CaptainJamie's dashboard

If Twitter is wanting to make protected accounts https then why hasn't mine been made https? If you're going to implement something to assist security then you should announce it so customers know what's going on.

Lesley, you can read more about the Manx telecom issue at http://blog.planetjamie.co.uk/blog/?p... - O2 is the only network which does not charge international rates to text an 07624 number (according to the link O2 own Manx Telecom). Getting a proper UK number will give you a huge advantage over the stalling and stumbling Twitter. – CaptainJamie, on August 16, 2008 20:29

You don't get it do you? The way the issue has been handled is a demonstration of appalling service and shows Twitter in a very bad light indeed. People may argue over whether the issue is entirely Twitter's fault or not and if you bothered to read the TechCrunch article you would see very constructive suggestions where Twitter can create a working business model. The bottom line is that the customer (the consumer of the "service provision") sees that Twitter have suddenly made a major change. And perception is reality. Trite but true.

What's being a crybaby about explaining clearly and sensibly why you think Twitter has fouled up and where they can put things right? That's called engaging with the service provider and offering constructive advice from experience in the sector. That's not sitting in a corner moaning how "Twitter has ruined my world". Some people like to moan, some people get walked over because they just accept things and some step forward and offer constructive suggestions.

"Service provision" means being open, honest, professional and timely with everything you provide, regardless of whether or not your service is free. If you claim to provide a service then you have customers and this definition applies. Twitter have failed this definition and have work to do. – CaptainJamie, on August 14, 2008 12:24

You don't get it do you Danwy? The way the issue has been handled is a demonstration of appalling service and shows Twitter in a very bad light indeed. "Service provision" means being open, honest, professional and timely with everything you provide, regardless of whether or not your service is free. If you claim to provide a service then this definition applies. – CaptainJamie, on August 14, 2008 12:15

Hufsa and Danwy need to wake up and live in the real world. We're talking about a *service provision* here. This issue may not have been entirely of Twitter's own making but Twitter have not handled it well.

Twitter's infrastructure and business model have been questioned publicly before now. Anyone sitting out there believing that services like Twitter come along out of the goodness of someone's heart must be taking some good stuff. Twitter recently got another $15 million. What's that being spent on?

The world does not revolve around the USA even though there are lots of sadly misguided souls who seem to think it does. I don't believe that Twitter's approach would have changed were I a paying customer. Which I would happily be if the option were given to me.

The challenge facing Twitter is to create a business model that works in the UK and Europe. It can't be that difficult - there are suggestions at http://uk.techcrunch.com/2008/08/14/t...

Twitter has a lot of work to do to restore customers' confidence. Engage with your customer base before you start losing them. A gap has now appeared and a rival might just come along.

A very sudden decision with no prior announcement. Great customer service, that. Was the adverse publicity about Twitter's supposedly "UK" number too much for Manx Telecom? I think there's more to this story than meets the eye.

Twitter has just become irrelevant to me. I'd like to know the full story (and I mean the FULL story) behind this decision; who decided what and when.

UK users can still update Twitter via SMS but the only network that currently does not charge outrageously (international rates) is O2. All the other UK mobile networks charge at international rates.

@Eridanus
The issue is that Twitter have been less than honest in saying their number is a UK number. The number *looks* like a UK number but people are rightly annoyed when they get charged international rates for sending messages to it because Twitter have not said "This is a number based in the Isle Of Man".

To hide behind "please check charges with your provider" is IMO a cop-out especially when UK users have a *reasonable expectation* based on the look of the number. I've had different explanations of charging regimes for texting to Twitter and reasons for them from three mobile operators.

Twitter comes out of this looking poor and hiding behind Ts and Cs, which is often the act of a shifty company. If Twitter said "our "UK" number is based in the Isle Of Man so please check with your provider - we know that 3 UK based providers do not recognise our number as a standard UK number" then there wouldn't be an issue.

I use Twitter considerably much less now.

I asked O2 this via their website and got the following reply:

"Hi Jamie,

Thanks for your email.

I'm sorry you're unhappy with the charge that Orange has introduced for contacting Twitter and you're thinking of changing your provider.

As far as I can tell, the access number for this service, 0762 480 1423 would be classed as a normal text message, so it will be included in the free allowances available from us." – CaptainJamie, on July 27, 2008 13:05

I'm on Orange pay as you go. Text messages to Twitter are not taken from your bundles or allowances. They are now charged, currently at 20p per text message. This is a recent change, ie in the last three days or so. So much for "unlimited UK texts".

T-Mobile charge 20p per Twitter text on their "Text appeal" rate which is supposed to be 3p per UK text message. It has nothing to do with the +44 for UK users - the mobile networks have just decided that they want to screw users for money so texting Twitter has become a lot more expensive overnight.

Twitter can't be held responsible for what operators charge their "customers" (When I find a provider who doesn't charge ludicrously to text Twitter, I'm off to join them) but it should make it clear that "UK customers should be aware that the 07624 801423 number is not always charged at the standard UK text rate".

I'm on Orange pay as you go. Text messages to Twitter are not taken from your bundles or allowances. They are now charged, currently at 20p per text message. This is a recent change, ie in the last three days or so. So much for "unlimited UK texts".

T-Mobile charge 20p per Twitter text on their "Text appeal" rate which is supposed to be 3p per UK text message. It has nothing to do with the +44 for UK users - the mobile networks have just decided that they want to screw users for money so texting Twitter has become a lot more expensive overnight.

Twitter can't be held responsible for what operators charge their "customers" (When I find a provider who doesn't charge ludicrously to text Twitter, I'm off to join them) but it should make it clear that "UK customers should be aware that the 07624 801423 number is not always charged at the standard UK text rate".

I'm on Orange pay as you go. Text messages to Twitter are not taken from your bundles or allowances. They are now charged, currently at 20p per text message. This is a recent change, ie in the last three days or so. So much for "unlimited UK texts".

I'm on Orange pay as you go. Text messages to Twitter are not taken from your bundles or allowances. They are now charged, currently at 20p per text message. This is a recent change, ie in the last three days or so. So much for "unlimited UK texts".

I'm on Orange pay as you go. Text messages to Twitter are not taken from your bundles or allowances. They are now charged, currently at 20p per text message. This is a recent change, ie in the last three days or so. So much for "unlimited UK texts".