Hello All!

I trully am amazed that Skype for Business is even being discussed! As a former Skype user, (initially for personal use, then for business use) I cannot for the life of me understand why anyone would continue to use (and then complain about) Skype for their business!

Let me tell you my story...

I started using Skype because of the free calls being offered to US residents to any US and Canadian landline. What a great deal...I thought. What I quickly discovered was that if you add credits to your SkypeIn number, the telephone number goes dead. But that isn't the worst of it. When you try and contact someone...ANYONE in support, you are met with the 3-5 day expectation for response. In reality, you probably won't get a response and IF you do, it will be irrelevant and untimely to the issue at hand. Then, if you reply to the irrelevant response you received, it's another wait of undetermined length before you get another irrelevant response, if you get one at all.

I spent two weeks not being able to receive calls using Skype although I had paid for a SkypeIn number, was not commiting fraud, and didn't ask for anything other than what I paid for.

During those two weeks, I contacted eBay and PayPal and Skype, trying to find some way...any way, to either reverse the charges of my failed Skype experience or at least reach someone who could help me resolve the issues. In EACH CASE I was told that the problem was Skype's and Skype's alone and that neither eBay nor PayPal could help me. And of course, you can't reach Skype...not even with a Skype account.

In my life, I have never been stopped from reaching a person or company with which I have an issue...NEVER! I must say that the fact that I could not reach even a single person at Skype, was and remains to this day, extremely frustrating.

What's even worse is how stupid that made me feel. Not only did I put my trust in a company which doesn't care about the individuals PAYING for their service, but the fact that no one could call me was at least embarrassing and at worst costing me money.

Well, needless to say...lesson learned. I have since PAID for a real VoIP provider as my business is IMPORTANT to me and will never, NEVER rely on Skype again for business purposes, regardless of what they promise.

To be fair, I did buy into their $14.95 (US) SkypeOut deal, so I can make non-business related calls to family members and other contacts which do not make me money. I will not, however, EVER buy another SkypeIn minute and, as a matter of fact, I have recorded a message on my SkypeIn number stating that my SkypeIn number is no longer monitored (will run until the SkypeIn number expires)...that is assuming of course anyone will ever hear it. As a "toy" for less than serious use, Skype works. As a serious business tool, Skype leaves EVERYTHING to be desired.


James R. Carter
Owner
eNetwork Squad
www.enetworksquad.com