Company Representatives now have PMs switched off

Former_MSE_Andrea

So you're aware, as part of a wider-ranging Forum Rules update, company representatives can no longer receive or send private messages.

Instead, we've asked them to ensure, where possible, that they're posting answers directly on the forum so that everyone can get the benefit rather than just one specific person.

Where people really do need to give them personal details in order to help sort out an issue company representatives can now include a specific help email address in their profile page and can direct people to their profile page from the forum (but not post the address in posts/threads).

Andrea

Nile

Good idea, thanks.;)

Numpty_Monkey

Very good idea:T:T:T

Premier_2

I'm not so sure. I realised yesterday that PMs had been disabled for company representatives following a post by one rep, which on the face of it seemed a very good idea.

However, the advice now is to use an external mail client which means there is no way MSE can intervene should there be any reason to do so. At least with forum PMs, the possibility existed for those PM's to be monitored/examined should the need arise (even if MSE don't usually do so); with an external mail client there is no possibility to do that.

...or perhaps that is the intention as the message may contain personal & private information (e.g. account numbers) and MSE don't want to be accused of possibly using that information wrongfully themselves?

But remember, general email is not a secure form of communication, anyone with access on any of the servers the email passes through can see the content if they want. Only email using digital encryption is considered secure.

Not an easy one to resolve I suppose ...

456789

In regards to sending info over email - some of them such as BT offer to call you or give a number where they can be reached (yes I know phone lines aren't totally secure either but I doubt the CIA are listening in on you...)

espresso

MSE_Andrea wrote: »

So you're aware, as part of a wider-ranging Forum Rules update, company representatives can no longer receive or send private messages.

What about unofficial company representatives, who sell their wares as a direct result of giving their biased so called 'expert advice' on the forum? The forum is supposed to be strictly non advertising:

ADVERTISING

This site is free from advertising. Posts on any board considered to be advertising goods, services and/or companies will be removed.

so surely any company owners who post on the forum should only be able to give their advice anonymously and therefore any real life usernames should be purged. There is no such thing as a part time salesman!

Former_MSE_Andrea

Hi espresso

No change there - unless there's a post from the MSE Team in the same thread or a comment inserted into their first post anyone else posting on the forum saying they're a company rep should be reported to abuse@, as usual.

Thanks!

Andrea

Premier_2

MSE_Andrea wrote: »

... company representatives can now include a specific help email address in their profile page and can direct people to their profile page from the forum (but not post the address in posts/threads).

Andrea

Does that mean company representatives are not allowed to use the location field to post their email adddress (in the similar way you have)?
(Not implying that you have done anything wrong , just giving an example of how a company representative might do something similar )
Unless it does, it will be viewable from every post they make in any thread.