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Remarkable features of Skype

Reactivate your Skype Credit

Sometimes users are surprised to find that their money from Skype is gone, and the balance is no longer displayed in the interface of the program. Since no one likes to lose money, in this guide I’ll tell you how to reactivate it and return it to your account.

First of all, it should be noted that the money “disappears” from the program interface if you don’t use paid services within 180 days (for example, you don’t make calls to landlines or send paid SMS messages). At the end of this period, the money “freezes” for an indefinite period of time (in other words, it is disabled, blocked or deactivated). The good news is that it can be “unfrozen” at any time.

To reactivate your money in Skype:
  1. Open the page: secure.skype.com/portal/overview
    If necessary, enter your Skype login and password.

  2. In the information block «Your Skype Credit is inactive» click on the link «Reactivate it now».
    Your Skype Credit is inactive


  3. In a special form intended for reactivation your Skype Credit you will see available sum of money, when it was deactivated and an explanation: «This is because you haven’t used your Skype Credit for 180 days. To reactivate it, simply click the button below».
    Reactivate your Skype Credit


  4. After you pressed the «Reactivate Credit» button, you will see the following message:
    We are re-activating your credit
    We are re-activating your credit.

    Please note it can take up to 15 min to re-activate your credit. We will send you an email once credit is active and available for use.

    Your balance remains active for 180 days after your last call to a landline or mobile phone; or last text message sent from Skype.


  5. In a couple of minutes, check the mail or make sure that the inscription «Your Skype Credit is inactive» has disappeared. After that, restart Skype.

I just want to add that sometimes your money can “disappear” forever (for example, you spent it or attackers “abducted” it by hacking your account). However, if you could not return or reactivate your money, contact support.

13 comments

  1. 2 +2 0
    M.. (karma: +2),
    Microsoft must really be desperate to to resort to this.
    1. 0 0 0
      Administrator (karma: +1207),
      Well, at least now you can reactivate your Skype Credit. Earlier, (for example in 2007, when Microsoft had not yet bought Skype) according to Skype’s Terms of Service it was much more fun:
      Credit expiration. A credit balance for Skype Credit in the Business control panel expires 180 days after the last use of that Skype Credit (through purchase of Skype products or allocation of credits). Credit balances that are not used within this 180 day period will be lost.
  2. 0 0 0
    Rob (karma: +3),
    So...
    Should I reactivate or not?
    Given that I can reactivate at any time (i.e. next time I want to use Skype), is there any downside to leaving the credit deactivated?
    1. 0 0 0
      Administrator (karma: +1207),
      Hi! As far I know there is no problem if you leave the credit disabled. Nevertheless, I would have enabled it at least, if necessary, I could use it immediately, without waiting until it is enabled. It should also be noted that a long time ago, according to Skype's policy, the deactivated funds were deleted from the account, so that I would be insured myself simply to keep the credit active.
  3. 0 0 0
    maz (karma: +3),
    OMG thank you. I've been trying to figure out how to do this for days!
  4. 1 +1 0
    Alfred E. Neumann (karma: +1),
    No button at all, apparently a nice way for Microsoft to make a little extra money !
  5. 0 0 0
    Tony W (karma: +3),
    Hi
    Well I did have about £18 or so of credit but it has disappeared and the reactivation screen is telling me I do not have any credit to reactivate!!
    I must admit that it is a long time since I used the account and in the mean time I’ve had a stack of computer issues and have effectively cleaned and started afresh with this machine. I would hope that this would not cancel my account with Skype/Microsoft especially as the computer and thus I was recognised by Skype when I logged in.
    Even more worrying is that when I try and log into the Skype URL https://secure.skype.com/account/ using my Skype password the Microsoft screen reports “Your account or password is incorrect. If you don’t remember your password, reset it now.”. As I have a data base of ALL URL’s, account names and passwords etc. I know that what I am entering is absolutely correct.
    Any advice of where I go from here to attempt to get my credit back would be appreciated.
    Many thanks
    Tony
  6. 0 0 0
    DOROTEO (karma: 0),
    wOULD YOU PLEASE REACTIVATE MY SKYPE ON MY COMPUTER?
    1. 0 0 0
      Administrator (karma: +1207),
      You are the only one who can do this.
  7. 0 0 0
    Gabor Horvath (karma: 0),
    Hi, i had a credit 6,11€. It was deactivated, and when i want reactivate it says i dont have credit to reactivate. The policy says it can be activated anytime, but reality is others... how can i get back my money on skype? Thank you
  8. 0 0 0
    Alias (karma: 0),
    As of 2020, it’s $.02 USD to make a < 1 minute call to keep your credit active. I have $5.00 in credits. As predatory as Microsoft can be, I would recommend just giving Microsoft this 4 cents per year to keep your credit active. I’ve never loaded more than $10 in credit at a time but have lost credit in the past due to changes in terms in conditions or Microsoft trying to link accounts together and not being able to sign in. It’s not worth the time of creating new passwords, “glitches” of Microsoft not recognizing your password, losing your credit , etc. If there was a class action suit I would certainly sign my name, but for now, Skype is dominates a large part of the market and I need it for various business or personal calls. I believe this is slowly changing which is why Microsoft is trying to milk the existing users by taking cash or forcing the hand at a subscription.
  9. 0 0 0
    jan marik (karma: +3),
    how to recharge my skypy
  10. 0 0 0
    Titas Salt (karma: 0),
    2 cents a 60 second call in USA and 6 cents here in the UK for the same call? Can we swap you Boris for Donald and level the paying field?

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