Microsoft

A support mail doesn't exist and the Customer Support is more ridiculous than the minions! If you are not from US, not only that they can't help you, but they don't know where your country is! I am waiting for a answer from any Microsoft supporter, it is not that hard to recover an e-mail. I personally work as a team-leader in a call-center for hosting customer support (IONOS - 1&1) and we would immediately contact the angry costumer and fix his problem after a review like this!

I had changed the password several times over the years and honestly I do not remember the latest one. I had Skype automatically logging in on my old computer and iPhone, but as I bought a second computer and iPhone I was forced to create a new account because I could not recover the old one. I have contacted Microsoft multiple times and they are not resolving the issue. Basically they locked me out of over 10 years of contacts and data. Am I the only one having this problem - should they be sued for the locking people up and "stealing" all the data? I appreciate security and due process but it is ridiculous.

Doesn't seem to matter whether it be in an Xbox a tablet a PC or in a phone (Windows or Android, I don't think I've ever troubleshot a Microsoft account within an Apple device) things never go smoothly. I have attempted to utilize a Microsoft account during my experiences with an Xbox. I made the horrible mistake of utilizing a school University email originally for this account which complicated things enormously due to Purdue's security measures compounded by Microsoft's security measures.

When I graduated Purdue, I lost access to my Purdue email because I did not change my password after 2 weeks (every 2 weeks). I don't recall what it was that triggered me to have to sign back into my Microsoft account after moving, but after forgetting my password they sent a reset link to an email which could not be accessed. I let this problem exist for as long as I could but finally my credit card expired and payment methods needed to be updated. In order to regain access to the link within my locked email account I was required to return to Purdue University and physically enter the IT department with my expired Purdue ID to reset that Purdue password in order to retrieve the password reset link from within that account so I could access account owner level settings and there was nobody to call for help to have it sent to an alternate email. I have since updated my email and change it to my Google account.

Today I attempted to buy my brother-in-law an Xbox Live gift card for his birthday. I Google searched, "Xbox Live gift card", I found a link to Microsoft website to purchase a digital code for $10. After selecting my gift card I attempted to check out. Rather than taking me to a PayPal screen or somewhere where I could enter my credit card information it asked me to log into my Microsoft account. I entered my credentials and got red errors multiple times.

I am sick of dealing with these accounts. This is way more difficult than it should have to be. You can reset a Google account in less than 30 seconds if you own a device that is logged into that account. I have seen unfortunate people carrying phones logged into Microsoft accounts receive 30 day waits for their information access. And some never get in. Google accounts contain payment information, credit cards people's personal files...etc. There's nowhere near the level of difficulty in resetting a Google account, an Apple account or any other account I've ever attempted to regain access to. Furthermore, OneNote and everything else that is downloadable to an Android phone should not require the login of a Microsoft account in order to utilize the program and sync.

While working as an IT intern at Gary Indiana city hall I kept my notes within OneNote. I lost all of them due to, "incorrect credentials." I have since minimized my involvement every single service that Microsoft offers. I'm going to physically walk into this Kroger now and purchase a gift card, photograph it, and send it to my brother because it is easier than attempting to purchase something from Microsoft online. What a headache.

I heard nothing back for days, and finally called them again, only to be told that they'd done "as much as they could" on their end. Since the e-mail of the account was changed, they could no longer prove that I was the owner of the account, and I was told to just "make a new Microsoft account" with my newly freed up e-mail. They could not even tell me what information was on the stolen account that the hacker might have been able to access, but they did ask for my credit card information promising to "unlink it from the account" if it was attached (it wasn't).

Basically the whole exchange was so creepy I ended up cancelling my card altogether because giving it to them felt just as wrong as giving it to a hacker (they also asked to take over my laptop remotely to check that I didn't have my laptop linked to my hacked Microsoft account, which I denied because it literally only took two steps to check).

To top it off, after they had "helped" me by helpfully informing me they could not return my account to me (in addition to taking my credit card info and asking unsuccessfully for remote access to my laptop)...they said they were sending an e-mail letting me know the ticket was being closed...except they accidentally sent it to THE HACKER'S E-MAIL ASSOCIATED WITH THE HACKED ACCOUNT. Seriously, WHAT?? I actually called Microsoft back just to make sure I hadn't found my way to a fake website somehow, and was assured that this was their normal practice... Nothing about the exchange felt normal. I don't care what I need to do to avoid Microsoft. I am never creating an account with them again.

