Galong

Viber doesn't even seem close to a replacement for Skype for the things that matter to me, which are a US Skype number, OTPs, and calling toll-free US numbers

Yes, this truly sucks. Skype did it all. I've decided on Tello. I'm getting a US SIM card and T mobile number sent to my brother (should be there today) and he'll express it to me here. It should work in my unlocked Thai Samsung phone. I'm doing this for OTPs mainly, but it can be used for 800 numbers as well. I sure hope this works... what a time-consuming hassle this has been. 🤦

I decided to go with Tello. I ordered a US SIM today. The process went smoothly ordering it from my computer using my Thai IP address. I'm sending it to my brother's house. I'll have him activate it before posting it to Thailand. I did call Tello's toll-free number using Skype while setting everything up. Their customer service was good... immediate response, no background music, etc. The guy from Tello was very helpful. Still, it was a bit of work and all because Skype couldn't figure out how to stay in business. 🤦

Since Skype is shutting down, I'm looking at every possible option for signing into Schwab. Right now, they're fine sending me OTPs on my Thai number, but in case that ever changes I'd like an alternative. I've read good and bad things about Symantec VIP Access App. Does anyone else use this authentication app on a Thai phone? Thanks.

I've been looking ever since Skype made the announcement... NOTHING compares to Skype. I wish they would have just raised their prices or something. 🤦 My wife talked to AIS today. Calling the US is 15 baht per minute. 😲 This is for 800 numbers too. I was on Skype last night for at least an hour with one of my pension suppliers. That would have been 900 baht if I had used AIS.

Has anyone successfully migrated to Google Voice? Did you have to have help from someone in the US with a mobile phone for verification? I'm thinking of having my brother help me set it up. Google Voice seems to be one of the better options as ChatGPT said it 'usually' works with OTPs and bank codes. I rarely need that. Alternatively, has anyone used AIS and the 003 prefix to call the US (or another country)? It says 3 baht per minute. I can live with that.

Newsflash: nobody's winning. This administration is about as trustworthy as a screen door on a submarine, and both parties are too busy dunking on each other to realize the whole ship is sinking. Leadership? Nonexistent. Policies? A mess. Accountability? LOL. But sure, keep pretending one side’s total dysfunction somehow cancels out the other’s. Meanwhile, the rest of us are just trying to survive the fallout of this clown show

My guy was named Mark. It could easily be a bot, but this bot was programmed better.

Thanks a lot for the feedback on the various programs. I wonder if my Skype number can be ported to Sonetel as a landline? 🤔

HAPPY DAYS... I'm reinstated! 🥳 This time I had what appears to be a human responding to my ticket. I got in AND setup my new PassKey in the MFA section. Now I can finally relax.

I've got a YubiKey physical passkey now. So if ID.me ever does get back to me (it's been over a week), I'll try to get my MFA changed to using the passkey. What a headache for something that should be resolved instantly. I'm surprised they're not asking me to fax them.

Yes, I looked into it and saw some potential issues... sorry, I don't recall exactly what they were. I seem to remember something about not being able to port my US Skype number or having to change my Skype number from a landline (which it is now) to a mobile number. That would greatly decrease the chance of it being useable for verification codes and OTPs, which is my main reason for having Skype. I have wasted so much time as I'm sure many of you have too. This sucks.

Sigh, I've added ChaiyaTH to my blocked list, which means almost nothing on this forum. Yes, same boat... still struggling to find a reasonably-priced alternative or even an expensive option that's 100% solid. I never realized Skype was in a league of its own. I never had a reason to check as I assumed it would be around forever. 🤷‍♂️

Thanks for doing the research as I was looking at some of these options. I assumed they sucked... you verified it. 🙏

Yeah, seriously... just raise the price. I'd pay more for Skype. I have a buddy who travels constantly and uses GoogleFi. He says if he doesn't pop back in to the US periodically he'll lose it. I only visit the US every 3 or so years. When my mom passes, I have no reason to ever step foot on US soil again.

From ChatGPT: If you have a Skype Number → No, Skype does not support receiving SMS to a Skype Number. That's me out then. I ONLY care about being able to get bank codes and OTPs. Teams is of absolutely no interest to me. It's not a replacement for Skype at all! MS drops the ball yet again.

Crikey... this isn't rocket science. If they have an alternative plan whereby we can keep using Skype they should CLEARLY say that. 🤦

Everything I'm reading says Skype will close and we'll have to use Teams. I just signed in at the www.skype site and didn't notice anything to the contrary. What am I missing? I'd really like to keep my Skype US (landline) number for bank codes and OTPs. 🤞

Are you saying that you know some US expats who lost their Social Security? If so, could you explain how they lost it, please?

Thanks, Exant... you nailed it. We seem to be cast aside when we're old. I started working a regular job at 14 (started paying SS as soon as I could) and there were no gaps in my employment until I moved to Thailand. SS is mine! I should be able to access it from anywhere. I don't see the communication issue getting any better in the next few years... quite the opposite. ID.me is NOT a government agency. They should communicate better or the government should give the identification contract to someone else... ID.me is robot-driven and these robots have a minimal vocabulary skill/data from my recent experiences. I asked simple direct questions and got an unrelated (obviously) cut-and-paste responses. 🤦🤦🤦 I then submit a ticket and cross my fingers. Finger crossing shouldn't be part of the US government's way of doing business. 😤

They need an 800 number!

What I've read is you can make the passkey the default MFA method and if for some reason it doesn't work, you can try the user name/PW option. This is all unnecessarily sketchy given that there is no emergency way to contact ID.me if everything fails. Roy needs to be fired. 😒

When it first happened, I got a video chat right away. I tried to login without using a VPN, which is what I usually do. It didn't work. I tried next with a VNP and got in! A bit later, I tried the regular way and that's when I actually got my first 'temporarily suspended' notification. Prior to that, it simply didn't work. I put in another ticket a couple of days ago and haven't heard back. Now, I want them to wait until I get a new Passkey from BKK. I'll hopefully be able to set that up with ID.me and eliminate the problem. 🤞 Passkeys are not cheap. I got one of the cheaper ones and it was still 1,800 baht. Oh well, I'll use it to log into other things, so not a waste if it doesn't work for ID.me.

They (ID.me) recommend Chrome, but what you're saying makes sense. I did try Edge and couldn't get it. I have zero idea why my account is 'temporarily suspended'. The bots that talk to me don't understand plain English.

I don't know how Login.gov's customer service/help works, but ID.me's sucks! There's no way to contact them directly that I've found. they need a complaint department too so I can go 'full Karen' on them. 😉 I hope the lose their government contract. They don't deserve it. I've got a legit driver's license for another year and a half. I've got a passkey coming soon. Once I've got that. I'll contact ID.me again and see if they can help AND I'll see about creating a login.gov account... with the help of my brother's mobile phone. I have his house as my legit US address so that part is sorted.