Complaint Review: Microsoft

I owned a Microsft Xbox 360, which was purchased December 2006. It worked fine until September 2007, when it got the famed "Red Ring of Death." I called Microsoft's repair center, who had me mail in the console for repair, at no charge. Upon receiving the "repaired" console, I quickly found out the indeed it was not repaired. On this second attempt, Microsoft sent me a replacement console instead otf repairing my original.

Fast forward to 3 weeks ago. Again, I am downed by the famed "Red Ring of Death." I follwed standard proceedure in returning my unit for repair. This time, I get my unit back, unrepaired, according to the supplied letter, because I am not the original owner. Technically, that is correct, while in actuality, Microsoft send me a refurbished unit as oppsed to me buying a second hand unit.

I called in to the "service center" only to be told that they would have to research the ownership trail of my unit and gave me a reference number. I asked to speak with a supervisor, who informs me that my unit had been tampered with. When I challenged that and advised the letter enclosed in the box stated that the unit was sent back unrepaired due to me not being the original owner, she just stated that didn't matter because the unit had been tampered with.

When I asked her to tell me how, she states that if the company "stickers" had been removed or even "scratched" that it will be considered tampering and be deemed unrepairable. Which I countered no such thing has happened or is evident on my unit. I explained that the only indication that anything was done to the "sticker" is where the notches are for the wireless adapter accessory, which fits into notches on both sides of the sticker. She advised that indicated tampering and that no repair would be completed under warranty.

Subsequent calls have garnered the same result, Microsoft refusing to repair the console under the warranted terms.

Todd
Germantown, Maryland
U.S.A.