Skype have added the following initiative for SKYPEOUT credit.

Users will now get an email 30 days and 7 days before their credits would expire reminding them that they should place a call so they don't loose anything.


ADDITIONALLY
Can I point out that Bank Transfers can take up to 10 working days to process.

That is really great!

HI!!
A few minutes ago i tried to buy 10 euro of skype credit.I selected a bank transfer but i was not even asked about my credit card information.Is this the correct and normal way to do it?

A bank transfer goes from one bank account to another via the bank clearing system - its does not use any form of credit card.

If you want to pay by credit card select credit card on the payment screen, or choose paypal or moneybookers who both have credit card options to fund your account.

[quote]ADDITIONALLY
Can I point out that Bank Transfers can take up to 10 working days to process.[quote]

Hi,

Not just with my own post "SkypeIn Payment Problem" but after reading people's problems with certain payment methods, one being the 'Direct Bank Transfer' I would like to put an idea to the Skype Staff to resolve any misunderstandings at order phase and it goes something like this;

When you want to purchase a SkypeIn number you go through the process and then get to the payment section. You then find that the only way you can pay is by Direct Bank Transfer. You then think cool I can do that and submit your order.

You then go to your bank only to be told as other chatters find out that your bank wont process a DBT for under 20 euro's or like I found out for a small order amount of for e.g. a 3month SkypeIn number that your bank charges you £23.50 for a £7.78 order.

Surely Skype can place a pop up warning box when someone puts the circle in the radio button of Direct Bank Transfer, so they are given the option AT THE TIME stating the above facts once decided how to word the content placed in the pop up box by skype.

Ok it will take a little time to put into place but as I work on the net with html and so on....it can be done and would make things alot more simpler for both the Skype Customer and Skype / Staff themselves surely??!!

In essence if there are any of the payment methods as with the DBT one, surely putting in place a small amount of information would take away any form of misunderstanding and make it all alot smoother and straight forward for all concerned.

I really think that this is something that Skype should look at implementing for all future customers and maybe in other areas where the order amount is of a very small figure, not just SkypeIn. Also this idea should be taken as constructive criticism to further improve every aspect of skype for its users.

I hope the above is treated as a genuine idea that holds some validity :lol:

Regards,
Robert Stones

P.S. When will other direct payment by a very widely used Debit Card namely Switch/Solo be offered for payment of services to Skype? Look on most online stores and they accept them as standard and I know Skype would recoup any investment needed to put these in place fairly quick

i CAN'T BUY CREDIT AND i CANT MAKE THE TRANSFER WORK; iT USED TO BE EASY WITH PAYPAL AND NOW ITS CRAP; sKYPE DONT GIVE A RATS ASS FOR THEIR CUSTOMERS

[quote="URaccess4Ink"][quote]ADDITIONALLY
Can I point out that Bank Transfers can take up to 10 working days to process.[quote]

Hi,

Not just with my own post "SkypeIn Payment Problem" but after reading people's problems with certain payment methods, one being the 'Direct Bank Transfer' I would like to put an idea to the Skype Staff to resolve any misunderstandings at order phase and it goes something like this;

When you want to purchase a SkypeIn number you go through the process and then get to the payment section. You then find that the only way you can pay is by Direct Bank Transfer. You then think cool I can do that and submit your order.

You then go to your bank only to be told as other chatters find out that your bank wont process a DBT for under 20 euro's or like I found out for a small order amount of for e.g. a 3month SkypeIn number that your bank charges you £23.50 for a £7.78 order.

Surely Skype can place a pop up warning box when someone puts the circle in the radio button of Direct Bank Transfer, so they are given the option AT THE TIME stating the above facts once decided how to word the content placed in the pop up box by skype.

Ok it will take a little time to put into place but as I work on the net with html and so on....it can be done and would make things alot more simpler for both the Skype Customer and Skype / Staff themselves surely??!!

In essence if there are any of the payment methods as with the DBT one, surely putting in place a small amount of information would take away any form of misunderstanding and make it all alot smoother and straight forward for all concerned.

I really think that this is something that Skype should look at implementing for all future customers and maybe in other areas where the order amount is of a very small figure, not just SkypeIn. Also this idea should be taken as constructive criticism to further improve every aspect of skype for its users.

I hope the above is treated as a genuine idea that holds some validity :lol:

Regards,
Robert Stones

P.S. When will other direct payment by a very widely used Debit Card namely Switch/Solo be offered for payment of services to Skype? Look on most online stores and they accept them as standard and I know Skype would recoup any investment needed to put these in place fairly quick [/quote]

If Skype were not so paranoid about this fraud thing and living in the dark ages and allow everybody to be able to use debit/credit cards then a very large amount of the billing/payment problems would be solved.

[quote=rocketman]

If Skype were not so paranoid about this fraud thing and living in the dark ages and allow everybody to be able to use debit/credit cards then a very large amount of the billing/payment problems would be solved.[/quote]
Its nothing to do with paranoi, its a real fact. Take a look here:

http://voxilla.com/index.php?name=News&fil...article&sid=166

WOIZE has also 100% stopped taking CC or PayPal!!

