Runescape: Account Creation vs Account Deletion

I would like to go over the steps needed to create an account on the MMORPG Runescape:

1. Click Create a free account (New User)
2. Say you are over 18, and live in the US
3. Type in a username. Go.
4. Accept their ToS
5. Choose a password
6. Login

Total amount of time taken: a few minutes.

Now I would like you to see what steps you need to take to delete an account:

1. Contact Jagex Customer Support
2. Receive an automated reply
3. Search for a Jagex email that does not give automated replies
4. Find it in the Terms and Conditions, parents@jagex.com
5. Pretend you are a parent trying to stop a little kid from playing
6. Email parents@jagex.com
7. Receive a reply saying that you must sign an affidavit in the presence of a notary public
8. Email them again, not convinced
9. Receive another reply, saying that even if you know your username, password, secret answers, you can’t skip this process
10. Email them AGAIN
11. Receive a reply, saying that there is no other way to permanently delete an account other than with an affidavit
12. Write what is required for the affidavit on a sheet of paper
13. Go to a lawyer who is also a notary public (hard to find)
14. Sign it in front of them
15. Get them to sign it
16. Go to post office
17. Buy an envelope, put it in, write down the Jagex address in the UK
18. Attach airmail sticker, place postage stamp on
19. Mail
20. Anxiously wait for the rest of your life since they are not going to send any “I have received your letter” back.
21. Hope that your account has been deleted since Game Queries aren’t handled through the postal address given.

Total time taken: a week or more.

Please note that thi account deletion procedure is listed only for people under 18 who have parents who are willing to go to a lawfirm. If you are over 18, bad luck. It is currently impossible to delete your account.

Click to read the messages relayed between Jagex and me.

Me

Recently I have found out that my child had an account with Runescape for 6 years. What made matters worse was that he was using his real name as the “in-game character name” for this period. In other words, my child has told me that he has been constantly breaking Rule 13 before it was even introduced.

Fine, so I am not my own parent. I am me. But before you dump this email into a corner, I would like you to see this as a privacy issue. Rather than renaming my account, however, I think it would be easier for you at Jagex to just terminate it. For one, I would end my addiction with Runescape and leave my old memories behind with it. For two, my real name would not be floating around on Runescape for as long as it exists anymore.

I was going to recount to you my whole story of me starting Runescape before I even had internet, joining Runescape members, my experiences with being scammed and hacked, and also what I actually could learn from playing such a game. The team at Jagex, however, doesn’t seem very “eager” to listen to any voice in the community that is playing the game and making the game. So I shall not continue any further with my “description”.

I realise this is so-called “for parents only”, but I would appreciate it if I could just resolve it with Jagex themselves rather than contacting some other third-party not in the UK. I have tried contacting customer support but all I have been able to receive is an automated reply. There also seems to be a lack of customer support options on the Runescape website.

After 6 years or so of having a runescape account, and a few years inside that being a member, I would just like you to do one last thing. Delete my account. If it helps: I broke the pre-teen section of the T&C when I created my account (which back then I believe still didn’t exist yet).

Again, I am sorry to have bothered you but this is the only way to contact Jagex (considering I would not receive a reply if I sent a postal mail, and that no game queries can be handled there, plus there’s no other options for customer support at the Runescape or Jagex websites). Please try to reply ASAP with a reponse regarding this problem.

Sincerely,

[name here]

Them

Dear Parent,

Thank you for your email regarding your child’s account.

In order to disable the account as per your request, we need to receive
an affidavit stating the following:

That you are the custodial parent

Your e-mail address

Confirmation that your child is under the age of 18

The correct spelling of your child’s RuneScape username

A statement that you require your child’s RuneScape account to be
disabled, as you have not given permission for your child to create a
RuneScape account

The address this needs to be sent to is as follows:

ICU
St Andrews House
90 St Andrews Road
Cambridge
UK
CB4 1DL

This affidavit has to be signed by and in the presence of a “notary
public”. This is someone who is qualified to, and has the legal
authority to, administer oaths. Upon receipt of this, we will be able to
action your request.

Please be aware that we cannot be held responsible for the non-delivery
of affidavit’s, as such we would advise you to ensure that when posting
this item you do so via a form of recorded delivery.

In the meantime should you continue to have concerns regarding your
son/daughter
spending time in-game, we would suggest that you take every precaution
to ensure that your PC is set up in such a way that you are able to
fully monitor their online behaviour.

Although this may not be the response you were hoping for, please be
aware that due to the nature of our business, we need to make sure that
every care is taken to ensure that any requests we receive are from the
parents or guardian of the player in question and not another 3rd party.

Should you have any further queries regarding our policy, please take
some time to go to our homepage at www.runescape.com and read the
section entitled ‘Terms+Conditions’.

Yours sincerely

Mod Martina
parents@jagex.com

Me

Just one final question before I gather all the information: Was that an
automated reply? Yes… or No… Anything else and I will think it’s
automated.
Simple

Them

Dear Parent,

Thank you for your message.

We read every email carefully and answer every inquiry. Please follow
the process mentioned below.

I hope that answers your question.

Kind regards,

Mod Martina
parents@jagex.com

Me

Any shortcuts if I know the username, password, secret questions, AND am that child? I don’t want to spend much time sending airmail.

Them

Dear Parent,

thank your for your message.

In order to ensure, that you are the custodial parent and your child
owns the account you want us to disable, we need a signed affidavit. I
am sorry, but there is no other way to permanently disable an account
from RuneScape. We have this process in place out of security reasons.

I am sorry, but I am not able to help you any further,

Yours sincerely,

Mod Marsian
parents@jagex.com