Xbox 360 wired headset?.?

Ok, I am getting very annoyed with this headset, I can hear my friends fine but I can't talk to them, I swear I've tried everything, it's definitely not muted and I don't think it has anything to do with the family settings, I really don't have a clue aside from it being broken but surely if it were broken I wouldn't be able to hear my mates, any suggestions?