I just need to rant/vent.
About a month ago, I discovered on a forum that people found if they make an account in a specific region, that some Xbox Live Arcade games showed up as free along with a full retail game or two. I made a new account and was indeed able to download some games for free. I thought nothing of this as I wasn't hacking anything to obtain them and Microsoft has said before that if they mistakenly put something up for free, then enjoy the free game. A guy on Twitter even asked the official Xbox Support if he would get banned for downloading the free games, to which they replied, "No but mismatched regions is not supported or recommended. ^ST". He was then banned anyway.
The results have been pretty random. Some have not been banned at all, most had their console banned, and some like me had both their console and gamertag banned. This means I am unable to connect to Xbox Live at all on my console, including online multiplayer, or even downloading a title update to a game I own that fixes bugs in the game. Even if I bought a new Xbox, I would be unable to transfer my gamertag and liscenses over to it, so everything I had purchased would be gone.
I have been a loyal Microsoft customer for 5 years and have spent over $2500 on the console and own 72 retail games, 73 XBLA games, and 89 pieces of DLC. I have gone through all the channels I can think of to get this ban overturned, but have had no success. While I understand why action was taken against me, I do not understand why I was randomly given the most severe ban they have.
I will quote all communications I have had with Microsoft below.
I first posted a message on their official forum in the category made for inquiring about bans. The forum states a response should be received with 1 business day. I waited a few days and received no response. (I am unable to quote this post as messages must first be approved before they even show up and mine never was, however, it was very similar to the following email I sent).
Knowing Microsoft's phone support would be unable to help me, I resorted to an executive email carpet bomb to 8 of Microsoft's top executives:
I heard back the following morning:
After 4 business days had passed with no follow up, I emailed her back:
I received the following reply:
Finally, I replied with the following:
I received the following email back and it appears they are done talking with me at this point:
So, Microsoft has told me they no longer want my money and don't care because they are Microsoft and have a billion dollars. I was going to get an Xbox One next gen (even though I thought the PS4 was the better buy, I really like Microsoft exclusive games), they have just made sure it is now going to be a PS4.
This is just so frustrating that Microsoft can so totally decide to take away everything you have digitally purchased and so totally cripple your system.
About a month ago, I discovered on a forum that people found if they make an account in a specific region, that some Xbox Live Arcade games showed up as free along with a full retail game or two. I made a new account and was indeed able to download some games for free. I thought nothing of this as I wasn't hacking anything to obtain them and Microsoft has said before that if they mistakenly put something up for free, then enjoy the free game. A guy on Twitter even asked the official Xbox Support if he would get banned for downloading the free games, to which they replied, "No but mismatched regions is not supported or recommended. ^ST". He was then banned anyway.
The results have been pretty random. Some have not been banned at all, most had their console banned, and some like me had both their console and gamertag banned. This means I am unable to connect to Xbox Live at all on my console, including online multiplayer, or even downloading a title update to a game I own that fixes bugs in the game. Even if I bought a new Xbox, I would be unable to transfer my gamertag and liscenses over to it, so everything I had purchased would be gone.
I have been a loyal Microsoft customer for 5 years and have spent over $2500 on the console and own 72 retail games, 73 XBLA games, and 89 pieces of DLC. I have gone through all the channels I can think of to get this ban overturned, but have had no success. While I understand why action was taken against me, I do not understand why I was randomly given the most severe ban they have.
I will quote all communications I have had with Microsoft below.
I first posted a message on their official forum in the category made for inquiring about bans. The forum states a response should be received with 1 business day. I waited a few days and received no response. (I am unable to quote this post as messages must first be approved before they even show up and mine never was, however, it was very similar to the following email I sent).
Knowing Microsoft's phone support would be unable to help me, I resorted to an executive email carpet bomb to 8 of Microsoft's top executives:
Dear Microsoft Executives,
I have posted on the Xbox forums about this on Thursday, September 26th. The forum states a response is usually received within 24 hours, but I have not received any response regarding this issue. So, I turn to you for help.
Both my Xbox 360 console and profile (jumpman174) have been banned. I'm assuming this is a result of my downloading some games that were free for whatever reason on foreign marketplaces as I had seen posted online. However, I did not think this would result in a ban.
I have spent over $2500 on retail games, arcade games, and DLC, not to mention the games I received as presents. I have enjoyed my 5 years with Xbox Live and playing with friends online. I have also worked hard at completing games to the best of my abilities and racked up a gamer score of almost 80,000.
I understand why action was taken against my account. It was a stupid mistake on my part, but I think banning both my console and profile is a bit severe for a first offense. From my understanding, I can't even buy a new console and download my profile to that and continue.
