So, thanks to a crappy app on the iPhone by Blizzard - even when you make a backup copy of your iPhone in iTunes - and restore it, your authenticator resets with a different number thus banning you from your own account. All other apps restore exactly as your backup, but not the Blizzard authenticator.

Thats what happened to me. But it gets better. Try calling customer support in English and be told for 20 hours that the lines are too busy, call back another time. Try the Spanish line (since one assumes that Spanish people are nice?) and the guy tells you in perfect English he will only help you if you speak to him in Spanish. I habe no comprende in Spanish.

Try the French number.... and realise while waiting that the French hate Americans even more than Brits do... so give up and hang up.

Try the German line and hope for the best, Ich spreche ein bischen Deutch. And voila! (oops french soz). Someone is willing to help me. BUT BUT BUT!

"Sir, your passport doesn't match the name on your account - we can't unlock your account - sorry." (note: I don't go by my birth name - I hate it.)

So after 7 emails with atached photos of passport, gas bill, bank statement, credit card used to pay account, specific details of recent wow transactions, and my password and secret question answer - which happens to match details in my passport... I am still told "No".

So I call again. English lines still too full to take calls. I go German again. Speak to a nice woman. Go back and forth, get put on hold for (20 mins) then a British guy gets on and asks, "Sir, we are sorry but we take security very seriously and everyone else in the world has a name that matches their passport, why don't you?" I give him my long life history (45 years worth) and why it doesn't match - having to do with religious journey, life experience, unable to change a US name by deed poll from the UK, blah blah blah, etc. He says he has to talk to someone else, puts me on hold (for another 20 mins).

German woman finally comes back on and says, "Sorry sir, we can't unluck your account - your names don't match. We will make further queries and call you back."

An hour later (impressive!) I get a call back and am told, "We need you to answer more questions." And then we go into security questions from 4 years ago - apparently I reset them and didn't remember. So I remember the name of my old pet who is now dead - fortunately on the first go, etc. and I am told, "Ok, we will, this one time only, take off the authenicator from your Blizzard account. If this happens again, you will be unable to access your account any more." So I ask, can I just change my account name (it's only my first name!) to match my passport, since your authenticator is at fault and your German rep said I will definitely be hacked if I don't have one?" "We will check into that and get back to you, sir."

This is the email I got back from them:

"Hello Joseph,

Thanks for the call. We have looked into the issue of your name on the account not matching the one on your passport. We have discussed this and will not be able to change the name on your account. We suggest that you contact the UK and US governments and arrange to change your name with them to Joseph."

LOL!!!! So, the Republic of Blizzard wants me to change my name with 2 governments so that when their authenticator fails again they can prove it is me. It would be easier to get forged govt. documents than do that!

Then, again, I guess I will just keep my account unprotected - let it get hacked and let them clean up the mess.

Unless you have any other suggestions?

It only took 21 hours to sort out :s

1 don't use an authenticater
2 use one but not with an iphone

go buy a real authenticator u cheap ass

That was a epic read shab's.

hopefully u can laugh at me at much as ehd did for me getting this:

Subject: WoW Blizzard Europe – Temporary account suspension

Account Name: SKERWIN01234
Character Name: Sikkó
Realm: Nagrand

Category of Violation: RacialEthnic
Account Action: 48 Hour Suspension

Greetings,

We are writing to inform you that due to your language or behaviour we have, unfortunately, had to add a warning to your World of Warcraft account. It is with regret that we take this type of action; however, it is in the best interests of the World of Warcraft community as a whole and for the integrity of the game.

Please note that should any further violations of our Rules and Policies occur, this incident will be taken into consideration when determining the consequences to your account. This could include further warnings, account suspension or account termination.

We strongly suggest you review our rules and policies on this category to avoid further action in the future, these can be found at: http://www.wow-europe.com/en/policy/harassmentp1.html

Please do not reply to this email as you will receive an automated response. If you have any further enquiries regarding your account status, please send them to: WoWConcernsEU@blizzard.com.

Regards,

English Game Master Team
Blizzard Europe

Sincerly,
Xyphibennu
Game Master
Blizzard Entertainment Europe


Guess i wont be calling somone that word again :D

Ok. But remember they said they won't unlock my account again. So what happens if the non iPhone authenticator battery dies or somehow gets lost or stolen. It's not worth the risk. I will just skip it.

Sparkky, don't use the "N" word! And lol, that is quite an account name. :)

Lol sorry i got a bit angry and went OTT ;/ yeh forgot it shows account name lol