Skype ****e
I was about to submit a post asking whether anyone else was having grief with skype at present in the way of the connection erratically dropping in and out, this happening at dfferent times on three different machines and one android device. Particularly strange and frustrating as if I sign out of the non connecting account and immedately login in to a different account on the same machine with the identical settings, that account will work immediately!
And I share your anguish at only being able to access imbecile forums rather than a real person to help determine how to perhaps rectify the problem. (The suggestions on the forums have led to absolutely no change!)
As for your immedate problem of the key pad, I find that using the keyboard numbers works just like the on screen dial pad used to. Maybe try and see if that will work for you too...