[quote=GLADIATOR]Take a look here:

http://voxilla.com/index.php?name=News&fil...article&sid=166[/quote]
Link does not work, Adam.

Ike

[quote=paraveterinary][quote=GLADIATOR]Take a look here:

http://voxilla.com/index.php?name=News&fil...article&sid=166[/quote]
Link does not work, Adam.

IkeHi
It does but it takes some time. Be patient its a verygood article

[quote=GLADIATOR][quote=rocketman]

If Skype were not so paranoid about this fraud thing and living in the dark ages and allow everybody to be able to use debit/credit cards then a very large amount of the billing/payment problems would be solved.[/quote]
Its nothing to do with paranoi, its a real fact. Take a look here:

http://voxilla.com/index.php?name=News&fil...article&sid=166

WOIZE has also 100% stopped taking CC or PayPal!![/quote]

Well I am sure you as well as me have bought many many things over the net with our debit/credit cards as well as millions of other people in the world and not been faced with Skype attitude to this fraud problem. If these companies can provide a fast viaable service why cant Skype.

Shurely you must have many customer pay for your produact by debit/credit card but I would assume you dont take the same path as Skype do about this.

I am no expert on dd/cc processing systems but there must be a way to check the card before the money is taken by Skype to see if the card has been lost/stolen etc, then if that is the case just refuse to supply the goods/products.

[quote=GLADIATOR]It does but it takes some time. Be patient its a verygood article[/quote]
Very patient........ "Microsoft Warning (including the red X), can't be opened, action terminated" every time I click your link.
Maybe just a Dutch problem

Ike

Did you read the link?

Buying something that has a fixed delivery address has some safety factor. Selling 'time' is gone before any fraud known and no fixed address to fall back on.

Additionally UK CC are fixed to a billing/statement address not all other countries do that.

I have 100% sympathy for SKYPE, as people here cry when they lose Eoro2, yet in a weekend sKYPE could lose in excess of Euro 200K to Euro300K easily.

Indeed SKYPE has done a sterling job

1) CC to most
2) PayPal
3) Gift Vouchers--->NEW
4) SKYPE for Groups--->NEW
5) Bank Transfers--->NEW

Thats a mighty selection to cover most people i think

[quote=paraveterinary][quote=GLADIATOR]It does but it takes some time. Be patient its a verygood article[/quote]
Very patient........ "Microsoft Warning (including the red X), can't be opened, action terminated" every time I click your link.
Maybe just a Dutch problem

Ike
Whole article here:
VoIP Fraud: The Industry's Best-Kept Secret
By CAROLYN SCHUK
for VOXILLA.COM

It's one of the best kept secrets in the Voice over IP industry. The biggest problem facing VoIP providers isn't the specter of costly E911 requirements, overzealous regulators, or even competition from myriad sources.

The biggest issue is fraud, perpetrated by scammers who take advantage of lax international communications standards and regulations, and make thousands of minutes of calls through carriers — many of them fly-by-night operators — in places such as Afghanistan and Lichtenstein, who charge exhorbitant rates for call termination, leaving the originating service provider with sky high bills and no one to charge for them.

VoIP scams have already caused start-ups in the fledgling industry millions of dollars in losses and are blamed, in part, for the recent demise of one service provider.

“It is the single largest problem facing providers,” says Ravi Sakaria, VoicePulse CEO, “because the development cost associated with addressing the issue is significant enough that it could be prohibitive for the smaller players.”

David Epstein, the CEO of BroadVoice, agrees. “Theft of telecom services isn't anything new,” said Epstein. “What is new is the ease with which perpetrators can do this.”

It is easy, and for Jeremy McNamara, founder and owner of NuFone, a small but popular VoIP provider specializing in service for the Asterisk open-source PBX system, very costly.

“One day we were contacted by a customer who wanted a wholesale agreement with us for international calling,” McNamara says. “For a few months the traffic was regular. In the beginning of April he started weaving into the regular traffic a Lichtenstein special services number, similar to 1-900 numbers, where the far end carrier sets the rate.”

When the bill for terminating these calls came, NuFone had a rude awakening. “We were charging him $.09 a minutes and being billed $1.90 a minute. He was gladly paying $.09 a minute.”

This single incident will potentially cost NuFone about $450,000, although the company is currently disputing the charges. The company has also contacted the U.S. Secret Service. “We're currently waiting on a response from them on what the next step is,” says McNamara.

Other providers have reported cases to the FBI as well. However, the ability of law enforcement agencies to prosecute these crimes is limited.

When DialPad changed its business model from a free to a pay service in 2001, “we got an early education in how insidious the fraud problem is,” said Craig Walker, the company CEO (Dialpad was recently pruchased by Yahoo). “We learned early on that there is a risk to the viability of the business.”

For LiveVOIP, a small provider based in Mesa, AZ, fraud contributed to the company having gone belly-up earlier this month, leaving their customers with no service. Citing, among other factors, “mass credit card fraud” as a reason, the company's web site was replaced with a notice of bankruptcy (the notice was recently removed, though the business remains shuttered). LiveVoip representatives could not be reached for comment.

