I want to express my disappointment and frustration at how Skype is making it increasingly difficult for small businesses to operate using Skype Manager. New restrictions seem to pop up on a regular basis, gradually taking away the flexibilities that made Skype such a groundbreaking solution for companies like mine in the first place.
I want to bring to light how two specific matters have effected us to the point where I need to find another solution. First it was the payment methods. Suddenly one credit card could only be used for one Skype account. In a company of 10 people that spans 3 continents, I had only 2 payment sources. The debit card tied to our business account and a paypal account we use for the business.
I was given the suggestion to open a Skype manager and invite all our employees there. This was a simple solution to my problem and worked fabulously for a while until more restrictions started croping up in the Skype manager.
All my employees opened their own personal Skype accounts (to be used only for the business) on my order when they joined us 3-4 years ago. At the time I was not aware of the Skype Manager and I could not forsee how difficult it would make my life when Skype stoped allowing me to assign Skype numbers to any account that was not created from the business manager itself.
I got around the problem by assigning credit to the specific account and letting them buy their own numbers. That of course prevented me from having full control of those numbers, which I was not happy about.
The most recent restriction that is actually effecting my business in such a way that I am looking for another solution, is that now any Skype Manager with a US address is unable to add personal accounts.
We work with an ever changing group of consultants. Most of them are young professionals from developing countries where money is tight and the methods of payment Skype accepts is not always available to them.
Perhaps most companies would not arrange communications in this manner but that is what's required for our business to work. If the people in my company, employee or consultant, cant communicate properly with me and my clients, I have a problem.
The only option left to me is now to create a new business account from within Skype manager for every new person we work with. I tried this with my brother-in-law who works with us on occation. Unfortunatly he refrained from using the new account with its
already paid for Skype number and subscription, as he was already to tied to his current account and all the contacts he has there.
This is the case with most people. Who in this world doesnt have a skype account already? Being forced to use two is inefficient and moving
all contacts from one account to another not always possible.
You might ask me to grow up as a company and streamline the way we do our business. But that is just the thing....Companies like ours
is who made skype in the first place. Business with a global presence that needs the flexibility and easy of use are who gravitate to skype.
Otherwise we would be setting up with Verizon.
Skype, you are alianating us! You are making it impossible for us to continou using your services. I can imagine there is a reason behind all these restrictions. Companies in the communications industry have most likely misused your services and you have to protect yourself. I understand. But does that mean you have to draw one line in the sand
for everybody. You can see we are a legitimite business and are not abusing our account. Why not let your customers service agents make an educated decition about our account and allow some of these featured back again.
Please think it over.....
Sincerely
A loyal, but wavering Skype customer