I placed the second order as instructed...and four days later received two packages in the mail. Checked the account and saw both orders had been completed. I went to the online Microsoft store to start a refund process for one of the orders and was unable to. Telephoned Microsoft Store support and was told by the employee a refund would be processed and within 24 hours I would receive a return shipping label in my email. Three days later still no return label in the mail so I called Microsoft support. I was told the return was still being processed and it would be another 24 hours for me to receive the shipping label. Two days later still no return label in my email so I call Microsoft support. I was told again it would be processed and to wait 24 hours for the return label.

I ask to speak with a supervisor. The supervisor tells me the person I originally spoke with on my initial call for a refund failed to fully complete the refund request and there was no record of my second call. The supervisor tells me he is unable to send me a return shipping label and I had to wait 24 hours for the label. He also said I was free to go into a physical Microsoft store to hand them the item. Being the nearest one is a two hour drive one way I declined that option. So here it is one week after requesting a return and the original second laptop is still in the shipping box in my kitchen with no return label having been mailed to me. Oh, and both the orders cleared my credit card and are on my total balance owed for my card. If these ratings went even lower than 1 star I would give them that rating. So much wasted time. Several months ago I had to return an item purchased from Amazon, from start to finish that took me 2 minutes.

However, the good thing was he did fix the issue because I said that when I purchased the computer, it didn't say that to use the computer I was forced to create a Microsoft account, because the customer service agent was a computer. It couldn't argue and fixed the problem and I can use the new computer. So, for my first time using AI I am at a 50/50 split. This also brings up how many people who do have real emotions go without a job because humans feel and AI doesn't. I am concerned.

After 3 months, I renewed my efforts to start pursuing work from home (via my computer), which was the primary motivation of obtaining a new computer at the original time of purchase. In June, I ended up calling MS to see what happened with the subscription. The service rep told me that, sometimes, the subscription cards only are good for 6 months, at which time, you receive an e-mail saying that you, the customer, need to follow certain steps to re-install the software. Which is rather amazing to me in itself. However, a friend had made the original purchase, so any such e-mail would have gone to him, and he was in another state. It probably went to his junk folder, but, even if he had received such a message, he has computers w/ permanent MS software, and would have probably written it off, forgetting about my new software from 6 mos. prior.

Regardless, Microsoft knew then that I hadn't been able to make use of the full year's purchase of the 365 MS Suite. Therefore, I asked the rep to make it up to me and send me the remaining amount of time. He hesitated and said they usually wouldn't do that because I waited so long to call. My computer had been broken as the subscription expired, I wasn't using it after that for months. Beside the point, he affirmed that I hadn't had the software accessible to me, AND that it was essentially their fault I didn't, as there would have been NO WAY that either myself or my friend could have predicted such a nonsensical process from the most gigantic software company in the world, Microsoft, in utilizing their trademark product, the Microsoft Suite. And, they were not going to make it up to me.

In utter astonishment at hearing this, I began to argue with the rep, and, then, just closed my mouth. I said, "You know what, never mind. If the software magnate that is Microsoft won't honor a $79 agreement for service of their most used product, that doesn't cost them a dime probably, when $79 is a good bit of money to me, and you've admitted it was your fault I couldn't use it, I'm not going to bother saying another word--if that's the poor way you do business. I'm getting off the phone." The guy then said, "Wait a minute. Let me see what I can do." He puts me on hold, comes back and offers me 3 "free" months--when 6 more had been paid for. Again, not worth my time to argue, I accepted it.

He said it would come in 3 proceeding e-mails--that I would have to download individually. Which I did, ultimately. However, the only way to get it to work was to link my MS account w/ my friend's who'd originally made the purchase--so that we could see all each other's files! And, we're friends, but that was a little much. I'm sure there was another way to resolve the problem. But, I had literally spent, at this point, more than 3 hours cumulatively on 3 different calls to Microsoft over the past couple days-- It was ridiculous.

Thus, I just went with it for that time. Then, in a month's time, I ** you not (had to say it), Word began to tell me that my subscription was about to expire, which it continued to say, though seemed to keep working-- even though I could clearly see-- in our joint account-- the due date for the software to charge again was not til January-- for the life of the computer! Which, additionally absurdly, was only another month or so.

As a side note: A testament to HP's complete ** in production of my laptop, which was only a year old when it went down, for the 3rd time. This was among the single worst experiences I could have in technology. That Microsoft wouldn't even honor their own subscription, after admitting fault, until I blew them off. And then deigned to fix their error through such a shoddy patch-job of service and product hoops FOR ME to jump through-- after I'd had to harass my friend more times than I could count, while he was working, to obtain info for them, who had been nice enough to purchase this for me-- only to have it all STILL not work in the end (of the Microsoft Suite) is incomparably deplorable! I remain utterly incredulous. As this stands out as being the most colossal customer service/product botching combo I've ever encountered in my life! They're a virtual monopoly, so I guess they just don't give a **. Bill Gates, I wish you could hear me...

