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a1gjv

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Skype what a total waste of time and money.

This is a total and utter disgrace for a company who is earning millions of pounds a year and does not seem to care one cent about it's customers.

Saturday 22 March 2008, 8:08 PM

Skype Customer claims to of had money stolen from his Skype account again

Posted by a1gjv

It would seem that the same Skype customer who
Skype Customer claims to of had money stolen from his Skype account has had the same thing happen to him for a third time. This is now no joking matter now and Skype do not seem to be taking there payment system security very seriously. You only have to look here to see how many people are having problems with the Skype robot operated payment system and Skype don't seem to care less, all they are interested in is developement, developement, developement and nothing else. Technorati Profile

Thursday 13 March 2008, 6:49 PM

Skype Customer claims to of had money stolen from his Skype account. UPDATE

Posted by a1gjv

I can now report that this Skype customer has eventually had his problem solved exactly 1 month to the day he first reported it to Skype CS. What an absolute disgusting length of time to have to wait and as far as I know he has not received any type of apology from anybody at Skype which IMHO is another kick in the butt for him. You can read about the end of the saga here
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Sunday 2 March 2008, 4:15 PM

Josh Silverman joins Skype as new CEO and what a hard time he has ahead.

Posted by a1gjv

I see that Josh Silverman has been appointed the new CEO for Skype detail of which can be see here. I like the comment that he makes
himself further on in the article.

"So what can you expect from me? That I’m serious about wanting to build the greatest products — and the greatest company — on Earth. That doing so means listening well, being willing to think different and take risks. And in everything we do, one thing is certain: we’ll always have the best interests of the Skype community at heart.

My comment to that statement: I really hope you do Josh because nobody else at Skype does.

I’m the new guy, and have a lot to learn. To really understand Skype’s cultural and technological DNA, (some how I don't think you do Josh otherwise you would of given this position a very wide berth) my number one priority is to do a lot of listening and learning. With my wife and kids about to begin their adventure in Estonia as well, I have all the support I could ever need. I want to know everything about the technology, the team and the community. And I hope to share some of my observations on this very blog and see what you think too.

Well, let hope he is a very very fast learner because he is only supposed to be staying in Estonia for 12 weeks and in that time he will have so many heads to bang together to get everything working as it should of been something like 2 years ago.

Well Josh. here is your first to do list for when you get there and if you at least manage to get just one of these problems fully sorted out then I am sure you will make a lot of Skype people very very happy.

ITEM 1: Customer Support which is non existent. I mean who ever heard of a VoIP company without customer support via phone, no then try and find one for Skype CS (Customer Support). The only way to contact CS is via a Support request which if you are lucky MIGHT get a reply within 4 WORKING DAYS if you are very lucky but it could and quite often is 4 WORKING WEEKS IF YOU ARE LUCKY.

ITEM 2: The Payment System which they use for the paying customer must of been built in the dark ages when we paid for thing with grouts, crowns or pieces of eight.
Let me give you just one of many examples that are reported every day on the Skype Forum and this is what Skype Call Customer service.

Let me give you another example Josh, I take my laptop to another country or another area in the same country I live in on business so that I can use the cheap calling facility of Skypeout, unfortunately while I am there I run out of Skypeout credit so I use my CC to add more credit and every thing goes fine, my account shows that I have my new credit so I am a happy bunny.

Now this is where my anger starts to rise. I wake up the next morning and find I have to make some calls and quite rightly think that every thing will be Ok as I put credit on my account last night, but OH! no we are now told by Skype when we come to make these calls that YOUR ACCOUNT HAS BEEN BLOCKED why, because Skype's draconian payment system thinks because you have added credit to you account from a different IP address than to your normal one logged with them your are there by committing a fraud in there eyes and SHUT DOWN your Skypeout facility.

So what is your next move, you have to report the problem to CS via a Support request which if you are very very lucky could be answered in 4 DAYS and your problem solver but 9 times out of 10 you could still be waiting 4 MONTHS to get you service unblocked, now that is what I call a total and utter disgrace.

Firstly because Skype have taken you money (which shows on you account) and then they cut off your service, to me that is tantamount to fraud on their part not the customers.

Secondly what right have Skype to suppose that I am a fraud just because I added credit to my account from another IP address. You only have to look here to see the number of people who have been caught in the same trap and Skype do this automatically without giving you any warning at all.

ITEM 3: Stop ALL development and get the current version of Skype 3.6.0.248 working on all platform's first. Why because back in November of 2007 Skype shouted to the world that their new HQ (High Quality) Video was the best thing since sliced bread, now 4 months further on down the road it STILL is not working properly for a very large majority of customers be they paying or just using the free Skype2Skype side of the software. Here is a glaring example of what I mean. Now this person has the required spec that Skype say you must have to run HQ Video but still it does not work.

Another place for you to look at Josh is here and here to see the problems that there are with this so call HQ Video.

I know every company has to develop new thing but please take note Josh that at the moment all the development team seen to want to do is hook every electronic gadget the can find up with Skype, at this current time many people DON'T WANT THIS we want a working product that is as fault free as it can be and then yes by all means move on to developing these other add-on's for gadgets etc.

I personnel don't know Josh but I am sure he is a very sure and capable business man but with a very large mountain to climb to get Skype and it's products back on the right track and, IMHO I think you will be banging your head against a brick wall, having said that I wish you every success and hope you achieve your goals.

PS. Josh some very essential reading when you get to you new office in Estonia.
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a1gjv
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