Xbox Marketplace: Could you make payment anymore difficult?

[rob_simple]

So Tony Hawks HD dropped recently and it's the second time this summer after Ratchet & Clank where I am actually able to buy my childhood.

The problem is, unlike PSN which lets me enter my card details and buy things straight away, I need to go through the fucking convoluted process of acquiring MS points. In the past I bought the cards online because they were cheaper, but mainly because Xbox doesn't accept my bank card because they only accept credit cards for some retarded reason.

Since they've still not changed this, I decided to try the Paypal option instead, but after finally remembering my login for Paypal (I don't use it because everywhere else I shop accepts my bank card because it's 2012) I discovered I need to wait 5-7 days to put funds in that account, but that doesn't matter anyway because when I try to log into Paypal on my 360 --oops!-- Microsoft can't connect, sorry.

In short: I have the money and desire to pay for goods but absolutely no way of doing so. I am throwing my money at these people and they are running in the opposite direction.

/rant

With that in mind, can anyone recommend any new PSN content worth a shot?

 

[thebobmaster_v1legacy]

Quantum Conundrum came out about a week ago. I've heard good things about it.

And getting Microsoft Points isn't that convoluted. It adds, maybe, two more steps compared to buying direct on PSN. With your card issues, that's a problem, but it's not convoluted.

 

[rob_simple]

Quantum Conundrum came out about a week ago. I've heard good things about it.

And getting Microsoft Points isn't that convoluted. It adds, maybe, two more steps compared to buying direct on PSN. With your card issues, that's a problem, but it's not convoluted.

It's still more convoluted than the straightforward system of 'pay money; receive goods' and when those extra steps become barriers to purchase I consider it unnecessary flim flam.

On the subject of QC I've heard good things too but I've never been good at physics-based games. Thanks for the suggestion all the same.

 

[KingsGambit_v1legacy]

1: The points are like chips in a Vegas casino. Because they are different from dollars, there is a disconnect between points values and real-world values. Psychologically it encourages more sales.

2: Don't associate your card or PayPal with XBL. My account was hacked and £150 stolen from me which MS wouldn't refund. I won't use XBL again, but I appreciate other people continue to despite the frequency and number of users who experience this. If you must, buy points cards from retailers like Amazon and use the codes on your console. Trying to remove your payment methods from your account is very hard.

Repeat: Don't give MS your CC or PP details. Use codes you buy from other retailers. This will protect you from having money stolen from you in the event of your account being hacked.

 

[gardian06]

Don't give MS your CC or PP details. Use codes you buy from other retailers. This will protect you from having money stolen from you in the event of your account being hacked.

well at least someone is matching Microsoft's view of security. they are the only company out there that says the words "when we get attacked we will do _____" other companies just state "if we get attacked we will do ______"

 

[King of Asgaard]

Well, to be honest, with the recent story of that idiot father who didn't realise his kid was spending real money on XBLA, it could be much harder to make purchases. If you're having these kinds of problems, you may want to avoid XBLA for now.
captcha: wide berth. Indeed.

OT: On PSN I've heard you can get God Hand for about £8. I'd check that out.

 

[TrevHead]

MS points are certanly the best way to buy XBLA games, theres no way in hell i'ld link a credit card with MS.

inputting a string of 18 characters is a very small price to pay for piece of mind and safty.

If its too much off a pain just buy the largest point card you can so you don't have do it so often, you will save money too.

 

[TheNamlessGuy]

DELETED

 

[DustyDrB]

It is convoluted, but I don't think the PSN is any better. In making purchases, sure (though the PSN menus are horrible and sometimes misleading). Even as a guy who isn't really a PC gamer, I think the PC is far more user-friendly and convenient these days.

 

[Ravinoff]

Points systems are crap, but what irritates me even more is how Microsoft refuses to allow you to buy MS points in anything other than their specific quantities.

 

[Retal19]

I have a similar problem. The Credit Card I use for my Gold expired about two years ago, but for some reason Microsoft kept charging it, despite us calling them up to tell them this, and calling the bank, and basically doing everything to stop them doing it. That didn't work, so we just went with it. But now I've been suspended because the Card is expired (Actually because that old Bank Account ran out of money).

Now, I had just bought Microsoft Points. I had put the code in. Then it tells me I can't use them to do what I wanted (Buy Dawnguard) and I need an alternate payment option, disgruntled, but wanting Dawnguard, I bought a prepaid card. I go home, put it in, and...

