Why Did I Get Banned - The Official Thread

> Hi,
>
> I searched and couldn’t find a faq or anything on Credit Bans, so please forgive me for asking this.
>
> I just fired up Reach and lo and behold I got a message that my console has a credit ban. I have no idea why or for how long. My son and his friend were playing for a few hours last night and perhaps a bit this morning. I think in the Forge and firefight maybe? Is there a way for me to:
>
> 1. Find out why I was banned.
> 2. Get the ban reversed/lifted.
>
> TIA

You were banned for having a guest controller logged in getting 0 kills. The system popped you for AFK activity. AFK is Away From Keyboard/Controller.

  1. You can check your game history Here

  2. The ban will not be reversed/lifted. The system flagged you for AFKing, 343i doesn’t have the time or manpower to check every game to check and see if everyone is actually playing.

> Huh, I am sorry, but this ban was ridiculous. Normally, I do fine on kills on Reach, however lately my fiance and her kids come over and I let her son play on my account. Being only 7 and never having played a shooting game before, he just isn’t currently very good. Well, as a present, my fiance bought me a second controller so I could play with him (also because he was destroying my kill death spread in multiplayer, so I needed to stop him from hurting me) and her 10 year old daughter, who normally does not play video games, actually took an interest and decided to play with him for a while. Well, needless to say, she was very bad, but was actually having a lot of fun in multiplayer, so in probably 3 or 4 games, I am betting she didn’t get any kills. She was moving around and trying, but hey, she was trying to learn and have fun with her brother. It would be NICE before a ban occurs, that a player is informed that their may be a credit ban if the player or their guests are not getting any kills, something I can’t seem to find in the game documentation or anywhere other than an internet forum (perhaps I just don’t know where to look), otherwise I would have not let them play under my account. But seriously, a credit ban because two little kids are playing the game and trying to learn? The sad part is, she got so excited about the game that she was asking me and her mom to buy them their own Xbox 360, Halo Reach game, and controllers, this from a little kid who didn’t care much for video games in the first place, especially when playing them with her brother! It would be APPRECIATED for the next game if 343 at LEAST put some documentation (unless I just didn’t find it, which is possible) in the game that informs the players that multiplayer games can lead to a credit ban if no kills are performed, this would help casual gamers with kids who are interested and want to learn be more cautious about letting them utilize their account or XBOX 360 in general in multiplayer UNTIL they are able to contribute. I don’t think that is an unreasonable request. Yes, Reach is also my first Halo and first person shooting game that I have actually taken an interest in, and although I do get annoyed when players don’t contribute, I disagree that a ban should occur if they are ACTUALLY trying!

I can see your frustration, but this ban system was already implemented and inherited by 343. It was also a late addition due to AFKers, thats why there aren’t any warnings and the such. If you want to avoid the banhammer, try putting them in offline firefight, or even matchmaking firefight, it’s much easier, and better for learning the controls.

> I understand the rules for halo but it should be on people who do it for big points. I got a point and console ban because I let my 5 year old niece play by herself. I don’t think she did well. I showed her how to get into firefight so she could have fun by herself and not affect anybody else. Oh well 24 hours of doing something else like going out side and playing.

Honestly for a 5 year old. Why not just go into custom firefight? A game that isn’t on matchmaking? She can still kill aliens, and doesn’t have to worry about getting you banned.

Does anyone know how to get in touch with 343 I’ve had a credit ban on my account for the last 4 days, I would like to know why they’ve extended it for so long. No I have not, hacked, boosted, quit anymore games, or cheated during any matchmaking games recently during the ban. personally i think its a server issue but i need to contact them to confirm. please help!!!

> Does anyone know how to get in touch with 343 I’ve had a credit ban on my account for the last 4 days, I would like to know why they’ve extended it for so long. No I have not, hacked, boosted, quit anymore games, or cheated during any matchmaking games recently during the ban. personally i think its a server issue but i need to contact them to confirm. please help!!!

Credit bans can last from a few days to a few weeks to as long a a month or two.

> Does anyone know how to get in touch with 343 I’ve had a credit ban on my account for the last 4 days, I would like to know why they’ve extended it for so long. No I have not, hacked, boosted, quit anymore games, or cheated during any matchmaking games recently during the ban. personally i think its a server issue but i need to contact them to confirm. please help!!!

I also forgot to mention, if you want to get in touch with someone through 343 you can contact bs angel or WaypointWeb those are two well known people on Halo Waypoint you could shoot them a Private Message to them.

> Hi there, My partner and i have been playing Halo Reach. Our gamer tags are hornyfishiee and PETER JAMES 88 … It says that our xbox 360 and our accounts have a credit suspension on them… why is this? what can i do, i don’t think we have done anything wrong… ??? Will i get my credits reinstated that i have earned today by doing the challenges? thanks! Please please please help or direct me to the right place!

You generally get credit banned for AFKing a lot and the credits you earned during the credit ban are not going to be reimbursed for the credits that you earned during the credit ban.

