Sims 3 Pets possible code issue, but deactivation seems impossible?

[svenny1323]

Hello everyone,

I hope someone here has an idea or even an EA contact that I don't, because I feel like running out of options.

I bought the Sims 3 and several Expansion packs last year on instant-gaming, not knowing that it was an "unauthorized seller". Origin accepted all codes and downloaded all expansion packs correctly. It worked fine for a couple of days but after donwloading an item from the Sims Store, the game crashed and since then, I can play everything but the Sims 3 Pets Expansion. It will show in Origin Client as installed, but it does not show in the Sims 3 launcher and can therefore not be selected to be played.

Now, I first tried every advice that I read in the Answer HQ forum, I tried reinstalling everything, clearing Origin cache, "hard reinstall" of Origin, the sims 3 base game, all expansion stuff, etc. I searched for "buggy registry entrys", (sfc/scannow) I even did a full new installation of Windows at some point, the issue is still the same.

I came across the whole "EA deactivates codes from unauthorized sellers" topic and read into that, that it is very likely my code got flagged. Don't understand why just that one and none of the other Sims 3 DLC's, but okay. Apparently only customer service could help me and should at least be able to give me the ability to rebuy the game on Origin.

Today I reached EAs customer service, I told her the whole story and she then told me, she cannot deactivate the game, I should contact the seller. Confused, I contacted them and they responded, that my issue is a technical one and they cannot help with that, I should contact EA customer service (personally I agree with them, since how are they supposed to deactivate a key in my origin account??).

Back to EA customer service I again told the entire story to a different employee and she basically did the same. She told me, her colleague did contact "specialists" and apparently they are not allowed to deactivate any game or DLC, since it can cause issues with a game and I have to contact the seller (despite the fact that I copied her the entire response of the seller into the chat).

So I told her, she is sending me back to the seller, the seller is sending me back to EA, what's gonna come out of this? I asked her whether she can put me in contact with someone who CAN deactivate or delete a game from my account, since I am already okay with buying the same DLC again, but I can't before someone deactivates the old version in Origin, ans she just pointed me to the seller again.

Soooo TL;DR

Origin keeps my game in the library, even lets me install it, but somehow the code is deactivated, so I cannot play it!

I would be fine with buying the game again on Origin or any "authorized seller" but I can't do that, because Origin "thinks" I already own the DLC, despite the fact, that I cannot play it. EA tells me (which I have a hard time to believe) that they cannot help me by for example deleting the DLC from my account, the seller points me back to EA...soooo who then CAN help me? I am fine with taking the blame despite the fact that I did not know, that instant-gaming was "unauthorized", but this way, Origin is actively keeping me from buying the game through any other official seller...

If there is anyone here, who knows any technical or suppport channel I did not try yet, please let me know, because i am kind of stalled!

PS: English is not my native language, I apologize for any grammar mistake and/ or typos.

Thank you !

[puzzlezaddict]

@svenny1323  Unless something has changed very recently, you should absolutely be able to get a bad code deactivated by going through EA customer support.  That's been the answer for the last three years, since this first became a problem.  But since you haven't been able to get anywhere with support, let me ask around and see if there's something else you should be doing.

[svenny1323]

@puzzlezaddictthank you so much for your quick reply!

I really hope you hear something different back than I did. Please let me know once you do.

Thanks in advance for your effort!