MADDEN26. JUST BOUGHT, COIN SUSPEND. Case #233380500. Refund or Suite?

So, I'm sure discussions like this have been dime a dozen as I've found out since my tv screen said "COIN DISTRIBUTION" followed with "We've noticed your Madden Account broke EA's gameplay rules concerning coin distrubution. All coins have been removed from the account and your access to the Auction House has been permanently suspended for Madden NFL 26". 

First and foremost, I'd like to state, I have never broken any rules on any EA games, since the 90's, yes, I said the 90's. I play a pile of games and it is my escape from reality, as I suffer from PTSD from several combat tours. I play games like Elder Scrolls, Destiny 1 and 2 (Day one for both games and the hours on the games, I'd rather not say), Battlefield 6, GTA, a few others and just took the deal on Madden during Black Friday. I use to be a very involved Madden player year round until around Madden 07 or 08 sometime and it has been hard to come back to since. I bought Madden 24, could not get back into it, waste of money. As Battlefield 6 bugs became more and more recently, especially with their update two weeks ago, the entire game with bugs is awful. Imagine, after every match, having to actually quit (close) the game, just to be able to join another. Way more bugs than that. Regardless, last week, I booted up Madden 26 again and said "Let me try again". Started Franchise, went to create a stadium, what a JOKE!!! I know there are a ton of players that know, we use to have so many better features in Madden for things like that, heck, we had to deal with the stadium budget each season. Now, we just choose one stadium of 4, wow. But after a few season games in franchise, of course, I'm a huge NFL fan and a fan of the history of the NFL. I saw Colten McKivitz on the Ultimate and was like "I'm sure that's time gated, I don't know what it is, but as a 9ers fan, I want it." 

So, I entered Ultimate. Right away, I was lost. I opened up all the packs for the welcome aboard, felt lucky with some of the players of course, as I'm sure we all did. I didn't go to youtube or forums or anything, I just read all the challenges, saw the store, the snow currency, and went to work in the zero chill challenges. Then, I started the "vs CPU" for coin, packs etc to get packs. My lineup, I don't think is that bad and all of it, but maybe three cards, are cards I pulled from packs (NOT BOUGHT at that point) and my overall for my team was high 80's to some low 90's. I bought Michael Vick, Terrell Owens and Randy Moss the second day as I had around 300k coin already, from the pass, that it forced me to buy for $14,99, then it prompted and kept prompting me for the premium pass of another $14.99. So that's $30 right off the bat, for a pass!! Battlefield doesn't even charge that much and BF6, brings in extra rewards pass for each new event. My team felt better with some wr's and my fav qb from back in the day. I think Vick cost 24k coin, TO was about 10k, and Moss was like 150k coin. After about a week, I had a lot of coin saved up from all the pass rewards and games and cards i would quick sell. I started getting the presents to open on Christmas, and started farming all challenges that got me snow. I never, and will never enter, the H2H. I know Madden enough to know, I'm not going against all you that know all the soft spots in the game, there's been soft spots since Madden in the 90's, it's notihng new. (I'm 44 years old btw if you think I'm some old man). I wanted more cards, WHY?!?!?! MADDEN ULTIMATE CREATES AN ADDICTION. We all know that. I did not when I first entered for McKivitz. I knew it within a day or two. I actually spend money in the stores of games. Elder Scrolls, I spent $800 in 2024 alone. So, yes, I am someone, that if there is something they see that they want, I spend money in the game stores, nowhere else! Two days, on Dec 23, 2025, I said "sure, let me buy some packs". I clicked all the packs, read them and spent $50 on the green currency (not sure what it's called) and bought 2 (2875 cost) packs. It said I had a chance at a LTD and the OVR was decent. I opened the first pack, talk about DISSAPOINTMENT! Nothing but trash players and a Kyle Juszchek that had gold coins on it. When I clicked it, it showed them in the store for a high coin amount and I was like "Okay, I'll sell that one and buy cards I want". So, I sold that card, I don't remember for how much, but it was more than the "quicksell". Yesterday, Dec 24th, I used some of that coin to buy Bosa's new card. I googled "If I use a player, is it bound to my account" (I'm new, or returning new) and when I learned they don't bind by using them, I tried them out in practice. Bosa, was solid, so I kept him, upgraded him and went back to grinding. The other cards I got in the packs, none were over 90 OVR rating and I sold most of them in the store. I am beyond new to this and EA can see all of that from my game history on their end. I have played nonstop, everyday nearly, since entering Franchise mode a few days ago. Yesterday, the rest of those cards sold. Last evening, the only card I bought, was the John Riggins, that averages around 100k or a little up. I'm a huge history nerd about NFL, but when I tried him out in practice, I said to myself "man, he's trash". Ultimate is how you want your team clearly, but I could tell, I'll never play with him. Unlike Bosa, Moss etc, an hour later, I placed Riggins back in the auction store. I set to like, not the max, if I knew I'd need to remember, I would have taken videos, but as soon as it sold, it booted me out of Ultimate and the "Coin" screen popped up.  As soon as I read "permanently suspended", my world crashed. I know that sounds dramatic, but some people reading this, will understand, and of those people, I am reffering to those that suffer from mental illness. 

