I'm having the same issue.

I'm currently talking to a Xbox support person Read Below.

Wendy: Thank you for contacting XBox customer support. Happy Sand and Surf day! How are you today Johnny?

Johnny: Alright I guess.

Wendy: I'm glad your doing well. I understand your having some trouble with a 48 hour code?

Johnny: Yes.

Wendy: I appreciate you taking time from your busy day to contact us. I would be happy to assist you with this issue today. Lets see what we need to do to get this resolved for you today and get you back to your day.

Johnny: I have noticed and understand the issue you are having with XBox live. I have finally been able to sign in.

Johnny: I redeemed a 48-Hour Trial for my Xbox account that's currently silver.

Johnny: It says the the code has been redeemed and the Trial will begin now. But I don't have any Gold features. & I can't play online or join XBox live Parties.

Wendy: I understand. However, the 48 hour codes do not give you full gold benefits. They are given so that silver members can play the game that they are issued with.

Johnny: Umm, No when you redeem a 48-Hour it lets you do anything Gold members can do.

Wendy: I'm sorry Johnny but that is actually not true. They are specifically meant to only give you access to the game it came with as that does require a gold membership to play online gaming

Johnny: No, I have used 48-Hour trials before, actually I had one about 2 Days ago. I have recieved it from a friend. I used it to play Modern Warfare3, Modernwarfare2 and Call of Duty 4. I also joined Parties and talked to friends. & later on watched Netflix.

Johnny: I'm not 100% certain but I heard man people are having the same issue now. Do you know if there are any problems with redeeming codes atm?

Wendy: If you did get those other benefits then you were lucky because you should not have. They are specifically to give customers the chance to trial a game that they do not have gold to do

Johnny: Hmm, Well I believe its doing that for everybody else not just me.

Wendy: Yes it would be because most people believe it does give you a free gold pass to everything. But in actuality it is just for the content they have purchased

Johnny: Well, That's not what they do. They allow access to anything Gold members do.

Wendy: I'm sorry Johnny that is incorrect.

Johnny: I'm pretty sure its not.

Johnny: Anyways you still never answered my question...

Johnny: I'm not 100% certain but I heard man people are having the same issue now. Do you know if there are any problems with redeeming codes atm?

Wendy: No there are no issues with redeeming codes right now. We were having an outage earlier but that would not effect the codes

Johnny: Well, Everyone is having the issues I'm having.

Johnny: Is there anyway you can put the 2 Day's on my Account?

Johnny: I still have the code here.

Wendy: I'm afraid those codes are not replaceable as they have not been purchased.

Johnny: Seems legit, I'm sure after purchasing a Game. You said you'll receive a code.

Wendy: However, I want to be sure you are satisfied with my service today. I am going to transfer you to my supervisor so she can further assist you.

Johnny: Well my friend purchased a game and was nice enough to give me the code.

Johnny: ..

Johnny: Alright.

Wendy: One moment please while I transfer you over


- Apparently when you redeem 48-Hour's you can't join Parties all you can do is play the game the code came with. I still complaining though.

wtf thats so not true 48 hour codes you can join parties i also talked to a person and they said that come and check later... wtf so done with microsoft