I am asking that this ban be reconsidered or at the least, let me keep my profile so I can buy a new console and continue on that. As I have said, I have spent over $2500 and I don't see myself starting all over with a new profile. I would love nothing more than to remain a loyal Microsoft customer, but if I'm banned and everything I have spent money on is essentially rendered useless, then I will no longer be spending money on anything Microsoft.
Thank you for your time.
I heard back the following morning:
Good morning! I hope you are having a great day.
My name is [NAME REDACTED] and I am a member of the Customer Advocacy and Exceptions Management team. I am contacting you in regards to the email you sent to Mr. Gates to address your console and gamertag ban.
Your account is now under investigation. I will contact you again within the next 3-4 business days to provide the investigation results.
In the meantime, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. I will be happy to address any questions or concerns you may have.
Have a great rest of your week!
Warm regards
After 4 business days had passed with no follow up, I emailed her back:
Any update on my account? I've been lost without my Xbox and am looking forward to being able to continue gaming on the 360 platform.
I received the following reply:
Good afternoon! I hope you are having a great day.
This is [NAME REDACTED] with the Customer Advocacy and Exceptions Management team again.
[MY NAME], I have contacted the Enforcement team again to request a re-evaluation of your ban. As you are aware, your Gamertag was found to be in violation of the Xbox Terms of Use and subsequently banned from accessing Xbox LIVE. Unfortunately, the decision will stand as issued.
I would like to let you know that banning a console/gamertag is the last action Microsoft would take, unless it is absolutely necessary. When we ban a console/gamertag, the company is aware that we will no longer sell memberships, games, or Microsoft points to be used on that console/gamertag. Potentially, we might lose the customer.
However, it is a high priority for Microsoft to assure that the Xbox LIVE community is an extremely safe environment. For that reason, all frauds are taken very seriously and handled accordingly.
We apologize for any inconvenience you may have experienced and we hope you will continue to be a valued customer. Microsoft now considers this issue closed and will take no further action on the matter. For any support needs in the future, please contact 1-800-4MY-XBOX.
Thank you again for your patience!
Have a great week!
Warm regards
Finally, I replied with the following:
Banning a console/gamertag is the last action Microsoft takes? It was the very first action against me. Looking at the ban forum, people who cheat and try to scam other people are given a 2 week suspension. Yet, downloading a game that was free in another region gets the highest level of a ban? Why was I not given a warning or suspension or had the games' licenses removed? I am totally willing to delete the free games I downloaded and never do so again.
The level of punishment isn't even equal across users. Others who did the same as I had, only received a console ban. Some have had no action taken against them. How is this fair.
One guy even asked Xbox Support on Twitter (https://twitter.com/XboxSupport1/status/375263771230339072) before downloading the games if he would get banned for it, and they said no. Then he got banned.
Is this really how you treat loyal Microsoft customers? I own 72 retail games. I bought them all new and have never traded or sold any of them. I have bought 73 XBLA games and 89 pieces of DLC. I have spent over $2500 on the 360, and because I downloaded some free games, you're banning me.
I understand I am just one measly customer, but I am a loyal customer who has spent way more then the average 360 user. You once put out a factoid that the average 360 user owns 9 games. I have bought 72.
It boggles my mind that Microsoft can so completely render useless a customer's purchases and then tell them that they are banned because they made a mistake and Microsoft no longer wants their money, because they have so much money already, that a loyal customer means nothing to them.
I received the following email back and it appears they are done talking with me at this point:
Good afternoon! I hope you are having a great day.
The people that were banned had committed marketplace fraud across multiple accounts and multiple regions to get a significant amount of free content.
The specific conduct that caused this ban may include, but is not limited to:
- Promotion or distribution of fraudulent methods in order to obtain marketplace content
- Utilizing fraudulent methods in order to obtain region-specific marketplace content or circumvent regional pricing
- Illegitimate acquisition of marketplace content
- Illegitimate acquisition of redemption codes
To help avoid future account suspensions, please review the Xbox LIVE Code of Conduct and the Terms of Use here:
http://www.xbox.com/Legal/CodeOfConduct
http://www.xbox.com/Legal/LiveTOU
http://www.xbox.com/consoleban
We apologize for any inconvenience you may have experienced and we hope you will continue to be a valued customer. Microsoft now considers this issue closed and will take no further action on the matter. For any support needs in the future, please contact 1-800-4MY-XBOX.
Thank you again for your patience!
Have a great week!
Warm regards
So, Microsoft has told me they no longer want my money and don't care because they are Microsoft and have a billion dollars. I was going to get an Xbox One next gen (even though I thought the PS4 was the better buy, I really like Microsoft exclusive games), they have just made sure it is now going to be a PS4.
This is just so frustrating that Microsoft can so totally decide to take away everything you have digitally purchased and so totally cripple your system.