[PlainBobMax]

***UPDATE***

This update also appears in my original post:

Just to set the record straight on a couple of things. First I did not purchase these items 9 months ago as a lot of people seem to think (not sure how they would know when I purchased something)

Second, the Fictionwise site DOES SAY that the bookshelf is there to "store" the users books and from there they may be downloaded "as needed," which is what I attempted to do. Granted the terms of service do say something different. Lesson here: Don't necessarily go by the Help pages, go by the Terms of Service.

Third, my frustration was not necessarily the fact that after reporting the error both of the books in question were wiped out as well as my micropay balance, but the fact that it was done almost immediately after reporting the error and with NO explanation. I even wrote back asking why this was done with no explanation. I was not as nice in the second email as I was in the first.

WITH THAT SAID: It is now time for me to eat some crow:

I eventually received an email from support which said that they would refund my purchases on the books that disappeared. Where I need to eat crow (though not completely my fault) is that a couple of days later, I found in my SPAM folder an email they had written after my very first email saying that they were sorry the books could not be downloaded and that they were going to refund the purchases.

So, they did offer explanation as to why the books and the micropay disappeared, but I never saw it. I feel like the aunt in Sleeping Beauty who realizes her invitation had been lost under the carpet only after she cast her evil spell.

I've already written an apology to the support team at Fictionwise for my misunderstanding.