So I’m trying to figure out how to contact customer support when the only option is a Web Ticket.
To submit such a ticket, I need to select a verification method, which is either:
a text message to my phone; or
upload an image of my driver’s license
Number 1) would be fine, but its a phone number registered in 2005, and which is still mine and works but is not a smartphone so it can’t do texts; also did not see where in my account I could change the number
Number 2) is just ridiculous, especially in a day and age of rampant identity theft.
This isn’t a start up, Mistwidget, we’re an established company that has been around for awhile and who follows all legal guidelines to protect your data. Your ID exists in our systems for as long as it takes to verify you are the registered user, that’s it.
I’ve had to provide my ID before with Blizz and have never had any issues. Once a couple of years ago and my wife had to do so more recently. They do not keep a copy of it and it is purged once they confirm your identity.
They have strict laws to adhere to (especially internationally) and they’re not risking their business to try and steal your identity.
Alternatively, you’re welcome to share a little about your issue and we can advise if there’s an alternative option for you. But typically, if it’s asking for ID, it’s something to do with the account or billing directly and requires some authentication.
I believe that the only way that they have that is if you setup SMS protect. To remove it, you still have to contact them and that’s one of the topics that definitely requires that you prove you’re the account owner.
Keep in mind, the info they’re looking for you have already provided to them (unless a fake name etc. was used to make the account).
I’m afraid if you no longer have access to that number, the only way to update account information is to contact our Support staff directly.
I understand your trepidation, Mistwidget, but we take account security very seriously as well as your personal information. Such verification is required because we want to make sure it is you before we change anything on the account or otherwise allow access to it. It might be slightly inconvenient but the alternative is that anyone who claims to be you would be able to gain access to the account, which I hope you can agree would not be great.
Blizzard is trying to PROTECT you from identity theft by asking someone who says they own the account to prove it. Do think should just give control to John Doe’s account just because someone says they’re John Doe?
Why would a multi billion dollar corporation face federal charges over something so small?
By requiring proof, they are protecting your identity .
Aside from your driver’s license number, there’s no information on your driver’s license that they don’t already have for billing purposes. Your name, address, zip code, etc. are all required for them to process your subscription payment. Someone will correct me if I’m wrong, but you can black out/blur your driver’s license number and they’d still be able to process stuff.
Now, if you created the account with fake information, then this is a pickle that you brought upon yourself. And a very difficult pickle to swallow it would be.
Better not to alter that, Sarvelis. While we might be able to make exceptions during a Live Chat where other info could be gathered, normally any ID that has been altered is immediately dismissed. While that particular number doesn’t mean a lot to us, altering portions can interfere with verifying the ID internally to the document itself.