deactivated code

I received a 12 month subscription for xbox live as a Christmas present. When i tried to redeem the code I got a error message saying code not recognized. I returned to the retailer where the voucher was purchased but they said that there was nothing that
they could do as everything had been done correctly as far as they were concerned. The voucher was activated on the day of purchase.

I then contacted Microsoft through their redeem code service, what a pile of rubbish!!!! It took three attempts to get a response and when they did respond all they said was contact the retailer and closed the thread. No attempt to communicate or actually
resolve the issue. I then used the live chat service but again a complete waste of time, over an hour speaking to the microsoft representative only to be told again to contact the retailer, when I asked them for some proof to justify their position they sent
me an email which states that no refund or replacement is to be made. Complete joke. This has been going on for more than a month and I was wondering if anyone has had a similar experience or has any advice as to how to proceed. It is clear that microsoft
want nothing to do with the matter or have any intention of trying to acknowledge my grievance. Their complaint process does not even allow for individual communication merely a series of automated processes.

:)