[surly]

I was just reading about this on another forum.

When you sign into Origin in the UK, you may get this deal pop up: -



It clearly states the price in pounds and not dollars. If you take them up on the deal, you get 1,250 FIFA points to spend on the UEFA Euro Pack, but it's only 1,250 points in the US. In the UK it's 2,500.

Here's a chat transcript where a member of AV Forums contacted Origin support: -

you: Hi,Order No. XXXXX. When I signed into my Origin account today I got a pop up box advising that the FIFA 12 UEFA Tournament DLC was reduced to £7.99 (1/2 price) so clicked the ‘buy’ button. I completed checkout and was charged £7.99. I expected the DLC to be added to my Origin account but instead I was awarded 1250 FIFA points. Booting FIFA I was given the option to buy the DLC pack but it is showing a cost of 2500 points, so I am being asked to buy another 1250 to access it! Can you help by either adding the DLC to my account (using the points I bought) or refund me, as I clearly don’t want to pay double the offer price? Ashutosh: Okay, I'll do my best to figure it out for you. Ashutosh: Would you please allow me some time to work on your issue? you: Yes that's fine. Thank you for your help! Ashutosh: Mark, would you please allow me some time some time so that I may discuss this issue with my supervisors? you: Not a problem. Thanks again! Ashutosh: Sorry Mark, but the promotion of the pack was only for US customers, in that case you are not eligible for the refund of the points. you: but the price was in British pounds and not US dollars and I signed into my UK account. There is obviously a problem if your system is offering it to UK customers (I know others have had the same offer). It's your mistake not mine so it would be very unfair not to honour it or refund me... Ashutosh: As the store is region specific, you have received the cost in your currency. If it were possible, I would've definitely processed your request. you: I don't have any use for the points though and if the store is region specific it should only give me deals available to me? I need to raise a complaint because EA are failing to honour an advertised offer (which legally is false advertising in the UK). Ashutosh: I apologize, but as we are not trained legal professionals, we will be unable to provide any further assistance with this issue. We do not have any contact information for our Legal Department, but any questions or comments of a legal matter should be handled by asking your legal counsel to contact the EA Legal Team. Your legal counsel should be able to obtain this information for you and further assist you in this issue. you: I'm not wanting to make a legal case of this, but need this escalated to a higher level if you are unable to help. If I said to you I'll sell you something for £X amount, you give me the cash and then I say it's actually Y amount would that be fair? The natural resolution if you were unhappy would be to give the money back...this is completely unacceptable and I want it escalated not to be fobbed off. Ashutosh: Would you please allow me some time to work on your issue? you: I've been quiet patient but is shouldn't be this difficult. I accept I should not have been given the offer but it did - which is not my fault. I am happy to hold though in the hope a swift resolution can be reached! Ashutosh: I am sorry as it is taking longer than expected. Please give me some more time to check further. you: That's fine - I should reiterate that all I'm asking is for what is clearly a systems issue to be resolved. I know that other users in the UK received the same offer and can link to a forum where the deal is mentioned if you need further evidence that it is more widespread than just an isolated incident. you: Just to add that I did also get the offer as a direct result of signing into my account (United Kingdom) and not by following a link to the US store. Ashutosh: Okay, may I know how did you came to know about the promotion? you: As per my last post I became aware of the offer as a result of a pop-up window that appeared when I signed into my (United Kingdom) Origin account. In other words you made the offer directly to me and I clicked on the 'buy' option on that offer window. The offer was made in British pounds - (£7.99), so would indicate it was a UK offer too! Ashutosh: Are you able to see that promotion now? you: Not since I made the purchase. Presumably because I have already bought it. I have access to the invoice though which clearly states £7.99 for 1250 points (you can usually only buy 1500, 2500, 5000 I think). you: The invoice also mentions that EU (European Union) which the UK is part of. Again indicative that it was on the UK store. you: Sorry meant to say the terms show that EU laws apply to the sale. Ashutosh: Okay, I am transferring your chat to my supervisor. Would you please allow me some time so that I may transfer your chat?

But after being passed on to the supervisor, this was still not resolved and no refund was offered.

Pretty fucking shady on their part I'd say. The deal is clearly being aimed at UK folks as it pops up in Origin to UK users and displays the price in UK currency.

[MRORANGE]

The whole point of Origin is maximise profits, nothing else.

[Easy_D]

Oh EA, was it just a trick? I sincerely thought you were changing for the better back when Mirror's Edge came out.

[JaseC]

We do not have any contact information for our Legal Department ...

What. Is it composed of spectres?

[Omikaru]

Probably a mistake, but a damn shitty one. Hope anyone inadvertently scammed by this gets a refund.

But hey, when you divvy up pricing and promos to specific regions, you're bound to get bullshit like this happening. Another reason why Origin is a terrible service and should die a fiery death.

