Need help to change my name in my account.

Q u o t e:
I can't stand the idea of what they are doing with the Real ID, I unfortunately put my real name on this account when I made it like 5 years ago, never thinking they would do something like this.

I'm sorry, Mumonk, but providing your real name is required when creating an account.

Q u o t e:

Establishing an Account.
Prior to (or in lieu of) creating a user account on the Service (a "WoW Account"), or using an existing WoW Account, you may be required to establish a separate account (a "Blizzard Account") on Blizzard’s centralized account system. When creating these accounts, you may be required to provide Blizzard with certain personal information, financial information and an unused Authentication Key provided to you by Blizzard. You agree that you will supply accurate information to Blizzard when requested, and that you will update that information promptly after it changes.

http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/legal/termsofuse.html

It is also important to point out that Real ID is entirely optional. Your name will only be displayed if you invite or accept a friend invitation through the Real ID system or if you choose to post on the forums after the forum system has been updated with Real ID.

http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.html?topicId=25578318100&sid=1

http://forums.battle.net/thread.html?topicId=25626109041

Q u o t e:
LISTEN TO US VERY CAREFULLY. ACCESS TO CUSTOMER SERVICE AND TECH SUPPORT FORUMS ARE NOT OPTIONAL.

Actually, yes they are, Tieria.

The Customer Service forum is not an alternate petition system. We provide advice on what you can do if you are having an issue with something in-game. Much of that advice is to submit an in-game petition or write to [email protected]. Much of the information we provide is already in one of the many stickied threads available.

The Technical Support forum is also optional as you have other methods of contact to address any issues you may be experiencing (i.e. Mail/webform or phone).

http://us.blizzard.com/support/article.xml?articleId=21049

Q u o t e:
I understand that Real ID is optional, but AT LEAST give people an option to hide (read: not display) our Last Names. That will at least make those of us that are a little anal about our security more happy, without comprimising the personal, social aspect of Real ID.

Though I understand your concerns, Drashnar, this is not the place to voice them. You may post in the General Discussion forum or Suggestion forum with any feedback you have. There is an ongoing thread in General that is being actively monitored.

http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.html?topicId=25712374700&sid=1

Q u o t e:
So you say, I call your bluff that it really isn't optional if an addon can get your real name.

If I am not mistaken, Allysia, that is from an addon that someone must use. It isn't an addon that someone else can have in order to obtain your information. It is an option within an addon that you have to have installed.

Quit simply the advice is the same as it is in that article. We have always and continue to encourage users to make sure only trusted addons are installed.

Q u o t e:
Damage Control, much?

Trying to correct hyperbole and propaganda.

Q u o t e:
All you have basically assured me is that it will take no more than someone logging in, RealID friending an account, and they will have a big chunk of my legal identity, including where I work, where I live, what I've done with my charitable contributions, all of which I cannot stop from being public record but I can surely stop from waving around in front of hyperactive and aggressive network thugs.

If you do not accept the invitation, Qawiu, then that your first and last name will not be visible. Also if you do not post on the forums once the change is implemented your name will not be visible.

We do not currently have the option to delete and account or remove all associated information. Nor am I aware of any plans to make such options available.

Q u o t e:
If someone already invited or accepted a Real ID friend before learning about the forum changes, and now want not to have a name listed on the forums, is it too late to opt-out of the Real ID system? Can a person go back, get rid of their Real ID friends and "undo" it?

Your name being listed on the forum is not something you can opt out of, Maidenelora, meaning once the change goes live you will not be able to post on the forum without your name being visible. When the new form is introduced, which is planned to be shortly before Cataclysm's launch, anyone who chooses to post will have their name visible.

If you do not wish to reveal your name on the forum you simply need to refrain from posting on the new forum.

Please note that this is not a retroactive change. Any posts from before the forums switch over will not suddenly display your name.

Q u o t e:
well if I can't access the game and have a problem I guess I'm stuck calling. which kind of SUCKS.

Well that depends on the issue. If you are unable to log into the game due to a technical issue the odds are fairly good that there are troubleshooting steps already available on the Technical Support forum and through Support Articles.

For more complicated issues it is usually a good idea e-mail or call.

If you are having a billing issue you'd need to contact our Billing and Account Services department. If your account was actioned you'd need to contact Account Administration. Though we try to provide what advice we can in this forum we rarely are in a position where we can directly assist someone if they are unable to log in.

Nothing has really been lost if you choose not to post.

Q u o t e:
Because living on the other side of the world, I really, really, really want to spend the equivalent of USD 5.00 per minute being put on hold, to be told to go and post in the Forums.

Do you even think things through? Or do you just spout whatever the party line?

The only reason I can think of you would be told to post on the forum, Aenarion, is if you had a suggestion that needed to be directed to the Suggestion forum though our In-Game Support Reps can usually pass along a suggestion if you submit a petition or write to [email protected].

You may be directed to a post on one of the available forum but that wouldn't' be to have a discussion but to simply pass along information as updates to possible ongoing issues would likely be posted and updated.

You may be directed towards our Technical Support forum if you need troubleshooting assistance with a technical issue. Again, a dialog is not entirely necessary as we have a large number of posts and support articles available to help with many different areas. If additional troubleshooting is required it may require more than what can be addressed through a post so e-mail or phone is best.

Q u o t e:
You fail to see the point. What happens if and when I am told to post in the forums for assistance? Can I then opt-out? How will this resolve any issues I have?

