Customer Problem with HotRecorder and Skype
Guest post by Glenn C. in New Jersey, United States
On the strength of the glowing review on YOUR web site [HotRecorder - Record Skype Calls, by Stuart Henshall on March 25, 2005] I bought HotRecorder to record Skype calls.
"HotRecorder for VoIP
Flawlessly record your VoIP conversations"
"Works with Skype 3.0"
from the HotRecorder.com web site
What a mistake. It does not work.
I am an experienced computer user. After installing this software, it did not do any of the basic functions it was supposed to do. I am running Skype, the latest version. I downloaded it the day I purchased HotRecorder, 23 June 2008. I installed the software and entered the software key, and restarted.
There was an important conference call I needed to record. It was one hour in length. After recording (which I started, per HotRecorder instructions, after the connection was established) the software read that 240 minutes had been recorded. But it was only 60.
Then when I started to play it back, first it took about 10 minutes before the software showed the name of the recording session in the window. Then I selected it to play and it played back at a very, very slow speed when compared to normal speech, and the audio is extremely low and unintelligible, and is punctuated by buzzes.
I am running an HP Pavilion dv1340US with 1 GB RAM and plenty of disk space. There is nothing unusual about the computer at all. It is running Windows XP professional. I configured HotRecorder for the high quality recording option.
Bottom line is this software did not deliver the basic function I bought it for. Despite multiple emails to the HotRecorder support email address, and an inquiry through PayPal, I have received no response.
I requested a refund.
I tried to dispute the $14.95 charge through PayPal. PayPal rejected my dispute because I had actually received the software. Apparently PayPal will not consider disputes in which the quality or functionality of the product is questioned.
I should have used a credit card through PayPal so that I would have had another level of protection against product problems. When you attempt to use a credit card, PayPal flashes you a screen that basically says it's just as safe and you're just as protected using your PayPal balance or checking account, but now I realize that is not the case.
tags: skype, hotrecorder, customer service, recording, audio, sound
Comments
I've been using HotRecorder for more than a year and love it. No problems. Are you sure the problem isn't on your end? You can listen to one of my HotRecorder recordings at http://www.audioblog.com/export/P01b1192857f12aefb04a77824e7c84f2YVp9RlREYmNz.mp3
Posted by: Dick Eastman | July 10, 2008 07:13 PM
Sorry in advance but somehow I think the case is clear. Here is why: The latest version of Skype is 3.8 but the software clearly only supports Skype up to 3.0, so the program is heavily outdated and they do not even hide this matter of fact!
Since Skype changed the sound codecs a couple of times since then it's clear that it cannot work!
Maybe in the hurry you have missed that, but it's a bit heavy to write a post like this and make it public.
Posted by: Nafcom | July 11, 2008 06:43 AM
These guys are still in business??? I had an awful time with them several years ago.
Posted by: Joel Haas | July 12, 2008 05:10 AM
"I should have used a credit card through PayPal so that I would have had another level of protection against product problems."
Please note -
If you select 'credit card' via 'Funding options,' and it happens to be a DEBIT card, PayPal is now processing it as a DEBIT transaction via the STAR network (and not as a Credit Card transaction via the VISA or Mastercard Network). My guess is the per transaction fee for PayPal is less for processing as DEBIT card.
So be sure BEFORE you hit that [Pay] button, that it indicates "Mastercard-xxxx" or "Visa-xxxx" and not "DEBIT-xxxx."
Otherwise, you will not be able to fall back on the 'credit card provider'-level dispute protection you may be seeking when using PayPal.
Posted by: Marc | July 12, 2008 02:24 PM
You can try PrettyMay Call Recorder for Skype which is a offical Certified call recording add on for the lastest Skype 3.8, and it has a FREE basic version which you can try it.
See more: http://www.prettymay.net
Posted by: Jacky Fu | July 13, 2008 10:30 PM
Make a difference and check out www.Gizmo5.com! Gizmo5 is a VoIP/SIP/IM software that beats Skype down the road.
Posted by: Common Sense | July 30, 2008 03:05 PM
"(...) it played back at a very, very slow speed when compared to normal speech, and the audio is extremely low and unintelligible, and is punctuated by buzzes."
I'm having exactly the same problem with my first Hotrecorder recording. Is there any way to recover this file?
Posted by: John | August 4, 2008 12:41 AM