Skype withdrawing numbers that users have paid for
Shocking news this morning from Skype, some of the pioneers of internet telephony as we now know it. I’ve had a SkypeIn account since it started, around 3 years ago now I believe. This account allowed me to have a UK-based phone number so that people can call this number form the UK, pay the cost of a phonecall to London and be connected with me here in Okinawa. And although there have been a few issues with the service, I’ve been relatively pleased. That was, until this morning when I got an email from them.
This was an automated email and not personally written, and it was to inform me that Skype are withdrawing mine, and a significant number of other SkypeIn numbers with the area code 0207. A false apology was made along with no real explanation for why this is happening. You can see the email I was sent below:
Hello
We’re very sorry to tell you that we have to change your SkypeIn number. As some of you may know, we get SkypeIn numbers from a variety of telecoms suppliers. Unfortunately, we have to return some of the
0207 SkypeIn numbers to one of our suppliers of London numbers.
This means your number will stop working from December 20th 2007. We realise the inconvenience this will cause you, and sincerely apologise.
That’s why we’re going to give you a new SkypeIn number and voicemail - free for 12 months on us - to thank you for your patience and to help make the changeover as painless as possible for you.
Please make sure you redeem your voucher before December 20th 2007
Your next step: activate your new number.
Before December 20th 2007 activate your new SkypeIn number. We suggest
you do this as soon as you can.
1. Visit http://welcome.skype.com/cgi-bin15/DM/y/xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
2. Log in and enter the SkypeIn voucher code above.
Due to changes in the capital’s number plan there is a limited
availability of 0207 numbers and we cannot guarantee that you will
find a 0207 number to replace your existing one. However, we have
plenty of 0208 numbers and 0203 numbers which OFCOM has introduced to
cover the whole of Greater London.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact our customer advisors
directly at sichange@skype.net. We’ve also created a step-by-step
guide to help you redeem your voucher and choose your new
SkypeIn number.
http://welcome.skype.com/cgi-bin15/DM/y/xx…xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The (really, really sorry)
people at Skype
Firstly, if they were really sorry this wouldn’t be happening at all, and it is only because either someone somewhere has decided they can save a few pence by changing numbers to 0208 or similar ones, or because Skype has had a lovers tiff with one of the other telecoms operators. Regardless, treating users like this is a shocking way to do business, especially when they are giving you less than a month to change your number, and are not compensating you for the money you may lose on the account. My paid for account is valid until April 2008, but if I sign up to the “free for 12 months” number they will provide, it will only last until November 2008, giving me only 7 months of use from it before I have to pay for it again. I feel mostly for business though and anyone who has had business cards with their number printed on and who now have to make a brand new set at their own expense. Skype, in their terms and conditions, state that “Skype is entitled, without any liability, to refuse, change or terminate any number at any time” but this isn’t the way to do things, and is leaving a large number of people searching for an alternative for making their online phone calls. They are not even announcing on their website what is happening to some of their users’ accounts. They are simply saying in a well-hidden page, “Our colleagues from Skype customer support are reaching out to some of you to discuss your subscription. Thanks to everyone who has taken a few minutes to talk to them. We appreciate your kindness!”
Rumours are that the numbers have been allocated to either Gamma Telecom or a company called GSI Communications, but Skype are doing very well to not comment at all on the issue. Skype representatives don’t like to be asked about issues, but it’s nice to know their PR contact is readily available. So if you want to contact Ms Stephanie Zari to discuss how Skype is mistreating some of its users, then I’m sure she’d love to hear from you:
Stephanie Zari
Skype
2 Stephen Street
London
W1T 1AN
+44 (0)121 288 3779
You could even call her from a Skype account before you might want to consider canceling it!! If you have any experiences of this, or want to discuss it further, get in touch through the site, comments on this post or email/phone.
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