Microsoft
Reviews and Complaints

Here is the mail I received after the earlier pl. inform the authenticity of itnote,
we have just confirmed your details with reference to your email. yes, you were actually selected as one of our original winners.
we send winnings to our winners directly through our bank representative here in london.
we are here by providing you with our real bank details below:
You are to contact them via email, you are to send the following details to them for further verification.
Your full names,
Your contact address,
Your telephone number

below is their contact details:

Bank name: london international bank plc.
Account officer: gary kingston
Email: [protected]@hotmail.co. uk
Tel: +[protected]
Fax: + [protected]
Yours faithfully,
Dr. hachmann smith
+[protected]

To date I have had 7 faults with my consoles, 1 machine scratched discs, 3 died of separate software failures, 1 had the power pack go down, 2 died from the red ring of death, I also had an aerial cable stop working for no reason, luckily I managed to get a new machine in all but 1 case, the last time it broke was told it was out of warranty so would have to pay around £100 to have it picked up and repaired, thats more than the original price I paid!, got a 2nd hand 1 for £60, dont get me wrong I love my 360 but isnt there something that can be done about selling a machine that is defective and the company knows its defective but continues to make it defects and all.

I attempted to download Microsoft Office 2007 from this website, canceled the transaction, but was still charged over $250.00 on my Visa card.

I checked my credit card bill and saw a charge from Microsoft billing bill.ms.net for 39.99 that I did not authorize. I used my credit card for a one time purchase of points for my boyfriend and apparently they took it upon themselves to charge me for something I didnt buy. I googled it and apparently I am not the only one with this issue. I will have to take care of this on Tuesday because of memorial day but I wanted to file a complaint so no one else would have to deal with this. I will no longer be purchasing anything with my credit card from them and most likely wont buy anything at all in the near future

beware when you purchase a used xbox 360 on ebay or anywhere else because it is most likely being sold because its original owner hacked the console so that it would play burnt games, i learnt my lesson just this pass week, i bought my kids a 360 for christmas and we never had the live points so my kids never attempt to play online at xbox live but i just purchased them some gold points to play online and when we tried to connect and sign up on the website i recieved a message on the console that said that the console was banned for what i suspect is something that the previous owner had done to the console. i contacted microsoft via email and recieved and automated message back stating that if my kids console has a certain number or code on the screen then that means the console is banned for life from connecting to xbox live because the system was illegally modified. i knew nothing about the system being "hacked" and yet my kids can not play online because of the previous owners wrong doing. the only way to can tell if a xbox 360 is not legal is trying to connect to xbox live. so buyers beware and spread the word around

Below is a copy of a scam E-mail I recieved--please delete it and do not respond to it.

Microsoft Consumer Awards
Building 3 Microsoft Campus
Thames Valley Park Reading,
Berkshire RG6 1WG
United Kingdom.

April 30th, 2010

Dear Beneficiary,

The board of directors and entire members of staff of the MICROSOFT CONSUMER
AWARDS wish to inform you of the result of the (Email Address Ballot) online
Sweepstakes International programme held at the British Headquarter.

Your email account has been picked as a winner of Five Hundred Thousand
Pounds Sterling (£500, 000.00) in cash credited to file UIA/[protected]/03.
Your email address attached to ticket number: 8VY57104 28 with Serial number
173/02 drew the lucky numbers [protected] .

Contact Agent: Mr. Terry Owen
Foreign Services Directorate/Operation Personnel
Emails: [protected]@msn.com
Tel: +[protected]

Do provide the details below in contacting Mr. Owen

REF: NLU/[protected]/LY AND BATCH: 08/H3401/3UK

Fill the below:
1. Full Name:_____________________
2. Address:_____________________
3. Nationality:___________Sex:________
4. Age:________Date of Birth:___________
5. Occupation:_____________________
6. Cell Phone:___________Fax:___________
7. State of Origin:_________Country:_______

Ensure your response is sent to [protected]@msn.com only

Congratulations.

Sincerely
Nick Kiffin
Online Coordinator
Microsoft Consumer Awards.

© 2010 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

____________________________________________________________

No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 8.5.437 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2840 - Release Date: 04/28/10 06:27:00

I want to know what is this? (

Microsoft award team
Microsoft corporation
#1 microsoft way redmond, wa 98052.
Ref: btd/968/2010
Batch: 409978e

Attn: dear winner

This is in receipt of your mail. your moblie numberl was luckily drawn by a computer balloting system as one of our winners in our experimental lottery bonanza from the prestigous microsoft online promotion. thus, making you the winner of the sum of (700, 000 pounds) seven hundred thousand pounds)

This correspondence officially confirms that we are in receipt of instructions relating to the payment of your lottery winnings of (700, 000 pounds) seven hundred thousand pounds)

For your claims, you are to select from the three options bellow.

