Skype has started stealing credit balances

[bekdik]

I've used Skype Out, since its inception, on an irregular basis. I've always maintained a small residual credit on the account,

Today I received an email

Your Skype Credit will expire in 30 days, take action now

or else I will forfeit the balance. I notice there isn't an option to claim a refund.

 

[bwana]

AFAIK its been like that since the early days so it's not like they just started it. Send yourself an sms or make a quick call - that might save it.

EDIT - yeah make a quick call and it will be safe

How long can I use my credit to make SkypeOut calls?

Your Skype Credit balance remains active for 180 days after your last successfully-connected PSTN phone call.

Skype Credit balances on accounts with no activity during a 180 day period will be lost.

 

[w1z4rd]

How long until they start moaning?

 

[PeterCH]

MWEB has the same policy with their Fax and VOIP service.

 

[Dovi]

AFAIK its been like that since the early days so it's not like they just started it. Send yourself an sms or make a quick call - that might save it.

EDIT - yeah make a quick call and it will be safe http://support.skype.com/index.php?..._a=knowledgebase&_j=subcat&_i=5'>SkypeOut</a>

They've had this policy for as long as I've been using Skype.

Not that it's a unique thing - our mobile operators apply the same policy (different amount of days though?)

 

[MrG]

Yeah. its always been like that

 

[Syndyre]

I think "stealing" is being a bit dramatic.

 

[curiouswanderer]

Yeah they've had that rule since they started the SkypeOut service. Having a rule like that is reasonable IMO.

What irks me is the newly introduced 'connection fee'. It's like R0.40 for every successful connection that's made regardless of location. that's like Telkom's charges and really annoys me.

 

[Roman4604]

What irks me is the newly introduced 'connection fee'. It's like R0.40 for every successful connection that's made regardless of location. that's like Telkom's charges and really annoys me.

And don't forget per/min billing e.g. listening to the begining of someones cellular voicemail for 3 sec... will cost you the full R1.82 on top of that.

 

[bwana]

And don't forget per/min billing e.g. listening to the begining of someones cellular voicemail for 3 sec... will cost you the full R1.82 on top of that.

You're only supposed to be charged for calls longer than 5 seconds so you might want to check that. http://support.skype.com/index.php?_a=knowledgebase&_j=questiondetails&_i=46

 

[Roman4604]

You're only supposed to be charged for calls longer than 5 seconds so you might want to check that. http://support.skype.com/index.php?_a=knowledgebase&_j=questiondetails&_i=46

OK so listen to voicemail for 6sec, the point still stands that you have to watch your habits otherwise they will drain away the savings you may be getting from their low rates.

BTW are they refering to 1st min billing only or for connection fee as well i.e. call < 5sec = R0.00 in total?

 

[bwana]

OK so listen to voicemail for 6sec, the point still stands that you have to watch your habits otherwise they will drain away the savings you may be getting from their low rates.

BTW are they refering to 1st min billing only or for connection fee as well i.e. call < 5sec = R0.00 in total?

But everyone is going to charge you for listening to part of a voice mail message. By now its so ingrained in my mind I've already decided if I'm going to leave a message even before the number rings.

Yeah - from what I've read on their site that first five seconds is completely free, even from the connection fee.