Even the big players have had their bouts with scammers.

For Vonage, fraud came as an unexpected byproduct of the company's recent marketing push. “At the end of 2004 into early 2005, as a result of our TV campaign,” explains Jerry Maloney, Vonage Senior VP Finance, “people found us and this unintentionally opened up the floodgates.” Since then, the company's anti-fraud team has been able to reduce the fraud losses significantly, according to Maloney.

BroadVoice executives say that fraud, and its detection, is a very significant part of their business. “During the early part of this year, a significant percentage — about 10 percent — of new subscribers turned out to be fraudulent,” reports BroadVoice's Epstein.

There are several reasons why VoIP is more vulnerable to this type of fraud.

The call termination scam that NuFone experienced takes advantage of the fact that in some countries control over the communications system is weak. It's relatively easy for a scammer to set up a competitive common carrier — VoIP doesn't require the specialized equipment of traditional telephony, so there's very little barrier to entry.

More importantly, a lack of government oversite allows rates to be changed ad hoc, without any other carrier being aware of the changes. The cost of a specific call termination can be increased by huge margins, and the originating carrier — a BroadVoice, Vonage or VoicePulse — is left footing the bill having never been informed of the price increase.

As a hypothetic example, a provider in the United States offers calls to a specific country at 10 cents a minute to landlines and 25 cents a minute to cell phones. The provider has set those rates based on the average price it pays to the large carriers — such as Bermuda-based Global Crossing — to terminate calls in that country. The large carriers protect themselves from unexpected price blips by including cost pass-throughs in their contracts with the service providers.

Now, a scammer sets up termination service to certain numbers in that country, and charges, for example, $2.00 a minute. Accomplices of the scammer sign up with the service provider and, once set up, make a call to one of the numbers. On the other end, the line picks up and the caller simply keeps the phone off the hook for hours. In the meantime, the service provider is being charged $2.00 a minute for that call (plus whatever built-in mark-up the large carrier adds), but is still charging the caller 10 cents a minute. It's like being in a taxi with the flag down and travelling continuously in a loop around the block: The losses are potentially huge and mount up rapidly.

This type of situation is at the center of recent difficulties faced by BroadVoice when GlobalCrossing cut the company off, leaving a large number of BroadVoice customers without service, though officials from BroadVoice and Global Crossing, currently involved in a legal dispute, would neither confirm nor deny this.

The growth of identity theft also plays a role in the VoIP fraud problem. Although NuFone's scammer used a valid credit card to sign up, many scammers use stolen credit card numbers to sign up for service. Because all the information is valid — it's been stolen recently and hasn't been reported, what scammers call “fresh” — the application is accepted. And stolen credit card numbers are easy to get — all you need is an online connection the ability to join IRC chat rooms like “#ccz” and “#ccards.”

Another scam that VoIP providers have seen involves Western Union, as Lance James explains. James is CTO of Secure Science Corp., a company that specializes in fraud detection, tracking and prevention.

The scammers place a money transfer order to themselves with Western Union using a stolen credit card and faking — called spoofing — the callback number that appears on Western Union's caller ID. For small amounts — under $300 — Western Union doesn't call back to check with the purchaser if the callback number matches that on the credit card. Because the amounts are small, thieves make repeated calls.

Although phone number spoofing is not new, it is much easier with the open standards of IP, according to James. And you don't have to be a technical expert, either. There are services like SPOOFTEL (www.spooftel.com) that will do it for you.

Another factor in the fraud picture is the nature of the technology. The openness that is an important benefit of building on IP also creates vulnerability.

“It's similar to e-mail,” says Secure Science's James. “SIP to SIP communications are like an e-mail address.”

“The potential is the same with any open protocol for someone with in-depth knowledge to take advantage of the architecture,” says Roger Farnsworth, Cisco Marketing Manager for Secure IP Communications for Voice.

“VoIP providers are moving into uncharted waters, Cell and GSM phones have to register the phone,” Farnsworth says. “VoIP is working from a different paradigm — for example, BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) services. How do you register users and devices, authenticate users and ensure legitimate devices?”

“It's difficult to do security [for VoIP] because of its inherent complexity,” explains Internet veteran Karl Auerbach, former ICANN Director and CTO of Internetworking Labs, a VoIP interoperability testing company. “The design of VoIP protocols tries to cover as bases as possible, implementers have to deal with all these possibilities.”

The burden of addressing the fraud problem falls to providers — not the credit card companies. Credit card companies seldom initiate fraud investigations, according to Detective Mike Blanc of the Santa Clara, CA, Police Department High Tech Crimes unit. “They treat it as a cost of doing business,” Blanc says.

In fact, it could be said that fraud is not a cost but a profit center for the credit card companies because merchants are charged additional fees for fraudulent transactions. And the fees escalate with the level of fraud.

To protect themselves, VoIP providers have developed their own tools for screening out fraud. Many providers monitor call patterns constantly and block calls to suspicious exchanges. Some have taken it further, like NuFone, which has limited international calling for new accounts and blocks all calls to countries that are associated with high rates of fraud like Afghanistan.

