Upgrading to Premium

Question

According to the description of Skype Premium, it includes unlimited calling to US & Canada.  I already have an annual subcription for the Unlimited US & Canada with a Skype phone number that isn't going to expire for another 11 months.  Is it possible to just upgrade my existing subscription to Skype Premium rather than purchasing it at full price?

Answer 1

Pretty much this 50% offer is a scam for existing users. If you have an active 'unlimited' subscription of any kind active...including month-to-month you will not get the year's worth of unlimited calling. I just spent 40 minutes with support and the FINALLY admitted the offer page is misleading and 'will try and fix it'.
Full text from support chat here:
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09:08:39 schisamo
Initial Question/Comment: Subscriptions (Unlimited Country, Unlimited Europe, Unlimited Region, Unlimited World)
09:08:39 System
Thank you for contacting Skype Customer Support!
09:08:44 System
Russel D. has joined this session!
09:08:44 System
Connected with Russel D.
09:09:09 Russel D.
Hello! As one of our most valued users, welcome to Skype Live Support! My name is Russel. How may I help you?
09:10:38 schisamo
so I have two questions. first I was a 'skype unlimited' subscriber who upgraded to Skype Premium yesterday. I am confused on whether it is ok to cancel my 'Unlimited US & Canada" (month to month) subscription since the Premium subscription is supposed to come with the unlimited calling.
09:11:34 Russel D.
I understand that you wish to clarify some information regarding subscriptions. I'd be pleased to assist you with this.
09:12:24 schisamo
great
09:13:13 Russel D.
However, in response to your issue, please note that Skype Premium does not enable you to call phones and mobiles for it exlusively covers group video calls only in Skype.
09:13:34 schisamo
Actually that is wrong..according to the pricing page it includes unlimited calling.
09:13:37 schisamo
I will find you a link
09:14:04 Russel D.
So it is in your best interest not to cancel your Unlimited US & Canada subscription should you still require to make outgoing voice calls on your account.
09:14:24 Russel D.
Please provide us that.
09:15:19 Russel D.
Because I believe that if you will look further on the link that you will provide us, it includes there the Unlimited US & Canada subscription which is what we offered in package with Skype Premium in order to cover outgoin voice calls.
09:16:49 Russel D.
This is actually a common confusion that we receive from members everyday.
09:18:00 schisamo
www *dot* skype *dot* com/intl/en-us/prices/premium-table-5
09:18:04 Russel D.
It’s been awhile since I’ve heard from you, just checking to see if we’re still connected?
09:18:07 schisamo
I bought a 12 month subscription
09:18:07 Russel D.
Okay.
09:19:29 Russel D.
And listed at the left portion of the page in the link is US and Canada subscription if you might notice.
09:20:04 schisamo
I see it...says it is included
09:20:14 schisamo
ie at the top of the page "See what features you get with Skype Premium"
09:20:33 schisamo
first item listed and checked under '12 month subscription' is "Unlimited* calls to US & Canada"
09:20:54 Russel D.
Those information provided in the left part of the page are actually the stuffs in package when you purchase the subscription on the said link.
09:21:07 schisamo
which I did
09:21:32 schisamo
I was charged $53.94 just as that package says
09:21:49 Russel D.
That's right.
09:22:19 schisamo
so the original question I asked was can I cancel my month to month "Unlimited* calls to US & Canada" package
09:22:26 schisamo
since this included a year's worth of the same
09:22:27 Russel D.
Since you do have the US and Canada subscription existing on your account even before you purchase it.
09:23:09 schisamo
so what I am saying here is I don't want to be double billed..if that is the case I will cancel everything
09:23:54 Russel D.
Which purchase do you want to be cancelled?
09:24:27 Russel D.
Please provide us with the order number associated with that so we can check if its possible to cancel it on our end.
09:24:45 Russel D.
