XBOX 360 Wire

Microsoft making a fortune from ‘duff’ Live pre-pay cards?

I’d wager that most of those who subscribe to the Xbox Live Gold premium service do so using a credit card, and the Xbox 360’s dashboard interface. I used to - until I found out that the pre-pay cards can be found for sale on various forums at knock down prices, £20 for a 12 month ticket if you get lucky.

Thinking nothing more of it, I closed the deal and received the card in the post the next day. After dinner, I switched on the console and grabbed a shiny penny to reveal the code. Whilst looking at the dashboard to check for friends and messages, my right hand finished removing the silver covering from the pre-pay card - preparing to enter the code, I looked at the card and noticed I couldn’t read 4 of the digits. I’d applied slightly too much pressure when scratching off the coating and managed to scrape away some of the inked lettering below. It took at least six or seven attempts to enter the code correctly, but I was lucky and managed to get there in the end.

But not everyone is as lucky as I was. The Consumerist is reporting on Matt, who’s younger brother also suffered the same mis-hap. Being unable to get the code cracked, they contacted Microsoft to see if they could help.

“After about an hour hold, I spoke to one rep for a half hour, was told it was another departments problem and to refuse being transferred back here if that department said it was the previously departments problem (I was told this multiple times for reiteration). I waited on hold for another hour explained my plight and did the back and forth about 45 minutes and again was tried transfer me but I did my job and held strong. At this point I felt like I was making progress. Finally, I was transferred reluctantly to a third dept. but was told not to worry, they can resolve this almost instantly….”

So, after a bit of back and forth - it’s beginning to sound like Microsoft Xbox Support are getting the message and want to help out Matt and his brother. It’s now that they probably should have thought about hanging up the phone.

“Another hour hold and 45 minutes of back and forth with another attempt to transfer me back to both of the previous two departments. I explained I had already been there and that it should not be my job to coordinate between different departments. After several more minutes of hold I was then greeted with an abrupt, there is nothing we can do for you, sorry we do not have access to the codes and will not issue a replacement card.”

Giving up with the telephone support, Matt decided to write to Microsoft to plead his case - the response wasn’t appreciated.

“Microsoft contacted me last week on their own accord. This was not expected, but I was pretty excited because I thought I was getting action due to the email I sent them. Unfortunately they only called to tell me again they would NOT be replacing the card. All I could think in my head was, gee thanks for rubbing it in. I was then asked by the representative if there was more he could do to help me? Baffled, I said nope and hung up the phone.”

Case closed as far as Microsoft are concerned. If you happen to do the same thing with your pre-pay card the only thing you can do is to try to guess the missing digits. If you don’t have feint outlines of letters to go by, you may be guessing for a long, long time.

As I’ve said above, I’ve already had this occur with a ‘forum’ card but got lucky. Question is, if Microsoft won’t tell you the complete code, will a retailer such as Game or Gamestation swap them? Let us know in the comments section if you’ve had this happen - and what you did about it.

Posted by Bleem - January 15th, 2008 -