Can Microsoft close down a Xbox Live gold membership?

[Atariboy]

For issues besides abuse (Cheating, modding consoles, being offensive to other players, etc.)?

 

I recieved this email today stating:

 

Dear LeoAmes17:

 

What’s worse than wanting to play with friends and they’re not online? Not being able to play anyone.

 

Your credit card will expire on 2007-08-01. Update it now so you can continue playing on Xbox LIVE® and getting early access to game content. You can do it online at our secure billing site. Go update now.

 

If you have any questions about billing and your Xbox LIVE membership, please visit our Customer Support on Xbox.com.

 

Game on!

The Xbox LIVE Team

 

But I've never even used a credit card in Xbox Live besides years ago on the original Xbox for the PGR2 booster packs, I've used Xbox Live points cards for buying content and subscription cards. I have over 6 months left on a 12 month card I bought several months ago.

 

I don't even have a credit card anymore due to not really needing one and I'm putting enough things on credit as it is trying to pay for my last semester of college. Is there anything I can do short of getting a new credit card just so they have a active one listed in my account?

Edited July 24, 2007 by Atariboy

[Atarifever]

For issues besides abuse (Cheating, modding consoles, being offensive to other players, etc.)?

 

I recieved this email today stating:

 

Dear LeoAmes17:

 

What’s worse than wanting to play with friends and they’re not online? Not being able to play anyone.

 

Your credit card will expire on 2007-08-01. Update it now so you can continue playing on Xbox LIVE® and getting early access to game content. You can do it online at our secure billing site. Go update now.

 

If you have any questions about billing and your Xbox LIVE membership, please visit our Customer Support on Xbox.com.

 

Game on!

The Xbox LIVE Team

 

But I've never even used a credit card in Xbox Live besides years ago on the original Xbox for the PGR2 booster packs, I've used Xbox Live points cards for buying content and subscription cards. I have over 6 months left on a 12 month card I bought several months ago.

 

I don't even have a credit card anymore due to not really needing one and I'm putting enough things on credit as it is trying to pay for my last semester of college. Is there anything I can do short of getting a new credit card just so they have a active one listed in my account?

I would most certainly not do anything about this. Anything that ever claimed anything silly about a credit card I wasn't using somehow expiring and taking away services not tied to it would certainly go in the "ignore" pile. If anything comes of it, you'll be able to strighten it out then.

[moycon]

The gold account will go inactive is all.

 

If you want to keep it active without a credit card use the pre-paid Live cards you can get in stores or if you want to activate it down the road when you have a new credit card, do so then.

 

They aren't going to delete the account if that's what you're asking, you still keep all your achievements using a Silver account you just can't play people online.

[Atariboy]

I've only ever used the cards on both the original Xbox and the 360 for my subscription, if they shut it down I won't be buying another one. The last one only took effect May 1st and I was supposedly good to go for a year...

 

So if a 12 month Xbox Live Gold subscription card is only good for 3 months, I won't be coming back to Xbox Live.

 

Edit - I just checked my email, my previous 12 months was to end April 1st so I renewed late March using a 12 month card bought at a store and recieved this email confirming it.

 

"This mail is confirmation that you have successfully renewed your subscription to Xbox Live 12 mo. Gold Membership. This renewal goes into effect on Thursday, May 01, 2008. Here is a description of the service: "

 

I'm confused, they didn't even get the date right it looks. It should read April 01, 2007, I would think.

 

Doesn't seem like they do much right these days.

Edited July 24, 2007 by Atariboy

[Merrick Bill]

I've only ever used the cards on both the original Xbox and the 360 for my subscription, if they shut it down I won't be buying another one. The last one only took effect May 1st and I was supposedly good to go for a year...

 

So if a 12 month Xbox Live Gold subscription card is only good for 3 months, I won't be coming back to Xbox Live.

 

Edit - I just checked my email, my previous 12 months was to end April 1st so I renewed late March using a 12 month card bought at a store and recieved this email confirming it.

 

"This mail is confirmation that you have successfully renewed your subscription to Xbox Live 12 mo. Gold Membership. This renewal goes into effect on Thursday, May 01, 2008. Here is a description of the service: "

 

I'm confused, they didn't even get the date right it looks. It should read April 01, 2007, I would think.

 

Doesn't seem like they do much right these days.

 

 

The link in the email probably takes you to an imitation site that steals your credit card information. Sign into the Xbox Live web site (by typing the link into your browser) and see if there is really a problem. Don't do anything using the links in the email. There's a good chance that they are fraudulent.

 

Bill

[+remowilliams]

Agreed, it's most likely a phishing scam. Goto http://billing.microsoft.com/ directly for billing details.

[Hyper_Eye]

The e-mail is real. I received the same one when my card was actually expiring. I didn't update the account right away after my card expired and my account remained active. As long as you have credit on the account (from the points card you used) then it won't be deactivated. Just keep using the cards the way you have been and I don't think you are going to have a problem.

[Gregory DG]

I'm sure everyone has seen this.

[Hyper_Eye]

I'm sure everyone has seen this.

 

That is a riot.

[+remowilliams]

The e-mail is real. I received the same one when my card was actually expiring.

I did get one of these a while back when I had a CC expiring. I did get an email in the last week or so that sounds identical (same expiration date even) to the one Atariboy is describing, and I don't have a CC expiring now. The email link has a weird redirect through email.xbox.com so who knows...

 

I don't do anything through email links anyhow.

[FastRobPlus]

The mail you got is perplexing because it seems to indicate that your subscription is running out with the card, when in fact the two aren’t tied together.

 

Don't worry about your subscription lapsing if you used that prepaid card.

[Atariboy]

Looks like the email was legit, I just followed that link to their billing site.

 

What's odd is it list the only two things I did buy by cc several years ago (Two booster packs for PGR2) and they both say cancelled next to them. Hope they still work and I never need to redownload them.

[Gabriel]

I don't know why they'd send you such a notice. XBox Live memberships don't charge as they go or autorenew as far as I'm aware.

[Hyper_Eye]

I don't know why they'd send you such a notice. XBox Live memberships don't charge as they go or autorenew as far as I'm aware.

 

Sure they do. I used my credit card to set it up the day the service was release on the original XBox (which I purchased along with Unreal Championship.) Other then my credit card expiring I have not had to do anything. I automatically get billed for service once a year. They send out an e-mail well in advance so you can cancel if you want though.

[Atariboy]

I don't think they require a credit card on the Xbox 360.

 

My problem I believe is that I migrated this account from a original Xbox, which did require a valid credit card so I could maintain Xbox Live on both consoles, so I think that is my problem and its something left over from the original system even though its not required on a 360.

 

It seems legit, I got a message through my dashboard on the console notifying me of it as well.

 

I guess I'm just going to borrow a cc from my parents so theres something valid entered and avoid wasting my time again with their useless Indian based tech support. I've been told this won't end my membership by someone at DP, but I'd rather not take the chance. I only use the cards anyways so this sounds like a easy way out.

 

As far as I know, they always autorenew unless you call and cancel.

Edited July 26, 2007 by Atariboy

[Gabriel]

As far as I know, they always autorenew unless you call and cancel.

 

I guess.

 

But my one paid gold membership for 3 months on Live was through a credit card and did not autorenew. I would have been pretty pissed off if it had.

[Lauren Tyler]

I'm sure everyone has seen this.

 

"I have a console with... no online capabilities whatsoever!"

 

That's because Satoru Iwata is still lagging on allowing Wi-Fi games to be released.