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[angelic]

Long story short, took out gamepass £1 trial earlier in the month, and when checking it's expiry I noticed they've been billing me monthly gold for over a year. Went through the official channels only to be told tough shit. Explained that no one pays month by month, I would just buy cheap 12 months code, plus my account clearly hasnt used any gold features. Still, tough shit, refused to do anything.

So I've performed my 1st ever console company chargeback request through my bank, for a year and a bit of montly payments. No way am I writing off over £100. Anyway, apart from obviously being stupid enough to miss the small print, will they ban me afterwards? I only use the xbox for youtube and stuff, the occasional game, but are they going to fuck me up for my insolence?

 

[Soulja]

If they are anything like Sony then you will get a ban.

Also doesn't it normally say in big letters that once the £1 offer expires you'll go on to a normal monthly plan automatically? Microsoft haven't really done anything wrong here.

 

[angelic]

If they are anything like Sony then you will get a ban.

Also doesn't it normally say in big letters that once the £1 offer expires you'll go on to a normal monthly plan automatically? Microsoft haven't really done anything wrong here.

That's the thing, it's hard to tell if they are like Sony or not, most chargeback horror stories are Sony related.

And yes, it's a mistake, but I had hoped they would see the obviously erroneous nature of allowing a 6.99 monthly charge to roll on without touching any of their services, but hey ho. No need to pummel me further.

 

[IDappa]

This confuses me, doesn't it say that once the trial period is over then they will proceed with a monthly charge?. Isn't that just standard with all companies and common knowledge which is why they ask you to link a payment method.

 

[Hendrick's]

They will probably ban you.

 

[cormack12]

If they are anything like Sony then you will get a ban.

Yeah, I think we only really have experience of Sony, but they've been getting better with refunds and MS have always been good iirc.

Isn't there a limit on how long you can chargeback for. I feel most of this is just on you overlooking small print. Shitty but nothing teaches you lesson likes experience. I'd say you might have better luck phoning CS and proposing a settlement or a goodwill gesture yourself. Just explain the situation and say look I wasn;t aware of this but I kinda accept soem of the responsibility, as a gesture of goodwill can you maybe refund half or give me a discount code etc.

 

[Gavin Stevens]

Pretty standard for any company to start charging the full amount once the trial is over, unless you otherwise cancel...?

It's kinda on you this one sadly.

 

[SleepDoctor]

I think they probably will ban you but then again im not familiar with people doing chargebacks on xbl only psn.

I don't have any cards on either account since i don't trust them.

 

[AV]

That's the thing, it's hard to tell if they are like Sony or not, most chargeback horror stories are Sony related.

And yes, it's a mistake, but I had hoped they would see the obviously erroneous nature of allowing a 6.99 monthly charge to roll on without touching any of their services, but hey ho. No need to pummel me further.

Yeah, they'll probably ban you. It's pretty cut-and-dry your fault in this case. They're not gonna be happy about circumventing their system when they've done no wrong.

 

[angelic]

Damn, oh well. I couldnt swallow a £120 or so cost when I'd not been using gold, so no ragrets. What does a microsoft ban look like then, will I still be able to use my current purchase, and youtube? Basically all I do on the thing anyway.

Appreciate the replies by the way.

 

[JLB]

i dont think they will ban you. I asked for a 100 dollars refund a couple of years ago (my kid bought "by mistake" some roblox credits) and they accepted, although i was warned that next time wont get the money back.

 

[angelic]

Good result actually, from their chat. I'll post here in case it helps anyone else. Them in italics.

I perfectly understand, there is nothing to worry about from our end, your Gold was canceled and the Ultimate is the only subscription you have

you requesting a refund from your bank does not affect your Microsoft account

on the contrary when we are unable to process refunds we recommend the customers contact his bank for a charge back

 

[M1chl]

Good result actually, from their chat. I'll post here in case it helps anyone else. Them in italics.

I perfectly understand, there is nothing to worry about from our end, your Gold was canceled and the Ultimate is the only subscription you have

you requesting a refund from your bank does not affect your Microsoft account

on the contrary when we are unable to process refunds we recommend the customers contact his bank for a charge back

Damn...

 

[Optimistic Gamer]

Good result actually, from their chat. I'll post here in case it helps anyone else. Them in italics.

I perfectly understand, there is nothing to worry about from our end, your Gold was canceled and the Ultimate is the only subscription you have

you requesting a refund from your bank does not affect your Microsoft account

on the contrary when we are unable to process refunds we recommend the customers contact his bank for a charge back

Proper costumer service.


