Billing - Does Linden Labs NOT want my money...?

Hello everyone. I've been playing SL for just under a month now, and perhaps like some, I was dragging my heels a little, trying to decide whether or not I wanted to stay, and whether or not it would be economical to do so. One of my problems, like several I know, was that the only method of payment LL was taking up until close to live, were through Credit Cards. Unfortunately, having recently come out of college, my student line of credit is no longer available to me, and I don't have any other Credit Cards.

However, with the recent email sent out to beta testers, telling of ATM and cash payment options, that seemed to no longer be a concern. And, to some extent, for some users, it shouldn't be any longer. Unfortunately, for me at least, that isn't the case. I finally decided to stop dragging my heels, and sent in an email to Linden Labs' billing department or such, asking about the other options for payment. It turns out that the only ATM cards they take, are ones linked to credit accounts (Visa, Master Charge and the like), and can't take ones that are connected to regular bank accounts. So I sent another email, asking about paying by cheque instead, which they said was fine at first. Until they found out that it would be in CAD and not USD, that is. They said they can't accept CAD, I'm not certain for what reason. Interesting, so they'll accept cheques from those within the US, but everyone else is out of luck if they don't have some kind of credit account.

So, this leaves me with very few options now. With almost no way to pay really, it would seem that Linden Labs simply does not want my money. I'm not certain if many others have the billing problems I do, but I suspect there are at least a few. To me, this seems ridiculous, all the hoops I have to jump through just to send them money. I mean, seriously, I'd think they would want as many people in game as they can get, to bring in more revenues. And as such, I would think they would want to make payment as pain-free as possible, to expand their player base. As it is, I feel like I'm being told to run some sort of pointless, time consuming gauntlet in a contest of some sort, in which the grand prize is being able to -pay- someone else. (Not the best way of describing how I feel, but at the moment it's all I can come up with, sorry.)

Now then, I would like to know if LL plans on getting its users some other payment options? If I may suggest, setting up a PayPal account or something of that sort for people to pay through, in the meantime, until better payment methods are put in place may be advantageous. Whatever fees PayPayl charges, can be added to the clients bill, so long as we're told that beforehand. Another possibility, is going through a payment company like iBill or such, they have payment options through bank accounts as well I believe.

I apologize if this post may seem to be bashing LL or such, I am just extremely frustrated at this point, and really don't know what to do. I'm now no longer able to log into SL, and already very much miss those I've met in world, having little means to contact many of them. (I just realized I could contact them through the forums, but not everyone checks the forums, of course...)

Anyway, thank you for taking the time to read this first post of mine, and I hope LL will soon have some good news for me and whomever else may be having billing problems as well.

I'd be happy to pass messages to them for you if you want.

You can email me directly or post here -- their names, any specific message, etc.

I totally understand the withdrawal pains -- I was on hiatus for... gosh, about 2 months, I think. Hurt like the dickens.

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[email]shebang@covad.net[/email]

If possible, would one (or more) of the Lindens please be able to give me a reply to this, one way or the other? Thank you.

Okay come on guys give him a break, there has to be a way you can accept money, even if it is canadian hehe ahem anyways...I hope they find a way for you Xer, I miss seeing your trench coat and sunglasses. At least you changed out of your daily black shirt and pants lol By the way turn on your private messages on here! I'll keep in touch with you that way and give you my e-mail addy. Canadians are people too!


"Pfft"

Is it that they wouldn't accept a cheque from Canada or a cheque from Canada in Canadian funds? All the Canadian banks are able to issue cheques in US funds. Most US companies don't have a problem accepting cheques from Canada as long as it's in US money. I'd ask them again.

im sorry to hear that u cant pay without a credit card

are there any family or friends who would pay put it on their card and u pay them back
in cash that's what i did because i dont trust myself with credit cards i hate bills and monthly payment. but everything on the internet basucaly is with a card

so i just have my parents pay and then i pay them in cash
they are giving me a credit card next year for college
i hope i dont spend too much

Both Visa and Mastercard offer gift cards that work like a cross between a regular credit card and a long distance phone card. I have a friend with terrible credit who uses them to pay for his Asheron's Call 2 accounts. They're accepted just like a credit card as long as you keep it charged with sufficient funds. Check into it. They're available at convenience stores and the like.

If you get a check card (not an ATM card -- check cards have your bank's logo and the credit card's logo on them), you can use it as a credit card, while paying from your checking account. That's what I've been using for the past several months for buying on the Internet.

It would be nice if they made a paypal option available. Did you get this taken care of with support?

Let us know please, I'm sure there should be something they can do, I mean it's the 21st century!! geez!

You don't need a credit card, or cheque. Send a money order

I'm from Canada and i had this exact problem. Canada doesn't have cheque cards or any kind of cashcard, so i had to find another way(until they set up other online options for canada & europe etc people).

So any of you canadians out there, go to your local post office/bank and get a money order for US funds. Easy as pie!

Hope this helps

Thanks, Aurelie, I'll have to look into that.

Hehe, thank you too, Torrid, I miss you as well.

By the way, thank you as well, Shebang, I've left you a couple of PM's