Comments on: Did Skype steal my SkypeOut credit? http://www.tomrafteryit.net/did-skype-steal-my-skypeout-credit/ Tom Raftery, social media consultant, speaker, blogger and podcaster Mon, 08 Sep 2008 06:16:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Mike http://www.tomrafteryit.net/did-skype-steal-my-skypeout-credit/#comment-112938 Mike Wed, 28 Nov 2007 17:53:53 +0000 http://www.tomrafteryit.net/did-skype-steal-my-skypeout-credit/#comment-112938 Hi, Well my experience with Skype is also a bit dodgy. For the most part it works a works well (you get what you pay for). About a 6 months ago my account was blocked. The account still has a credit of 6 Euros but i can't make any external calls. I've been emailing their support group and billing but keep getting excuses like, you card details don't match and when I get that right I've received "that's a fraudulent network". Which is bogus since i can login using a different account and all is well. They've basically stolen my money and don't seem interested in providing the service or returning the cash! Mike Hi,

Well my experience with Skype is also a bit dodgy. For the most part it works a works well (you get what you pay for). About a 6 months ago my account was blocked. The account still has a credit of 6 Euros but i can’t make any external calls. I’ve been emailing their support group and billing but keep getting excuses like, you card details don’t match and when I get that right I’ve received “that’s a fraudulent network”. Which is bogus since i can login using a different account and all is well. They’ve basically stolen my money and don’t seem interested in providing the service or returning the cash!

Mike

]]> By: bernard http://www.tomrafteryit.net/did-skype-steal-my-skypeout-credit/#comment-5130 bernard Tue, 21 Feb 2006 21:35:12 +0000 http://www.tomrafteryit.net/did-skype-steal-my-skypeout-credit/#comment-5130 LtotheN: No-gizmo does not work with freespeech, or any other SIP provider, at the moment. I say at the moment, not because I work for Gizmo, or know inside 0-day info, but more because I hope that they will see the potential gizmo has for becoming *the* open source SIP softphone. Gizmo is the softphone freely downloadable for use with the SIP VOIP provider http://www.sipphone.com/. Sipphone is a very big name in the SIP VOIP world..*but* at the moment they tie gizmo to *only* sipphone.com On the other hand, if you have a sipphone account, and want to call a blueface.ie or freespeech.ie SIP VOIP account, then yes it will work. Thats because it uses SIP protocol, for transmission, unlike Skype, which uses there own P2P technology. So, in loooong way to answer your question, gizmo cannot be used as a softphone client for freespeech, or blueface.ie BUT it can be used to call a blueface.ie, or freespeech acount FROM a sipphone account. btw: gizmo can be downloaded at: http://www.gizmoproject.com/download.php hth, bernard LtotheN: No-gizmo does not work with freespeech, or any other SIP provider, at the moment. I say at the moment, not because I work for Gizmo, or know inside 0-day info, but more because I hope that they will see the potential gizmo has for becoming *the* open source SIP softphone.

Gizmo is the softphone freely downloadable for use with the SIP VOIP provider http://www.sipphone.com/.

Sipphone is a very big name in the SIP VOIP world..*but* at the moment they tie gizmo to *only* sipphone.com

On the other hand, if you have a sipphone account, and want to call a blueface.ie or freespeech.ie SIP VOIP account, then yes it will work. Thats because it uses SIP protocol, for transmission, unlike Skype, which uses there own P2P technology.

So, in loooong way to answer your question, gizmo cannot be used as a softphone client for freespeech, or blueface.ie BUT it can be used to call a blueface.ie, or freespeech acount FROM a sipphone account.

btw: gizmo can be downloaded at: http://www.gizmoproject.com/download.php

hth,
bernard

]]> By: LtotheN http://www.tomrafteryit.net/did-skype-steal-my-skypeout-credit/#comment-5129 LtotheN Tue, 21 Feb 2006 19:22:40 +0000 http://www.tomrafteryit.net/did-skype-steal-my-skypeout-credit/#comment-5129 I can't find Gizmo! Where is it? Does it work with all VOIP SIP services? Does it work with <a href="http://www.freespeech.ie">Freespeech</a>? I can’t find Gizmo! Where is it?

