Pokemon Go “Unfairly” Bans Player That Spent $2400 On Microtransactions

It looks like a Pokemon Go player has found himself permanently banned from the popular augmented reality gaming app for minor gaming misdemeanors despite spending more than $2400 on microtransactions while playing the game.

According to a report by ABC 15, Pokemon Go gamer Dave Summers who had started playing the app since its release in July 2016 has found himself unfairly banned from the app after being reported by what the victim says could be rival jealous of his exploits in the game. Summers had reached Level 40 the highest level Pokemon Go gamers can get, and by May someone started reporting him for his slightly offensive username "VagizardBeater."

After his account was blocked he changed his name to "PokeBeaterUpper," only to find himself reported again. He then changed "PichuPuncherPHX" only to experience the same thing. His last two name changes "PichuPuncher69" an "PichuPunchuer666" which were all made out of frustration also got him blocked and then eventually banned from the game.

Summers wanted to talk to an actual human to explain his situation thinking that he might have just been targeted by a jealous rival, however the gamer says he only received automated responses after emailing the support team. He tried to file an appeal and asked which terms he had violated and then the Pokemon Go support sent him a surprising response saying that it had reviewed his account and listed down his sins as using unofficial software to cheat the system and falsify his location.

Summers was shocked by the response, denying to have ever cheated and proposing that Niantic ought to make a better system at solving player issues.

"I've traveled. I've spent countless hours grinding toward this goal. I've spent money on it, real money--$2400 and to think that it could have been taken away again just at anybody's discretion?" Summers airs out his frustration.

If Summer's story is true, then Niantic ought to take the case more seriously. The Pokemon Go support team could have responded to the issue much instead of immediately banning the gamer – they should have known that something else aside from cheating was going on with all the emails the gamer had sent to the support team.

A spokesperson acknowledged ABC15's emails regarding the issue, however it seems like the company still doesn't have a response available for everyone interested in the case.

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