VoicePulse has developed a screening system that “scores” an order based on many different criteria. As a result, “We are detecting 95 percent of fraudulent orders,” says VoicePulse's Sakaria. He adds that “the number of attempts has not decreased.”

VoicePulse plans to offer its security software as a standalone product which will be available in the fourth quarter of this year, according to Sakaria.

Despite the fact that VoIP providers are becoming smarter about preventing fraud, the problem appears to be permanent.

“It's a cost of doing business and a significant one,” says Sakaria. “I've been saying all along that the cost of entry [into the VoIP business] is low but the cost of staying in business is high.”

[quote=GLADIATOR]Did you read the link?

Buying something that has a fixed delivery address has some safety factor. Selling 'time' is gone before any fraud known and no fixed address to fall back on.

Additionally UK CC are fixed to a billing/statement address not all other countries do that.

I have 100% sympathy for SKYPE, as people here cry when they lose Eoro2, yet in a weekend sKYPE could lose in excess of Euro 200K to Euro300K easily.

Indeed SKYPE has done a sterling job

1) CC to most
2) PayPal
3) Gift Vouchers--->NEW
4) SKYPE for Groups--->NEW
5) Bank Transfers--->NEW

Thats a mighty selection to cover most people i think[/quote]

Hi There,

Firstly my post has certainly got a debate going which I'm sure everyone can learn or take something from including the staff at Skype. Remember I said constructive criticism is what often makes or breaks an internet company with how they listen or dismiss what there users mention.

In your post and part of the quote above one of the "NEW" payment facilities.....can I just state where is the logic in the Direct Bank Transfer for a 3month SkypeIn Subscription of 10euro's which = currently £7.78 and the average UK bank charge to pay this £7.78 to Skype would cost the customer £23.50?

I can't comment on other countries but I posted elsewhere where a customer's bank would not accept a DBT anyway for under 20euro's.

Would any Skype Users having bought a low priced upto 20euro's product, post here stating what they found out with there bank. In relation to how much if any, they would be charged to pay there order amount to Skype via there bank and include what the cost of the product was. This will help us gauge if the DBT is actually worth accepting below a certain product purchase level

You then mention that C/C to most.....I agree this is great but what about the millions for example in the UK who are not fortunate enough through there current financial position to own a credit card but they own a debit card. It is still money in skype's coffers at the end of the day and if they look on most other internet sites selling products, especially the major commercial sector, they will see C/C and D/C's are offered alongside each other as direct payments. I say direct as in not via PayPal but standalone C/C & D/C payments If they have for one, why not the other?

PayPal is great but yet again what happens to the hundreds if not thousands who are waiting for weeks for new charge amounts to go through there bank account to then activate a new payment card of there PayPal account BUT need to purchase the Skype services ASAP due to deadlines? As you can see NOTHING is Black & White as the phrase goes!

Gift Vouchers as I have myself found out are useless to a customer who is new, who has no need to purchase SkypeOut just yet and until they purchase there SkypeIn number and have it activated and implemented within there organisation or personal use!

Lastly Skype Groups, awesome idea for companies who are ALREADY trading and have a turnover....useless for new start ups or companies only just getting there internet prescence ready to launch, as it all comes down to pounds and pence or whatever the countries currency is you come from :wink:

I really think Skype need to perfect there payment systems before they do anything else for obvious reasons.
They need to step back, take a look at ALL the posts on there Support Forum or have one person reporting back frequently and they will see i'm sure, that the winner hands down is Payment & Billing that needs further work and again i'm sure most would agree with me who are the ones faced with the barriers and constant fight to PAY MONEY to Skype.
If they expand this side of there company to fit each country further that they are in and to the customers needs, they will end with a revenue increase it's common commercial finance sense.

Maybe an online Survey should be setup and used where one can register further payment options that are sought....would not take alot to do or police and it would be very much positive feedback for Skype and all concerned???!!!

Anyways that is my two pennies worth for now and I await with anticipation to the further thoughts and feelings about this whole issue!

Take Care All
Regards,
Robert Stones

[quote]I really think Skype need to perfect there payment systems before they do anything else for obvious reasons.
They need to step back, take a look at ALL the posts on there Support Forum or have one person reporting back frequently and they will see i'm sure, that the winner hands down is Payment & Billing that needs further work and again i'm sure most would agree with me who are the ones faced with the barriers and constant fight to PAY MONEY to Skype.
If they expand this side of there company to fit each country further that they are in and to the customers needs, they will end with a revenue increase it's common commercial finance sense.
[/quote] Adding to what was said here in this very good post I think they need to get a very good infrastructure in place to administer billing/payments before the think about updated product versions and new methods of payment. It is no good having many payment methods without having the backup to support them if something goes wrong.