[A Human Becoming]

The whole point of business is maximise profits, nothing else.

Fixed.

[elrechazado]

What. Is it composed of spectres?

As someone who has worked in a corporate legal department, rule one is nobody is allowed to give out our contact info, even if they have it, which they never do.

[benny_a]

That is messed up.

Someone with a readership make this into a story on your front page so EA has to own up to this.

But what will I do when I sour my relationship with EA and I don't get invited to Mass Effect 4 and Medal of Honor Warfighter preview events?

[JaseC]

As someone who has worked in a corporate legal department, rule one is nobody is allowed to give out our contact info, even if they have it, which they never do.

Interesting. The more you know!

[Baha]

How hard is it to simply apologize and refund the money? Why give themselves negative PR over something that can be amicably resolved?

[surly]

Probably a mistake, but a damn shitty one. Hope anyone inadvertently scammed by this gets a refund.

I'm sure it's a mistake, but it's also a breach of the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 in the UK and therefore illegal. Had they said "sorry, our mistake, here's your money back" it would have been acceptable, but they're basically saying "tough luck matey!".

[PaulLFC]

I got that pop up as well when I signed into Origin last night, and I'm in the UK.

For them not to offer a refund for that, or the DLC itself, is completely unacceptable. As far as I know the customer there is right in that it's false advertising.

I don't know how they can even try to justify not offering a refund when it clearly states in large type "Get the UEFA EURO Pack for £7.99" and then upon paying £7.99 you don't get said pack.

[Omikaru]

How hard is it to simply apologize and refund the money? Why give themselves negative PR over something that can be amicably resolved?

It's probably beyond the remit of some jobsworth call centre employee.

I'm sure it's a mistake, but it's also a breach of the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 in the UK and therefore illegal. Had they said "sorry, our mistake, here's your money back" it would have been acceptable, but they're basically saying "tough luck matey!".

You're absolutely right. I'm not saying otherwise. EA are giant shitstains, and it shows.

OP, get in touch with RPS. They have a good track record of holding EA to account over Origin bullshit (such as account bans, for example). I'm sure if EA is falsely advertising to UK customers, where RPS is based, they'll take them to task on it.

[Cerebral Assassin]

Fixed.

Not strictly true, some businesses have principled owners.

OP try contacting Trading Standards tomorrow, I think they will be very interested in this as it seems to be a pretty obvious piece of false advertising to me.

It's probably beyond the remit of some jobsworth call centre employee.

I thought the CS guy did pretty well.

[LiquidMetal14]

That's frustrating to read.

[Lactose_Intolerant]

UK players more likely to spend money on Fifa than US

[satriales]

It's completely ridiculous (and almost certainly illegal) that they would refuse to refund him.

[Weenerz]

That's why you don't give EA money. Give it to Valve.

[JaseC]

That's why you don't give EA money. Give it to Valve.

So they can continue obliging the drug and sex addictions of the Half-Life 3 team? :p

[Easy_D]

What. Is it composed of spectres?

Yeah, thats why he had to hold for so long. Contacting a psychic and peforming a seance takes time you know?

[Ammish]

Yeah, thats why he had to hold for so long. Contacting a psychic and peforming a seance takes time you know?

...I assume it's a Mass Effect reference. Just sayin.

[Roxas]

Very odd. The CS guy clearly went away at least 3 times to ask his higher ups for help but none was given.

[JaseC]

...I assume it's a Mass Effect reference. Just sayin.

As much as I want to say "yes", I'm afraid I'm not familiar enough with Mass Effect to make such a pun. *kicks self*

[Dash Kappei]

EA customer's care is horrible, especially Italy's.

[Keyser Soze]

That's why you don't give EA money. Give it to Valve.

Valve/Steam customer service is sometimes worse than this

[Derrick01]

And I thought their popups couldn't get any worse after telling me to download demos for certain games on 360/ps3.

EA customer's care is horrible, especially Italy's.

Their "american" (aka indian) support is terrible too. I'll never forget the complicated fetch quest they sent me on just to register mass effect 1 to my account.

[Akyan]

Report it to the ASA otherwise they'll just pull the same crap over and over again: http://www.asa.org.uk/Regulation-Exp...-we-cover.aspx

[Brera]

I vowed to myself ages ago that I would never NEVER buy anything online from EA. They are a shitty publisher and an even shitter retailer.

[Weenerz]

Valve/Steam customer service is sometimes worse than this

When Steam makes a mistake, they own up to it.

[JaseC]

Their "american" (aka indian) support is terrible too. I'll never forget the complicated fetch quest they sent me on just to register mass effect 1 to my account.

"Thank you Derrick01!

But your Mass Effect is in another castle!"

