Yeah it’s very sad we’ve been very vocal about how unhappy we are about it but fun com doesn’t care. I’m not privy to how much money this game actually makes but apparently their CEO Rui Cassais doesn’t feel that this game makes enough money to devote anyone to. They actually made a forum post a few months back describing the fact that they will no longer support non-paying players. So if you’re free to play player you’re basically screwed. It all amounts to Funcom saying. “You want help with your problem? F*** you pay me!”
it is what it is but if you can get past all that the game is fun and worth playing. I wish I could give you better news.
what I have suggested in the past is that they bring back the follower of Asura program and allow community volunteers to help out as GM’s. Hell I’d even be willing to sign up for that (If they still give out free subscription membership for service that is) Although that sort of gm wouldn’t be able to help you with financial transactions, issues in the game could be solved relatively easily.
I’m going to make a suggestion that you just create a new account and roll a new character. If you haven’t played the game in a long time it’s going to be a completely different experience. The game has changed a lot since early days. Might not hurt to go back through it all with a fresh outlook. and then you can sort out your issue with your main account at some point down the road if you decide you want to stick around. That’s what I would do if I were you.