How do I effectively complain against Atom Films?

I have gotten into one of those death spiral email exchanges with the folks at Atom Films, and need the advice of the Teeming Millions on how to break it. Here’s the three sentence background. I bought a licence from them back in January for the “Cracking Contraption” films, which I watched several times and which now gives me the error “The hardware license for this content is inconsistent.” I emailed them asking what had gone wrong and how I could fix it, and they sent me back a message saying they could no longer issue new licenses. When I wrote back that I had a license, they sent back a copy of my email with the part about not issuing new licenses added again to the top.

Now, unless Homer Simpson has abandoned the donut-laden enviornment of the Springfield nuclear power plant in the wake of the recent blackouts, there is no excuse for anyone who has evolved beyond the notocord to sit behind a help desk and play this sort of game–they’re not even reading my replies, they’re scarfing Krispy-Kremes as languidly as possible while typing with their toes since they haven’t developed opposible thumbs. I’d like to get some action out of these folks–actually, I’l like to rub cream cheese over the windshields of the cars belonging to the customer service team, but let it ride–so what’s my next step?

If they were local I’d sic the State Attorney General on them, but is Atom Films/Shockwave anywhere this would do any good? Should I send info to Aardman Animation? (I couldn’t find an email address when I hit their website, but believe me I’m getting more motivated by the minute.) Any suggestions?

Will this address help?

corporate address
AtomShockwave Corp.
114 Sansome Street, 10th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94104

You always have recourse through the better business bureau (www.bbb.com). I believe they arbitrate disputes giving the company a chance to redeem itself before they put a black mark on its record, although there is nothing they can really do if the company refuses. Good luck!

Yes, the AtomShockwave address will help. I’m going to wait a couple hours to see if my last note to them has done any good and if there’s no answer, or another cut-and-paste answer, I’m going to drop them a note. Since I’m not Harlan Ellison it won’t contain a dead gopher and a recipie for Gopher Stew, but I’ll be thinking about him.

And I hadn’t really thought of the BBB, as I hadn’t thought of AtomShockwave being a member and I’d always understood the BBB had the most clout if the company involved was a member. We’ll wait a couple hours and then I’ll probably be visiting the BBB site as well.