BOOP! CARDS ARE NOT ACCEPTED WHILST ACCOUNT IS SUSPENDED.

Microsoft, why are you trying to both take all my Money, AND run away from it at the same time? =|

 

[rob_simple]

2: Don't associate your card or PayPal with XBL. My account was hacked and £150 stolen from me which MS wouldn't refund. I won't use XBL again, but I appreciate other people continue to despite the frequency and number of users who experience this. If you must, buy points cards from retailers like Amazon and use the codes on your console. Trying to remove your payment methods from your account is very hard.

Which is precisely why I set up a bank account purely for online transactions. Whenever I want to buy something online, I transfer the exact funds I need to that account and make my purchase; there is never more than five quid lying in that account at any given time so it would be impossible for anyone with the details to run up huge bills like with a credit card which a company could then say they are not accountable for.

But Microsoft won't let me do that so, like you, I'll be doing all my purchasing elsewhere from now on. Just sucks I now need to wait for the as yet unannounced PSN release of Tony Hawk's.

Can't you change payment options? I am sure they had that but I have no access to an Xbox360 at the moment (20 days, on vacation)

Your only choice is to pay by credit card (I don't have one) or Paypal (which is a bastard to use). Alternatively I could buy a points card but I get them cheaper online which means waiting 3-5 days for them to be delivered or I can go to the store and buy one full price but that kind of takes away the entire point of games on demand that I thought XBL was supposed to at least partially represent.

 

[Palademon]

Most people's usual complaint is that it's too easy to spend money.

And it accepts my debit card...but that's probably because it's Visa.

 

[dimensional]

I have a similar problem. The Credit Card I use for my Gold expired about two years ago, but for some reason Microsoft kept charging it, despite us calling them up to tell them this, and calling the bank, and basically doing everything to stop them doing it. That didn't work, so we just went with it. But now I've been suspended because the Card is expired (Actually because that old Bank Account ran out of money).

A friend and myself were in the same sort of boat, seriously its bloody hard to stop microsoft taking your money some say yeah just ring them up but that didnt work for me or my friend we were just passed around and given false promises eventually they did stop (after I took all my money out of that account). I was using a Debit Card btw so even though I wanted it stopped they just kept renewing my bloody account actually they kept renewing two accounts as I had one on the xbox for free and when the free trial ran out they started charging me despite my objections (they dont listen to well).

My account wasnt suspended though (different circumstances I know) I just dont have Gold anymore (the xbox one is dead as far as I know now) and will never get another gold account with my card details again you just cant get the bugger off. I also personally dont like not being able to buy what I want directly and having to go buy points which is why I buy very little on XboxLive (I have bought 2 games puzzle quest and monkey island) same with PSN although at least its in proper currency there even if you can still only buy a set amount instead of what you want directly.

 

[Something Amyss]

It is convoluted, but I don't think the PSN is any better. In making purchases, sure (though the PSN menus are horrible and sometimes misleading). Even as a guy who isn't really a PC gamer, I think the PC is far more user-friendly and convenient these days.

The PSN really isn't better. There's still extraneous steps.

People defend the familiar.

 

[rob_simple]

It is convoluted, but I don't think the PSN is any better. In making purchases, sure (though the PSN menus are horrible and sometimes misleading). Even as a guy who isn't really a PC gamer, I think the PC is far more user-friendly and convenient these days.

The PSN really isn't better. There's still extraneous steps.

People defend the familiar.

I enter my card details once and add funds as and when I like. Seems straightforward enough to me.

 

[Zantos]

It is convoluted, but I don't think the PSN is any better. In making purchases, sure (though the PSN menus are horrible and sometimes misleading). Even as a guy who isn't really a PC gamer, I think the PC is far more user-friendly and convenient these days.

The PSN really isn't better. There's still extraneous steps.

People defend the familiar.

I enter my card details once and add funds as and when I like. Seems straightforward enough to me.

That's all you need to do for XBL. Paypal is easy as sin, and I don't know what sort of card you're using, but mine isn't a credit card and works fine.

I find I have more problems with PSN, it's like a perpetual argument where I can only assume I got a brief respite if it let me buy the game.

 

[daveman247]

snip

Get a better card is all i can say. I dont have a credit card either, but it excepts my debit no problem

What annoys me is how the points you buy go up in 500's. But the games go up in 400's. So you ALWAYS have to buy more than you want to -_-

 

[daveman247]

double post -_-