My PTSD, diagnosed after my last tour and dealing with that, TBI, memory loss, anxiety, ADHD and a whole lot more, interfere with daily living. I avoid people, going in public, making new friends and more. So, video games, are my place that I escape my struggles and can temporily forget they are struggles. The only problem I have ever had or trouble with gaming companies is, I have had some things said or typed in chat, that got me temp suspensions etc. I'll say those words again, "TEMPORARY SUSPENSIONS". I DID NOT violate any rules of the coin as I have read it, NOW and to be suspended right off the bat for a first time EVER violation without any warning, is EXTREME. No game, that I have played since 2002 online, has ever created such a strong suspension of permament with no warning. In reality, all the other games I play, like ESO, make you read the rules and click to digitally sign them.  I see my appeal will be denied, I know it will. 

Here is the truth, in a short version. I ATTEMPTED TO BUY packs from Madden 26 store, however, for $50, NOT ONE CARD/player, was decent enough to become a starter or a backup in my lineup that night. Why in the heck would I ever buy another pack again? There's $100 packs in there, for what, 1, maybe two cards that you can use? Think about that for one minute, the game itself cost $69, but if you want a CHANCE and a chance only at a good card through their store, it's too costly. Let's say the player does land the best current card in the game, and heck, let's say two cards. Is $100, or even $50 worth that? Cash, worth that? No. I learned my lesson and will never buy another back, but that's beside the point as they suspended me. It's highway robbery. 

I give EA sports $50, and got a few cards that can only be sold, not used bc of their OVR, and so, I sold them. Now, I broke the rules. Try putting cards in there that make sense to the dollar amount. Today, I showed my sister as my newphew has video games and is getting better and she understood what I showed her; which was, "DONT BUY ANYTHING IN MADDEN FOR HIM". Real cash, in the high dollar amounts, gets you TRASH and EA Sports knows it, especially the new owners. Why does EA crack down so hard on those that actually break the coin rules? Because they didn't get the money a third party seller got, that's why. Truth is, you all know it, whose playing Madden Ultimate in March? Exactly. All that cash, for a few weeks or months of playing, is INSANE. 

However, I played by the rules, on my end. I bought stuff from their store, my team was full of 88's-94's and the mid 80's, were trash. Maybe I bought the wrong packs, but in reality, that should not matter when you're spending real cash, in these amounts. I sold them, as those cards had NO use as their OVR was too low. Did I buy any expensive cards, no. Did I sell tons of cards, no, like 5 in four days. 

Christmas Eve, in panic, I tried everything to contact EA, thinking maybe I could prove my case and get it resolved to enjoy Ultimate again in time for Christmas, nope. And from all the research today, I know they will not do a real investigation or reinstate me. Whatever happened to warnings first, if someone did in fact violate terms. I don't even play online. 

I submitted my appeal this morning and tried to play Ultimate, how we can when this happens. Everything of the addiction and something to do, fun, new, grind, work towards etc, it's all gone. I played one challenge and logged out. Can't complete some sets now, will never get some cards or players. Can't sell cards. Can't get new ones. NOT giving EA anymore cash in any game. I don't play online in H2H in Ultimate, so in reality, maybe EA did me a favor. 

The addiction video games create with these stores, is insane. Take Elder Scrolls for example and man, wow. Housing in the game, if you want a house, it's 14,000 crowns or higher. That conversion to cash, it's around $115 for one house. Some people have all, which is over 50 homes. Mounts that players ride, which do not help players in the game at all, it's simply cosmetic, wow, big wow to those. You might have to spend over $600 to get the mount you want to ride and people do, all day long. I have in the past. Players on that game, usually have well over $1,000 in game purchases for stuff that does not help you in the game at all. Battlefield 6, wow, do they push skins on us. Can you see your skin when you play? When you run and gun, do you see your weapon and the skin on it, that they keep putting in your face to buy, no. I looked in BF6 last night after this happened and saw the new items in the store. For 2000 currency, which is like $25, you get a sticker for a gun, one skin and a background for a player card. The most nonsense transactions I have ever seen, are in bf6. I have spent money in their store. Heck, I regret missing a pack I would have bought on Veterans Day, which had a title that said "devil dog" as I'm a former US Marine. I think it was 2500 credits. I've bought a few packs, but after last night, I'm not putting $1 more into games, that do this, or similar to this. I have been on video games, where players streamed cheating on new content, and people walk up, type in chat, their app banking like cash app etc, and pay cash to be carried by cheating through the content. Perma suspension, Bethesda made an example of them in a video (years ago), then a week later, all the players caught cheating were back. It's unreal how all games gives chances or warnings etc, but EA says "Goodbye". 

