Three FAQs about the Control Panel

We have been receiving some frequently asked questions relating to the Control Panel, so I will try and address these here in this blog post.

1. Can I purchase the North America Unlimited Calling plan via the control panel.

You are not able to purchase Unlimited Calling plans using the control panel. However, we have now added the ability to purchase these plans using Skype Credit. So what you would need to do is add credit to the Control Panel, then allocate the credit to a user and ask them to sign up themselves from their account, using the credit you have allocated to them.

Update: Question 2 no longer relevant.

3. Why does my PayPal purchase option disappear after a few purchases?

This is due to automatic fraud protection rules which have been implemented on Paypal purchases. So if the PayPal option has disappeared it probably means you have exceeded your monthly limit for PayPal purchases to the control panel. After 30 days this option will reappear and you can make additional purchases using Paypal. In the meantime, you would need to use one of the other payment options offered, such as a bank transfer.

Here is some more information on how the credit restrictions are applied:

To be able to use your credit card for Skype for Business purchases the administrator who is purchasing needs to have made several SkypeOut calls over a period of at least 3 months, placed 2 or more orders and not have any fraudulent transactions recorded for your Skype Name.

To see your order history to determine when your first order was place please visit your Order History.

If you do not meet these requirements you will only be able to purchase using Moneybookers or bank transfer if it is available in your country. Also PayPal is available for up to 30 EUR per month until the above requirements are met and these restrictions lifted. Moneybookers also offers credit card payment - please follow instructions on Moneybookers site.

Comments

Yesterday I add some to money to my skype acconunt a can see the money avaylable in my "account information" but not trought my panel, so I am not able to make any call yet! How long it takes this process? I 'd like to make the calls!

I purchased a SkypeIn number via the control m=panel about a month ago. The following seems to be bullshit as I have recieved no free voucher after repeated inquiries:

2. Why is there no free Voicemail when you purchase SkypeIn numbers via the control panel.

This is a known problem which we are working to fix. In the meantime, if you purchase a SkypeIn number via the control panel and contact customer support, they will provide you with a voicemail voucher so you can get the free voicemail that way.

I have contacted customer service twice and have heard nothing back, and I have not received a voucher. I have clients sending me e-mails telling me that they receive a busy signal after my phone number rings for a while. What do I have to do to get this taken care of?

Thanks for any help.

An UN-testimonial:

First off, I really wanted to like Skype. I've been telling everyone in our office how great it is and how much money we'll save using them . Anyway, over the last week of trying to give Skype my money, I've been truly amazed how idiotic their "fraud detection" system is. Hands down the worst experience I've every had. What's that you say? Shouldn't I just contact customer service? Well they've screwed that up too. No phone or direct email support. You have to use their 4 step help wizard. If you're question isn't in their database, then you get to submit your question and wait 24-48 hours. And when they do reply they epitomize the most egregious use of boilerplate text.

I would like to know that how could I make calls from my newly opened account (prabhas.basnet). How much money should I pay for that & what is the procedure of payment. As I'm from Kathmandu the Capital city of Nepal, I'm not a holder of credit card, can I use pay-pal?

I would like to know that how could I make calls from my newly opened skype account (prabhas.basnet). How much money should I pay for that & what is the procedure of payment. As I'm from Kathmandu the Capital city of Nepal, I'm not a holder of credit card, can I use pay-pal?

Prabhas

Yeah, I really wanted to like Skype too. But inability to get help/fix problems, or Skype's just plain ignoring the issue seems to be par. Not answering my questions, or answering somebody else's question that has absolutely NO bearing upon my question is ludicrous. I too have been dealing with a "busy" signal, missing calls and connections without any concern on Skype's part.

What good is an incoming phone line that always gives a busy signal? (jeremy.picnet as cited here) And it isn't just the 'pay-as-you-go' accounts. They've got my money for a year - NO Voucher replaces lost business or missed calls due to technical ineptitude and lack of concern for customers.

Sure, I can usually call out - and eventually get an earful of how I "can't be reached" because my phone line is "always busy". And the worse thing is, I never know when it's happening. This last stint has been for a week (of which I just became aware).

Hi Skype, please add Nepal in the unlimited worldwide calling list. Cheers.
Dino