> So I was playing Halo Reach and I get the message “you have been banned temporarily from earning credits” every time I attempt to join a game. I’m not even sure what I did, but does anyone know how or why this can happen? Also, how long does this last? I looked up mixed things from 1 hour up to 2 weeks…?
>
> Thanks

You can be credit banned for several reasons:

  1. AFKing for at least 3 matches

  2. Quitting to many games

for someone that has been banned for the first time it will last 24-48 hours 2nd and on can last for a few weeks to a few months.

As far as I know, I should be banned for only 24 hours if it was my first. It is my first, and I’m sorry (won’t happen again), but why I’m not active yet. I’ve been banned for like 30 hours!

Yea I got banned so I’m just wondering how long does bans usually. Last?

Yesterday i got banned from earning credits. I thought i was only going to be banned for a day. Now today i am still banned from earning credits and i was hoping someone could please tell me how long this is going to last?

I would like to know why there is a credit ban on my entire console, not specific accounts, and for how long - specifically?

Thank you.

> As far as I know, I should be banned for only 24 hours if it was my first. It is my first, and I’m sorry (won’t happen again), but why I’m not active yet. I’ve been banned for like 30 hours!

AFK: 0 kills
AFK: 0 kills
AFK

Three examples of FF matches where you AFK’d. It doesn’t matter if you only play 3 minutes, you AFK’d so they counted against you. There are others in your history indicating that you AFK, so that’s your reason for your ban.

> Yea I got banned so I’m just wondering how long does bans usually. Last?

> Yesterday i got banned from earning credits. I thought i was only going to be banned for a day. Now today i am still banned from earning credits and i was hoping someone could please tell me how long this is going to last?

1st ban: 24-48 hours
Bans after that can range up to 2 weeks. You can also be credit reset if you AFK a lot.

Could someone check my history for me and tell me what got me banned because I’m not sure an i don’t want to repeat the behavior when the ban lifts. thanks GT: InfiniteOvrlord

> I would like to know why there is a credit ban on my entire console, not specific accounts, and for how long - specifically?
>
> Thank you.

Well your GT has played with a GT AaronTyB 3000. AaronTyB 3000’s game history has a number of AFK matches. If this GT plays primarily on your console, there’s your console ban.

AaronTyB 3000’s naughtiness
AFK
AFK
AFK

Those are just three full AFK examples. I see a half dozen games on the first page of AaronTyB 3000’s game history that might be partial AFK games as well.

EDIT: If this is your first ban, it’s usually 24-48 hours. If you’ve had other bans previously, the current ban might be longer (up to 2 weeks). Significant AFK activity will eventually get you credit reset to recruit.

> Could someone check my history for me and tell me what got me banned because I’m not sure an i don’t want to repeat the behavior when the ban lifts. thanks GT: InfiniteOvrlord

You have some AFK games in Invasion:
AFK
AFK
NO IDEA
FPB-GUEST AFK
FPB-GUEST AFK

Basically, you’re Full Party Boosting (FPB). ChaosValentine has numerous guests in your parties. There are a couple of other GTs involved too, but I see ChaosValentine the most. Since you are participating in the FPB, you are part of the PATTERN that the Banhammer looks for and those AFK matches count against you. (If I can can find these games this easily, the Banhammer has known about you for a LONG time.) You’ve probably gone over the limit and received a ban. You have a significant number of these, so you may qualify for a long ban (1-2 weeks). I can’t tell you how long because if you got a 24-48 hour ban previously and didn’t play during it, you may have not noticed. Anyway, you’ve now on a sort of “probation.” consider yourself warned.

> Can anybody tell me why I got my current two week ban no evident reason no afking nor boosting I just played firefight and multiplayer to get daily challenges done. Then today I was told about the ban. So I cant really figure it out. Thanks in advance.

Probable AFK
Possible AFK-Definite Quit
Um…You killed yourself repeatedly? Possible AFK after that?
Two AFKers, but AFKers suffered no deaths
Just unsure but wierd
So, nothing that screams AFK or boosting, but you have a number of games that just…odd. Since we don’t have the kill maps, like we did with Bungie, I can’t tell if you weren’t playing or just not playing the game type. But in general, if you aren’t playing the game type properly, the Banhammer could pick that up and add that to your total. At some point, you passed the threshold to qualify for a ban. In the end, just play the game.

I’m trying to figure out how long I’ve been banned for. I’ve been letting my friend’s kid play on my profile and I understand it’s my fault. Not too big of a deal, I can just use my wife’s profile and stack guests. I would just like to know about how long to expect before I can get back online. Thanks for your help!

Im not banned from matchmaking im banned from earning credits and i dont know why. i hardly ever earn creadits? plus im real pissed i was about to rank up to brigadier and i was going to get the Mk. VI helmet

I’m confused. Where is this documented? What warning, if any, was given? Why is there no specific time? Who determines how long this lasts?