After calling them and being on hold for 2 hours, the level 2 technician uploaded an ISO to a USB thumb drive. Still froze before uploading. She said they would call me back in two days during a 2 hour time slot to work it out. Once again, no one called me. I called them and was on hold for 3 hour so! 3 hours, that’s completely unacceptable. No one at the call center, in India, cares how long you are on hold. I actually heard a level 2 technician making fun of me asking for help after being on hold for 3 hours. She was mimicking me in the background. The level 2 technician that was helping me said he couldn’t offer assistance since the case had been assigned to another level 2 technician and that person needed to call me. I told him no one ever called me back and that appointments were useless if that person never called. He had the audacity to put me on hold.

AGAIN, and I waited 2 hours for him to come back on the phone to get his name and lodge a formal complaint but he never came back. Moral of the story, a Microsoft doesn’t care about its customers and once they assign you to level 2, level 1 can never help you again. Also, I think there are only 2 level 2 technicians working a single shift to service billions of people worldwide. I want to tell Microsoft to hire more technicians, and then train them to actually CARE about customer service.

*Latest: Latest Fall and Spring Update. 1803-1809. *During 1 revision, I think 1709 but do not quote me on that, over 1000 patches a day were being delivered by Microsoft due to OS crashes around the world. GPU, graphics processing unit drivers. NVIDIA graphics drivers are still a thorn to many computer OS. Many of my OS licenses were not recorded by Microsoft. I have paid 2 times for the same OS. Windows lost my license. I always sent Microsoft my licenses.

3: Lastly, and most prevalent, overseas support. To which I still give failing grades most times, and have for 10 plus years.

The support from India was and sometimes still is a disaster at best, "when you can get through." *NOTE: I have retained some excellent support from highly qualified IT professionals recently, but through the years that was not the case. Microsoft has made countless billions without being held account. To the average computer or tablet consumer, it is hard to change OS, operating systems. 1: Cost. 2: Learning curve. Most homes, families and businesses, have multiple computers and devices running 'the same OS.' Many homes, families and business sync computer and device OS's, once they know how, to use the OS full potential.

The bottom line. I feel most consumers blindly put up with Microsoft's recurring OS defects and deficiencies and do not complain to the BBB, or a state, provincial or government agency for consumer protection. Microsoft has made tens of billions in the meantime not repaying the consumer loyalty. I have used Microsoft OS for ><15 years. Win10, Vista's, WIN 8, now Win 10. It's about time but Microsoft should have been held accountable over a decade ago I feel. "Microsoft faces $600M lawsuit over forced Windows 10 upgrade." What is $600,000,000.00 to a multi billion dollar corporation? It's a start. Anyway. I said my piece. I left a very harsh review on the latest Microsoft Surface Pro Tablet and Laptop. I hope this post explains my complaint.

Original Review: Absolute junk. I am sitting on $2600.00 hundred dollars of garbage in less than 2 years. Latest. Surface Tablet, less than 3 months old. I just threw it in the ** garbage. $1,300 dollars, and the time to set it up, in the ** garbage in less than 90 days. Did Best Buy help. LOL!!! How can these THIEVES, YES THIEVES fleece the world. Seriously, I ask you how can they continue to fleece consumers without being held accountable? It's a shame. A bloody shame. I stand to lose thousands and these thieves make hundreds of billions. I say this with all due respect to what I have encountered from the start from Microsoft and their help. Damn disgrace. Now you see what money and power get.

The next day still no email so I called and was told it was in the process of being canceled. Today I get the it's shipped email w/ the green bumpers, so again I call. Was told by a sup that "Nothing we can do," and "I should have known that the bumpers were green before hitting submit" and that I also should have known there would be no way to change or cancel. Horrendous experience!

After 6 times it froze it out of trying to install because according to Microsoft I had tried to enter the product key too many times, so I called support. Gave them access to my new computer. Was told I had several hackers, no firewall and was not going to be able to install the program unless I paid $3399.99 for a lifetime firewall thru them and then they would give me the program for free, also if I didn't purchase the said stuff my computer would have to be return because it was no good.

I am so glad I have a son in law that is tech smart. I quick text him. He said, "Don't buy anything." He got home. Got into my computer here. The tech guy from Microsoft took down my firewall in my computer. Added a small bug so the program I bought wouldn't load. He cleared everything out and lo and behold my program was installed. Thanks for nothing and I will NEVER BUY FROM MICROSOFT AGAIN.