light of your situation, I would definitely bolt.

[daviddoran]

I think they should credit each account a free month of game time (once you put in CD keys)

Short of that, they should at LEAST comp you for the days that you were unable to log in while they were inaccessable.

[Malekyth]

I think some of you are being too nice. If this shit happened to me I would prolly flip a lid. Then again, a long long time ago, I used to work in customer service, and maybe I expect a higher quality now. Sometimes we forget that GMs aren't just game 'police' they are customer service in a game we are all paying for! I would fight to get your accounts back... and then I would stop giving them my money, and make sure they know why. If they take steps to assure you that this kind of harrassment won't continue, and they attempt to compensate you in some way, then that's another matter I suppose. However, if they give you the same craptastic customer service they have already been dishing out, in light of your situation, I would definitely bolt.

The OP is in the right -- explictly in the right, by stated Blizzard policy and by actual precedent -- so he doesn't need to get angry and risk galvanizing customer service against him, he just needs to remind Blizzard of this fact and wait out the inconvenience. There's no value in getting angry with people who respect eachother more than they'll respect the customer, of which they currently have millions.

[Simulacra]

I have no idea why but this stupid situation reminds me of Munny in The Unforgiven played by Clint Eastwood, Munny here is of course the GM after he got ganked by a multiboxer:

I'm comin' outta here... an' any
*%*&^%*& I see out there, I'm gonna
kill him... an' any ^%*&*%&%^ takes a
shot at me, I ain't just gonna
kill him, but I'm gonna kill his
wife an' all his friends an' burn
his *&^%*&^%*&^ house, hear?

[Stealthy]

I have no idea why but this stupid situation reminds me of Munny in The Unforgiven played by Clint Eastwood, Munny here is of course the GM after he got ganked by a multiboxer:

I'm comin' outta here... an' any
*%*&^%*& I see out there, I'm gonna
kill him... an' any ^%*&*%&%^ takes a
shot at me, I ain't just gonna
kill him, but I'm gonna kill his
wife an' all his friends an' burn
his *&^%*&^%*&^ house, hear?



Great movie that!

[Steph]

Please do NOT create in-game tickets about this. Firstly, no GM can do something against their fellow colleague GMs - they are on the same level. They have no power over each other, making the thing impractical and awkward for the GM you demand help from. It is simply out of the scope of things a GM can reasonably help with. Secondly, and more importantly: You are explicitly being asked NOT to create more in-game tickets when you are not happy with a GM's decision. The official page that I liked explains that this may be understood as you harrassing the GM, and may actually make your situation more difficult. http://us.blizzard.com/support/article.x…ns&pageNumber=1

Please complain about this (politely)to wowgmfeedback-us@blizzard.com.
This goes directly to the GM-supervisors, which is the proper place to complain about GM decisions.

You have to talk to the manager. Don't bother other first line customer support agents, they can not help you.

[BGuru]

When you get banned the email tells you the GMs name or does the ban email come from the GM?

[Xealous]

When you get banned the email tells you the GMs name or does the ban email come from the GM?Not in the EU at least.

[Naysayer]

Really, we don't know why he banned you the first or second time. You don't even know why he banned you.

Wait and see why he targeted you before we lynch the gm. This could be something all m-boxers could learn from, maybe an addon or software device to avoid in the future to keep from getting flagged. Who knows? The GM could be an m-boxer himself and the flagging be something unrelated to m-boxing.

Now, if this guy is just a hater, I've got my pitchfork ready and polished in the barn.

[Tonuss]

And yes, I know the EULA give you no legal leg to stand on for anything, but lawyers cost them money and small claims court default judgments against them only cost you your time.Lawyers will cost them money anyway, since a company as large as Blizzard either has a legal department of its own, or has lawyers on retainer to deal with whatever legal issues come up (and they probably come up all the time).

I would second the advice given about contacting them at the GM feedback address and Customer Service Forum. Make sure that your email and posts are clear, well-written, and above all polite. If you are being harassed by a GM with a grudge or a chip on his shoulder, it's best to get it dealt with ASAP.

[atomik]

I hope I don't have to go through this again. Even though it's just 'trial" gaming time, I could have been leveling.

Atomik

--------------------
Greetings,

Thank you for taking the time to contact us regarding the World of Warcraft account you are using. We understand your point of view and have thoroughly reviewed this issue. As a result, the account action has been removed from the account and all involved parties have been addressed. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.

Please feel free to contact us with any further questions or concerns you may have. Thank you for your time and patience in this matter and your continued interest in World of Warcraft.

Sincerely,
Scyntras
Account Administration
Blizzard Entertainment

[raylion]

Well done on getting your accounts back...fingers crossed for you it doesn't happen again!

[Ughmahedhurtz]

lol...your account is probably flagged as "REFER TO GM MANAGER FOR ALL FUTURE BAN REQUESTS."

[Basilikos]

lol...your account is probably flagged as "REFER TO GM MANAGER FOR ALL FUTURE BAN REQUESTS."

I know you're being humorous, but for the sake of justice I would hope that his accounts ARE flagged that way.