Does it work with all VOIP SIP services?

Does it work with Freespeech?

]]> By: RwinG http://www.tomrafteryit.net/did-skype-steal-my-skypeout-credit/#comment-3582 RwinG Tue, 10 Jan 2006 22:04:49 +0000 http://www.tomrafteryit.net/did-skype-steal-my-skypeout-credit/#comment-3582 Just found out I lost all my credit on my Skype account (10 euros) - this really sucks. I planned to use it when the sofware would be better. Now skype is out for me (pun intended). Note that this page comes up really high in google when you are searching for "skype credit expiration"... Just found out I lost all my credit on my Skype account (10 euros) - this really sucks. I planned to use it when the sofware would be better. Now skype is out for me (pun intended).

Note that this page comes up really high in google when you are searching for “skype credit expiration”…

]]> By: scandinavian http://www.tomrafteryit.net/did-skype-steal-my-skypeout-credit/#comment-3541 scandinavian Sun, 08 Jan 2006 15:43:20 +0000 http://www.tomrafteryit.net/did-skype-steal-my-skypeout-credit/#comment-3541 maybe u called to a mobilephone? recently i used 13euros to buy 500min of time with skype, then after 56 minutes, my account was empty... then, a littlebit too late i noticed, its ten times more expensive to an mobilphone!!! that pissed me off, big time!! maybe u called to a mobilephone?
recently i used 13euros to buy 500min of time with skype, then after 56 minutes, my account was empty… then, a littlebit too late i noticed, its ten times more expensive to an mobilphone!!! that pissed me off, big time!!

]]> By: Dave http://www.tomrafteryit.net/did-skype-steal-my-skypeout-credit/#comment-3231 Dave Thu, 22 Dec 2005 09:07:30 +0000 http://www.tomrafteryit.net/did-skype-steal-my-skypeout-credit/#comment-3231 Yep I have much the same problem Tom, I'm trying to convince my current Skype contacts to move but that's not the easiest thing to achieve. Yep I have much the same problem Tom, I’m trying to convince my current Skype contacts to move but that’s not the easiest thing to achieve.

]]> By: Tom Raftery http://www.tomrafteryit.net/did-skype-steal-my-skypeout-credit/#comment-3230 Tom Raftery Thu, 22 Dec 2005 08:52:05 +0000 http://www.tomrafteryit.net/did-skype-steal-my-skypeout-credit/#comment-3230 Dave, that's cool and I have installed Gizmo - but I don't know anyone else using it so i can't call anyone! Dave, that’s cool and I have installed Gizmo - but I don’t know anyone else using it so i can’t call anyone!

]]> By: bernard http://www.tomrafteryit.net/did-skype-steal-my-skypeout-credit/#comment-3218 bernard Thu, 22 Dec 2005 01:26:33 +0000 http://www.tomrafteryit.net/did-skype-steal-my-skypeout-credit/#comment-3218 ah, now there is a thing! i did not know that about gizmo. i should download it again and use it as my SIP softphone. Still tho, it is not "the" IP-IP voice app. But if it will do SIP then I will be happy to retry it. Yes if people used Gizmo, that would be cooler (actually using SIP not a proprietary system) Blueface rock. At the moment their user base is small so they can give such personal service. If they can scale the quality of support as they grow, they are onto a winning formula. But I still say give Blueface a go. There is a free trial available. They give you 1€ worth of calls. Enough for about 1 week. night ah, now there is a thing! i did not know that about gizmo. i should download it again and use it as my SIP softphone.

Still tho, it is not “the” IP-IP voice app. But if it will do SIP then I will be happy to retry it. Yes if people used Gizmo, that would be cooler (actually using SIP not a proprietary system)

Blueface rock. At the moment their user base is small so they can give such personal service. If they can scale the quality of support as they grow, they are onto a winning formula.