[quote=rocketman][quote]I really think Skype need to perfect there payment systems before they do anything else for obvious reasons.
They need to step back, take a look at ALL the posts on there Support Forum or have one person reporting back frequently and they will see i'm sure, that the winner hands down is Payment & Billing that needs further work and again i'm sure most would agree with me who are the ones faced with the barriers and constant fight to PAY MONEY to Skype.
If they expand this side of there company to fit each country further that they are in and to the customers needs, they will end with a revenue increase it's common commercial finance sense.
[/quote] Adding to what was said here in this very good post I think they need to get a very good infrastructure in place to administer billing/payments before the think about updated product versions and new methods of payment. It is no good having many payment methods without having the backup to support them if something goes wrong.[/quote]

Hi Rocketman,

I would agree totally and as most companies would implement a joint Customer Service/Support AND Payment/Billing Mission Statement & Infrastructure, I think that once this is done and put in place then it will be happy days all round

The thing that gets me is that all this being said by hundreds if not thousands of people will only let Skype's competition gain the advantage in this new world of VOIP and make sure they dont make the same pitfalls. Hence Skype really need to listen to there users in the sense of sod nice user interfaces, even video and that kind of thing UNTIL the above infrastructure is put in place and running better than it was previously, which is where we are all at now.

It's like I will still purchase my SkypeIn number another way, namely a family members C/C for this temporary hiccup (Had problems with not paying the extorionate DBT route) but In all honesty and this is not trying to gain anything from this statement but I Am Genuinely Not Confident at things stand, embracing Skype's Paid Services into my upcoming Online Store's Official Launch and Future. I have a feeling it is not going to run smoothly and thats an awful feeling.

However I am loyal for my sinns and I just hope that Skype don't let me or my company down :roll:

Regards,
Robert Stones

Ooh, a warning before the theft now - how nice.

Too late for me - I lost only a small amount before querying the reason and being pointed at the small-print, but I'm lead to believe it wouldn't have mattered how much I'd had in credit.

I've thoroughly enjoyed my use of Skype, but when it comes to messing with my money, I'm positively irate that this happened - I'll be looking for alternative VOIP comms, and recommending that my friends do the same.

yes pointed to the small print would this be the small print that is right there on the page when you buy the credit and is in a normal sized font. And there are several prepay phone companys that have the same policy

[quote=mscoville]yes pointed to the small print would this be the small print that is right there on the page when you buy the credit and is in a normal sized font. And there are several prepay phone companys that have the same policy[/quote]

That would be the definition of smallprint, yes. Well done.

*golfclap*

[quote=Jherad][quote=mscoville]yes pointed to the small print would this be the small print that is right there on the page when you buy the credit and is in a normal sized font. And there are several prepay phone companys that have the same policy[/quote]

That would be the definition of smallprint, yes. Well done.

*golfclap*[/quote]

no actually small print is normally something hidden in the EULA or in small print so that people don't see it. If you couldn't see the notice saying skypeout credit will expire in 180 days then you must be blind. Not to mention it displays in in the actual skype client and on the skype site when you log into your account.

That would be the print in the smaller font, grey on white (where the rest of the text is black), at the bottom right? Dang, can't possibly be smallprint. You're absolutely right - how silly of me. The fact that it doesn't actually make a distinction between activity and *billable* activity makes it much clearer also *nods*

Yes, I must be blind - not simply a dissatisfied (ex)customer, drawn to Skype by good technical specs, then alienated by incredibly lousy business practice. Have fun in your little world.

I do not know what planet these skype guys are on, but restricting the amount of times you can buy time online, allegedly to reduce fraud????

Also they obiviously have something going on with paypal, pushing me over there, what is that about?

I use my password, my credit card, they took it off me before, no problems for the last few months - what is the scam guys???

Does anyone know another system I can use for VOIP please.

These guys care for themselves only, customer service does not exist with them.

SKYPE help request system don't permit me let you know my problems (it sends me back on the faq).

order n°: 11319545
date: October 03, 2005
credit:10 euro
payment by bank transfer
status: pending
WHERE ARE MY MONEY??????????????????
I'M TIRED!!!!!!
I'm exasperated!!!!!!!

email: cody_go78@yahoo.it

LET ME TALK WITH SOMEONE OF SKYPE!!!!!!!!

IT'S MORE THAN A MONTH SINCE I PAID 10 EUROS BY BANK TRANSFER,

TO ACTIVATE SKYPEOUT, AND STILL IT'S NOT ACTIVATED, STILLA

CREDIT IS NOT AVAILABLE!!!!!!!!!!!!

DID SKYPE STEAL MY MONEY?????

I'M VERY ANGRY!!!!!!!!

IF I WON'T GET AN ANSWER, I WILL SEND BAD FEEDBACK TO SKYPE
TO

ANYONE I KNOW, TELLING MY STORY, YOU DON' T GIVE ME CHOICE,

SKYPE GAVE ME NO POSSIBILITY TO GET EXPLAIN MY PROBLEM AND TO SOLVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I tried to pay by CC, as I did twice last month with no probs, and then some misterious "possible" frauds made Skype cancel my payment. I went on the FAQ part of this forum and I checked everything was right!

Unfortunately I had no answer from the support... A user answered me trying to help me - many thanks, indeed - but his suggestions were useless, since everything was right. I repeat, I charged 2 times the credit by CC and now??? Not anymore.
So that I tried to pay by bank transfer, but nothing happens...

[quote=cody_go78]LET ME TALK WITH SOMEONE OF SKYPE!!!!!!!!

