Some of you may or may not know about the recent security
breach that no one is admitting guilt to. This breach would happen to be
something that has affected me along with a number of other gamers on the Xbox
360. A little background to the issue is that some dickhead has managed to have
received passwords to numerous gamertags and then proceeded to purchase
thousands of MS Points on accounts that happen to have their credit card on
file, then immediately use those MS Points on Premium Gold Packages for FIFA
12. This in turn results in your Live account being suspended for “25 days”
according to Microsoft as they research the issue, which means a number of
inconveniences to their paying subscribers. Those inconveniences consist of and
are not limited to not being able to access Xbox Live, losing access to save
files tied to your gamertag, and missing out on time exclusive downloads due to
the inability to login, oh yeah, and if you are still a Netflix subscriber, you
are not able to access that either. So what the hell is going on and why will
neither Microsoft of EA admit guilt? Updated:
Peter Moore, you know, the head honcho over at EA has stated that the breach is
not on their side. Hear that Microsoft?
If you search FIFA 12, Premium Gold Package, or Xbox Live
hacked, then you will find numerous articles regarding this issue, but yet
there is nothing in regards to who is at fault. The truly unacceptable part of
this, aside from the violated feeling, lack of gaming online or at all unless
you choose not to set up a new gamertag, is being out 70 to 100 dollars, and
dealing with a customer service department which sounds like they could give a
shit less about your inconvenience with their service, is the fact that this
has been happening to Xbox Live users for over a month, and Microsoft claims
that their servers have not been compromised as that this is actually the user’s
fault. My situation is just like everyone else’s so far, ninety dollars in
charges were made for MS Points to be immediately used on FIFA 12 Premium Gold
Packs, called Microsoft 800-4MY-XBOX in which my account was frozen for
investigation, essentially turning my XBOX into a high priced paper weight.
Where does the frustration lie though, having no access to
my XBOX for 25 days, dealing with incompetent customer service who will say
anything to get you off the phone, or that this problem has been occurring for
over a month and rather than admitting to system breach the blame is being
placed on the consumer who pays for their services? If you have also had this
happen I truly feel for you and luckily you do not have titles you have review
for the number of seasonal releases, potentially ruining your relationships
with game developers trusting you to play and review their products. I can say
that after dealing with Microsoft’s customer service, I may be converting to
the dark side, because at least the Sith Lords over at Sony can admit fault and
issue a make good to make up for their error.
This is truly an example of horrible customer service,
because after numerous calls, in which I was told not once but twice, that they
would put a rush on the incident to get my account live, to be later told by a
supervisor by the name of Tony C. that there is no such rush. Not only that but
to be told “that sucks” or “you’re a game critic, how do I get that gig?” is
rather disheartening when you are a victim of fraud. Also, you have to love,
and by love, I mean hate, that apparently “hacked” is a bad word when you call
and that your account being compromised is not an admission to a problem with a
potential security breach. I will admit I am/was a huge Xbox fanboy, but when
you are treated like you are at fault for having your credit card saved on file,
and that you are doing them a disservice for subscribing to their product and
giving them money monthly for and advertisement filled service, it does leave a
nasty taste in your mouth.
So, hopefully this situation will be resolved shortly and to
all the other victims out there, my heart goes out to you and I feel your pain.
Here is something humorous to leave you with. In my conversation with the “supervisor”,
I asked if he had an Xbox 360 and if he has a Live account in which he stated
he did. I then asked how he would feel if this happened to him and he had to
deal with the same service all of us paying customers are having to deal with,
in which his response was………”I am sorry, but I cannot comment as this is a different situation”. Apparently they
are not susceptible to security breaches like we are, but here is to hoping it
happens to the wrong person there. That is all; I will step off my soap box
now.
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