Free name change

If you created the account on the console - you do not get a free name change.

If you created it on the website - or were assigned a GT from an exiting Live account, you would get a free name change.

If you created the account when you were able to select a GT at sign up you are also Unable to change your name for free one time.

Juan, that's not entirely true.  Accounts created on the console will be given a randomly generated name and thus be eligible for a one time free name change.  However, accounts created before Nov '10 were not random and got no free change.  The fact still remains that if it charged him, 1) he already used the 1 time change or never had it and 2) it's still his responsibility to check this as the console will inform you if it is free or not PRIOR to even attempting the change.

It's for new accounts only. If you had your account when this went into effect, it'll cost 800 as yours did. This only applies to new accounts as they give you a randomly generated Gamertag.

@Gobizku - When has the console ever generated a random name? I mean you got player 1 by default but they went in order and were always Player X. Random name being TunaFish6 or  DragonRider10.

Will have to fire up one of the old consoles with a pre-nxe dash and see what names it gives me for an offline account.

Um, Juan, yes it does give you a random name. Try it. Player 1 would be a local profile only.  If you create any profile on the xbox, it will have you name it - this is a local name only. After joining live it'll give you a random tag.

Only applies to profiles with randomly generated names also only within 30 days of creating an new xbox live account not preexisting accounts

@Raett Maybe that is what I was thinking was local - Thanks for the info :)

But I do have a question - what if I have an Offline GT that I want already, then move it to online, will it assign a random when I go to join live if the GT is not taken?

Yup. Now days no matter if the local tag is taken on live or not, it will still give you a random one. Which is why all profiles get the one free change.