1. you come to our office in the united kingdom for your claims

2. contact our affiliated bank with the informations bellow for your winning transfer

For second option contact
First international bank plc london, united kingdom. with their contact details below
Contact mr. mike robert
First international bank plc
100 north main
Delong city, north dakota 58854
Phone :+[protected]
Fax: :+[protected]
Email: [protected]@firstinternationalbank. tk

or

3. contact the courier company with the informations bellow for your delivery

Stated below is the contact details of our affiliate courier company in charge of delivery:
Mr. tom smith
Interlink express couirier.
511 garretts green la
Birmingham, west midlands,
B18 6da, england
Tel:+[protected]
E-mail: [protected]@live.com

This should be completed by the beneficiary of the stated fund, for verification before delivery by the courier company

(your fullnames)... residential address...

Nationality... sex...

Date of birth... email address...

Tel. number... occupation...

Declaration:

I... hereby

Declare that the above data are true. that my claims agent shall act as a facilitator in the transfer of the total fund to me.

Date...

Your fullnames)...

Congratulations once again from the entire staff of the microsoft award team.

Larry cole
Tel: +[protected]
Microsoft lottery award team.
United kingdom

I have been allowing the monthly fee for XBox live to be debited from my credit card each month for convenience. Charges other than the monthly fee started showing up on my card, primarily because my son didn't understand what he was doing and purchased points online. I called Xbox and had them to put a hold on my card for any purchases outside the monthly fee. My son got a gift card so he could purchase the points online, however he couldn't use the point card because there was a block. I called Xbox and asked them to take the block off temporarily so that he could use the point card. Here is what gets crazy, if I take the block off for this one transaction I can't put the block back on which again now my card is susceptible to random charges. Can someone please explain how such a sophisticated company like Microsoft has not developed a way to either make the point card transaction and the credit card transaction 2 separate transactions or why can't a block be put back on. It's another way for them to get revenue and it is definately not to the consumers benefit.

MICROSOFT® CORPORATION
Building, 40 Ryecroft Way,
Stopsley London,
United Kingdom.

Winner No: 04,
Microsoft Coporation wish to notify all online customers as we celebrates the 35th year anniversary 2010; and also to inform you that you have emerged one of the beneficiary
selected in this ongoing 35th Anniversary Program in conjunction with the Foundation of Software Products (F.P.S.)

A Bank Draft will be issued in your name by Microsoft Corporation Board Uk (MCSP), you have therefore won the entire sum of 1, 000.000.00(One Million Dollars)

Contact :Dr. Hector Powell Via
Email: [protected]@mail.md
Phone: +[protected]

Provide below information for validation of your prize
.Residential Address:
.Tel (Mobile):
.Nationality/Country:
.Full Name:
.Age/Sex:
.Occupation/Position:
.What is Your comment On Microsoft Products?:

Note: your award security information ( Data File Number: UK/9420X2/68, Ref.Code :[protected], Grant Number:MSC/[protected]/07)

Congratulations from the Staffs & Members of Microsoft Board Commission.
©2010 Microsoft Corporation®

had a 32 dollar charge on my card, do not know what it was for or why it is there, do know my son charged an xbox game online, don't know if this had anything to do with it MICROSOFT *BILLING BILL.MS.NET

I am soooo frustrated with x box live. My son's account was permanently banned without warning or explanation for account theft, phishing or solicitation-none of which is true! They will not explain this ban, send you to forums to post a complaint which is then not answered. Repeated requests for explanation are stonewalled and promised return phone calls do not happen. Then we saw my son's tag online being used by someone else! I have been told that they don't ban without reason, and don't make mistakes, but clearly that cannot be true.
They claim that they do not have any contact with their live enforcement branch AND that the live enforcement team has no phones! REALLY? This seems a scam. What other company can take the money you have spent on the service and points and just confiscate them without explanation or proof? The moderators are loose cannons and judging by the number of complaints all over the internet, this is an ongoing problem. PLEASE COMPLAIN to your better business bureau and to microsoft and anywhere else you can, so we can get them to be more accountable. I believe they think they are too big to have to respond appropriately and they are dealing with mostly young people, and also take advantage of that. But NO COMPANY should be able to treat it's customers this way without feeling the wrath of consumers! LET"S BAN BAD X BOX LIVE BANS TOGETHER!

