You may remember that last week I found out that Microsoft were still charging me for my Xbox Live Gold subscription, even though I cancelled the debit card they were using back in November, at the behest of my bank. I stopped by a branch the morning after writing my previous post and spoke to a “Personal Banker”. She told me that customers have been known to sign up for goods or services and then cancel their cards in order to avoid the charges. She then claimed that Barclays sometimes roll over the charges to the replacement card in order to prevent customer fraud of this sort. I asked if it was a certain type of charge that would be rolled over. This would explain why my web hosting companies had sent me invoicing emails when their charges to my old card were rejected. She said that that information was confidential to prevent people gaming the system.

Personal Banker then got rather shirty and started interrupting me with phrases like “Well, there’s no official policy” when I tried to repeat this back to her for confirmation, so I called the telephone banking team to verify her given reason. According to Barclays Debit Card Services, companies can set up charges based on the first 12 digits of your card number, ensuring that they still get their payments when you change cards. Debit Card Services Woman said that this is what Microsoft would have done, whereas my hosting companies would have been charging the entire 16-digit card number.

Make of that what you will.

Update 7th Feb 2009:
The saga is over! Microsoft have now given us the option to remove credit card details through Xbox.com. See Remove Your Credit Card Details from Xbox Live – ONLINE! for details.

So 30 days have now passed since I was called by Xbox support. Have they removed my card details as they promised? Err, no they haven’t.

To be honest I didn’t expect them to have either. Maybe they had their hands full dealing with the rather shoddy provision of Xbox Live since Xmas and forgot about my support call?

It has now been 53 days since I first asked Xbox Live support to remove my credit card details. I’m now wondering if they actually are able to remove my card details? At this rate the card will have expired. Very, very poor service Microsoft.

Check out part I and part II of this ongoing saga.

Update 26th Mar 08: They’ve been removed. I can’t believe it. Microsoft have FINALLY done what I asked them to do over 3 and a half months ago. When I examine my LIVE account on my 360 there are no card details at all! Upon reviewing my LIVE account at http:\\billing.microsoft.com my card details have been flagged as removed (only there for historical purposes) and can’t be used or viewed. About bloody time Microsoft.

Our advice, remove your card details and buy pre-paid cards instead:

• Xbox Live 12 Month Gold Membership plus 1 free month!!!
• Xbox Live 12 Month Gold Membership Card
• Xbox Live 3 Month Gold Membership Card
• Xbox Live 4200 Points Card
• Xbox Live 2100 Points Card

Update 7th Feb 2009:
The saga is over! Microsoft have now given us the option to remove credit card details through Xbox.com. See Remove Your Credit Card Details from Xbox Live – ONLINE! for details.

In my previous post I outlined how to start the process to get your card details removed from Xbox Live. I say start the process, as following my latest conversion with a Microsoft representative, it’s going to take a little bit longer.

So there I was opening my Christmas presents when my mobile phone rang. It was someone from Xbox Live support about my request. Wow, they’re dedicated! We then had a fairly short conversation, in which I reconfirmed that I wanted my card details removed. They were finally going to carry out my request. However, this will take 30 days from the date of this latest call to remove my card details. In addition, I would never been able to use this credit card on Xbox Live again. Apparently, the “very complicated” process (support person’s words, not mine) to remove card details from the Xbox Live servers means that my card is essentially now blacklisted.

I was a little surprised to be called again following my discussion on the 15th Dec 07. As I’d specifically asked not to be called back and for them just to remove my card details. Ho hum. I guess the message was never typed never got though.

Here’s the time line for my support call(s) so far:

• 3rd Dec 07 – Raised original support call to remove card details.
• 4th – 14th Dec 07 – 3 missed calls from Xbox Live support.
• 15th Dec 07 – Phoned Xbox Live support – 30 days to remove card. Recurring Gold subscription stopped. Given new support call reference.
• 19th Dec 07 – 1 missed call from Xbox Live support.
• 25th Dec 07 – Informed that card details will be removed in 30 days, unable to use card again on Xbox Live. Given another new support call reference

With any luck when I post part III it will include the words “my credit card details have finally been removed.” I await this moment with bated breath. Almost….

Sensible Software’s Codemasters S.W.O.S finally appeared on Xbox Live Arcade today, after a wait that’s seems like years! And then it vanished. Or was it all just an illusion?

Apparently not. It was simply that the wrong version of S.W.O.S was made available to the masses. According to Codemasters the problem was that:

This version incorrectly disconnected users that attempted to connect to Xbox Live.

So if you’ve downloaded S.W.O.S before 11am GMT (approx) this morning, then you’re a lucky bugger (and don’t try connecting to Xbox Live). When it does finally reappear and you’ve 800 MS points burning a hole in your pocket, then I suggest you buy this little fella. It’s a keeper. I mean take a look at the gfx. Ok, it’s all about the game play. Honestly. It’s brilliant.

Update 21st Dec 07: S.W.O.S is back online and it brought back some memories of the good old days. Those would be the ones without ads all over the pitch side.