And once again I will take the chance to push people into getting a budgeting tool. The actual work you do on a weekly basis is minimal and you will save SO MUCH money. It's also great to actually understand and visualize where every penny goes.

I can only recommend people to check out something like the trial month of ynab. You'll thank yourself for looking into it even if it's only for the test month as that will already make you take a look at all your expenses. (Don't forget to cancel though if you're trying out something with a subscription model)

 

[Northeastmonk]

I don't think automatically assuming you want Auto-Renewal is good. I personally like auto-renewal, but I definitely see why it's an issue. If someone doesn't look for those kinds of things they just don't look for it. I've known about the option to opt out of Auto-renewal. It causes people to get mad and it all could have been avoided. Glad to hear you'll be fine.

 

[Mistershine.]

Good result actually, from their chat. I'll post here in case it helps anyone else. Them in italics.

I perfectly understand, there is nothing to worry about from our end, your Gold was canceled and the Ultimate is the only subscription you have

you requesting a refund from your bank does not affect your Microsoft account

on the contrary when we are unable to process refunds we recommend the customers contact his bank for a charge back

I don't know how accurate that is. Reddit is full of people who have done charge backs and get their account banned. If you do get banned then you lose access to everything on your account that you don't already have downloaded on your home console, including game purchases.

 

[The Alien]

Most trial periods enroll and charge you when you provide a credit card.

I guess the part where you lose me and I think OP needs to take some blame is an entire year passes is when you notice they've charged you for that time.

Sorry OP, this is an inexpensive lesson in keeping up with bills and credit cards. It's not Xbox's fault that responsibility sucks.

....and yeah, you charge that back, you'll be banned.

 

[Deleted member 775630]

angelic when you had gold were these monthly subscriptions or also yearly? Because mine gets renewed by year, not by month...

 

[nush]

Long story short, took out gamepass £1 trial earlier in the month, and when checking it's expiry I noticed they've been billing me monthly gold for over a year.

It's been like that since forever, this can't be your first Xbox can it? That's why the do the £1 offer, they set it to auto renew and people don't notice.

Next time the £1 offer pops up buy it and then immediately switch off auto renew. That way you'll see the next £1 offer.

 

[abstract alien]

Don't most free trial subscription services work in this manner?

 

[the_master]

I don't know how accurate that is. Reddit is full of people who have done charge backs and get their account banned. If you do get banned then you lose access to everything on your account that you don't already have downloaded on your home console, including game purchases.

Is it legal for them to remove all your purchases?
This would make me not want to buy any digital game then.

 

[Mistershine.]

Is it legal for them to remove all your purchases?
This would make me not want to buy any digital game then.

It's in the terms and conditions. Whether people have read them is a different matter.

 

[Andodalf]

Good result actually, from their chat. I'll post here in case it helps anyone else. Them in italics.

I perfectly understand, there is nothing to worry about from our end, your Gold was canceled and the Ultimate is the only subscription you have

you requesting a refund from your bank does not affect your Microsoft account

on the contrary when we are unable to process refunds we recommend the customers contact his bank for a charge back

That's awesome! Hope it stays that way!

 

[the_master]

It's in the terms and conditions. Whether people have read them is a different matter.

Thanks!
Out of how many pages though? Most of the terms and conditions are never read because it would take dozens of hours. That's why consumer laws are placed to protect the consumers with some baselines. I wish they would have to guarantee access to the products you have purchased.

Well, PS5 disc edition more so (and Xsex with disc as well)

 

[Deleted member 740922]

Is it legal for them to remove all your purchases?
This would make me not want to buy any digital game then.

Think of all the time you'd save not getting up to change a disc though....

Apparently that's worth it.

 

[LordCBH]

You'll be banned, and probably lose access to digital purchases

 

[EverydayBeast]

These are the kinda things that gamers hate about online memberships on consoles and I could tell you this wouldn't happen on PC.

 

[Mistershine.]

Thanks!
Out of how many pages though? Most of the terms and conditions are never read because it would take dozens of hours. That's why consumer laws are placed to protect the consumers with some baselines. I wish they would have to guarantee access to the products you have purchased.

Well, PS5 disc edition more so (and Xsex with disc as well)

You don't technically lose your purchases, you lose access to your Microsoft account, meaning you can't get to the purchases. You also lose any office software tied to the account and access to your email if you have Hotmail.

 

[Sleepwalker]

Pretty sure you will be banned and lose whatever library you have. Happened to a friend not too long ago.

