by Joshua
5. May 2009 21:25
The kids wanted to play XBOX 360 this evening and so while setting it up for them I noticed an advertisement in regards to a new game called Fallout 3. The picture was pretty interesting and I'm all about shooting games so I selected it. Trying to rush so as to avoid having the children nag me about "when is it my turn... ad nausiam" I clicked NEXT | NEXT | NEXT thinking I was downloading a DEMO.
After the kids had worn themelves out I decided to get back on and take a look at this hot new game. Well, I was shocked to find out that A) It was only an add-on to the original game and B) I had evidently paid 800 Microsoft Points (their version of money to confuse you of the actual cost of things - this works out to be around $10). Realizing the mistake I did what any normal consumer would do... I called and begged for a refund of the 800 MS Points.
Three customer service representatives later and a manager later I learned that I was not allowed a refund FOR ANY REASON. In fact, the manager was so brazen to even quote me something like, "Sir, according to section F, paragraph 3, in our TOS customers can never receive a refund, for any reason, for a purchase made on XBOX Live Marketplace".
Well, as most of you know, this is the point where you want to reach through the phone and begin to smack the person on the other end with a huge slimy fish until they are subdued into assisting you to your satisfaction. Of course the law of physics just doesn't allow such a thing... yet.
So the "manager" said he would have his manager call me back within 3-4 business at which point they too will quote the TOS and refuse me a refund. But that's OK because I'm already prepared. I've already called the credit card company and asked them to do a chargeback on my XBOX Live purchase on the grounds that MS is greedy and even though I made an honest mistake they refuse to refund my purchase.
If they call me before the bank does and refund me the money out of the kindess of their blue screen loving hearts then all I've to do is call back the bank dogs and we're all good. But if they don't well I hope my credit card does what its supposed to do and protect me from such scrupulous charges.
Has anyone else out there experienced this problem with XBOX Live Marketplace? Maybe I should withdraw my stock investments with Microsoft as well.. that'll show 'em! 
UPDATE: I never did get a call back from Microsoft's XBOX Marketplace Support Team Management. But, I did get a call back from my credit card company (Thank you Chase Bank!) who agreed with me on the issue and gave me a full refund. There is justice in the world. 1 point for the little guy - 0 for Microsoft.
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