But I still say give Blueface a go. There is a free trial available. They give you 1€ worth of calls. Enough for about 1 week.

night

]]> By: Dave http://www.tomrafteryit.net/did-skype-steal-my-skypeout-credit/#comment-3217 Dave Thu, 22 Dec 2005 01:14:55 +0000 http://www.tomrafteryit.net/did-skype-steal-my-skypeout-credit/#comment-3217 Bernard you're a big fan of Blueface and right you are but think about how cool it'd be if people used Gizmo instead of Skype, Gizmo is completely interoperable with Blueface because it's SIP. You can call Blueface users for free from Gizmo. Bernard you’re a big fan of Blueface and right you are but think about how cool it’d be if people used Gizmo instead of Skype, Gizmo is completely interoperable with Blueface because it’s SIP. You can call Blueface users for free from Gizmo.

]]> By: bernard http://www.tomrafteryit.net/did-skype-steal-my-skypeout-credit/#comment-3216 bernard Thu, 22 Dec 2005 01:10:50 +0000 http://www.tomrafteryit.net/did-skype-steal-my-skypeout-credit/#comment-3216 tom, i used gizmo. and then figured why the hell do i have about 4 accounts with different providers. just stick to skype and a proper VOIP service. Recording calls - use Xlite true VOIP softphone, and record your calls on your computer. I have a little applescript audio recorder. works a treat. Use Blueface. Your call costs will be way better. And its proper VOIP. tom,
i used gizmo. and then figured why the hell do i have about 4 accounts with different providers. just stick to skype and a proper VOIP service.

Recording calls - use Xlite true VOIP softphone, and record your calls on your computer.

I have a little applescript audio recorder. works a treat.

Use Blueface. Your call costs will be way better. And its proper VOIP.

]]> By: Tom Raftery http://www.tomrafteryit.net/did-skype-steal-my-skypeout-credit/#comment-3181 Tom Raftery Tue, 20 Dec 2005 22:51:53 +0000 http://www.tomrafteryit.net/did-skype-steal-my-skypeout-credit/#comment-3181 That's handy alright Bernard but I need Skype (or an equivalent) to record my calls. Dave, I downloaded Gizmo - but I don't know anyone else using it, so I can't test it! That’s handy alright Bernard but I need Skype (or an equivalent) to record my calls.
Dave, I downloaded Gizmo - but I don’t know anyone else using it, so I can’t test it!

]]> By: bernard http://www.tomrafteryit.net/did-skype-steal-my-skypeout-credit/#comment-3180 bernard Tue, 20 Dec 2005 22:15:24 +0000 http://www.tomrafteryit.net/did-skype-steal-my-skypeout-credit/#comment-3180 trust blueface! irish, you can call them, and they offer great services. 100% customer service, they answer the phone when you ring. similar costs to skype. blueface.ie they are good. i get 076, and 01 number and 5 hours of FREE landline calls for 9.99euro per month. http://www.runningwithbulls.com/blog/category/bernard/tech/voip/ b trust blueface! irish, you can call them, and they offer great services. 100% customer service, they answer the phone when you ring. similar costs to skype.
blueface.ie they are good. i get 076, and 01 number and 5 hours of FREE landline calls for 9.99euro per month.
http://www.runningwithbulls.com/blog/category/bernard/tech/voip/
b

]]> By: Tom Raftery http://www.tomrafteryit.net/did-skype-steal-my-skypeout-credit/#comment-3109 Tom Raftery Thu, 15 Dec 2005 11:44:21 +0000 http://www.tomrafteryit.net/did-skype-steal-my-skypeout-credit/#comment-3109 It is kind of a tipping point issue, isn't it? Until the userbase increases, everyone will want to go with Skype - the open architecture is a much better idea, though. It is kind of a tipping point issue, isn’t it?

Until the userbase increases, everyone will want to go with Skype - the open architecture is a much better idea, though.

