I was forced to change my name (of 20 years) after a Realm Transfer because I was informed AFTER it went through that it was already taken there. By using Create a Character, I found a realm where my name was available, waited the 3 days and bought another Realm Transfer. I then bought a Name Change to get my 20 year old name back only to get an error message that the name is Unavailable.
I’ve spent $1,000’s on this game, only to find out they have no real customer service and haven’t for at least a half a decade. Blizard has no problem taking my money for character transactions, no issues there. A pop-up before my transfer mentioning I had to change my name would have saved me an additional $35 in service fees. It’s genuinely unbelievable they can’t be contacted directly for service issues.
Sorry for the rant, does anyone have any experience dealing with a Character Name being Unavailable even when the Create a Character says it is?
Sorry to say but, that isn’t something GMs can help with. You’d have been able to go to a given server beforehand and check to see if the name was up for grabs before spending the money. More to the point, it doesn’t matter how much you’ve spent on the game, that doesn’t entitles someone to better servues then someone who just started.
Also, the name could’ve been on a list of not allowed names. I don’t know what that list is, but if it is, a GM isn’t able to bypass that list.
Though there certainly should be a pop-up notifying a name change will be enforced before they charge you for a realm transfer, I accepted my ignorance.
I then did what you suggested, found a server where the name was available, transferred again, and now I can’t take the name. I don’t think this is user error.
I appreciate a GM wouldn’t be able to help, I just don’t understand- Blizard charges for a live service and when things don’t work (nothing works 100% of the time) there’s no way to contact them.
The name’s Grendar, I’ve had it since May 2005. I have it on a couple realms.
No, I didn’t fully create and get my lvl 1 character. I created a character and typed in the name box until I got the green check. I played with it for a while going through different realms, if the name’s taken on a server I got a red X. The name’s still showing as available.
Honestly, I didn’t want the name to get locked by me, that’s why I was relying on the green check and not fully hitting create but I’m almost about to until I figure this out.
If you have the name on your account, then delete the character just before transferring/name change, the name is then available for you to use upon transfer/name change.
My assumption is that in those three days before you transferred, someone else took the name.
Thanks for the direction, I’m going to claim the name with a place holder character. And see if I can drop it and pick it up. I appreciate the advice and will report back for anyone else that might be in this situation- thanks!
Thanks, I actually went through the “Contact Us” loop with the murloc for a while trying to figure this out and reading those articles before posting here.
Quick update, I have my level 1 Grendar created on the realm. I imagine there will be delays, should I delete him immediately you think and start trying to complete the name change on my actual character?
The name may be available to claim, but another character currently has it. A little confusing, yes, but I’ll try to explain.
Basically, we have a name release system in place that allows users to claim a name that is already in use if the person who originally claimed it hasn’t logged in for a while (usually around 2 expansions).
It sounds like the character you want on that realm may be claimed by a character who hasn’t logged in for awhile. So what usually will happen is if someone tries to create a character with that name, the character who is currently holding the name is flagged for a name change at the time the new character is created.
If you never actually created the character, then you never claimed the name.
Give it a try. Once you claim the name you should be able to use it on that account for any other character.
Given the frustration you have had I might be able to help here. If you let me know when you have claimed the name I can flag your character for a rename so you can take it.
Edit:
Just to ask… did you put in a ticket on any of this? I’m not seeing any tickets in your account history so it feels like you are operating off of hearsay.
These are great details Vrak, thank you! So I have the level 1 character now, are you suggesting I delete this character, give it a few, then attempt the name change with my intended character?
I’m suggesting that you delete the character and I’ll flag your main for a name change so you can take the name yourself without using the name change token.
You can either save that for another time when you want to use it, or I can refund the purchase.
Let me know when you have deleted the character and what you want to do with the Token.
First off, thank you so much, I was clearly wrong that human customer service doesn’t exist at Blizard anymore!
I’ve just deleted my newly created Level 1 Grendar. As for my purchased name change, if a refund is possible that would be great. I would have been happy just getting this resolved, but I’ll have no further use for it if I can refund it.
Does Blizard offer a tip service? If so it’s all yours!
Excellent customer service, if I can’t offer a monetary tip- when I come across random internet threads suggesting otherwise, I’ll gladly take the time to share this experience. See ya in Azeroth!
How many characters do they allow for names anyway?
And we should be able to have last name like the NPCs do.
And another thing - how about punctuation, like NPC Trolls have. It’s outrageous. Give us punctuation! I demand an apostrophe!!
OK… rant over. Back to your regularly scheduled programming.
Also:
That’s kind of a low bar. Even among fully intelligent beings, he’s pretty awesome. Seriously, great work on getting the OP sorted out, Vrakthris. You really delivered.
