Hey guys, just got swindled by Skype, don't know w...

Question

So a few days ago I discovered that Skype on my Windows Phone didn't have me logged in anymore. I tried logging in several times but to no avail, I was told that my account info was incorrect. I tried resetting my password, but both times I tried it told me to contact customer service. I sent an online form request detailing the issue and recieved this response back from support:
Hello,
Thank you for your response
Unfortunately, we cannot re-activate your account. We take the safety of Skype customers very seriously and need to apply certain restrictions to protect our customers' details.
In accordance with paragraph 11.2 of the Skype Terms of Use we have terminated your right to use the Skypesoftware, and have prevented any further access to your Skype account.
This is because you are in breach of paragraph 6.3 (c) of the Terms of Use which prohibits the use of the Skypesoftware to send unsolicited communications. Any Skype Credit that was in your account is non-refundable.
You can read the full text of the Terms of Use here:
Kindly let us know if you have any questions and we are happy to help you.
We are looking forward to hearing from you.
Best regards,
Wyrhana J.
Skype Customer Service
Apparently "unsolicited communications" were being sent from my Skype account. However, I am the only one with access to this account, and this account has only recently (within the last two weeks) been active again after being dormant for more than a year. 
I sent another email to support and recieved an even more canned response:
Hello Stephen,
Thank you for contacting Skype Customer Support!
We're sorry to know that you can no longer access your Skype account. Upon checking, unfortunately it is not possible to restore your Skype account. As what we have explained in the previous email. We have applied restrictions to protect Skype users.
Kindly let us know if you have any questions and we are happy to help you.   
Best regards,
Jodelberth Q.
Skype Customer Service
Visit www.skype.com for the latest news, updates and tips.[/quote]
Needless to say I am quite fed up. I tried contacting live support via a new account and I had one of the most unhelpful conversations ever:
You are now chatting with 'Alberto F'.
Stephen: hello
Alberto F: Hello! Welcome to Skype Live Support! My name is Albert. How may I help you?
Stephen: So my other (primary) Skype account has been blocked for "unsolicited communications" but I have not sent any such thing from that account. I keep trying to get an explanation of what happened to my account but I am not getting much help through filling out the customer service form online.
Stephen: I would like to know what happened to my Skype account ([Redacted for privacy]) and why it can't be activated and what I can do to resume my Skype services (they are very important for my day to day activities)
Alberto F: I understand that your account has been blocked for unsolicited communication and want to get it unblocked. I'd be happy to assist you with it.
Alberto F: To make sure I am pulling up the right account, may I have your Skype name and first name please?
Stephen: Thank you, I appreciate any help you can provide. I haven't been able to make any calls for three days now.
Stephen: The Skype name is [Redacted for privacy] and my name is  [Redacted for privacy]
Alberto F: Thank you Stephen.
Stephen: Yep
Alberto F: Thank you for waiting Stephen. 
Stephen: No problem
Alberto F: We apologize, but for the security and privacy of your account, your account is restricted at the moment
Stephen: That is a canned response. Why can't anyone tell me why my account is blocked? I just activated it two weeks ago and I AM THE ONLY PERSON THAT HAS USED IT.
Stephen: I keep getting the runaround from you guys. I am told that my account is blocked but nothing else. Not how to reactivate my account. Why it is blocked. What I can do. If I can start a new account. 
Alberto F: As described in the Skype Privacy Statement (http://www.skype.com/en/legal/privacy), we are only able to provide account information or make changes in the account, in cases where we are able to verify the account user’s identity. Unfortunately, due to lack of information required, we will not be able to help you to access the account
Stephen: I am getting very very few solutions from you guys at all. I have payed you my money and I am not able to get barely any response from customer serivece. 
Alberto F: Online verification form
Stephen: That doesn't make any sense: "Unfortunately, due to lack of information required, we will not be able to help you to access the account" you have not asked me for any information but my name and login. Ask me anything: what do you need to know?
Alberto F: Once you submit the form, the information will be forwarded to a special department for review. You will receive a follow up email within 24 hours. 
Stephen: I have submitted that form three times now, I am not doing it again. This is crap. Are you a human or a machine? You keep typing out canned responses. 
Stephen: Why can't I reactivate my account? <--- see direct question, it's easy to answer. Like this question: Q: what color is the sky A: Blue. See, easy.
Stephen: This is the response I am getting from you guys: What color is the sky? Answer from skype: "Please refer to our "sky colors" link to look at possible colors that the sky may or may not be"
Alberto F: I apologize Stephen, As much as I want to process your request now, we really need to go through the user verification form. This is to protect the privacy and security of your account. I assure you that once we receive the results of the user verification form, you will receive a follow up email as soon as possible. 
Stephen: Yes, I received a "follow up email" three times now. And three times I have been told "we are sorry but we cannot reactivate your account". 
Stephen: Why would I contact you guys again only to be told off again?
Stephen: Can you just take the remainder of my service and apply it to this account? I paid for a month of service, I still have 10 days that I haven't utilized (14 if you count the days I haven't been able to use the service).
Alberto F: That is because the answers you have provided regarding the account might not be accurate
Stephen: Bull
Stephen: I am the only one that knows the answers to the questions you guys asked and I answered all of them as best as I could. I don't know every single phone number and contact in my list by heart but I provided all the information that I could possibly provide.
Stephen: Three times now.
Alberto F: I'm sorry, since your account is restricted, we cannot access it at the moment.