]]> By: Dave http://www.tomrafteryit.net/did-skype-steal-my-skypeout-credit/#comment-3107 Dave Thu, 15 Dec 2005 10:07:19 +0000 http://www.tomrafteryit.net/did-skype-steal-my-skypeout-credit/#comment-3107 The world would be a better place if everyone used Gizmo! It uses the open SIP standard which means the interoperability of the service is much better. It works pretty well with <a href="http://www.blueface.ie">Blueface</a> and everything. The world would be a better place if everyone used Gizmo! It uses the open SIP standard which means the interoperability of the service is much better. It works pretty well with Blueface and everything.

]]> By: Tom Raftery http://www.tomrafteryit.net/did-skype-steal-my-skypeout-credit/#comment-3106 Tom Raftery Thu, 15 Dec 2005 10:02:51 +0000 http://www.tomrafteryit.net/did-skype-steal-my-skypeout-credit/#comment-3106 Good thinking David - I'll look into it. Good thinking David - I’ll look into it.

]]> By: David http://www.tomrafteryit.net/did-skype-steal-my-skypeout-credit/#comment-3104 David Thu, 15 Dec 2005 09:56:48 +0000 http://www.tomrafteryit.net/did-skype-steal-my-skypeout-credit/#comment-3104 Tom - Perhaps you can vote with your feet and switch to...<a href="http://www.gizmoproject.com/">www.gizmoproject.com</a> I haven't ever tried it, but I have heard good things about it and it has cheap calls to US phones so might be good for your podcasts. Tom - Perhaps you can vote with your feet and switch to…http://www.gizmoproject.com

I haven’t ever tried it, but I have heard good things about it and it has cheap calls to US phones so might be good for your podcasts.

]]> By: Tom Raftery http://www.tomrafteryit.net/did-skype-steal-my-skypeout-credit/#comment-3103 Tom Raftery Thu, 15 Dec 2005 09:45:26 +0000 http://www.tomrafteryit.net/did-skype-steal-my-skypeout-credit/#comment-3103 @David - at least you got an email - I received none. @Noirin - thanks for confirming that it isn't just me! @David - at least you got an email - I received none.

@Noirin - thanks for confirming that it isn’t just me!

]]> By: Noirin http://www.tomrafteryit.net/did-skype-steal-my-skypeout-credit/#comment-3102 Noirin Thu, 15 Dec 2005 09:23:06 +0000 http://www.tomrafteryit.net/did-skype-steal-my-skypeout-credit/#comment-3102 Nope, they don't - and they even sometimes take your money if you HAVE made a call within the last few days of your time, although when it happened to me they did at least refund the cash later. Nope, they don’t - and they even sometimes take your money if you HAVE made a call within the last few days of your time, although when it happened to me they did at least refund the cash later.

]]> By: David http://www.tomrafteryit.net/did-skype-steal-my-skypeout-credit/#comment-3101 David Thu, 15 Dec 2005 09:18:18 +0000 http://www.tomrafteryit.net/did-skype-steal-my-skypeout-credit/#comment-3101 They sent me a warning about some credit I hadn't used since may, but I distinctly remember the email just being a blank message from skype with the title "Credit Expiration". The rest of the email was completely blank! I then went to look at the site and found out about the time limit. If they were that shoddy at sending me an email and forgetting to actually put any content in it then perhaps they just didn't send you one at all? They sent me a warning about some credit I hadn’t used since may, but I distinctly remember the email just being a blank message from skype with the title “Credit Expiration”. The rest of the email was completely blank! I then went to look at the site and found out about the time limit.

If they were that shoddy at sending me an email and forgetting to actually put any content in it then perhaps they just didn’t send you one at all?

]]> By: Tom Raftery http://www.tomrafteryit.net/did-skype-steal-my-skypeout-credit/#comment-3099 Tom Raftery Thu, 15 Dec 2005 00:08:55 +0000 http://www.tomrafteryit.net/did-skype-steal-my-skypeout-credit/#comment-3099 I guess that's a possibility Maca - but you think they'd give you a warning or something if they were going to appropriate your money. I guess that’s a possibility Maca - but you think they’d give you a warning or something if they were going to appropriate your money.

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