Hi!
I know this is most likely not the right place to ask this question (since it has nothing to do with SteamGifts), but barring the Steam Forums where my account is still waiting for activation in the moderator queue, I didn't really know where else to ask.

So, the crux of the matter is that I bought a key from Amazon a while ago, specifically a key for Metro: Last Light. When I tried activating it on Steam, however, I was told that the game wasn't accessible from my region (it goes without saying that I'm not in the United States). I contacted both Steam Support and Deep Silver Support to see whether there was anything I could do, or whether I'd just wasted 15$.

Steam Support only gave me a form answer which, while clearly stating what the problem was, didn't offer any real solution. A refund wasn't feasible, as Amazon seems to have a no-refunds-on-downloadable-items policy.
Deep Silver Support's reply wasn't a form, and it did give me a possible solution: if I had a friend in North America who could activate the game from there for me, then the game would also be usable in Italy (where I live) afterwards.

I didn't really consider this as an option, mainly because I have very few American friends on Steam, and I don't know them well enough to trust them with my account. But a few days ago, while talking with a friend of mine on Skype, I realised that she does know a few people in America she trusts. So I asked her whether she could arrange that activation thingy for me, and she said yes, and now we're basically waiting for her friend to pop up to ask her.

But, and here's where the reason for this topic comes in, a doubt came in my mind. Is it legal to do something like this? I would logically think it is, since all I'm doing is providing my account data to a friend (well, friend-of-a-friend), who therefore has my permission and is not doing anything illegal (though of course I've already changed my password and will change it again right after I give her access).
But, looking at it from the Steam perspective, what they would see is my account suddenly logging in from the US, activating a game, and then logging back in from Italy. Which might seem an awful lot like using a proxy server, which I believe is indeed illegal.

Long story short, I'd like to know if something like this might put my account at risk. There's an offer right now at GamersGate for Metro: Last Light (expiring in about 13 hours), and if there's any chance of my account being banned, for example, I'd much rather buy the same game twice (as much as I don't like wasting money).

Sorry for the long post, and thanks in advance for your help. =)

11 years ago*

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Well, technically it's against Steam rules to share account information isn't it?

You may not reveal, share or otherwise allow others to use your password or Account.

But people have been doing it for quite a while and haven't gotten banned yet...it's still up to you whether you want to do it or not.

Edit: Also, if you're gonna do that, might as well use a proxy. Same difference only you don't run the risk of having the person steal your account/key.

11 years ago
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That clause is mostly to cover Steam's butt for anything that goes wrong falls onto the victim not Steam.

11 years ago
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If you are willing to go through with this, make sure you change your credentials, and choose a really strong password too.
How close is this friend related to you, if she hamstrings you will there be consequences for her?, you need to have some kind of leverage.
Always approach things in this manner "Everything that can go wrong will go wrong at the worst possible moment unless I do something about it".

11 years ago
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Did you buy this on Amazon.com?

Because it clearly states:
''Downloading: Currently, this item is available only to customers located in the United States and who have a U.S. billing address.''

How did you even buy it then?

And as CombatWars says, it's not legal to share account information. Accounts are to be used by one person only.

11 years ago
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You can still buy digital items on Amazon by changing your billing address to a U.S. billing address.

11 years ago
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"And as CombatWars says, it' s not legal to share account information"

Terms of service =/= law, just to be clear.

11 years ago
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Just because DOWNLOADING is not avaiable to non-us customers that don't mean activating the key is us bound.

11 years ago
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Proxies and VPNs aren't illegal, though using them to bypass region restrictions may get you banned per Steam's Subscriber Agreement.

("You agree that you will not use IP proxying or other methods to disguise the place of your residence, whether to circumvent geographical restrictions on game content, to purchase at pricing not applicable to your geography, or for any other purpose. If you do this, we may terminate your access to your Account.")

Same goes for having a friend log in from a different country. If you didn't contact Amazon's customer support, give it a try. They might make a one time exception. Otherwise, your best bet is to sell, trade, or giveaway the key. Judging by completed eBay listings, you could make a profit.

11 years ago
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They do sometimes give one time refunds, depending on your luck. Might be harder if you have bought multiple times in past and don't expect to be able buy (games) afterwards.

11 years ago
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I would advise going to steamtrades, Metro Last Light sells for 6 Team Fortress 2 keys at the least, and the value is close to 15$ (But a little less)

11 years ago
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Buying games from nonsteam and have problems...

GOOD IDEA!

http://www.ikirov.ru/img/Interview/84109/large_Interview.IMG_9419.JPG

11 years ago
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@kybaig: As a matter of fact I make it a personal commitment to always approach things according to that maxim. =)
I've already changed my password to a very strong one especially for this, and will change it once again to a different one when it's done, just in case. My friend is a very close one, and I'm 100% sure she won't do anything bad; the friend-of-a-friend I don't really know, which is why we would do this via remote-control (I think I didn't mention that in the original post, though), just in case.

@CitricScorpion and CombatWars: Yes, technically non-US residents couldn't buy game keys, but as Ryumunk said, it's possible. I've done it several times in the past, without encountering problems of any kind; of course I knew it would be a risk, I wasn't particulary surprised to eventually find a region-locked one. I'm not complaining or raging, just calmly trying to figure out if it's possible to un-waste the money. =P

Anyway, apparently it's officially not OK to share account information. Even though it does seem like it's a clause to cover Steam's butt, as Ryumunk said, it's still written clear as day that I may not allow others to use my account. Can't get much more explicit than that, I think.
Also, I'd rather not use proxies or VPN, if anything because I have no idea how to make them work.

Well, thanks for the help. I suppose I will give up on the idea, since it quite obviously seems to circumvent Steam rules. =)

11 years ago
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Closed 11 years ago by Damon89.