My message to EA Sports, is clear and accurate. They know my real name to this account, I told them in the appeal to search my name in the Virginia Court system as I have a current law suit against a company and it's not cheap, it's in the 10's of thousands. If you're going to take my money, kick me out of the store without (and I did request the Data to show how my account violated coin terms), they basically made it that I can't complete sets, get extra players, buy players or anything. I have no goals now, the players I have, I am stuck with. The packs are misleading, I sold the cards that I bought with $50 cash and they're gone, because they were sold in the store on Dec 23/24, 2025. They took that coin, and with that being said, I NEVER RECIEVED THE PRODUCT FOR WHICH I PAID. Whether I win or lose, I will be seeking legal and filing a suit against EA sports in the state of Virginia. They have provided no data, there is no data as I didn't violate the rules, no warnings and took the coin away from cards I paid cash with, in their own store, just hours before this happened. There's a suite in there for sure. 

EA does this to, too many people. Unfortunately for them, I may suffer from PTSD from combat, but I assure them, I have the finances for a suite. You're not going to take my money, then when I use that item, the only way reasonably (by selling it), then keep the coin and suspend me from the store, no. 

I was actually excited that I finally had a reason to come back to Madden. Now, I was shown the reason to stay away from EA. There is no other game, unless it's one I don't play, that is that swift, within seconds and strips your coin. Funny, if this never happened, I'm sure I would have spent hundreds of real American Cash in their store over time, I always do, I know me. Make fun all you want. People either waste money on cigs, alcohol etc, I don't, so I spend money on the things that relax my mind and don't trigger my mental health. 

TO EA SPORTS, 

I HAVE THE BEST SOLUTION FOR YOU. Take a look at Grand Theft Auto V, specifically, at their "Shark Cards". The real reason EA years ago started these swift no warning suspensions, is because players are spending money on coin, to buy whatever, as the currency in Madden, does not exist in the store. The cards, do not give suffucient anything to justify spending any money, let alone $50 or $100 etc. THE SOLUTION, SELL CURRENCY LIKE GRAND THEFT AUTO. I gurantee, you all will make way more money. Look at GTA 5, the game is about 13 years old and is still the highest profitting game each year, because of the shark cards. The shark cards, cost real cash and give the player in game money to buy what they want. It's not cheap, but it works and they make the most money, every year, for over a decade and as a gaming company spending $55 billion to buy EA, take a look at GTA, content is trash, but so profitible, why, shark cards. 

MY HOPES...are that they actually take a look at the data and see I violated nothing and reinstate my ability to the store. That's all I'm asking for; a fair chance to defend myself. Data will show I play every minute, tons of challenges, games etc, no surfing through cards etc. IN REALITY, WE ALL KNOW they won't reinstate me and that hurts. It hurts, because I will have to blacklist EA games on my consoles, meaning, I'll never buy another EA game ever. It also will be the start of a legal law suite as well. I'm not appealing 56 times like everyone else. I requested the data, gave a statement to my activity as they can see, but we all know they will deny my appeal. Once it's denied, it is game on. I've spent hundreds in BF6 since launch and already around $200 in Madden 26, since buying it black Friday, but not playing it until a week ago. You'd think you would want to keep a paying player around, guess not. 

I'm not creating a new account, to a new Gamertag. I'll be done with EA. Franchise Mode is trash, that's on the old ownership, but Ultimate is what created a new addiction and gave me a reason to stay busy in a good way. 

I don't risk my Gamertag on anything, especially cheating. All the BF6 exploits that have been out there, EA can see I never embraced one, yet have a higher level than 90% of the gaming community. 

I'm sure a lot of you are laughing and making fun of me, which is why I most likely will not read comments. I have been in SI (not typing out what SI is) prevention since July, which is Esketimine Treatment sessions weekly (called Spravato also). This is a very hard treatment to get, unless the risk is VERY HIGH. My therapist just asked me "Are you going to be okay during the holiday week, what will you be doing"? "I'm good, I found a new game to keep my mind busy and will be on that and visiting my sister during the holiday". I appreciate the TOS team, not getting this right on my suspension and removing the one thing that occupied my mind and gave me goals. 

It's just unreal how I went from new returning player about a week ago, to suspended from the store with falsely accusing me of cheating. Law suite is absolutely going to be drawn up. 

One last thing as a new player, EA, you all need to put in something that describes everything, like LTD, Champion, Hero, Elite etc. Maybe there is somewhere that does, but I looked and must have missed it if so. If not, I was lost with that. 

I appreciate those that read this and didn't judge me. I wish everyone happy holidays and if something changes, I'll come back and post. Thank you everyone. 

MY CASE NUMBER: #233380500

EA SPORTS: I AM AGAIN, OFFICIALLY REQUESTING DATA SUBJECT ACCESS REQUEST TO HOW THE MONITORING AI SYSTEM, FLAGGED ME AND WHAT WAS USED TO DETERMINE THE SUSPENSION.