Second Life has my credit card and won’t let go

February 18, 2007 By

OK, OK, I’m partly at fault here. But, hear me out.

Last year at Gnomedex I had my son demonstrate Second Life up on stage while I was hosting a panel discussion. Someone from Linden Labs (the folks who make Second Life), Beth Goza (she now works at Microsoft), saw that, and told me and my son to knock it off. People under 18 aren’t allowed in Second Life.

So, what did I do? I just told Patrick never to go into Second Life and I didn’t go back into Second Life either.

Problem was, my credit card was being charged $9.95 per month by Linden Labs. I didn’t bother stopping it cause I thought I’d go back at some point.

Well, I just tried to get back into Second Life to cancel my credit card. Problem is, I can’t get in. Someone changed my password.

The other problem? I can’t get my password. I think I signed on with my Microsoft address.

I hate how hard it is to cancel accounts like these. Companies are perfectly willing to charge you forever, even if you don’t use the service one bit.

I think I’ll just call my credit card company and change my card number by saying I lost my card.

Sigh.

UPDATE: I guess banging on Second Life is in vogue this weekend. Valleywag did it too and has tons of comments.

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  • http://www.dallasfreeman.com Dallas Freeman

    Colin – I know we can do it in Australia, dunno about America. I’ve stopped a credit card payment before so I know it can be done here.

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  • http://derekwong.wordpress.com/ thefalcon84

    Second life – Personal
    Microsoft email – Work

    so you use your work email for personal matters?

    tsk tsk robert… =)

  • http://derekwong.wordpress.com/ thefalcon84

    Second life – Personal
    Microsoft email – Work

    so you use your work email for personal matters?

    tsk tsk robert… =)

  • Simon

    I’ve got my own issue. Im UK based, so can’t just, ring them up. I wanted to cancel my account in May 2007 but couldn’t. I couldn’t remember my password so asked for a password reset.

    Despite receiving the links by email and entering my confirmation information correctly, I was returned to the SecondLife Homepage and not logged in.

    I received an email in September advising that they were unable to take payment from my card and therefore my account would be cancelled if I didn’t provide up to date payment information. Finally, the nightmare is over. I sent them an email by reply to say Go Ahead, Cancel the account, I want you to.

    November, they bill my credit card – how, I don’t know.

    December I still can’t log into the website to cancel my account. Going to the support section, you have to be able to log in to the website to ask for support with logging into your account!

    Even their support system is flawed. You ask to Preview the call, it logs a new ticket and doesn’t give any option to edit it!

    Im with the OP on this one.

    Cya
    Simon

  • Simon

    I’ve got my own issue. Im UK based, so can’t just, ring them up. I wanted to cancel my account in May 2007 but couldn’t. I couldn’t remember my password so asked for a password reset.

    Despite receiving the links by email and entering my confirmation information correctly, I was returned to the SecondLife Homepage and not logged in.

    I received an email in September advising that they were unable to take payment from my card and therefore my account would be cancelled if I didn’t provide up to date payment information. Finally, the nightmare is over. I sent them an email by reply to say Go Ahead, Cancel the account, I want you to.

    November, they bill my credit card – how, I don’t know.

    December I still can’t log into the website to cancel my account. Going to the support section, you have to be able to log in to the website to ask for support with logging into your account!

    Even their support system is flawed. You ask to Preview the call, it logs a new ticket and doesn’t give any option to edit it!

    Im with the OP on this one.

    Cya
    Simon

  • giulia

    hi, i have cancel my account. i don’t give my credit card number but they told me that for cancel the account i must pay 9 dollars….so where they can get that money??

  • giulia

    hi, i have cancel my account. i don’t give my credit card number but they told me that for cancel the account i must pay 9 dollars….so where they can get that money??

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