 

[Effigenius]

They have been billing you every month for a year and you never noticed. I hate to say it, but I think that one is on you.

 

[M1chl]

They have been billing you every month for a year and you never noticed. I hate to say it, but I think that one is on you.

angelic when you had gold were these monthly subscriptions or also yearly? Because mine gets renewed by year, not by month...

GamePass is by month or 3 months, not a year, so far...and if you convert that from Gold, I think you get chanrged by month afterwards.

 

[angelic]

angelic when you had gold were these monthly subscriptions or also yearly? Because mine gets renewed by year, not by month...

I used to use gold on the 360 days, and for a few years on xbox one, always via cheap cd keys 12 month codes. I last used it in 2016, then in 2018 I bought Turok remastered...alongside a £1 trial that gave you a half price offer. Then from a month later it kicked in to charging me a monthly renewal...not a cheaper full year purchase...the literally most innefficient way to pay for gold...for 18 months.

They have been billing you every month for a year and you never noticed. I hate to say it, but I think that one is on you.

Well, I didnt get any emails to my microsoft email, the one that receives all my other microsoft correspondence, it isnt a direct debit, so it doesnt show in your debit list, the xbox didnt inform me on the console in any way, and I kept receiving offers which made it look like I was a plain silver member. There was no visibility except a tiny item on the bank statement every 27th of the month.

So yes I know it's technically on me, but also I think auto renewal is a nasty way to operate in these cases, and I'd hope that they could see my account didnt use any of the so called features I was paying for. Literally my only xbox bill activity since December 2018 has been this:

Pay 1 pound for month gold
Pay 3,99 for Turok
Pay 7.99 for Turok 2
5.99 per month until August
6.99 per month until now, and stopped.

That's how little I use the system for games. Luckily the bank had my back, and I had 2 different reps suggest I do chargebacks, so I'm hopeful my little back catalogue remains.

 

[Effigenius]

I used to use gold on the 360 days, and for a few years on xbox one, always via cheap cd keys 12 month codes. I last used it in 2016, then in 2018 I bought Turok remastered...alongside a £1 trial that gave you a half price offer. Then from a month later it kicked in to charging me a monthly renewal...not a cheaper full year purchase...the literally most innefficient way to pay for gold...for 18 months.



Well, I didnt get any emails to my microsoft email, the one that receives all my other microsoft correspondence, it isnt a direct debit, so it doesnt show in your debit list, the xbox didnt inform me on the console in any way, and I kept receiving offers which made it look like I was a plain silver member. There was no visibility except a tiny item on the bank statement every 27th of the month.

So yes I know it's technically on me, but also I think auto renewal is a nasty way to operate in these cases, and I'd hope that they could see my account didnt use any of the so called features I was paying for. Literally my only xbox bill activity since December 2018 has been this:

Pay 1 pound for month gold
Pay 3,99 for Turok
Pay 7.99 for Turok 2
5.99 per month until August
6.99 per month until now, and stopped.

That's how little I use the system for games. Luckily the bank had my back, and I had 2 different reps suggest I do chargebacks, so I'm hopeful my little back catalogue remains.

It should show up in your monthly statement. Totally understandable if you don't look at that every month, but you should check it when you can, for stuff just like this.

 

[angelic]

It should show up in your monthly statement. Totally understandable if you don't look at that every month, but you should check it when you can, for stuff just like this.

Thats the one place it did, it just fell through the cracks. But the fact that it was a monthly auto renew is really nasty. Sony dont do that with me, they charge me a one off yearly PSN 12 month sub if I forget to buy a cheap code. Im fine with that, I maybe lost out on a small amount. But MS not only charge you this a la carte tiny price, they also make it look like youre on silver...because it's ending and then renewing, ending and renewing constantly...so you receive special offers constantly. It LOOKS like you're on silver.

I'm not impressed with their response, or their tactics on this one. My mistake, sure, but they take full advantage. They've absolutely guaranteed I wont be picking up Series X too, not even later on.

 

[nush]

you requesting a refund from your bank does not affect your Microsoft account

Be careful here, this could be slight of hand because your "Microsoft account" covers windows and Skype and things. The xbox part of that might be affected but you'd still have your "Microsoft account".

 

[angelic]

Be careful here, this could be slight of hand because your "Microsoft account" covers windows and Skype and things. The xbox part of that might be affected but you'd still have your "Microsoft account".

My windows is some PC OEM thing, im still on 8.1, I hate Skype, frankly I'd swallow the loss of my xbox digital stuff that's not already downloaded. But thanks for the warning.