You can view the order number by following the Show Purchase History link in your account: secure *dot* skype *dot* com/account/purchase/history/orders
09:24:47 schisamo
*sigh* so here is the situation. I had "Unlimited* calls to US & Canada" on a month to month subscription.
09:25:03 Russel D.
That's right.
09:25:04 schisamo
yesterday I signed up for Skype Premium which should include "Unlimited* calls to US & Canada"
09:25:17 schisamo
so why would like to cancel the month to month "Unlimited* calls to US & Canada"
09:25:48 schisamo
which I did yesterday...but now I am trying to figure out if I still will get a years worth *since* I signed up for Skype Premium which includes "Unlimited* calls to US & Canada".
09:26:19 schisamo
my last month to month order # was XXXXXXXXX
09:26:33 schisamo
my skype premium order # was XXXXXXXXX
09:27:29 Russel D.
But the package that you purchased would only give you a US and Canada subscription if you purchased the Skype Premium subscription without an active US and Canada subscription.
09:27:43 schisamo
well that is CRAZY..
09:27:52 schisamo
so I will cancel and re sign up if that is the case
09:28:07 schisamo
or you guys could just 'do the right thing' and add it to my account
09:28:18 schisamo
since I signed up thinking that was included
09:28:32 Russel D.
Our apologies for the inconvenience but that is what the link shows.
09:28:40 schisamo
screwing a customer over a semantic is a way to lose customers
09:29:06 schisamo
in no way does that link show YOU CAN NOT HAVE AN ACTIVE UNLIMITED SUBSCRIPTION
09:29:59 Russel D.
Upon further check on the subscription under the order number(XXXXXXXXX) you have provided us with, we were able to confirm that its purchase took place just today. What we can do to rectify the matter is to cancel the supposed transfer of your payment for it since the purchase is currently under payment processing state.
09:30:59 Russel D.
However, we are seeing on your account records that your Unlimited US and Canada subscription is currently cancelled on your account.
09:31:13 schisamo
yes...which I did yesterday also
09:31:19 schisamo
since why would I need both??
09:31:40 Russel D.
Rest assured that it will not recur on your account as a result of the cancellation that you did.
09:32:08 schisamo
so now can I sign up for Skype Premium (AGAIN) to get the free unlimited calling with the year rate?
09:32:13 schisamo
after you cancel it?
09:32:18 schisamo
how long should I wait?
09:34:00 Russel D.
I'm afraid you might need to wait for the end of your US nad Canada term before you should purchase the Skype Premium subscription in the link that includes US and Canada.
09:34:20 Russel D.
In order to calrify your issue, please note – if you cancel your subscription, it will run to the end of your contract. For example, if you have a 3 month subscription, your subscription will run until the end of the 3 month period.
09:35:31 schisamo
please just refund me for XXXXXXXXX (skype premium). this whole experience makes me not want to give you guys any more money.
09:36:24 schisamo
and in NO way does www *dot* skype *dot* com/intl/en-us/prices/premium-table-5 say you will not get the years worth of "Unlimited* calls to US & Canada" if you already have an unlimited subscription.
09:36:38 schisamo
I would very much like you to show me where on that page that is spelled out.
09:38:25 Russel D.
Please note that we haven't receive any payment for your Skype Premium purchase yet as its purchase is currently, under payment processing state.
09:38:40 Russel D.
SO what we can do is to cancel the supposed transfer of your payment for it.
09:38:45 Russel D.
Do you want us to proceed with that?
09:38:47 schisamo
Y
09:39:40 Russel D.
Unfortunately, the said offer woks that way.
09:39:50 schisamo
WHERE DOES IT SAY SO
09:39:50 Russel D.
What do you mean when you said 'Y'?
09:39:54 schisamo
YES
09:40:00 schisamo
CANCEL MY PAYMENT
09:41:05 Russel D.
It is being told from the link you provided.
09:41:10 Russel D.
Thank you for confirming.
