As you may know, I’m working through a Microsoft e-learning course at the moment. Having had a few problems with the service I’ve been trying to extract some common sense from their support services. Having failed to get anything vaguely helpful I thought I’d ask them about who they were, and I think the following response really sums up the level of idiocy I have encountered thus far.
When asked a simple direct question about who I was communicating with, the response is either hilarious or depressing, I’m not sure which. It would seem that before they can tell me where they are based, they need to know what operating system I run, what version of flash I have, what my login is etc etc. Talk about customer disservice. The finishing touch for me is the addition of upbeat advertising added to a response to an evidently already irritated customer.
Here are the last two messages for your entertainment (identifiers stripped out):
——– Original Message ——–
Subject: Re: MCP Ref: C ###### \ site broken. (########)
Date: Thu, 24 Jan 2008 16:03:12 +0000
From: Tim<tim@timwise.co.uk>
To: emeamcp@msdirectservices.com<emeamcp@msdirectservices.com>I have a couple of questions for you:
What company are you directly employed by? Where are you based?
Thanks
Tim
The highly considered response:
——– Original Message ——–
Subject: MCP Ref: C ##### \ site broken. (#######################)
Date: Wed, 30 Jan 2008 15:59:21 +0100 (CET)
From: emeamcp@msdirectservices.com<emeamcp@msdirectservices.com>
To: Tim<tim@timwise.co.uk>Hello Tim,
Thank you for contacting Learning Manager Support.
In order for us to process this request, we need the following information from you:
Step by step screen shots of the entire process including the error message
Your log in Live ID and the Unique ID associated to it.
To obtain your Unique ID, please follow the steps provided:
1) Visit http://account.live.com
2) Sign in using your passport account.
3) After singing in you will see a page with more options. Please click on ‘Registered information’
4) At the bottom of this page you will see your Unique ID. It will look like this: ‘000XXXXXXXXXXXXX’
Detailed description of what the problem/issue is that you are experiencing.
What is the Operating System that you are using?
What is the Internet Browser and version that you are using?
What version of Flash and Shockwave are you using?
Screenshot of the following webpage: https://learning.microsoft.com/Commerce/PurchaseHistory.aspx
While some of the above information may not seem applicable to your issue, it is important that we must receive them in order to best resolve your issue.
Please also note that we unfortunately are not allowed to provide you any information about our location.
Looking forward to receiving your reply.
Kind Regards
Natalia Wojtaszek
Microsoft Regional Service Center
E-Mail: emeamcp@msdirectservices.com
Tel.: 0800-9170758 or 0800 0960137
Fax: ++49 5 24 11 79 60 77In order to keep up to date with the MCP/ MCT program your contact details need to be correct.
Don´t forget: You can update your contact details yourself in the Profile Editor on the MCP/ MCT Secure Site at …
NOW AVAILABLE: Virtual PC-enabled Labs in Official Microsoft Learning Products https://partnering.one.microsoft.com/mct/vpc/default.aspx
Microsoft highly recommends that users with Internet access update their Microsoft software to protect against viruses and security vulnerabilities. The easiest way to do this is to visit the following website: http://www.Microsoft.com/protect
It’s worth noting that this is totally consistent with the level of service I have experienced with Microsoft e-learning. As far as I can fathom, the e-learning system has been set up on a pile of servers and then been left to rot whilst paying customers are fobbed off by a nameless and faceless 3rd party. It may be profitable in the short term, but this kind of behaviour may well be the cracks in the foundations of Microsoft’s empire. I for one am certainly plotting a course for fairer pastures.