While I have never been banned, I did have an account problem that took more than a year to be resolved. I was a member back in Classic all the way through the update to RS2. After a few months of RS2, I split koolaid on my laptop due to a "malfunction" of a coaster, killing my laptop. After a very long time without a computer, I finally got a new one and could play RuneScape again, but to my dismay, I could not access my account and my attempts to recover it failed because I did not have my original payment information. I knew it was my fault for losing my information and gave up, until last summer that is. While cleaning my basement, I found my payment info; I rejoiced! I ran to my computer and filled out my lost password form, still no luck. I had guessed that I didn't have the right recoveries. After a few more tries, success! The first thing I did was add 3 month subscription through paypal and then hopped on to check out what I had missed. The welcome screen, you last logged on "3 months ago." Wait, that can't be right, can it? I haven't played in ages. Instantly I get PM'd, "Matt, is that you?" (My name is not Matt, nor is it Jimmy either :P) I check my levels, and I have levels (albeit low levels) in skills that didn't exist last time I played, Slayer, Construction, Farming. As it turns out, someone had hijacked my account while I was gone. I thought oh well, and quickly ignored the person who PM'd me. Then more PM's, lot's of them, calling me a hacker and whatnot. I ignored it and switched my status to Friends, that would solve everything right? Wrong! 3 days later and I can't log on to my account. I recover using stolen password form, and then the fight ensues with this other person. We kept recovering back and forth, and every time in my appeal, I say that someone else has their own payment information. No help though, so I post on the forums and have the message include that I need to talk to a real person because I have the original creation details and original payment information, that should prove I am the real owner right? Wrong again; I get a reply from a JMod saying that there would be no way to tell who was the original owner because we both had payment information, what!? How would the original creation details and payment details not prove that I created the account? My thread was then locked and shortly hidden thereafter. I tried a few more times through ticket process to no avail; I called it quits. A year passes and I stumble upon a email address for jagex,
[email protected], I figure why not? After a lengthy email explaining the situation and fact that I basically had 3 months of membership stolen from me, I get a response, from a real person! They said they would pass the email onto some higher ups and that they would take care of the problem. 3 days later I got an email saying the non original information had been removed from the account and I was safe to play again, what a relief! I played it safe this time though, I stayed F2P for a month and after having no issues, decide to upgrade back to P2P. Then 2 weeks in, problems again. While alching at the GE, I tried to login to the forums, but my password would not work. I tried a few times, nothing, then panic. I switch windows and try to bank everything, but as I'm walking 5 steps to the bank, I get signed out. I fire another email to billingsupport and include all the previous replies and have to threaten action because I used my credit card to pay this time, not paypal. After 2 days, everything was rectified and now I have been playing safe for 3 months, and what a great 3 months it has been. Sorry for the long post that is slightly offtopic, but I thought it relevant to show that it's not even just RWT that can't get customer support. I believe with the right information in a nicely worded, yet demanding email can actually get you somewhere. Since you lost out on a full months worth of membership, they do owe you something. They have to provide you with their proof, otherwise you can take lawful action. And to whoever said that it would be a waste of time and money to sue, I'm sure a class-action lawsuit by 1,000 players would be well worth it since you can file in small claims court for something along the lines of $40. On another note, I recall a case in the news a few months ago where a kid threaten to beat another kid up if he didn't give him his RS stuff. Charges were filed and the bully was charged with theft. He was ordered to return the items and had to do like 1000 hours of community service because the judge considered the time spent playing to earn the items.