IT'S MORE THAN A MONTH SINCE I PAID 10 EUROS BY BANK TRANSFER,

TO ACTIVATE SKYPEOUT, AND STILL IT'S NOT ACTIVATED, STILLA

CREDIT IS NOT AVAILABLE!!!!!!!!!!!!

DID SKYPE STEAL MY MONEY?????

I'M VERY ANGRY!!!!!!!!

IF I WON'T GET AN ANSWER, I WILL SEND BAD FEEDBACK TO SKYPE
TO

ANYONE I KNOW, TELLING MY STORY, YOU DON' T GIVE ME CHOICE,

SKYPE GAVE ME NO POSSIBILITY TO GET EXPLAIN MY PROBLEM AND TO SOLVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


[/quote]

Did you raise a ticket via help?

In your accont status does it show as pending?

What ever raise a ticket via help

[quote=GLADIATOR]

Did you raise a ticket via help?

In your accont status does it show as pending?

What ever raise a ticket via help[/quote]

so...
The status is PENDING, since a month...
When I click on TICKETS, it send me to the help request subission page, I try to submit a help request, but, once compiled it, IT DO NOT ALLOW ME TO SEND IT, for my problem, following the explanation, WOULD BE SOLVABLE by reading the aknowlegments, or the troubleshooter, or the faq, BUT IT'S NOT!!!
Following their instructions, I should have done everything right yet, so, whatelse????
THEY DO NOT PERMIT ME TO SEND THEM A REQUEST OF ASSISTANCE!!!!
IT'S ABSOLUTELY UNUSUAL, being gentle!
so I decided!
1 - I got 20 skype contact
2 - I will tell them my story, discouraging them from buying skype credit
3 - then I will call all possible people I will find on skype contacts research, telling the same, UNTIL I'LL GET MY CREDIT AVAILABLE!!!!
WAR TO THOSE WHO LISTEN NOT!!!!!!!!!!
THIS IS THE NET LAW!!!!!!!!


anyway...thanx to you gladiator for taking care of my problem, seriously, keep on doing well, bye!!

[quote=cody_go78][quote=GLADIATOR]

Did you raise a ticket via help?

In your accont status does it show as pending?

What ever raise a ticket via help[/quote]

so...
The status is PENDING, since a month...
When I click on TICKETS, it send me to the help request subission page, I try to submit a help request, but, once compiled it, IT DO NOT ALLOW ME TO SEND IT, for my problem, following the explanation, WOULD BE SOLVABLE by reading the aknowlegments, or the troubleshooter, or the faq, BUT IT'S NOT!!!
Following their instructions, I should have done everything right yet, so, whatelse????
THEY DO NOT PERMIT ME TO SEND THEM A REQUEST OF ASSISTANCE!!!!
IT'S ABSOLUTELY UNUSUAL, being gentle!
so I decided!
1 - I got 20 skype contact
2 - I will tell them my story, discouraging them from buying skype credit
3 - then I will call all possible people I will find on skype contacts research, telling the same, UNTIL I'LL GET MY CREDIT AVAILABLE!!!!
WAR TO THOSE WHO LISTEN NOT!!!!!!!!!!
THIS IS THE NET LAW!!!!!!!!


anyway...thanx to you gladiator for taking care of my problem, seriously, keep on doing well, bye!! [/quote]

If you had followed the page to the bottom there was a link that said something like send a support request anyway and you could of clicked on this to send your ticket but try this link http://support.skype.com/?_a=tickets&_m=submit it is the same thing.

[quote=rocketman][quote=cody_go78][quote=GLADIATOR]

Did you raise a ticket via help?

In your accont status does it show as pending?

What ever raise a ticket via help[/quote]

so...
The status is PENDING, since a month...
When I click on TICKETS, it send me to the help request subission page, I try to submit a help request, but, once compiled it, IT DO NOT ALLOW ME TO SEND IT, for my problem, following the explanation, WOULD BE SOLVABLE by reading the aknowlegments, or the troubleshooter, or the faq, BUT IT'S NOT!!!
Following their instructions, I should have done everything right yet, so, whatelse????
THEY DO NOT PERMIT ME TO SEND THEM A REQUEST OF ASSISTANCE!!!!
IT'S ABSOLUTELY UNUSUAL, being gentle!
so I decided!
1 - I got 20 skype contact
2 - I will tell them my story, discouraging them from buying skype credit
3 - then I will call all possible people I will find on skype contacts research, telling the same, UNTIL I'LL GET MY CREDIT AVAILABLE!!!!
WAR TO THOSE WHO LISTEN NOT!!!!!!!!!!
THIS IS THE NET LAW!!!!!!!!


anyway...thanx to you gladiator for taking care of my problem, seriously, keep on doing well, bye!! [/quote]

If you had followed the page to the bottom there was a link that said something like send a support request anyway and you could of clicked on this to send your ticket but try this link http://support.skype.com/?_a=tickets&_m=submit it is the same thing.[/quote]

wow! I found it right now!
One suggestion to skype: TYPE IT ON THE TOP OF THE PAGE, NOT ON THE BOTTOM!!!

