Would you buy Microsoft Support?
I've reached an interesting situation with microsoft support whereby I can't get past the first line telephone contacts.
Under an incident/support I was recommended to use release 3179 for sql 2005 sp2 - this was for a 32 bit environment and I'm just now bringing 64bit environments on line and I want to put my production systems on the same release level, so I need the x64 patch.
There is no direct KB for release 3179 so after some emails, seems the request goes via the US, I was referred back to the UK. The UK will not provide me with the patch or even talk to me because there is no direct KB, they say I must speak to the US. I gave my original incident number - this apparently is a US number - so once again UK support won't help - did I mention I had my connection disconnected too whilst i searched for the KB article and emails from microsoft?
So we established the incident number but I wasn't able to supply the same phone number as given originally so once again I was refused.
I find it surprising that as the original incident was raised through Reading ( UK ) so many parts seem to end up in the US - I also can't believe how difficult it is to communicate with Microsoft Support and I can't say I'd be too keen to recommend my client to sign up!
I was given the option of paying to open a new call - great!