Hotmail complaints keep flowing in
Published: 24 Nov 2005 13:45 GMT
...how he repeatedly tried to contact Hotmail but received little or no help. "After sending Microsoft numerous emails they eventually got back to me saying they were aware of the problem and a couple of days later it was fixed. They explained one of their servers had crashed," he said.
Another said he had lost all hope of Microsoft fixing the service. "This has been addressed by Hotmail at least half a dozen times, by half a dozen 'experts' and I am still at point zero. In essence, my account was working OK for a number of years and decided to go temperamental," he said. "It's obviously a computer fault, but even so a solution should not be beyond the wit of Microsoft experts, I have tried all suggested solutions," he added.
After receiving a steady stream of complaints about Hotmail in the first half of this year, ZDNet UK contacted Microsoft in June about the issue. At the time, Microsoft insisted that the earlier problems had been solved.
The company is adamant that this is still the case and denies that the complaints received by ZDNet UK are indicative of wider problems.
"We have had no reports of anything out of the ordinary," said a
Microsoft spokeswoman, who insisted that the problems reported earlier
this year have been addressed.
But one analyst cautioned that Microsoft risked losing Hotmail customers who suffered a poor service, even if they aren't in a position to take legal action.
"From a legal reputation they are covered but from a services reputation they are on a sticky wicket," said Jon Collins, principal analyst at Quocirca, who suggested that disgruntled users consider using an email service provided by their own Internet service provider.
"There is likely to be a slow migration away from Hotmail towards ISP email services. I would suggest checking what service you are getting from your ISP and go for the one you are already paying for. Those terms and conditions will be a lot more comprehensive and a lack of accountability can't be claimed," Collins added.
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61 comments
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hotmail adverts imcured -
It's not just affecting hotmail, MSN Messenger wil... Anonymous
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may be you are right. sylvia
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tony blair will tell u more people r co... Anonymous -
YAHOO Mail too! Paulo Nery
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msn Daniel larking
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50 people?
Out of how many millions?
And this is... John
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To John,
That's 50 people who have bothered... Andy Hopkins
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To Andy,
If there was a problem with mil... Matt
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I have been paying for AOL service, unab... cyril I. Bloom
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I WANT TO CANCELL MY HOTMAIL ID MOHAMMED RAFEEQ -
i want to cancell my hotmail i... Anonymous
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John, not everybody reports Sachil
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I am seemingly constantly unable to access my hotm... Anonymous
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I cannot access my hotmail account. This has... James Kopchuk
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I too got fed up with the inability to log-in and... Oldator
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Hotmail has yet to upgrade my account beyond the o... Anonymous
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I guess this truely good news for Gmail. Then agai... Dylan
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I agree that MS is most likely ignoring these issu... dan
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That's right. I was also having a strange problem.... Sachil
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I only use HotMail for MS Passport sites now - use... Sean M McPoland
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Simple...
USE (Google's) GMAIL!
It's 1000 times be... SmartITGuy
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What's to complain about? Can't read messages or s... Anonymous
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I havent been able to log into hotmail all day. Th... George bush
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The problem appears to be centred on the Passport... Mark Grady
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Hi,
I have just read your piece on Hotmail access... Anonymous
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Hotmail -absolute CRAP!!!!! Anonymous
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i think its time for microsoft to scrap hotma... Anonymous
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I have been with Hotmail for three month... Hazel O'Neil
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i think its time for microsoft to scrap hotma... Anonymous
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im finding it reaaly annoying when i get... Curbo
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i cant freaking get on hotmail.com lawrence adams
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msn hotmail wont let me get on my hotmail it ask f... Anonymous
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Add me to the 50++++. Many mails which I send jus... Pete Lambie
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I have had one problem or another with hotmail eve... Joanne Stuart
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My Hotmail has gone haywire this last week
My mess... Anonymous
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It has taken me 9 hours to receive some emails, so... Anonymous
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I also have problems getting into my account with... Anonymous
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I can't access my hotmail. I can get to the login... Anonymous
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i can't read my hotmail and i don't know what to d... Anonymous
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just read your feed back on hotmail i have the sam... Barrie Hill
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Hi
Unable to access my hotmail messages when click... arie yaary
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Only way I can read E mail is through Outlook... Gary Whitehorn
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I too can't seem to read any of my hotmail me... Anonymous
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i am having problems with my hotmail, i cant read... irvin
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my friend is 1 of the hotmail staff but he keeps f... Anonymous
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the goverment are robbing the people by
taxing the... Barry Cotman
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i think that hotmail is a cheaskate, the fact that... Knobj Ocky
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to the one who was on about his email is wid outlo... Anonymous
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i can never see my message just after i have writt... sita martin
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I am tired of sending emails and then getting an a... Gill Beale
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I set up an additional email account with hotmail... Anonymous
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This new hotmail service is rubbish, I have not be... John Thompson
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hello i put a rich-text editor on my hotmail but n... Anonymous
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It is a shame that they have to use this sneaky wa... Leonardo
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M/S has sent me a new password, but I cannot acces... Philip Johnston
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My complaint is simply this - I have tried many ti... P.L.Johnston
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Trying to login on msn hotmail is impossible.... Anonymous
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Hotmail is just proving to be unuseable. It is no... Robert Waugh
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I am getting e-mails from Western Daily Press Bris... Anonymous
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JULEY JULEY
