We as an industry have a lot to answer for. One thing is the level of support provided for users. Here's the conversation I'm having with Skype right now. It feels like being in a Monty Python skit. I was really hoping that when Microsoft purchased Skype that things might improve.

8:33:44 PM greglow

Initial Question/Comment: Subscriptions (Unlimited Country, Unlimited Europe, Unlimited Region, Unlimited World)

8:33:44 PM System

Thank you for contacting Skype Customer Support!

8:33:49 PM System

Donna Faye has joined this session!

8:33:50 PM System

Connected with Donna Faye

8:33:50 PM System

Thank you for contacting Skype Customer Support!

8:33:54 PM System

Please hold for the next available Live Support Agent.

8:33:59 PM Donna Faye

Hello! Welcome to Skype Live Support! My name is Donna L. How may I help you?

8:34:09 PM greglow

I've got a subscription (skypename greglow)

8:34:21 PM greglow

It's set to auto-renew

8:34:45 PM greglow

Why have I been getting messages about my Skype number expiring, if it's set to renew automatically

8:34:54 PM greglow

and has recently renewed automatically

8:35:09 PM Donna Faye

Thank you for the information.

8:35:29 PM Donna Faye

To better assist you may I know your Skype name, please?

8:35:37 PM greglow

greglow

8:35:44 PM Donna Faye

Thank you.

8:36:14 PM Donna Faye

I understand your concern that you receive an email notification stating that your calling subscription will about to expire. Am I right?

8:36:43 PM greglow

No, I got an email telling me that one of my Skype numbers was going to expire

8:37:08 PM greglow

When I went to the website, it said it was part of the subscription and the subscription was set to auto-renew

8:37:18 PM greglow

The subscription auto-renewed on Oct XXth

8:37:24 PM greglow

But the number still expired

8:37:43 PM greglow

When I logged on today, it said that the number had expired and that I had 52 days left to reactivate it

8:37:58 PM greglow

I did that but am trying to understand why that happens at all

8:38:36 PM greglow

Why do you expire numbers that are part of auto-renewing subscriptions?

8:39:49 PM Donna Faye

Upon checking your account, your calling subscription link to three Online Numbers.

8:39:55 PM greglow

correct

8:40:10 PM greglow

but until an hour or so ago, one of them had expired. why?

8:40:54 PM Donna Faye

Let me explain to you that now Online Number are detach to a calling subscription unlike before it was attach to the calling subscription so therefore each Online Number will recur individually.

8:41:29 PM Donna Faye

Upon checking your account it shows that all your Online Number will expire on October XX, 2013

8:41:44 PM Donna Faye

If you don't want to be charged again for you can cancel it anytime.

8:41:59 PM greglow

I have set it to charge automatically

8:42:06 PM greglow

so why do the numbers expire?

8:42:32 PM Donna Faye

No they are not expired they are all active.

8:42:33 PM greglow

if there is an automatic payment set up, why does anything expire?

8:42:52 PM greglow

yes, but one of them was expired, and I only fixed it a few hours ago

8:43:07 PM greglow

I'm trying to understand why it expired

8:44:54 PM Donna Faye

The email you got just notify you that you should have good enough funding source of your calling subscription and Online Number in order for this to recur.

8:45:12 PM greglow

Agreed. I did that but the number still expired. Why?

8:45:38 PM Donna Faye

However do not worry on this hence all Online Number are active and not expired.

8:45:41 PM greglow

When I logged on today it said that the number had expired and that I had 52 days left to reactivate it. Why did that happen?

8:46:14 PM Donna Faye

May I know the Online Number you are pertaining, please?

The number that had expired was (07) XXXX XXXX (Australia)

8:49:19 PM Donna Faye

Okay, do not worry on this Online Number because this will expire on October XX, 2013.

8:49:38 PM Donna Faye

Thank you for all the information.

8:49:46 PM greglow

I understand that it won't expire now until next year. I'm trying to understand why it stopped working this time

8:49:51 PM greglow

so I can avoid that next time

8:50:39 PM Donna Faye

What do yo stop working, you mean that Online Number is unable to be reach out?

8:50:59 PM Donna Faye

*what do you mean by stop working

8:51:18 PM greglow

The Skype number +61 7 XXXX XXXX stopped working because it expired

8:51:32 PM Donna Faye

No, this into expired.

8:51:34 PM greglow

I'm trying to understand why it expired

8:51:50 PM greglow

Sorry I don't follow "this into expired"

8:52:39 PM Donna Faye

Let me inform you that this Online Number is not expired.

8:52:54 PM Donna Faye

Please disregard the notification you see on your Skype account.

8:53:02 PM greglow

Sorry, this is getting very frustrating. I already told you I fixed it today. I want to know why it happened.

8:53:20 PM Donna Faye

Hence I can rest assured you that this is active until October XX, 2013.

8:53:21 PM greglow

So I can avoid it happening again, on this account, or on our other accounts

8:53:34 PM greglow

Can I speak to someone who really understands this please?

Donna Faye

and so on, and so on, and so on....