Apparently I do fail to see your point, Aenarion, because I simply can't fathom a reason why you would be told to post on the forum except if you wanted to see a change implemented to the game. If you wanted to see a change implemented to the game or our policies the normal course of action would be to recommend posting in the Suggestion forum where our Developers could review your feedback.

Obviously once the new forum is implemented that introduces Real ID here that might still be suggested but as I said there are other methods to pass along a suggestion such as submitting an in-game petition or writing to [email protected].

There is no other reason why you may be referred to post on the forum.

Q u o t e:
Wish I had known about this forum change BEFORE I started using the RealID in game.

I'm not certain why, Kasakaa, your involvement with the Real ID system in-game has nothing to do with the forum. As it currently stands, once we switch to the new forum format, which won't be released for World of Warcraft until around the time Cataclysm comes out if you post your name will be displayed. There isn't an option to not show your name, the only way to not show your name would be to not post.

Q u o t e:
I have real life friends on different servers, so we're friends on that so we can talk all the time.

Which is what the system is intended for, Kasakaa. :)

If you have not read it already the following thread covers the philosophy behind this change.

http://forums.battle.net/thread.html?topicId=25626109041

Q u o t e:
So, threads like this one aren't telling people to post on a forum for support?
http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.html?topicId=25626345934&sid=1

Yes, there is currently a post that encourages those experiencing the issue to post. Because there is a very limited number of folks experiencing this issue we are attempting to hurry the delivery along when possible, it truly doesn't require our assistance as the pets/mounts are arriving eventually but it is something we are trying to help with if we can.

I'm not certain what your point is, Kaidiel, Real ID isn't currently on the forum so your example is completely irrelevant. After Real ID is introduced, several months from now, things will likely be handled differently.

Q u o t e:

Might want to change the prerecorded message that plays when Billing is swamped with calls, too, since it also redirects people to the forums.

Yes, for possible advice with in-game issues or for technical support. Again, the change to the forum hasn't been implemented yet.

Q u o t e:

Well, that settles that. Vrakthris, you may inform your superiors that if you implement the feature to display my real name on a forum post, that I will never use any of Blizzard's forums ever again.

I'm sorry, Madia, but that is not something that I will be able to do. If you wish to provide your feedback regarding Real ID there is a thread in the General Discussion forum that you may add your voice to.

http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.html?topicId=25712374700&sid=1

Q u o t e:
Still waiting for your unequivocal reassurance that I will never ever be required to post on the forums, sir.

You are never required to post on the forums, even now. We may recommend posting in a particular forum but it isn't required for any reason. There are always alternative methods to acquire assistance.

Q u o t e:

Optional, assuming the person does not use features they pay for.


>>>NOT OPTIONAL<<<

When I pay you for content, and you prevent me from using said content.

You do not pay for access to the forums, Unholysaint, they are an additional feature that you are able to take advantage of if you have an active account in good standing. It is and always has been a privilege, not a right.

Q u o t e:

It's been a couple months Vrak, but i'm pretty sure i've had ingame blues tell me to post here for certain things(or tech support).

Yes, you may have been told that, but as I mentioned Real ID hasn't come to the World of Warcraft forums yet. Anything that came previously is not very relevant since the responses provided will likely change with the new forums.

Q u o t e:

And you shouldn't dismiss the player run tips, they're not official, but they still play a big role in helping people find the place to get help. The first people i'm likely to ask where i should go to solve a problem are
people who might know how to help me>some post in one of the non-CS forums>friends>guildies

I don't dismiss players as a resource, Tyrazsun, far from it. I think people should seek assistance from their fellows far more often then they do already but that isn't the point of this conversation. The point would be that you are not required to post here, that it is an entirely optional feature. If you do not wish to provide your name on the forum then you do not have to, you can opt not to post.

Q u o t e:

I already have. But undoubtable, you WILL, at some point in the course of doing your job, discuss this with your superiors. And you will honestly be able to tell them "Well, I know at least one person for sure will not use the forums again."

I've never understood the opinion that our superiors aren't very aware of what is going on on the forums. There is a very large thread in the General Discussion forum that is being monitored by our Community Managers. There are dozens if not hundreds of threads being created that are in the Suggestion forum with feedback regarding this upcoming change. I appreciate that you may not be using the forum if Real ID remains the way it is, Madia, but if I don't say a thing to anyone about it that doesn't mean that no one will know that people are upset by this announcement.

This is a very closely monitored issue.

Q u o t e:
Oh, and one last piece of advice, Vrakthris. But when real names do start appearing, I suggest you remember what happened to one of your co-workers and make your phone number unlisted. I am not threatening you. But it would be naive to think "Oh, that won't happen to me." Not only is Blizzard's change affecting it's customer base, but it is opening up it's employees to possible danger. And that concerns me as well.

Bashiok was aware of what he was doing, Madia, and he stands by his actions. The results of his post were not unexpected. My number has been unlisted since I first acquired a phone as well as my address. My Facebook is set to private. Anything you can find out about me you are welcome to. I'm not certain why anyone would care to know the details of my life but I suppose I could use a co-writer if I ever decide to write my autobiography.

Q u o t e:
Forums are not a perk .. Customer Service, Suggestions, Realm Status, Tech forums are all critical to the smooth playing of WoW.

You can still read the forum without divulging any informatin, Svenlaugen, which means you can receive much of the benefit that these forum have to offer.

This seems to be going around in a circle so I'll be locking it now. As stated previously if you wish to discuss the Real ID system please post in the General Discussion forum or Suggestion forum.