It doesn’t require much of deep search to uncover issues surrounding Gamivo.com who sell software and game keys for platforms like Microsoft or Steam etc. I’ve only used them twice and both occasions were problematic so now I will use alternative third-party resellers.
The first occasion was when I bought a game key for Steam and then all of sudden, it was just revoked by the developer/publisher. I have no idea why but it could be that the keys were ‘stolen’ or even purchased with stolen cards. Obviously I wasn’t aware this could happen and I would never have bought the keys if I knew this was the case. Gamivo have no automated or even structured-form way of getting a refund back so it took a lot of email correspondence. I’m talking hours for a £1.50 key but I’m not going to let this platform or its vendors steal from me.
Incredibly and somewhat ironically, despite being a victim of their scam, you have to prove you’re not trying to scam them by taking screenshots. This is what they required:
Firstly, please provide us with screenshots of the section available after following this route:
- In the Steam launcher, go to your Library,
- Click on the game that got revoked,
- On the game’s page, please click on the “Support” tab,
- Take a screenshot showing the exact date of the revoke – please make sure that the game’s title is visible.
Additionally, please proceed with the usual key activation, which would confirm that the revoked key was activated with your Steam account. We kindly ask you to provide screenshots showing:
- Key visible in the activation window,
- Error message following the attempt to reactivate the key (even if it was already used)
After messing about with all that, five days later (after chasing), they come back to me and ask for:
Could you please provide us with the same set of screenshots, making sure that they capture the entire desktop and that a time-stamp (current date and time) is visible in each of them, e.g. on your taskbar?
Ridiculous, I ended up jumping through several hours of hoops with them and for a £1.50 key, it took 12 messages and 9 days for them to refund me. Others have not been so lucky (or are not as belligerent as me).
The second issue was more common to other users. They have some sort of SMART subscription scam where they add this discretely to your checkout. I didn’t notice at any point until I saw the payment transaction from my account. After complaining, they replied with:
We can confirm that you were charged for a monthly subscription.
The option to subscribe is visible during checkout and it was activated in order ********
[…]
We have canceled your SMART subscription. It will remain active until 11/4/25 and afterward, all its perks including our live chat service will disappear. You will not be charged further.
Since the service was delivered as described, it will not be possible to refund it.
I wrote back to them explaining…
then under UK law, websites are legally prohibited from defaulting me into a subscription without my explicit, informed consent. This practice, known as a “subscription trap” and is illegal. You did not get my explicit informed consent for the subscription and also under UK law, I must be provided with a 14 day cooling off period. This is according to the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (DMCC Act).
Additionally, the UK GDPR rules explicitly state that consent for marketing or a subscription cannot be obtained through pre-ticked checkboxes.
Please refund my payment or I will have to go via my car issuer and claim for a refund in that manner. I also suggest, you change your business practices to one that is transparent and enables consumers and informed process by which they can actively decide to join any subscriptions rather than be defaulted into subscriptions.
Companies like Gamivo will prey on individuals but like any predator, there is a cost-benefit approach and if an individual is too much hassle, rather than expose their practices, risk bad press or lawsuits; they will often refund but only if said individual shows their willing to fight. See additonal info below about rights.
This video shows their “scammy tactics” and it’s worse than my subscription trap experience.
Gamivo scam customers, use predatory practices and make refund processes so complicated and long-winded, many customers have to endure the loss. Avoid at all costs – boycott them.
Additional Info
https://www.trustindex.io/reviews/www.gamivo.com – horror stories of experiences with Gamivo
While not definitively illegal in all jurisdictions, Gamivo’s Smart subscription practices are considered deceptive and predatory by many users and have raised questions about their legality under consumer protection laws. The company uses tactics that cause many people to unknowingly sign up for and be charged for a monthly subscription.
Tactics that cause unknowing enrollment
Gamivo has been repeatedly accused of automatically enrolling customers into its “Smart” subscription service during checkout, without their clear and explicit consent. This is often described as an “opt-out” process rather than an “opt-in,” where a customer must notice and deselect a pre-checked box to avoid the recurring charge.
Over time, Gamivo’s enrollment tactics have allegedly become more obscured:
In the past, the Smart option was automatically added to the cart, but a customer could manually remove it.
Later, some customers reported that even if they disabled the option, it would reactivate itself at the final purchase stage.
More recently, customers have reported the option to disable it is entirely absent, with the subscription being added without any warning.
Legality concerns
Consumer protection laws in the UK, EU, and elsewhere often require that customers give clear, informed, and explicit consent for a recurring charge. Practices used by Gamivo could be considered an unfair commercial practice or a “dark pattern,” which misleads or coerces consumers.
For example, the new Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (DMCC) in the UK introduces specific rules for subscription contracts. Key requirements include:
Clear pre-contractual information for consumers.
Notices sent to consumers before a renewal payment is due.
The ability for consumers to exit a contract in a straightforward way.
Gamivo’s alleged practice of automatically enrolling customers without proper disclosure would likely violate these new regulations.
Difficult and misleading cancellation process
Even after discovering the unwanted subscription, customers have reported that canceling is difficult, and Gamivo’s process is designed to be misleading.
Some users have said that unsubscribing on the website requires a follow-up confirmation link sent via email.
Gamivo has been accused of purposely making this email look like an informal message, not a confirmation request, and relying on it being sent to a spam folder.
Customer support has allegedly delayed or refused refunds, even when a user canceled immediately after the unauthorized charge.
Legal recourse for affected consumers
If you have been charged without your consent, you have options for legal recourse:
Credit card chargeback or PayPal claim: Many customers have had success by filing a dispute with their payment provider, such as PayPal or their bank. When faced with a potential chargeback, Gamivo is often more likely to issue a refund.
Report the company: You can report Gamivo’s practices to consumer protection agencies, such as the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) in the UK.
Gather evidence: If you were charged without authorization, take screenshots of your purchase history, the fine print on the site, and any communication with customer support. This will be crucial for a chargeback or a legal claim.