Update 7th Feb 2009:
The saga is over! Microsoft have now given us the option to remove credit card details through Xbox.com. See Remove Your Credit Card Details from Xbox Live – ONLINE! for details.

A few months ago I decided to purchase a months Xbox Live Gold membership. As you all know this is very easy to do. Enter credit/debit card details and Microsoft take your money before you can blink. Then you receive the obligatory confirmatory email thanking you for your soul purchase. This email also tells you that your membership will automatically renew and:

For information about changing or cancelling your membership and your membership refund policy, go to www.xbox.com/live/accounts.

However, you can’t cancel your membership or remove your credit card details either via your Xbox dashboard or www.xbox.com/live/accounts. Even when you end up at http://billing.microsoft.com you can only change or add a credit/debit card. There is no facility what-so-ever to remove a payment method or cancel a service. Rubbish.

However, I want to stop my monthly Xbox Live Gold subscription. The only way to do this (at the moment) is by calling Xbox Support. I’ve included all the options you need to select to get you through to the relevant help desk person.
Continue Reading

From November 23 to 26 there is going to be an European-only online event called Xtival 07. Everyone who connects to Xbox Live during this time will get a free gold membership.

Microsoft say that there will be lots of cake events, competitions and exclusive downloads. For existing Xbox Live Gold members there will be “headline acts” apparently. Quite what these acts are, we can only wait and see.

Hopefully this will only be the tip of the Microsoft loves Europe iceberg heading our way for Christmas.

Microsoft’s contribution to this years London Games Festival is a great big Xbox 360 lounge in Soho. I’m talking lots of cushions, sofas, 360’s (surprise, surprise) and 300+ games all in one big room. Best of all it’s FREE. Right, I’m in. Anyone else?

Location details:

• The Vinyl Factory
• Basement Studio
• Marshall Street
• London W1F 7QH

Nearest tube station: Oxford Circus
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Small Arms was released on Xbox Live arcade today priced at 800 Microsoft points (GBP 6.80 / EUR 9.30). Thankfully the game is none of that retro tat which is best left in the past that Xbox Live Arcade seems to be full of recently.
The game, well think Super Smash Brothers with guns and nicer graphics.

Some features:

• 12 characters, each with their own weapon
• 8 unique levels
• 12 Achievements, including the innovative “Six Degrees of Small Arms” viral achievement
• Up to 4-player multiplayer offline and on Xbox Live
• Local Multiplayer / Xbox Live Swap – allows players to swap out a local friend with a friend over Live without leaving the game
• Three single player game modes (Story, Challenge, and Shooting Range)
• Colourful 3D graphics with classic side-scrolling run and gun action
• Expect premium downloadable content for this title in the future – providing new game play elements and unique challenges for Small Arms fans

I assume that “premium downloadable content” is going to cost you? Sounds like it will but we shall have to wait and see if it does.
Personally, I downloaded the demo and was bored after the 2nd level. Just not my thing. 1 dimensional game play coupled with pretty graphics does not a good game make. It’s you against the other guy (or girl or pig!). Start level, kill opponent. Opponent re-spawns. Kill opponent. Opponent re-spawns. Kill opponent. End of level. Yawn.

Oh, well at least it’s a new and shiny game, not an old and dusty one which is something. Check out the demo on Xbox Live Arcade and see what you think.

Screenshot:

Links:
Xbox Live Arcade

Sensible World of Soccer or S.W.O.S is coming to XBLA ladies and gentlemen! Yes, yes, yes. Finally, Microsoft starts relasing decent “classic” games on live arcade rather than total crap like Frogger and Time Pilot.

You can play S.W.O.S using the original graphics or utilise the new “high-resolution look and feel”. Mmm, I’m sure that little sound bite was used to describe Frogger’s re-release and its high-def graphics looked terrible. Absolutely terrible in fact. I really hope the’ve made a better job with S.W.O.S’s graphics.

At the moment there is no indication as to when S.W.O.S will see the light of day. Boo.

The other bit of news from live arcade land concerns Id software’s Doom. Yep, this is available now for 800 MS points. Check it out so you can see just how bad the graphics were back then. Oh, and there is some co-op and deathmatch action for your added pleasure.

Related posts:
Xbox Live Arcade release round-up

Yep, that’s right, for all you scabbers who – like me – haven’t got a Xbox Live gold membership but want to get those pesky online-only achievements, well now you can free of charge courtesy of Mr Microsoft.

From the 20th September 06 at 00.01 (GMT) to 29th September 06 at 23.59 (GMT) all silver memberships will be upgraded to gold.

See Mr Microsoft loves European gamers, unlike that evil, full of crap, waffle iron company who couldn’t give a toss about Europe! Or it could just be a cunning marketing ploy to get all you cheap-ass silver membership owners addicted to online play and selling your souls by upgrading to gold memberships. Nah, Microsoft loves Europe and in return for freebies we love them too. :-)

See you all online then. Burnout Revenge is my game, achievements are my aim!