Date: Sun, 28 Feb 2010 09:34:11 +1100
> From: [protected]@micr.com
> To:
> Subject: Data File Number: Un1267-2010...
>
> MICROSOFT®
> (UK. Regional Office)
> United Building,
> Kensington London W85SP.
> Data File Number: Un1267-2010
> It is obvious that this notification will come to you as a surprise,
> Please find time to read it carefully as we congratulate you, following
> official publication of results of the E-mail electronic online
> Sweepstakes organized by Microsoft, in conjunction with the United
> Nations held yesterday 26th Febuary 2010, in United kingdom, A Draft of
> £1, 000, 000.00 (One Million British Pound Sterlings) will be issued
> in your name. For Validation Purpose, Please Forward The Following
> Information as Listed Below and Send It To Our Event Manager Office
> For Claim:
> Full Names:
> Residential address:
> Tel(Mobile):
> Nationality/Country:
> Age/Sex:
> Occupation/Position:
> SEND DETAILS FOR VALIDATION:
> Promotion Director : Mrs Larisa Fisher
> Contact Email: [protected]@live.co.uk

My credit card was billed for the above service, and I've never heard of this company or service. I bought my recent microsoft windows office upgrade from a link at University of Phoenix. I highly recommend you check whether the information provided to them has been compromised.

My son was console banned from Xbox live yesterday without any notice or any reason when we called to ask what happened no specifics were given to us nor do they have too? He has had Xbox for years and very much enjoys playing online. I would like the specifics as to why my son was banned. As a parent that is my right and when microsoft allows minors to sign up for the live service without my consent verified? I feel the company is not very responsible to its minor consumers. They have no right to take his rights or mine away when they are not very responsible in the begining and expect these kids to read all those pages of terms and conditions which I printed up last night. They just want to play your games and with their friends. As a parent I feel I should have been notified if my child was in violation of these so, I could make a decision as to what? if any? violations were happening? What I should do to fix. I don't know because microsoft appearantly doesn't have to give you any answers or specifics? They can pick and choose how and who can stay on their network and of course keep their money too! Minors are called this because they need to be taught and guided not just punished and banned without any notice or explaination. Even our great legal system has to abid by this but, not microsoft? Apearently, Microsoft makes my parenting decisions for me. The way I see it you are not teaching these kids that when they get banned. They can go buy another console and pay you more money and get right back on the system. Wow! That's not really a bad system for you? Sounds like a really good system for your company? Where or what is the lesson being taught? After reading how to file complaints with your company it sounds like I could make any complaint about anyone if I wanted to get rid of a player if I didn't like them? I can do it right after each game I played? You don't think this is happening? If my child was swearing and that was the reason? Don't know though? The whole system should be shut down cause that's what the kids are all doing online. When you promote games like Call of Duty don't expect kids to say "Please" and "Thank you!" Maybe you should revisit complaints and violations and give these kids some sort of notice after a game if in violation so, they can learn proper behavior or have a chance to defend themselves! A very concerned parent!

Sirs,

Kindly clarify. As per Consumer Help UK's message dated 19.2.10, it said that they have received confirmation from Microsoft Corpn, UK that I have emerged winner in the 5th Stage International Draw, whereas the website if Microsoft Corpn(furnished below) says all this about lotteries is a scam.
Regards
Kaisahai

Consumer Fraud Reporting
Microsoft UK Lotto
Reporting on the Latest Frauds, Scams, Fake Lotteries, Spams and Hoaxes

Recommended:
books

Recommended
AV product:

Sample Lottery Scam Email:
Microsoft UK Lotto
If you fell for this scam, please shoot yourself now
Below is yet another example of an truly ludicrous and unbelievably phony lottery, this one using the name "Microsoft UK Lotto". This is really one of the most pathetic scams attempts we've ever seen. If you fell for this scam, we suggest you lock yourself in the basement and have people slide food under the door. Don't ever go outside again. It is too dangerous for you. Really.

There are many signs that this is a fraud, not the least of which is that Microsoft never has and never will sponsor a lottery, of any kind. Bill Gates has made that pretty clear. And, by the way, Microsoft is not, does not, and will not ever send you to DisneyWorld. They don't "test the internet", nor sponsor email lotteries to "promote use of the internet".

In addition to the usual clues, notice the gibberish writing, excessive/incorrect use of CAPITAL letters, lack of decent punctuation. The sentences don't even make sense. Hardly what a professional (i.e., real) lottery would do. Note the other clues to an obvious fraud that we have highlighted in the letter; keep confidential, selected by a random computer lottery of email addresses, use of free email accounts, etc.

