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I'll post a brief rundown of the issue. I can give more details if it looks like it is worth investigating.
I purchased Skype credit for $10, and when I contacted someone I got an answering machine. So, I hung up at the 5 second mark.
I was then charged 6 cents for this. The explanation was that I was charged 2.1 cents for a minute (which I didn't use), and there was a 3.9 cent connection fee.
6 cents is not a big deal, and it may seem quite trivial on the surface. However, the reality is that Skype is skimming pennies off people when this happens.
In addition, I proposed a hypothetical to their forum where a user might wait 20 seconds to call again which would seem to me incur a second connection fee.
Does this seem right, to charge the consumer twice within the same minute?
The resolution I think that is realistic would be to charge based on seconds, not minutes. Skype already displays it this way through their software interface as seen below:
Hi jadarite, this site is a UK based consumer forum so I'm not sure that we can help you. You would be better posting on a site that deals with US consumer issues as that is where you appear to be located.
I am not looking to be compensated and then shut up. I am looking for people's views on this. I have already seen with a modicum of research online that people in Europe are affected the same way. Just because the currency is different, I don't see a reason to shun away from this.
To the contrary, if seconds were to be used internationally it would establish a stronger argument to follow suit in countries that don't practice this. I don't think this is the case though. I am sure Britons get charged in the same way.
I'm confused as to why this is an issue with skype at all. Skype can tell you if someone is active, if not you use their free chat to check whether it's OK to call them.
Really, a connection charge is pretty standard method of charging, and is entirely legal in britain. It may not be in america. Some companies might give you a free first minute, others don't. That's what freedom of contract is for.
anyway, looking at the fact that a "local" (I assume) 42 minute call costs you under a dollar, that's MUCH better than most uk landline telephone copanies, where it would cost double that at least.
i will be off site for the next month or so. if you have any problems, feel free to report the post so a moderator can help you.
"I'm confused as to why this is an issue with skype at all."
Skype themselves recognize it has to do with them. They are saying because it is their policy, they can charge the same for 2 minutes as 1.1 minutes. In my case, they charged the same for 5 seconds as they would 1 minute when I didn't use up the minute.
I don't know how much simpler to make it.
"Skype can tell you if someone is active, if not you use their free chat to check whether it's OK to call them."
Yes, this has nothing to do with their messaging service. This has to do with calling a landline phone where you would be expected to pay something.
"Really, a connection charge is pretty standard method of charging, and is entirely legal in britain."
I am not disputing that. I am talking about the cost of it. Would you pay 2 units for 1.1 of something or expect 2 of it?
"anyway, looking at the fact that a "local" (I assume) 42 minute call costs you under a dollar"
The 40 minute call in the picture you see isn't being disputed. It's the one in yellow that charges 6 cents for 5 seconds.
Overcharge issue with Skype
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