I was banned in BFV on April 4 for the following:
You break our rules(https://www.ea.com/terms-of-service#section6) if you:• use software that interferes with or disrupts an EA Service or another user’s account.• use undocumented features, exploits or cheats in-game that disrupts an EA Service or another user’s account.• use software or cheats that disconnects other users from the EA servers.
I have never ever cheated in any online game. I don't know how to cheat, and I'm strictly against it. I'm just a casual player and a long-time supporter and customer of EA games.
The email goes on:
If you think we sent this to you by mistake, you can get in touch with our Terms of Service team. Find out how to contact them in our article:https://help.ea.com/help/account/information-about-banned-or-suspended-accounts
Well, I tried that. The webform says include as much info as you can. I literally got no info from EA as to exactly why I was banned. All I could do was protest and vehemently state that I have never ever cheated. Don't even know how. And asked for some evidence on their part that would lead them to that conviction without warning.
I received a reply:
Hello,Thanks for contacting us about your account action.We got your note and did a full investigation of your account. After reviewing your case, we determined that we took the correct action in accordance with EA policies and procedures.What this meansWe have confirmed that your account was involved in cheating. Because of this, we will not remove the sanction on your account.
A "full investigation"? What? If someone had actually done a "full investigation" my account would have been un-banned immediately with a very sincere apology. I replied with a very concerned email response, still thinking I was actually communicating with someone:
Hello EA Terms of Service,
Your "full investigation" is meaningless to me. And you have not replied to my request.
I am requesting you fully divulge all pertinent detailed information regarding how you came to the conclusion that I was cheating. This is my account, I have paid EA Games for this game to play, I enjoy playing Firestorm, and it's simply not acceptable to be convicted of an offense without allowing this long-time EA Games player and supporter an opportunity to review the evidence and submit a defense.
I want to know exactly what I'm guilty of, what cheat, and when exactly did this happen, and how you came to this conclusion.
Again, and for the record, I have NEVER ever cheated in any online game, be it with EA Games, or others. I don't believe in cheating. I think it's pointless to play a game and cheat, and I can't tolerate those who DO cheat. If there's a game that is notorious for having a lot of cheaters, I won't play it. It's not fair.
Has my account ever been suspicious of cheating? If you look at my Battlefield Tracker, do the stats suggest that I'm cheating? If I was cheating, wouldn't I be an amazing player with lots of kills, headshots and wins? It's quite the opposite. It appears I'm cheating to be a bad player.
My other point is this, if you suspect someone is cheating, and they have no history of cheating, why don't you send a warning to that player and say we have noticed questionable activity on your account related to this game, provide the evidence, and say if this activity continues we will be forced to take disciplinary action such as imposing a ban. Did you do that? No! I'm already convicted of cheating, something I have NEVER done, and have already been PERMANENTLY BANNED for online BFV gameplay. This to me, is abhorrent behavior on the part of EA Games.
Again, it is utterly disrespectful and wrong of EA Games to ban me from a game without first a warning and without providing the evidence to show such activity.
Please provide me with all your detailed evidence upon which you have determined that I have broken any TOS. Then, I may have a fair opportunity to review your disclosure and make a proper appeal.
I will not cease to demand this until I receive the requested information.
Thank-you,
So, once again, for the third time I received a generic bot-like reply which was proof that there was no human behind this because there was absolutely no intelligent and personal response to any of my questions or requests for info. This was the final message sent:
Hello,
Email address: xxxxxx*@hotmail.com*
We received your latest message regarding the action taken on your account. We have performed all investigations possible on this issue and will not reverse the decision.
Please do not expect further responses on this matter.
Thank you,
Wow, I was floored. By this point I was angry, insulted, and totally lost all respect for EA.
After I took the time to write a detailed response with many points which someone with half a heart could properly respond to, all I got back was a three line generic reply, making no reference to any of my points, and finally stating "do not expect further responses on this matter."
A long term customer. I just play. That's it. And EA does this. Unforgivable. Really disgusting. And I will not stop pushing until someone at EA takes responsibility for this wrong conviction.
I never was able to actually talk to anyone at EA Terms of Service because nobody actually responded in a personal way to my emails. I just received the same auto-replies that everyone else who was banned unfairly did.
I get that we need an anti-cheat strategy here, but it's disappointing that the team tasked with that responsibility is utterly ineffective and incapable of determining a real cheater from the false positives, as in my case # 47955072 .
I have since written a 5 page letter to CEO Andrew Wilson and Chairman Larry Probst and have an active complaint with Better Business Bureau.
I will not stop until EA fixes this and admits responsibility.
devtrackers.gg