Here is a typical scam lottery winning notification.

Master list of sample lottery scam emails

How to recognize a lottery scam

What to do if you think you have been the victim of a lottery scam

How the lottery / sweepstakes scams work

Also see this page for a sample in the UK.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: "uk lotto" < [protected]@hotmail.com > Add to Address Book Add Mobile Alert

Subject: CONGRATULATIONS

Date: Tue, 13 Feb 2007 13:29:14 +0200

MOTTO: FIGHTING POVERTY ROUND THE WORLD

FROM: THE DESK OF THE E-MAIL PROMOTIONS MANAGER INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT, MICROSOFT CORPORATION WORLD LOTTERY UNITED KINGDOM.61-70 Southampton Row, Bloomsbury London United Kingdom WC1B 4AR. TEL:+[protected]

REFERENCE NO: MSW-L/[protected]

BATCH NO: 2007FEBTL#22

WINNER NO: 5

ELECTRONIC EMAIL AWARD WINNING NOTIFICATION AWARD PRESENTATION CENTER: UNITED KINGDOM

DEAR WINNER,

MICROSOFT CO-OPERATION MANAGEMENT WORLDWIDE ARE PLEASED TO INFORM YOU THAT YOU ARE A WINNER OF OUR ANNUAL MS-WORLD LOTTO LOTTERY CONDUCTED IN AFRICA BEING THE HOST OF THE EVENT FOR THIS PRESENT YEAR MEGA JACKPOT LOTTO WINNING PROGRAMS HELD ON 12TH, FEBRUARY 2007.

YOUR PERSONAL E-MAIL ADDRESS OR COMPANY EMAIL WAS ATTACHED TO JANUARY MSWLL. WITH SERIAL NUMBER S/N-00168 DREW THE LUCKY NUMBERS [protected], AND CONSEQUENTLY WON IN THE FIRST LOTTERY CATEGORY. YOU HAVE THEREFORE BEEN APPROVED FOR LUMP SUMS OF $ 1, 000, 000 (USD ONE MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS) PAYABLE IN CASH CREDITED TO FILE REF NO: MSW-L/[protected] THIS IS FROM TOTAL PRIZE MONEY OF $ 25, 000, 000 USD, SHARED AMONG THE TWENTY-FIVE (25) LUCKY INTERNATIONAL WINNERS IN FIRST AND SECOND CATEGORY.

ALL PARTICIPANTS WERE SELECTED FROM WORLDWIDE WEBSITES ESPECIALLY YAHOO EMAIL THROUGH OUR MICROSOFT COMPUTER BALLOT SYSTEM DRAWN FROM 21, 000 NAMES, 3, 000 NAMES FROM EACH CONTINENT (CANADA, ASIA, AUSTRALIA, UNITED STATE, EUROPE, MIDDLE EAST, AFRICA AND OCEANIA, AS PART OF INTERNATIONAL "E-MAIL" PROMOTIONS PROGRAM, WHICH IS CONDUCTED ANNUALLY FOR OUR PROMINENT MS -WORD USERS ALL OVER THE WORLD, AND TO ENCOURAGE THE USE OF INTERNET AND COMPUTERS WORLDWIDE.

YOUR FUND (CERTIFIED CHEQUE) HAS BEEN INSURED WITH YOUR REF NO: MSW-L/[protected] AND WILL BE READY FOR DELIVERY. IT WILL BE DELIVERED TO YOU BY ONE OF OUR CLAIM AGENT IN AFRICA (MR.SEASON RICHARDS ). YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS SHOULD BE USED IN ALL CORRESPONDENCE WITH YOUR CLAIMS OFFICER, PLEASE NOTE THAT, YOU ARE TO CONTACT YOUR CLAIMS OFFICER VIA EMAIL AS WE ARE PROMOTING THE USE OF E-MAIL. ALSO YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO CALL HIM TO CONFIRM YOUR WINNINGS AND GOVERNMENT TAX PAYMENT THAT IS ALL, AS HE WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH THE NECESSARY DETAILS ON HOW TO CLAIM YOUR PRIZE AFTER THE SUBMISION OF THE BELOW FORM.

AS PART OF OUR SECURITY PROTOCOL YOU ARE TO QUOTE THIS SECURITY CODE MSW/FEB/XX07 TO YOUR CLAIMING AGENT. THIS IS TO PREVENT SCAM .

