I am going to let my Readers Digest subscription expire. I have no plan to send in a check. I have tried multiple times to pay online but the site for locating my account takes for ever to load. I don’t have that kind of patience with web sites. I go to rd.com and it has a customer care link but no way to send a feedback or anything. You may ask why not pick up the phone and call. Well, I prefer not to make phone calls as much as possible.

All these publications start sending renewal notices by mail as soon as you make payment for the year.

I have a few other subscriptions too. All of them have same behavior. No wonder print publications are dying.

If you make a payment for Time magazine, they threaten you with automatic renewal year after year using your credit card number. After seeing that warning, I chose not to pay online and send in a check. Lame.

This has happened a while ago. My router’s firewall is set to log all communications from the WAN. Once a while I go and check these logs. When I see some IP addresses trying to access my network constantly, I report it to the ISP or the company holding the originating IP address. In Dec, 2006 I noticed an IP address from Microsoft trying to access my IP address. I reported this to abuse@microsoft.com

This is what I send.

=================================================================

Hi,
 
I see a bunch of these messages in my router. I searched for the IP address in WHOIS lookup and it says the IP address belongs to Microsoft.
 
Is this a virus or a legitimate application trying to access information on my computers?
 
Dec/31/2006 19:46:41  Drop TCP packet from WAN  207.46.110.19:1863  xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx:62103  Rule: Default deny 
Thanks.
James
=================================================================

After 2 days, I got a reply from Microsoft that looked like an automated response.

=================================================================

Hello James,
 
Thank you for contacting Microsoft Online Customer Service.
 
I apologize for the delay in our response to your issue. Due to an increase in requests, our response time is longer than usual. I appreciate your patience in this regard.
 
I understand from your e-mail that you are receiving some messages from the Microsoft Corporation IP Address. I realize the importance of this issue and look forward to assist you.
 
Please note that Microsoft takes Internet, Network, and E-mail forgeries very seriously. Our goal is to ensure that online services are safe and friendly for our users.
 
James, we have forwarded your issue to our Security team for investigation. They may contact you with follow-up questions when researching this issue.
 
I hope your issue is resolved soon.
 
Thank you for using Microsoft Products and Services.
 
cs rep’s name here
Microsoft Online Customer Service Representative
=================================================================

Since I did not receive any communication from the security team for about 18 days, I replied to this email.

=================================================================

Hi xyz,
 
I have never received any response from the security team.
 
Thanks.
James
=================================================================

Reply from Microsoft was another email that again looked like an automated response from the same person.

=================================================================

Hello James,
 
Thank you for contacting Microsoft Online Customer Service.
 
I apologize for the inconvenience caused to you.
 
I understand that our Security Team not yet contacted you regarding your issue. I realize the importance of this issue.
 
Microsoft is committed to listening to its customers and improving its services based upon your suggestion. I have forwarded your issue to Microsoft Team for review.
 
I hope your issue is resolved soon and appreciate your patience in this regard.
 
Thank you for using Microsoft Products and Services.
 
Same CS rep name
Microsoft Online Customer Service Representative

If you have any feedback about your Online Customer Service experience, please submit your feedback by visiting the weblink provided below:
https://support.microsoft.com/common/survey.aspx?scid=sw;en;1389&showpage=1&WS=managermail 
=================================================================

This time I used the link at the bottom of the email to send a feedback about my online customer service experience. Amazingly I got the same kind of response from there as well.

=================================================================

Hello James,

I appreciate for the feedback you have provided and apologize for any inconvenience created.  I realize the importance of the issue.
 
As one of our valued customers, your satisfaction is one of our primary concerns. We take our customers’ feedback very seriously. We appreciate you taking the time to forward your thoughts to us. Continue to send us your feedback and suggestions. Your comments help us to provide the most useful experience possible.
 
I also suggest that you provide your feedback in the following page:
https://support.microsoft.com/common/survey.aspx?scid=sw;en;1208
 
This site is for ideas on new or improved features and services that you would like to see added and ways to make Microsoft products easier. Your suggestions are always welcome there.
 
We immensely value our relationship and your satisfaction. If you have any other questions regarding your Microsoft product and services, please do write back to us and we will respond to you as soon as possible.
 
XXXX
Microsoft Online Customer Service
=================================================================

I never got an answer to my original question.

I have MSDN subscription and am eligible for subscription to MSDN magazine. Few times a year I get an email asking me to go the MSDN subscription page click on a link and renew the subscription. I would expect it only once a year, but I am doing it every time I get the email so that the subscription would not stop. This week I received one of those emails and clicked the link. Just the JetBrains link I mentioned in my previous post this link didn’t work either. I like to send feedback about broken links wherever possible. MSDN site has link for the feedback/contact us and sent the feedback. This is what I got. Looks like the service is outsourced and they have an answering bot.

========================================================================================== 

Hello James,
 
Thank you for contacting us. The MSDN free magazine offer is located on the MSDN Subscriber Download page at: http://msdn2.microsoft.com/subscriptionsAccess to the free offer link requires signing in to the MSDN Subscriber Download page.

If you are new to MSDN, please navigate to the “First time user? Associate your subscription with your .Net Passport” link on the right side of the page. You will then be prompted to sign in with your .Net Passport.

On the Account Verification page, you will be asked to enter:

- Your Name

- E-mail address (The contact e-mail address associated with your account information.)

- Subscriber ID number or Benefit Access number

Existing subscribers should click the Manage Subscription link on the left side of the page.

After you have successfully entered your credentials, you will receive a confirmation screen. Click Ok.

On the Manage Subscription page, click Subscriber downloads and Product keys located in the center of the page. On the Subscriber Download main page, navigate to the right side of the page to the Exclusive Offer section.

MSDN Customer Service

Ph: 800-759-5474
E-mail: msubserv@microsoft.com
 
—–Original Message—–
From:   JAMES PAUL (myemailaddress)
Date:   Wednesday, March 07, 2007  11:53 AM
To:   CS (msconus@microsoft.com)
Subject:  MSDN Magazine Subscription Link
 
 
—
CUSTOMER PROVIDED SYSTEM PROPERTIES
Country/Region: United States
—
SYSTEM PROPERTIES
Ref URL: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/gp/contactusMSDN?sd=msdn
O/S:  windows nt 5.1
O/S Lang: en-us
Br:  msie 6.0
Br lang: en-us
—
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS
Problem Area: msdnw
Message: I keep getting this error when I click the MSDN magazine subsciption link:
ERROR
The requested URL could not be retrieved
 
——————————————————————————–
 
While trying to retrieve the URL: www2.neodata.com:443
 
The following error was encountered:
 
Connection Failed
The system returned:
 
   (110) Connection timed outThe remote host or network may

A while ago I complained about Logitech not releasing drivers for Windows Vista. I went back to Logitech website yesterday and found vista drivers for my webcam. I have installed the 64 bit Vista and the 64 bit drivers from Logitech are working fine so far.

Traditionally Logitech never releases drivers in time for an OS release. Right now if you go to the Logitech site there is no sign of Vista drivers or even a mention of it. I don’t think I will buy any more Logitech products because it severely limits my ability to adopt new operating system releases. Right now the only Logitech product I have is the webcam with microphone. It does not work with Vista and there are no drivers available now.

Here is a link to an old query about Logitech driver for Windows 2000 when that OS was released. I am asking the same question 6 years later.

Here are some links.

http://help.lockergnome.com/vista/change-drivers-Logitech-QuickCam-Vista-ftopict14947.html

At Logitech’s own forum they explain their arrogant position on it: http://forums.logitech.com/logitech/board/message?board.id=general&message.id=121

I have an update here.