G2A criticized for charging users over inactive accounts

[midian182]

A hot potato: G2A has long had a controversial reputation, and once again the popular digital game key reseller is making headlines for the wrong reasons. It’s been discovered that the company is charging people a fee if their accounts remain inactive for a certain amount of time.

G2A has been criticized in the past for not doing enough to tackle fraud. Specifically, the selling of illegal game keys sourced with stolen credit cards.

A thread on Reddit has drawn attention to some questionable behavior by the company. G2A Pay, the firm’s online payments gateway for businesses and individuals, is charging account holders one Euro If they fail to log into their accounts for 180 days. Another one Euro will be taken from the user every month until they log back in.

G2A Pay’s T&C page reads: "If User does not log in through the Website to User's accont [sic] for over 180 (one hundred eighty) days, the Company is entitled to charge the User's G2A Wallet inactivity fee in amount of EUR 1 (one) per each month, or less, if there is no sufficient funds on the User's G2A Wallet to charge entire inactivity fee. The Company is also entitled to terminate User's G2A Wallet, if there is no sufficient funds on it which allows to charge the inactivity fee. Charged inactivity fee is not returnable. The User is to be informed about terminating his account."

In defending the policy, G2A said it costs money to upkeep accounts, and that users just need to log in once every six months to avoid the fee; they don’t have to buy anything. It also claims this is a normal practice and that many companies charge a significantly higher fee while requiring users to make purchases.

G2A’s explanation behind the charges haven’t been well-received, and it seems the company is once again taking a PR hammering.

In 2017, Gearbox withdrew from a partnership with G2A following a backlash over a deal to distribute collector’s editions of Bulletstorm: Full Clip Edition.

Permalink to story.

https://www.techspot.com/news/77994-g2a-criticized-charging-users-over-inactive-accounts.html

 

[ShObiT]

I just went and deleted my account and deactivare the permissions in Paypal account, now I want them to try and Charge me...

 

[cliffordcooley]

I don't trust their keys enough to sign up in the first place.

 

[Evernessince]

These guys are looking to be investigated by the EU I see. An "inactivity fee" is a funny way to say "we're charging you because you aren't buying from us". It will be funny to see what they say the reasonable justification for this is in court.

 

[Pouncer012]

They are allowing sellers to sell invalid keys to software and then never respond or refund, which is a crime. And G2A stating they won't give in is a crime as there's global laws that prohibit companies to even exist if they don't cooperate to help get refunds back.

I just went through the phase of a seller not responding back, suddenly disappearing or never getting back on G2A and sold invalid keys to me. G2A even has a section that clearly states "IF the seller is non-responsive for 7 full days, we will help get you a refund." But then they still turn their backs on this.

I threatened them that I will make a local police report, and get Interpol involved if they don't comply, and gave them the last chance. I will follow through.