Can't reach UM, can't reach my UM UK number, no reply to e-mail

[bylo]

Originally Posted by MATHA531

Can somebody explain to me what the highlighted sentence means in simple English?

OK, I'll try: In a few weeks we will discontinue the automatic recharge feature altogether because it is unreliable.

I presume "does not provide reliable service" refers to the multiple credit card charges when everyone's balance went to zero a few days ago.

[saintsimon]

Hmm, and what about UM? Do they provide a reliable service?

Even, if they are not bankrupt now, a prolonged outage means they don't generate revenue and thus a creeping towards serious trouble.

[inquisitor]

Originally Posted by bylo

OK, I'll try: In a few weeks we will discontinue the automatic recharge feature altogether because it is unreliable.

I presume "does not provide reliable service" refers to the multiple credit card charges when everyone's balance went to zero a few days ago.

I'll try to translate in another version: "As all IT-specialists escaped from the company our billing system went out of control, but we will try to stop it by disabling all functions, that require human maintenance or monitoring."

[VladS]

Why bother keeping the billing system in place?! The UM+ SIMs are dead... The UM423 ones can only receive calls.

It would be a whole lot cheaper to just unplug it.

[bylo]

Originally Posted by inquisitor

I'll try to translate in another version: "As all IT-specialists escaped from the company our billing system went out of control, but we will try to stop it by disabling all functions, that require human maintenance or monitoring."

Ahhh... you must be in management

[rfranzq]

Originally Posted by saintsimon

Even, if they are not bankrupt now, a prolonged outage means they don't generate revenue and thus a creeping towards serious trouble.

There currently is no working method for customers to recharge their accounts [especially if auto-recharge does not work!]. Even if someone wanted to give them money, there is no means to do it.

How could it not be all over?

[inquisitor]

Today I received an answer from the Liechtenstein regulatory authority (Amt für Kommunikation), which confirms that United Mobile has interrputed service due to disputes subject to civil law. The case is under investigation by the Liechtenstein consumer protection, which as a branch of the department of commerce and transport, a public authority in Liechtenstein.
Meanwhile the district court of Liechtenstein, which is responsible for insolvency proceedings, has not replied to my fax, in which I asked if United Mobile is involved in such.
The Swiss Company Registry, which bourbonkiller mentioned, is of secondary importance, since the parent company is registered in Liechtenstein and so bankruptcy should first be filed there.

[bourbonkiller]

I only agree partly to inquisitors comment, since we all dealt with the Swiss branch of United Mobile. It seems that the "Kloten branch" were the only part of the company, that dealt with end consumers (maybe they bought the service from their Liechtenstein mother company) and we all made payments and bought services from UM Kloten branch. For all of us it is more important, if UM Kloten branch wents out of business, since they are the company that serviced us all.

As long as UM Kloten branch is up and running, we might be able to sue them to get money back, if they do not give us propper service for what we pay. Only if UM Kloten branch goes bancrupt, our money is definately gone. This might only be my own opinion, but lets see what will happen!

BK

[123456]

From United Mobile - is the end nigh for travel SIMs? - alexkinch.com | alexkinch.com :

United Mobile - is the end nigh for travel SIMs?

Posted by Alex on 4/21/09 • Categorized as Mobile News

It’s been an interesting few weeks in the world of travel SIM providers. If rumours are to be believed, United Mobile - one of the biggest (and longest established) providers of travel SIMs is in the throws of death - and already some of it’s competitors are trying to pick at the bones.

On Tuesday 7th April, Truphone-owned Sim4Travel registered unlted-mobile.com - a typo suspiciously close to the official United Mobile website of united-mobile.com. At the time of writing this entry, it was offering customers of ‘other’ travel SIM providers a free Sim4Travel SIM card: “Having problems with your travel SIM provider? You can’t make calls? You’re experiencing a poor service? Or simply, you just want peace of mind that you won’t be let down when you travel.”

Even more damning was a page found at www.sim4travel.com/um/ - which has since been taken down (but still available in Google’s cache) that went as far as to name United Mobile, by saying “Having problems with your Umited Mobile SIM? You can’t make calls? You’re experiencing a poor service? Or simply, you just want peace of mind that you won’t be let down when you travel.”

Meanwhile on Thursday 10th April Truphone issued a press release - which appears to have been swiftly withdrawn - trumpeting the same offer. A quick search of Google reveals that the largest German telecoms magazine Teltarif picked up on the story - which is translated into English via Google here.

Do Truphone know something we don’t? Perhaps. But their actions didn’t go unnoticed by United Mobile. An article in today’s print edition of Mobile News says that UM are to sue Truphone and Sim4travel for fraud. Both sides are quoted in the article. Firstly Sim4Travel’s Matt Rowntree:

“We have recently heard that global SIM provider United Mobile is having trouble supporting its customers. SIM4Travel would like to reassure all United Mobile customers that we can provide them with a continuation of service and would be happy to send them a replacement SIM card for free by first class post. Their remaining credit will be valid on our network.

“If the situation with United Mobile becomes more serious we will be more proactive in contacting their customers although we don’t want to be seen as vultures stealing their customers.”

United Mobile CEO Sven Donhuysen said: “It seems that SIM4Travel is really desperate. Otherwise I cannot explain their actions. What they are doing is fraud. We have our lawyers involved now.”

Meanwhile, United Mobile customers at various Internet forums are complaining that their SIM cards are no longer working. One poster at Flyertalk said: “I’m trying to use my United Mobile SIM card in Singapore and it isn’t working. I’ve used it in many other countries with no problems. This is the first time in several weeks though. I also notice big chunks of the United Mobile website are also down. You can’t access your account for a example. It’s a worrisome coincidence.” whilst another in a thread on Crunchbase posted: Just heard that United Mobile has gone out of business. Their assets have been frozen awaiting liquidation, there is no way the service will restart.”.

Meanwhile German-based Sunsim announced yesterday an offer for UM subscribers who can no longer use their SIM cards. The starter pack gives customers a new SIM card plus €15 of call credit for €14.95.

Both United Mobile and Sim4Travel rely on platforms hosted by and network connectivity provided by Channel Islands-based mobile operator Jersey Telecom.

[kupe]

Originally Posted by 123456

United Mobile - is the end nigh for travel SIMs?

Posted by Alex on 4/21/09 • Categorized as Mobile News

It’s been an interesting few weeks in the world of travel SIM providers.

LOL and for travel SIM users as well!

Great article... thank you.

As you may have seen in my other thread, I was in UM's Kloten office on April 15. The place looked nearly abandoned, but the fellow who answered the door was very helpful and gave no hint of imminent shutdown. I was there to get my balance transferred from my UM +423 to my UM +44. He did the transfer while I waited, we chatted for a moment, and then I left. And later that very day was when the +44 sims stopped working. ;(

Like everyone, I hope UM can return to the game, but also like everyone I've had to find an alternate means of roaming telecom- in my case Sim4Travel.

Kupe