So, I understand that if Pretendo issues a console ban, the console will never be able to connect to Pretendo services ever again, and there’s no way to remove the ban without getting a new Wii U, kinda like how Nintendo does it with Switches.
But what’s the recommended procedure if you buy a Wii U and then discover later that it’s been banned? Are you just out of luck in that case?
My advice would be to not buy consoles that are advertised to be modded. The Wii U doesn’t require hardware mods to run unsigned code, and you’d be safer buying one from somebody who is just trying to clear some shelf space. And if you must have one pre-modded, have the seller demonstrate that it can go online with Pretendo.
We don’t currently have a procedure for unbanning a console that has been sold because it’s a very difficult thing to verify. We would have no way to verify whether someone’s receipt or online marketplace screenshot is legitimate. If we made it too easy, cheaters would certainly abuse it as a free unban, unfortunately.
So for now, I completely agree with @Joomzie’s advice. I have heard rumors of cheaters selling their banned consoles, so be careful.