By now I will read everything till the bottom, it's my fault
but I hope skype will answer as well!!!!!

Thanx Gladiator, so far your help was so precious to me, I hope skype will be as effective as you were, BYE!!!

If no success, let us know and I will point SKYPE staff to your issue

Regards

[quote=GLADIATOR]If no success, let us know and I will point SKYPE staff to your issue

Regards[/quote]

So far, I wrote and sent an email to explain what happened, and I received an answer: they asked me the data of the payment, to find it out, I sent them yesterday, but since then I'm waiting for a fresh answer...let's hope!

I'll be reporting about it....

Thanx a lot Gladiator, BYE!!!

well you did get an initial response. Lets see by say next Wednesday.

Regards

I have never had any problems with my credit/bank card online. Today I received a notice from Skype that my last payment is being reversed because of your anti-fraud policy.

That is crap and it is paranoia since i do a lot of online shopping and have never had that problem before. Skype...I used to be for you...not so much now. 1 strike against you now for sure.

I also tried logging on to my account and I believe that you must have disabled my password and/or userID because it will not allow me to log in either. Don't talk to me about forgetting the password, caps lock on, yaddayaddayadda because I help people with their password issues all day for a living. It is my user id and it is my password and it isn't working.

I am wondering if i set up a new account with a new userID...will you take my CC then? I mean...I have been using skype since 9.05 and paid several times with the same card...why now all of a sudden you don't like my card? W/E This is how you lose customers.

Hi, I'm really excited by the Skype services you have to pay for, and intend that our business uses them widely. So far we've been using SkypeOut and Skype Groups successfully and now it's time to make use of SkypeIn.

Well I would if I could get Skype to take our money! The first bank transfer took about 10 days, this one is taking MUCH longer. Why? In my business paying customers come first (and I'd have thought eBay would feel that way too!).

Also, when the transfer appeared in Skype Group it was listed as the day we made the transfer. Why is this? Are you trying to hide how long it takes you to process the transfer?

So please stop developing Video Conferencing for a minute and clear that backlog of transfers!

If I can't make regular payments then I can't rely on Skype for my business. I should be helped as an early adopter, not hindered!

Ian

It should not take longer then 10 days, did you submet a help ticket to http://support.skype.com/?_a=tickets&_m=submit ?

Ike

I have had an account with Skype for quite a while; I have their answering service, Skype out and a Skype tel number in both New York and Paris (for my daughter to call me). I have about 5 Euro left on my account and have been trying to add funds for the last month; I have been unable to do so. After numerous e-mails, which take 2 days to answer by Skype, they come up with ridiculous answers to obvious questions, I can't call them directly to sort this out and they've already un-blocked my account twice, for what reasons I don't know. I'm even using the same credit cards I used originally to order all the services I mentioned. So, what's the problem SKYPE! If you have a customer with a good history, using the same credit cards, why not just share with me the reason you won�t let me GIVE YOU MONEY?

And, the original message in this stream is correct; their bank transfer system has a bug in it. They asked me for my address then said they'll transfer 25 Euro to my account without collecting any of my bank details to transfer the money from. How are they going to do that, even if it does take 10 days?

I think I'm going to have to find another service as I'm running out of money and patients.

I have had an account with Skype for quite a while; I have their answering service, Skype out and a Skype tel number in both New York and Paris (for my daughter to call me). I have about 5 Euro left on my account and have been trying to add funds for the last month; I have been unable to do so. After numerous e-mails, which take 2 days to answer by Skype, they come up with ridiculous answers to obvious questions, I can't call them directly to sort this out and they've already un-blocked my account twice, for what reasons I don't know. I'm even using the same credit cards I used originally to order all the services I mentioned. So, what's the problem SKYPE! If you have a customer with a good history, using the same credit cards, why not just share with me the reason you won�t let me GIVE YOU MONEY?

And, the original message in this stream is correct; their bank transfer system has a bug in it. They asked me for my address then said they'll transfer 25 Euro to my account without collecting any of my bank details to transfer the money from. How are they going to do that, even if it does take 10 days?

I think I'm going to have to find another service as I'm running out of money and patients.

[quote=paraveterinary][quote=gh-igo]The first bank transfer took about 10 days, this one is taking MUCH longer.[/quote]
It should not take longer then 10 days, did you submet a help ticket to http://support.skype.com/?_a=tickets&_m=submit ?

Ike

Yes we have, and have had no answer and still no money (over 3 weeks now) . It also seems rather hard to check up on support calls too. What is the 'Support Request Key':?: We have a 'Support request ID' but that doesn't seem to be it. We've requested an e-mail for the Key to be supplier but had nothing back. All very 'challenging' - grrr :roll: :?

All help appreciated.

Cheers, Ian

[quote=GLADIATOR][quote=rocketman]

If Skype were not so paranoid about this fraud thing and living in the dark ages and allow everybody to be able to use debit/credit cards then a very large amount of the billing/payment problems would be solved.[/quote]
Its nothing to do with paranoi, its a real fact. Take a look here:

http://voxilla.com/index.php?name=News&fil...article&sid=166

WOIZE has also 100% stopped taking CC or PayPal!![/quote]

Thanks for posting the fraud articles... I hadn't realized that this type of fraud was so prevalent, or frankly, that it was even possible.

