When dealing with web companies always use their phone number they provide. This is superior to email in many ways: 1. It is more personal. If you are disputing an adsense ban with Google, they will treat you worse if they are exchanging in text with you. I have not had to talk to google on this issue, but I am sure that if you do a WHOIS for google or go on their corporate page you will get their switchboard number. Talk to an operator and ask to talk to the most senior person who will talk to you. Always argue if they try to give you the same excuses they give in form emails. However, always be polite. 2. A phone conversation is guaranteed a faster conversation than an email. It commands instant attention, and unlike google's appeal process you will talk to someone instantly and be able to give your side of the case and hear theirs. You will be given the chance to have that appeal heard and you can expect them to give you a reply. 3. Similarly, with companies like Paypal, the best way to file a dispute or just talk to them is via phone, because you will get fast, concise answers. ------------------------ You can get their phone number in the following ways: 1. If they provide the phone number on their about/corporate/contact page, ring it. 2. Google for their toll free (888) USA number. Most large companies will have one, but it won't be advertised. 3. Do a WHOIS on their domain (i.e. google.com). There will be a number of phone numbers there. Pick the most relevant one and ring it. --------------- If you're on a voice menu, try to pick the most relevant option, although almost all the people there will be able to redirect you to the right place if you ask them a question. If they put you on perpetual hold then you can write some letters to various magazines or media. That should get their attention.
I will try email first because you get an audit trail which you can provide as evidence. If it is just phone conversation then unless the other party allows to be recorded, you got nothing to refer to what something that was promised did not happen. Of course, it depends on the magnitude of the issues.
Second that. Paypal is just an automatic voice recording and press 1 to go to x, press 2 to go to x and in the end you never actually talk to anyone... and it is NOT a free number.. Robert
IMHO having a paper trail makes proving things later much easier than only an oral telephone call. If you choose that route, you may want to send a follow up email confirming the contents of your conversation.
Agree with you both. Unless you do some "Watergate" activity recording your conversations, there is no proof of anything your talk via phone call.