10 replies to this topic

[Leann_Pass]

I have been using Microsoft Small Business Directory for a few years. (just the directory, not the other services) I have submitted tons of sites and have never ever had a problem or bad experience with their submit it service ...UNTIL NOW!

They list the sites and renew them yearly unless they are cancelled by me.

As recently as 2 days ago I submitted a site and it was approved. It showed up in the directory as it should have.

Last night I received 2 notifications confirming listing cancellations - I did NOT cancel anything!! And further, my CC has been charged for RENEWAL!

Today I go in and look and see that ALL of my listings say "Reviewed and Not Approved" - They have all been approved - many for years!! They are ALL missing from the index.

What is going on? Is anyone else having this problem?

I filled out a form to ask about this - what else can I do????

Take my money and then strip ALL my sites??

[mcanerin]

That seems totally at odds with my usual experience (and, it sounds like, yours too) with MSN/Live/SBD. From the description, it doesn't sound like you've been hacked, but I'm at a loss to come up with any other explaination.

It sure sounds like the one with some 'splainin' to do is MSN - let us know how this goes. If you don't get a response, maybe some of the rest of us can put some pressure on them, as well.

Ian

[-=seth=-]

msn is acting odd at present, theyve changed there ads, for one, there was an emails detailing how the search, or "Live Search" was changing.

MSN used to list ads at top and on the right side of a MSN search. Now, they've cut the number of ads to 5 on a page, and it's harder to get placed.

Content searches have been reevaluated and shuffled. I think it's a determined effort by MSN to present DIFFERENT MATERIAL than that you see on Google or Yahoo

i think i'm suffering more than most at present none of my pages are indexed (my back links arehowever) i'm just hoping they sort themselves out soon

[Leann_Pass]

Okay, I just received this in email:

Dear Leann:
Thank you for writing to Microsoft Small Business Center Customer Support about your concerns on these:

- all your approved listing appearing as ‘reviewed and not approved’

- cancellations on two of your listings

We apologize for any inconvenience.

I have already forwarded the issues to our Escalation team for further investigation. One of our specialists will get in touch with you directly to update you on their findings.

I realize that you also need to discuss this with us via phone. Unfortunately, we currently do not have outbound phone support. But we would be glad to assist you on the channel that you prefer. If you should wish to talk to us, please feel free to call 866 (edited out by Leann).

We appreciate your patience and understanding"

They have no idea how IMPATIENT and NOT UNDERSTANDING I REALLY AM about this

Now, I just got an email telling me one of my sites was "approved" - WELL it WAS APPROVED 2 and 1/2 years ago and NOW it sits burried deep

Yes IAN, I'd say I was hacked - I am soooooooooooooooooo P'ssssd!!

I will not drop this one - this is just plain WRONG! I can't think of the last time I was THIS furious!! I will keep you all updated on the progress.

Sad thing is - I don't know if I can trust them with our CC anymore!! UGH!

Edited by Leann_Pass, 20 December 2006 - 03:19 PM.

[roxyyo]

I think they just want to shut down the whole directory (unfortunately, it was a good one). So they've stopped accepting new ones and started treating their existing members poorly. Hmph!

[Leann_Pass]

Okay Yall - as ticked as it all makes me, I am completely impressed with the fact that they handled all this sooo very quickly.

Here is the latest:

"Dear Leann:

I received information that 2 of your Small Business Directory Listing were cancelled and the rest of your listings were disapproved.

We are deeply sorry for the inconvenience that this issue has caused you.

I’ve checked your Submit It! account using the email address leann@leannsdesigns.com and I was able to verify the scenario you have described.

There’s no need to worry since I already reactivated your Small Business Directory listings so you’re all set.

You may now login to your Submit It! account to verify that your SBD listings are all up.

Upon further investigation, we had encountered an intermittent issue on our server that has caused this issue. Our Product Team is now monitoring our servers to prevent this issue from happening again.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Sincerely,

Enriel
Microsoft Small Business Center Escalation Support"

I honestly am impressed - I don't think I will even call at this point. I would like to encourage anyone with an account with Microsoft to check up and make sure everything is in order.

Leann <sighing with relief>

[Leann_Pass]

I think they just want to shut down the whole directory (unfortunately, it was a good one). So they've stopped accepting new ones and started treating their existing members poorly. Hmph!

No, they are not shutting down - they just aren't accepting 'new accounts' - My account is long standing (years!) and does not fall into the category of new accounts, and up until now I have never ever had a poor experience.

Seems they just made a BIG FAT booboo here - it is still scary to me (especially with the charges and deletions!) but I think it is under control now (see my above post). I will monitor very carefully from this day forward. Shew! We just cant take anything for granted anymore - I probably never should have.

Wow! what a crazy day this was!

I do have to say KUDOS to microsoft for being SOOOOOO ontop of this issue. (I received tons of emails in a matter of 30 minutes as they were fixing all these errors.)

[Connie]

I was under the impression that MS was no longer accepting new listings. Based on my understanding if your in, your current listings are grandfathered. New listings will not be accepted.

I did read something about this recently. Not sure which blog it was in.

[Leann_Pass]

I was under the impression that MS was no longer accepting new listings. Based on my understanding if your in, your current listings are grandfathered. New listings will not be accepted.

I did read something about this recently. Not sure which blog it was in.

As I said above, I have an OLD account.

[Michael Martinez]

Microsoft is attempting to replace their Small Business Center with Office Live, which does not (yet) offer the same services as the Small Business Center. Their F.A.Q. about the transition says that all old accounts will remain active and able to utilize existing services for the foreseeable future, until they can figure out how to move us into Office Live (those are my words, not Microsoft's).

No one should count on those services remaining available indefinitently, but I think the transitional process will be governed in part by how active the old accounts are.

I have quite a few accounts with the banner network but they are all consolidated under one email address. I will be very, very angry when I lose those free banner services, as they still send me traffic and give me exposure. I would be more upset with Microsoft for discontinuing that network or forcing me to pay for service than I would be if Google delisted my domains today.

[Arnie K]

MSN, Live, Small Business Center, Office Live..... why? If I had a brand recognition like they had I would never change it!