My recent fun with Microsoft

[J-Groove]

My 4 year old XBox recently had the 3 red rings of death.

Since it was out of warranty I paid for the service and shipped off my console. I thought all was great until I got it back from service to find my Console was Banned. I have since then spent around 4 hours on the phone, mostly on hold with XBox to no avail.

My box is still banned for a crime I have not committed.

After the multiple run around I have received from Microsoft I submitted a complaint to the Better Business Bureau, he is my complaint, I have removed the reference numbers. This is a warning, I have been on the phone with Microsoft and even they have admitted that there is no paper trail of my console being banned and they did not know it was until I told them. But that has not changed the fact that at every turn no one wants to help me with an obvious mistake.

I will update this as I have updates.

6/22/07 - purchased XBox with a Best Buy PRP from Best Buy

6/28/07 - DOA, exchange for a new off the shelf unit from best buy

2/01/11 - XBox, 3 red rings, would not turn on 2/04/11 - Purchase Microsoft repair ticket. Service # XXX 2/19/11 - Received at repair center in Mesquite, TX

2/21/11 - Microsoft Repairs & sends back unit

2/24/11 - Unit delivered

2/27/11 - Unpack and hook up unit, follow steps to set it back up, when attempting to connect to XBox Live; "This console has been banned for violations of the Terms of Use. To protect the Xbox LIVE service and its members, Microsoft does not provide details about console bans. There is no recourse for Terms of Use violations."

I have owned this unit since new, it has never been out of my possession until sending it into service, it has never been tampered with and I have not committed or attempted to commit online fraud nor have I had a single violation let alone repeat violations. I also have not received any communication that my unit was banned via email or windows XBox online account. 2/27/11 - Called XBox support, CS pushed me off of the phone & directed me to their online forum for assistance. Reference # XXX

2/27/11 - Posted to Forum as directed. Post was deleted, emailed; "Your post was deleted by a moderator.
Subject: Console Banned After Return from Repair Center
Reason: We do not discuss console bans. If you believe you have received a banned console by mistake, please contact your local Xbox Support number. "

2/27/11 - Called support, on phone for over 2.5 hours, - escalated to Tier 3, specialist would contact me 48-72 hours. R # XXX

3/02/11 - I Called, was told Tier 3 phone lines were down, that was why I had not received a call or email

3/03/11 - I Called, Case re-escalated to Tier 3

3/03/11 - The service I have received has not been acceptable. I have paid for a product and a service that I have not been given. As of today my XBox console is still banned.

03/03/11 - Written complaint to the BBB with request resolution of: To have my current XBox 360 Serial # XXX unbanned or receive a replacement unbanned XBox 360 of equal or greater value.

That is where I am at.

-John

[DK77]

Dude, that sucks. I had the rings of death, but I was still under warranty. Either way, Microsoft should fix that shit and not give you the run around.

[R/T93]

That is horrible man. It looks like they are spending a lot of time on this. Stay on them, get what you payed for.

[ictponder]

I would be asking for your lost live time reimbursed as well as some free microsoft points for all this trouble you've had to go through.

[YoshiBishi]

Damn, next time ship it to me and I'll fix it for car parts .

[J-Groove]

I would be asking for your lost live time reimbursed as well as some free microsoft points for all this trouble you've had to go through.

It will be interesting when all of this is through, But I'm not going to give up until they fix this.

Though went I sent it out for repair it came back with a month free of live gold to make up for the time it was in repair. So as long as it gets taken care of in the next week I'll be even there.

Just really pisses me off, I've never tampered with my console and now I am basically blacklisted.

-John

[GTO Assassin]

I'm not going to give up until they fix this.

Good man John. That sounds like a pita situation. From what you have written, the people involved (minus yourself) seem to be completely useless, and that's unacceptable. Hopefully you'll reach someone who will get proactive and sort your problem out and get your box back up and running, as well as some extra stuff for your troubles. (several BJ's from hot hookers is obviously out of the question due to Tiff, but maybe you can trade them for 3/S parts?)

Scotty

[Mikes2nd]

you got about 6 years out of the old one

go buy a new one, they rock... and get kinect also.

seriously that like 70$ year if you paid top dollar. Hello this is india speaker, my name is John... heh man I hate AT&T also.. they put you on hold forever.

[J-Groove]

Good man John. That sounds like a pita situation. From what you have written, the people involved (minus yourself) seem to be completely useless, and that's unacceptable. Hopefully you'll reach someone who will get proactive and sort your problem out and get your box back up and running, as well as some extra stuff for your troubles. (several BJ's from hot hookers is obviously out of the question due to Tiff, but maybe you can trade them for 3/S parts?)

Scotty

It is a HUGE PITA! As for the 3S parts deal, that would rock. haha

you got about 6 years out of the old one

go buy a new one, they rock... and get kinect also.

seriously that like 70$ year if you paid top dollar. Hello this is india speaker, my name is John... heh man I hate AT&T also.. they put you on hold forever.

That would be fine, if I hadn't just spent $100 to fix it only to have it come back to me working but unusable.

Also, 6 years is nothing! I have my original NES from 1985 and it still works. Other currently operational systems in my house, SNES, N64, Game Cube, Wii, Genisis, DS, PSP. All still work, only one that has ever broken on me is this darn 360. haha

-John

[Vince86]

that's redic dude, and whats worse is there are so many people modding their 360's and never get banned while people who do nothing but buy it and the games legally and play like any normal 360 owner would. I read this stuff all the time online on random 360s being banned for no reason and all you have to do is put in a disk and one time it not want to read it for whatever reason and it sends up a red flag thinking your using modded firmware.