CONTACT YOUR CLAIMS AGENT OFFICER IN SOUTH AFRICA (FILL THE BELOW FORM WITH YOUR WINNING INFORMATION).

NAME: MR.SEASON RICHARDS

EMAIL: [protected]@yahoo.com

REMEMBER, ALL PRIZE MONEY MUST BE CLAIMED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. ALL FUNDS NOT CLAIMED ON OR BEFORE THE FIXED DATE WILL BE RETURNED AS UNCLAIMED AND DONATED TO CHARITY ORGANIZATION IN AFRICA.

NOTE: IN ORDER TO AVOID MISTAKES, PLEASE REMEMBER TO QUOTE YOUR REFERENCE AND BATCH NUMBERS AND YOUR SECURITY CODE OF MSW/FEB/XX07 IN ALL CORRESPONDENCES WITH YOUR CLAIMS OFFICER. DO NOT REPLY ANY OTHER MAILS LIKE THIS ON NET, AS THEY ARE A LOT OF SCAM ARTIST OUT THERE PRETENDING TO BE US.YOU MAY SEE MAILS LIKE THIS DO NOT REPLY. DO CONTACT YOUR CLAIMS OFFICER MR.SEASON RICHARDS IN SOUTH AFRICA . AT ONCE YOU WILL BE ASKED TO PROVIDE SOME DETAILS TO ENABLE THE OFFICE PROCEED WITH YOUR WINNING CERTIFICATE AND FILE KEEPING.

CONGRATULATIONS, ONCE MORE FROM THE ENTIRE MANAGEMENT AND STAFF OF MICROSOFT CO-OPERATION TO ALL OUR LUCKY WINNERS THIS YEAR. THANK YOU FOR BEING PART OF THIS PROMOTIONAL LOTTERY PROGRAM. OUR SPECIAL THANKS AND GRATITUDE TO BILL GATES OF MICROSOFT AND ALL HIS ASSOCIATES FOR ALLEVIATING POVERTY ROUND THE WORLD.

SINCERELY,

Mrs. Basheera Abubakar Mrs. Caro Smith

(Co-coordinator). (Secretary)

LOTTERY SPONSORS: CHIEF SPONSORS;

MICROSOFT CORPORATION UK, MICROSOFT CORPORATION AFRICA,

MICROSOFT CORPORATION USA, MICROSOFT CORPORATION ASIA.

Past winners.

To process your claims you are hereby advice to fill this form and return it to our claming officer in South Africa with this email ( [protected]@yahoo.com ) for the final processing of your file.

ELECTRONIC MICROSOFT EMAIL AWARD FORM.

NAME...

ADDRESS:...

NATIONALITY:...

SEX:...

AGE:...

PHONE/MOBILE:...

FAX:...

OCCUPATION:...

COMPANY:...

SECURITY CODE...

WINNING NO:...

You have to taravel to South Africa in order to sign the whole necessary documents and claim your fund.

In this case, please do contact our claim officer with this form on the above email address. Congratulations!

Dr. Brendan Richson

I purchased the Microsoft Office 2007 Suite for what I thought was the advertised price of $59.95 plus $13 for the back up disc. DRI charged my card 3x for one purchase. I wound up paying triple the amount advertised...don't purchase from this company. You can go to college bookstores and find the same discount...don't give these guys your credit card information because they will charge you over and over again.

We just had an unauthorized charge to our checking account from MICROSOFT *BIBILL.MST WAUS for $ 19.99. Realized that the only business with Microsoft was when we purchased our Yearly Membership for XBOX LIVE at the beginning of the month for $ 49.99 and now this... In reading the other complaints it was helpful for us to determine that the charges were in fact from XBOX LIVE. It's unfortunate that a company with so much revenue get's a bad name for activities like this. BEWARE! BILL GATES KNOWS SOMETHING US LITTLE PEOPLE DON'T LOL! I SHOULDN'T OF LET MY BROTHER IN LAW TALK OUR SON IN TO XBOX ELITE SANTA CLAUSE ALREADY HAD THE PS3 AND HE HAD TO RETURN IT FOR THE XBOX THE DAY OF SCHEDULED DELIVERY :-)

GOOD LUCK

Online promotion update
Microsoft® london office
(cardinal place)
100 victoria street london sw1e 5jl
United kingdom

Dear email user,
You email id has been selected winner of £500, 000 pounds in jan 1st 2010 microsoft
Email draw.

Contact hom walter murphy for further details. email:
Mr.[protected]@live.co.uk
Tel: +[protected]

Congratulations.

Thank you.

Dr. godson manchester