What I'd like to see is a way to purchase Skypeout credit in much the same way as one currently purchases pay-as-you-go cellphone minutes. It's not rocket science--Skype already has an affiliation with Radio Shack in the U.S. Why is it not possible to purchase skypeout minutes in 10 or 25$ blocks at retail outlets?

Well have you considered gift certificates. I also think these are being sold at some outlets.

[quote=GLADIATOR]Well have you considered gift certificates. I also think these are being sold at some outlets.[/quote]

In the UK?

Although I'd be a little nervous, as if something went wrong I'd worry about getting a resolution.

Ian

Hey, Skype could eliminate that fraud problem very quickly and easily. Simply don't allow calls to countries like Afghanistan and Lichtenstein. Don't allow calls to countries that might have sky-high termination fees, or high incidents of fraud.

All,

A few important things on bank transfers :

- you need to complete the bank transfer by instructing your bank, otherwise your payment will remain pending (you can do so with online banking, going to a branch, calling them ... depending on your arrangements with your bank).

- the money is paid to Global Collect, not SKYPE ! The bank account details you are provided in the email and on Global Collect website are their bank accounts.

- Note there is an updated FAQ with more details at :

http://support.skype.com/?_a=knowledgebase..._j=subcat&_i=39

thanks

Thomas

Bottom part is that it is hard to pay Skype with Bank transfer!
I used my Visa credit card (info still stored in Skype profile) to start Skypeout 2-3 weeks ago just before Christmas. Now I try to refill my credit and I don't even find the option of using the Credit card anymore! Only MoneyBookers or Bank transfer. Now that is quite hard to do for me since I live in Canada but works in an isolated Minesite in Far-East Russia.

Why did I lost the option to use my Visa card anymore! :evil:
I contacted support and I am still waiting for an answer.

My order status still pending after paid over 50 days,i tried so many email to complaint,but no answer,why?

Bottom part is that it is hard to pay Skype with Bank transfer!
I used my Visa credit card (info still stored in Skype profile) to start Skypeout 2-3 weeks ago just before Christmas. Now I try to refill my credit and I don't even find the option of using the Credit card anymore! Only MoneyBookers or Bank transfer. Now that is quite hard to do for me since I live in Canada but works in an isolated Minesite in Far-East Russia.

Why did I lost the option to use my Visa card anymore! :evil:
I contacted support and I am still waiting for an answer.

[quote=ayassa]Bottom part is that it is hard to pay Skype with Bank transfer!
I used my Visa credit card (info still stored in Skype profile) to start Skypeout 2-3 weeks ago just before Christmas. Now I try to refill my credit and I don't even find the option of using the Credit card anymore! Only MoneyBookers or Bank transfer. Now that is quite hard to do for me since I live in Canada but works in an isolated Minesite in Far-East Russia.

Why did I lost the option to use my Visa card anymore! :evil:
I contacted support and I am still waiting for an answer.[/quote]

Well, I suspect that if you lived out a quiet life in Middletown USA (or even Canada ), you probably wouldn't run into that problem. People who have a billing address in one country and work in another are very often flagged as potential fraudsters. Unfortunately, being in Russia doesn't help. Most companies are worried about fraud and certain countries get on the blacklist easier than others. While it's justified from the merchant's perspective, it means that the average user in a blacklisted country will be judged as a potential fraudster. Of course, Skype's blacklist is secret, so I doubt if contacting them will help

[quote=ayassa]B

Why did I lost the option to use my Visa card anymore! :evil:
I contacted support and I am still waiting for an answer.[/quote]

Its a counry thing and not personal. Usually a large amount of fraud is happening from that country.

[quote=GLADIATOR][quote=ayassa]

Why did I lost the option to use my Visa card anymore! :evil:
I contacted support and I am still waiting for an answer.[/quote]

Its a counry thing and not personal. Usually a large amount of fraud is happening from that country.[/quote]

While it's not personal in the strictest sense, it is still misguided.

Obviously, Skype doesn't know Ayassa from Adam [just an English idiom - not you personally Gladiator ]. But, he is being labelled and stereotyped just because his order originated in a particular country - Russia. It is irrational and discriminatory to treat somebody in Russia [or anywhere] as a fraudster just because there are fraudsters in Russia. If a dog bites you, does it mean that ALL dogs will bite you? Of course some people who are bitten by a dog once will develop cynophobia. But that's considered an abnormal reaction.

Without some real justification, such myopic policies are clearly xenophobic. If a company were to carry on business in this way within the national borders of any modern democracy, they would soon find themselves charged with discrimination.

[quote]
The media have also fed the xenophobic cold war attitudes of years gone by focusing on certain countries. Credit card number hackers are "Russian", true. They are also American, Australian and English. Every country in the world has a community of identity thieves, scammers and spammers.[/quote]

from
Michael Bloch
http://www.theofficecompany.com/Articles_F...loch_fraud.html