Skype on Three (3uk) NO LONGER FREE!

denix

One reason I chose a contract phone on the Three (3UK) network was the promise of "Free Skype", meaning that, in addition to my monthly data allowance (500Mb), I could make unlimited use of (network restricted) features of Skype, for example calling relatives in Turkey on their Skype accounts from my phone anywhere I had a signal.
In the last week I attempted many times to access Skype using the "Skype on 3" Application on my HTC Desire. I was greeted with the message "Unable to log on, plesase try again later".
Finally this morning I got fed up and called Three customer support. I went to the technical support and explaned my issue, and they finally told me that the fix was to download the general Skype App from the Android marketplace. However I had a feeling that this app would start to use my 500Mb data allowance. No problem I was told by the support man, as Skype has ALWAYS used my data allowance anyway. Confused I hung up and googled the following from the 3UK (three dot co dot uk) website:

Free Skype Calls and instant messages
Free Skype calls and messages are Skype-to-Skype calls and messages made from the UK with ’Skype-on-three’ on a compatible handset. Pay As You Go customers can make free Skype-to-Skype calls and send free instant messages without using up top up credit or inclusive internet allowances.
Skype use is free only when using the skype-on-three application. This may be preloaded on the phone or downloaded from Planet 3. Other Skype Apps downloaded for handsets from other sites will use up free internet allowance, Add-on or top-up credit. There is no Skype-on-three for iPhone, but customers are able to get Skype’s own app from the Apple App Store. This will however incur data charges.
Unlimited international calls from Skype are for calls from Skype to standard international landlines in selected countries (excluding the country you’re calling from). This is subject to buying Skype credit or a Skype calling subscription direct from Skype at Skype.com. A fair use policy applies to this Skype product.

Having read that, I was starting to see red! So I rang back and spoke to another person. He carefully explained that as long as I stay within 500MB, Skype is free, and only after that point would I be charged. He offered me (for a price) an Internet booster which would increase my allowance so this was less likely to happen. I explaned to him that my allowance should never run out because of Skype usage as mentioned on the website above. By this point I had been on the phone to him for 15 minutes. Finally I asked him, which is true A or B
A Can I use Skype for free using the "Skype on 3" application in addition to my data allowance, or
B Is Skype now something which will use my data allowance, indicating a change to the terms and conditions.
He finally accepted the answer was B due to a change in the relationship between 3UK and the Third-party (Skype) and he agreed that this wass a change in the terms and conditions. I immediately asked to speak to a supervisor as I could tell this chap was not going to resolve my issue and we would go around in circles.
After about 10 minutes on hold, the same chap came back saying that there was no available supervisor, so I must raise a complaint. After expressing my amazement that a mobile phone company was incapable of communicating such a change to their customers (and I am mighty puzzled about how the text above is still on the 3 website) through a text message saying "Skype is no longer free on Three, Sorry" he typed up the complaint, very slowly!
I finally asked him to read back the complaint, and it was at this point he told me that this was not the first time he had dealt with this issue, but he is not able to resolve it. Well that almost made my head explode, because at this point we had been on the phone for 30 minutes, and he could have explained the situation to me within a minute! He promiosed me that I would have a response from Three within 7 to 8 business days. So, lets see what they say!

denix

the condensation:
"Skype on Three" app stops working after 10 months with no problems
Only solution, download "Skype" app
Consequence, Skype no longer free.
reason for so much waffle, took 45 mins on phone to establish this and raise a complaint.

izools

That's a detrimental change to the T&C.

Raise a formal written complaint explaining that the change detriments the value of the contract and therefore you require what you are legally entitled to, either

a) retaining the original T&C, or
b) a PAC free of charge.

Good luck

Snakeeyes21

izools wrote: »

That's a detrimental change to the T&C.

Raise a formal written complaint explaining that the change detriments the value of the contract and therefore you require what you are legally entitled to, either

a) retaining the original T&C, or
b) a PAC free of charge.

Good luck

Good luck with that, some of us have been waiting for a couple of month for OTELO and OFCOM to rule on whether charging for sms delivery reports is a change of contract, theres no end in sight..

sparky93

fyi, i just popped my spare 3sim (no credit) into my nokia e71. this has the 'special' 3 version of skype, and the proper skype too.

the 3skype working fine. signs in ok. and when i call a contact it dials out and connects fine. both directions.

so, for me, the issue here raised is not a issue( to me in same boat)

kingofherts

Skype is still free on 3

As the above poster says the handset that the skype on 3 app work on are becoming limited. Mainly non-android, non-iphone handsets

I still have skype working perfectly on my E71 and INQ Mini

denix

Thanks for the feedback guys. It appears therefore that they have decided to remove this feature from people with HTC desire phones then (and maybe others)? Can anyone else confirm that?
I had previosuly been using the "Skype on Three" app for nearly a year without issue.

indigofire

As its explained when I read the website yesterday (as I just took a micro-sim contract out with them) that it doesnt seem to have worked with top range phones. I hope you get a satisfactory answer from them.