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.

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.

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….

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.

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.

UK Xbox Support - Telephone: 0800 587 1102

• Press 1 - Xbox 360 support menu
• Then press 1 - For Xbox Live including billing enquires menu
• Then press 2 - For the cancel or enquire about your account menu
• Finally press 1 - To speak to someone about cancelling your Xbox Live subscription

After I’d said I wanted to remove my credit card details from my Xbox Live account, I was asked for the following information:

• Name
• Credit/Debit card number
• Address
• Home phone number
• Xbox Live username
• Mobile phone number

I was then given a call reference (no surprises there) and told that my request would be escalated to a special team. A member of this team would contact me (via my mobile number) within 48 hours.

The result of all this. It will take 30 days to remove my credit card details from my Xbox Live account. Yes, 30 days (I asked the help desk person to confirm this, just in case I miss heard, which they did). I find this totally unacceptable. The actual (and time-consuming) process of removing/cancelling your card details was completely glossed over in all the communications I received from Microsoft. I won’t hold my breath for the ability to cancel any subscription via the Xbox 360 dashboard. Somehow I don’t think it’s on Microsoft’s feature list (i.e it won’t make them any money). However, until they add this functionality I will not add my credit card details to my live account again.

Update 1st Jan 08: The task of removing my card details continues in part II and part III.

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.

Location details:

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

Nearest tube station: Oxford Circus

Program of events:

Tuesday 30th October 12pm – 8pm
• All Day: Activision Day
• Competition 1: Guitar Hero 3. 6pm – 8pm
• Competition 2: Call of Duty 4 Tournament

Wednesday 31st October 12pm – 8pm
• All Day: Xbox 360 blockbuster games
• Competition: Guitar Hero 3. 6pm – 8pm
• Tournament: Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2

Thursday 1st November 12pm – 8pm
• All Day: Konami Day
• Competition: Dancing Stage Universe. 6pm – 8pm
• Tournament: PES Rankings Tournament

Friday 2nd November 12pm – 8pm
• All Day: Xbox 360 blockbuster games
• Competition: Scene It! 3pm – 8pm
• Tournament: Halo 3

Edit: We went on Wednesday - disappointing. Most (if not all) of the stuff on display was already available for download through Xbox Live.

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

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

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!