09:41:36 schisamo
what text on that link says you will not get the years worth of "Unlimited* calls to US & Canada" if you already have an unlimited subscription.
09:41:55 Russel D.
We would now confirm that the recent purchase of Skype Premium subscription was already cancelled on your account(order number 509945710) as requested. Rest assured that no charges has been made and will be taken out on your card in connection to the cancelled purchase.
09:44:21 Russel D.
The offer itself as it is being offered to customers who do not have an existing subscription on their account that allows us to make outgoing calls. Since you do have one(US and Canada subscription), you were not provided with one.
09:44:25 Russel D.
* allows them to make outgoing calls
09:44:50 schisamo
but I was offered that offer...THUS WHY I SIGNED UP!!
09:45:10 schisamo
If I go to the link now and am signed in I am STILL OFFERED THAT OFFER
09:46:10 Russel D.
Yes you will. You actually acquired part of the offer which is the discount right?
09:46:40 Russel D.
That is upon your purchase before it got cancelled by us per your request.
09:46:46 schisamo
img *dot* skitch *dot* com/20110721-x2y54r1k79cdi42brbujgryqfd.jpg
09:46:54 schisamo
that was there BEFORE WE CANCELED
09:47:52 schisamo
and you just told me if I try and sign up for skype premium before the end of the month (when my month to month unlimted subscriptoin expires) I will not get the offer
09:47:55 Russel D.
Our apologies for the inconvenience but we are not provided with sufficient rights to view images while on chat.
09:48:09 schisamo
regardless it will show exactly what I just said
09:48:22 schisamo
ie...I am being offered the unlimited with skype premium
09:48:27 schisamo
even though I will not get the offer
09:48:42 schisamo
ie...I will get put in the same situation I am dealing with here
09:48:42 Russel D.
No.
09:50:00 Russel D.
We said you can't acquire additional US and Canada subscription should you try to purchase the same Skype premium offer now since your current US and Canada subscription is still active on your account until the end of its term.
09:50:33 schisamo
then why am I being offered that?
09:51:20 Russel D.
You need to wait for the end of your US and Canada subscription's term before you could get its free subscription.
09:51:40 schisamo
but it will start up? automatically?
09:52:10 Russel D.
Because you can still acquire part of the offer which is the 50% discount which is what you apparently got during your purchase.
09:52:50 Russel D.
But not the US and Canada subscription since you already have such subscription active on your account.
09:54:20 schisamo
well this is what I don't understand. I opened another browser (which has no one logged in) and I go to the offer page www *dot* skype *dot* com/intl/en-us/prices/premium-table-5 that un signed in account is offered the same 50% off price ($53.94) and is offered unlimited US/Canada calling.
09:54:38 schisamo
so it appears that offer is not specific to someone that has unlimited calling already
09:54:57 schisamo
it just appears people that have it are screwed in some way out of getting there years worth of unlimited calling.
09:55:40 Russel D.
Our apologies for the confusion but based from what you just went through, I'm afraid that the subscription is just offered that way.
09:55:51 schisamo
what way?
09:56:37 schisamo
what you guys are doing is WRONG. spell out that if you already have an active unlimited subscription (even month to month) YOU WILL NOT GET UNLIMITED CALLING FOR THE SAME PRICE.
09:56:51 Russel D.
That you only get the US and Canada if you do not have any US and Canada subscription active on your account.
09:57:10 schisamo
I understand what you are saying...but that is not spelled out in the offer
09:57:17 schisamo
or stated ANYWHERE
09:58:00 Russel D.
Our sincere apologies. Rest assured that we will be passing the necessary endorsement of this issue to the appropriate department so corrective actions will be implemented.
09:58:30 Russel D.
However, do you happen to have other concerns that might require my assistance for today?
09:58:53 schisamo
no..except I wasted 35 min of my life on this.
09:59:16 Russel D.
Again, our sincere apologies for the confusion.