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You can please some of the people some of the time, but you can never please everybody all of the time. This is exactly what has occurred with Microsoft due to the recent Xbox Live changes regarding requirements for streaming services such as Netflix and Hulu. Customers have become upset since they renewed their subscription for the sole purpose of still being able to use services that Microsoft has now made free. However, Microsoft has realized they made a mistake by not warning customers ahead of time, so they will be offering refunds to Xbox Live members who no longer wish to keep the Gold subscription once the changes have taken effect.
Customers who currently have an active Xbox Live Gold membership extending beyond the program changes can request to cancel their subscription and receive a refund from Microsoft. The refund amount will be prorated and will depend on the amount of days between the date of cancellation and the date their Gold subscription ends. Refund requests must be made through Microsoft support after the changes go live, but before August 31, 2014, plus an additional eight weeks for processing.
More info can be read here on the official FAQ.
Personally I believe Microsoft is doing the right thing by offering refunds to customers. It will certainly help to show that Microsoft is not trying to take advantage of consumers who have just purchased a Gold Xbox Live membership just to use Netflix or Hulu. I can’t see any downsides to this and think that it is a very smart move on Microsoft’s part to help out loyal Xbox consumers. Will you be requesting a refund? Does this change your opinion on having a Gold subscription? Let us know in the comments your thoughts on the situation and if you think we’ll see a major drop in Xbox Live memberships.