Stephen: Okay, why was my account restricted in the first place? Huh, can you tell me that? I didn't do anything. So what is it that my account supposedly did? Did I send a threatening email to the president? Did I declare war on Russia? Did I offend Bill Gates? What? I have been given nothing but shoirt, vague responses from you guys.
Stephen: I have literally used the **bleep** thing for TWO WEEKS. I haven't used my Skype account in a year and all of a sudden you guys decide to screw me over?
Alberto F: The skype name you have provided is [Redacted for privacy] and it is currently restricted
Stephen: Are you really not a machine?
Stephen: You didn't answer any of my **bleep** questions.
Stephen: Yes you and I both know [Redacted for privacy] is restricted and I know what my account name is :/
Stephen: So why say it like that?
Stephen: Are you not allowed to answer questions or be helpful being a Skype rep?
Stephen: I asked why you blocked my account in the first place. Acceptable responses could be: "because we hate you", "because, haha, we have your money sucker", "because your account appears to have been hacked and we have locked it to protect you", "because we thought it would be funny". See these are all ANSWERS.
Alberto F: I'm sorry, we are only concerned about the privacy and security of your account
Stephen: What is your name?
Alberto F: I'm Albert.
Stephen: CONGRATULATIONS ALBERT! YOU JUST ANSWERED A QUESTION! Now please answer a question that isn't your **bleep** name. Why is my account blocked? Why reason? Details, that is what I want to know. It is only fair to me. I don't understand why this is soooo difficult for you guys.
Alberto F: Your account was restricted as it violated our Terms of Use. 
Stephen: How did it violate the ToU?
Alberto F: Skype Terms of Use
Stephen: "UNSOLICITED COMMUNICATIONS"? AS PER PART 6 SECTION 3? 
Alberto F: Kindly read through it. I cannot see on my end the exact reason why it was blocked
Stephen: See if this was a court case, the judge would ask the attorney: what did the defendant do" and the attorney would say "your honor he was speeding"
Stephen: Ohhhhhh, so you guys can block my account but not give me a reason? Just point to a vague subsection in a ToU?
Stephen: That is bullcrap.
Alberto F: What I would advise you is to fill up the Online form and answer all of the questions accurately inorder for your account to be verified.
Stephen: I am completely angry now. This is unfair. I have done nothing wrong. Not only has Skype customer support been woefully incompetent at telling me why my account was blocked, but I am not even given any options AS A PAYING CUSTOMER as to how I can resume my service, a very important service that I use and PAY YOU MONEY FOR
Stephen: I paid you guys money for a service that you decided to randomly terminate, and now you are giving me the giant runaround. I have contacted Skype via the Online form three times now and all three times I have received an unhelpful canned response telling me to kindly screw off. I am tired of this. I can't believe how much I am being screwed right now.
Alberto F: We can only answer your question and assist you if your account is authenticated.
Stephen: I have my social security number, I can send you a picture of my birth certificate, what else do you need? I sent you guys the form three times. 
Stephen: "Thank you for your response Unfortunately, we cannot re-activate your account. We take the safety of Skype customers very seriously and need to apply certain restrictions to protect our customers' details. In accordance with paragraph 11.2 of the Skype Terms of Use we have terminated your right to use the Skype software, and have prevented any further access to your Skype account. This is because you are in breach of paragraph 6.3 (c) of the Terms of Use which prohibits the use of the Skype software to send unsolicited communications. Any Skype Credit that was in your account is non-refundable. You can read the full text of the Terms of Use here: www.skype.com/go/tou Kindly let us know if you have any questions and we are happy to help you. We are looking forward to hearing from you."
Stephen: "Hello Stephen, Thank you for contacting Skype Customer Support! We're sorry to know that you can no longer access your Skype account. Upon checking, unfortunately it is not possible to restore your Skype account. As what we have explained in the previous email. We have applied restrictions to protect Skype users. Kindly let us know if you have any questions and we are happy to help you. Best regards, Jodelberth Q. Skype Customer Service"
Stephen: SEE!
Stephen: You guys are completely ---.
Alberto F: I understand. Kindly fill out the online verification form again and submit it to verify your account
Stephen: And how many times do I need to do this? Three or four more times? Is that the magic number for you quacks?
Alberto F: We need you to do it in order for your account to be authenticated
Stephen: I understand, but I have already filled it out. Why do you think that if I fill it out again that anything different will occur?
Stephen: I have recieved three responses from you guys telling me that my account is dead
Alberto F: It will be verified if you have answered all of the questions related to the account accurately
Stephen: And I have. 
Stephen: At least to my ability. 
Stephen: I would venture to say at least 90% of the questions are correct.
Alberto F: That is good to hear.
Stephen: Sure, I suppose. It would be good if it was acceptable for you guys. Apparently it still hasn't been good enough the last three times I have done it.
Alberto F: I would suggest that you submit the form now and wait for the response in 24 hours
Stephen: Whatever. I have to go. You are absolutely no help. Skypoe really needs to invest in some better customer service, seriously :/
So now I am unsure as to what to do. I really need Skype as I use it on my Windows Phone for calling out. I have tried filliong out another support request but I am sure I will recieved another canned response about how the account cannot be reactivated. Does anyone have any bright ideas?

Answer 1

Hi, Stephen, and welcome to the Community,
First things, first: for your safety and protection, please never, ever include any personally identifiable information such as your real name, Skype account name, e-mail address, or a telephone number in a post on a public Community or forum such as this. 
I flagged this thread for follow-up; please don't shoot me, I'm only the piano player!  I have no intention of inciting more anger and aggravation. 
By way of reminder, please keep our Community Guidelines in mind when you post ... people of all ages and from all over the globe visit the Community, and we would not want to offend anyone.  Thanks for understanding.
Kind regards,
Elaine
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