If you’re in the market for a used XBox 360 console this holiday shopping season, you might want to think twice about snatching up that too good to be true price on one you found online. Microsoft just banned somewhere between 600,000 to 1,000,000 XBox 360 consoles from the XBox Live network.
Lots of people have been hacking or “modding” or “chipping” their XBox 360 consoles. This means they’ve replaced some of the chips inside their consoles to prevent their consoles from detecting their pirated game discs so they could easily play the pirated games. (An unmodified XBox 360 will refuse to play a pirated game disc). Here’s the kicker: One of the great features of an XBox 360 is its ability to go online to the XBox Live service and use all of the features like playing against your friends online, chatting, bragging with your game trophies, watch Netflix movies, use facebook and twitter, buy games for download such as community games written with XNA, etc… Microsoft has just recently started detecting which consoles were modified and which weren’t when these consoles connect to XBox Live. As soon as the XBox live service detects a modified XBox 360 console, it takes note of its serial # (and presumably the XBox Live account) and bans them from ever connecting to the XBox Live service again. This ban does NOT get undone if the XBox 360 console is sold to an unsuspecting buyer.
What does this mean for you?
Well, if you’re one of the ones that modified you XBox 360 console, it means you’ve either already been banned or you will be next time you connect.
If you’re just shopping for a good price on a used XBox 360 console, it means there are now thousands of banned XBox 360 consoles for sale on e-bay, Craig’s List, and other online outlets. I doubt ANY of those seller will tell you their console is banned! Your best bet is to just not buy ANY used XBox 360 consoles online. The probability of buying a banned console is extremely high and you’re totally screwed if you buy one. Microsoft will have absolutely NO pity on you whatsoever and will NOT undo the ban. Your only option at that point is to try to get your money back from the person you bought it from. This may mean 
contacting e-bay for buyer’s protection and of course leaving negative feedback on the seller unless they make good. If you buy it on Craig’s List, you’re at the mercy of the seller. Of course, you can always file suit in small claims court. It’s illegal for them to leave out such pertinent information. You should read the seller’s fine print too. They may have hidden it in there. If so, you have no recourse.
If you buy a used XBox 360 console locally, insist that the seller hook it up to XBox Live in front of you to prove it has not been banned. If they refuse, you should obviously assume it has been banned. Do NOT take any excuses as to why they won’t hook it up. You should tell them that you refuse to buy it until they can prove it’s not been banned.
I’ve sent a message to XBox support to see if there’s a way for you to determine by serial # if an XBox 360 console has been banned. I’m awaiting a reply. Check back here frequently for a response. I got a response from Microsoft. Short answer: According to the e-mail response (but their phone support says otherwise… read below this e-mail response), there’s no way to determine if a used console has been banned, short of attempting to connect to XBox Live and see for yourself. Here’s their response (and they need to teach their techies how to write proper English too, BTW):
We suggest that customer will purchase the new xbox 360 because there is a possibilty that the previous owner has been modified or violated the code of conduct for the console. We dont have any information on how to check if the console that you will be purchasing was banned or not.Only our system can track down weather it was modified or not/
For US and Canada customers, please contact Xbox Customer Service at 1-800-469-9269 at your earliest convenience, and we’ll be happy to help you. We are open everyday from 6am to 10pm US Pacific Time.
For international customers, please contact Xbox Customer Service in your local region. (To find the correct Customer Service number for your region first use this link http://www.xbox.com/en-US/ChangeLocale.htm to select the appropriate country and then use the contact number found under the support menu). You may also choose to call international assistance (direct dial to the US) by dialing 425-635-7180.
If you need to reply to this e-mail, please reply ‘with history’ (include any previous e-mail) or reference to Service Request Number *———- * so we can expedite our service to you.
Thank you for visiting Xbox.com. If you should have future questions on Xbox products or services, please be sure to revisit our Web site as we continually adding information to enhance our service.
Best Regards,
Kim
Microsoft XBOX Support Services
I just called the number and it’s the customer support #. They have a recording talking about the ban and direct you here: http://www.xbox.com/en-US/consoleban
BUT! I just spoke to an agent and they CAN tell you if a used console is banned, BUT that console has to have already been registered. Here’s what you do:
- Contact the person selling the suspect XBox 360 console.
- Get their name, address, phone #, and of course, the XBox’s serial number.
- Call 800-469-9269 and go through the menus to get to an agent.
- Tell the agent you’re about to buy a used console, but need to check if it’s been banned and that you have all the information they need to check, including the serial #.
At that point, the agent should be able to confirm or deny if it’s been banned. Again, the console must have already been registered. If it hasn’t, it could still be banned, but the agents would not know. So, if it’s not been registered, have the seller register it, then you can call and check. If the seller refuses, consider it a banned XBox and don’t buy it!
BUYER BEWARE!!!!
Have you been affected by this either as someone who modded their console and gotten banned or who has been the unwitting recipient of a banned console? Let me know in the comments below.