[Khal_B]

Recently I also had a terrible experience with EA/Origin's customer service. I asked them why they suddenly decided to charge me at inflated Euro prices instead of the USD prices I had been charged all along. I was told that because the closest server located to me was Spain, I was now being charged in Euros. But here's the thing, I'm much closer to North America than I am to Spain. When I pointed this out to support, they insisted that Spain was the closest server to me and that there was nothing that they could do. Really weird since every other site in existence charges me in USD.

Origin is just terrible. They're not competing with Steam, just making them look better and better and it's their loss that their games are not available to the Steam audience. If they were, I might actually consider buying them again.

[Totobeni]

Origin is just horrible

and why can't Steam/Origin/Everyone else Customer Service be like Amazon's ?

[MuseManMike]

Insanely frustrating. The rep contacted the higher ups, I assume they have the authority to manage some of the funds associated with user accounts in a limited manner. Why not reach some sort of reasonable compromise the user would be happy with? Give him the DLC pack -- I don't know. The only time I've really had to deal with this kind of nonsense was with Amazon and they were nothing short of amazing. Protocol is protocol I guess. Seems like the moment he mentioned "legal" the conversation was essentially over with said rep.

[Bulzeeb]

I am not surprised about that, last time I am from south America and their stupid web site is still showing their prices in Euros because for them spanish means you live in Spain

Edit: there is an option to change your country to Mexico but the problem persist because then it only shows prices in Mexican pesos

Edit 2: I don't know if I am doing something wrong but the page doesn't even allow me to change it to U.S to see prices in dollars that at the very least are somewhat used around here

[Dash Kappei]

And I thought their popups couldn't get any worse after telling me to download demos for certain games on 360/ps3. Their "american" (aka indian) support is terrible too. I'll never forget the complicated fetch quest they sent me on just to register mass effect 1 to my account.

LOL, "italian" support is handled by indians as well, and in my experience they couldn't understand shit.
Awful, awful support.

[Haunted]

Oh EA, was it just a trick? I sincerely thought you were changing for the better back when Mirror's Edge came out.

Don't be stupid, EA Partners is their own division, and them making deals with DICE/Visceral has obviously no bearing whatsoever on any other division within the company that would be responsible for the shady shit EA has done over the years, has never stopped doing and is still doing right now.

[Glass Rebel]

Don't be stupid, EA Partners is their own division, and them making deals with DICE/Visceral has obviously no bearing whatsoever on any other division within the company that would be responsible for the shady shit EA has done over the years, has never stopped doing and is still doing right now.

Aren't DICE and Visceral fully owned though?

[Cerebral Assassin]

LOL, "italian" support is handled by indians as well, and in my experience they couldn't understand shit. Awful, awful support.

Wait, do they speak in Italian?

[mxgt]

I'm rather lucky as when I logged into Origin yesterday to play Fifa I was going to jump on this deal, I cancelled the pop up initially and couldn't find it again so I did some searching and found out about this scam.

Stay classy EA

[wrowa]

Don't be stupid, EA Partners is their own division, and them making deals with DICE/Visceral has obviously no bearing whatsoever on any other division within the company that would be responsible for the shady shit EA has done over the years, has never stopped doing and is still doing right now.

Actually, I don't think that either Mirror's Edge nor Dead Space was part of the EA Partners programm.

[JaseC]

Wait, do they speak in Italian?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JhuOicPFZY

[RibbedHero]

Wait, do they speak in Italian?

Maybe they just use translation software, I don't think there are any low-wage countries that are proficient in Italian.

[mysocksarepink]

So they can continue obliging the drug and sex addictions of the Half-Life 3 team? :p

Best thing I've EVER heard in the regards to the delays

[BibiMaghoo]

That is pretty shady. I am not a fan of Origin. Not because of the shadyness. But because on my birthday, they sent me a voucher for 25% of a game (small print listed a large number of games I could not spend it on)

The voucher wished me a happy 29th birthday.
It was my 28th Birthday.

My DOB on origin is correct.

[Majukun]

and that's why i will never buy anything from Origin

[Bleepey]

Fixed.

I could do a huge write up explaining the economics of not for profit hospitals and how they can operate trying to make minimum profit.

[Dash Kappei]

Wait, do they speak in Italian?

Yep.

Sort of :P

Maybe they just use translation software, I don't think there are any low-wage countries that are proficient in Italian.

No software, it's live voice chatting over the phone. Actually Vodafone and some others telecoms use India based cc for part of their italian support centers.

[Starwolf_UK]

Germans are affected too. Shows €10 but is still 2500 points.

So like given Fifa is expensive in Europe because the sport is popular...does that mean Madden is cheap in Europe?

[RibbedHero]

Germans are affected too. Shows €10 but is still 2500 points. So like given Fifa is expensive in Europe because the sport is popular...does that mean Madden is cheap in Europe?

Not entirely sure about Madden, but all the NBA games I own were bought very cheaply at or near release here in the UK.

[Mileena]

Stop supporting EA. It's the only way.