Why have Skype changed PayPal payments?
So it seems that unless you have a Visa card of some kind, you can no longer top-up your Skype credit through your PayPal account. I’d always had problems trying to top up credit via PayPal in Skype for as long as I can remember. It seemed to always want me to provide a card number even though PayPal has nothing to do with my bank accounts. It’s supposed to be an entirely different way of paying money to conventional banking - that’s precisely why I liked PayPal in the first place. I’ve thought for years that Skype was constantly trying to “trick” me into providing some kind of card details because every time I ever tried to top-up via the client, I would be prompted for some card details. However, I found that if you topped up credit via the Skype website, rather than via the client, you could get round this problem. The money would simply be taken from your PayPal account, no questions asked.
Well today I found that even that route is now cut off - you can no longer top-up your Skype Out credit via PayPal without providing some kind of credit or debit card number. After you’ve logged into your PayPal account during the payment procedure, it then prompts you with:
To complete your purchase, please add a new credit card or debit card.
Why they need this, I have no idea because the money still comes out of your PayPal account but I bet it’s got something to do with making it easier for them to identify exactly who you are. A quick Google search revealed a forum of angry Skype users who like me, were annoyed that they had to provide details that neither Skype nor PayPal have any business asking them. And then there are those unfortunate users that don’t have a credit card of any kind - what are they supposed to do?
I never like giving my card details to any entity on the internet, especially when I know that they are not really needed and will probably be stored on a Skype/PayPal database even after I close the account. Surely the internet is supposed to be about providing alternative ways of banking and transactions than in the outside world? This is a major step backwards for Skype and PayPal in my opinion - bring back the carrier pigeon.
Posted at 5:32 am on Apr 29th
Skype is run by a-holes.
Posted at 2:34 pm on Jun 1st
I ran into the same issue this evening. I don’t own a credit card and I don’t intend to. If I don’t have the cash for something, I won’t buy it.
Credit cards can be useful, but I tend to think they do more harm than good in some cases. [Think -credit card debt]
Why they wont allow this transaction is unbelievable.
The question must be asked. WHY?!
I have a verified Paypal account, I have money in that account.
** I would like to give them my money! **
The answers giver by Norman Musgrave are typical of an over controlling corporation, beginning to get too big for its self by restricting its (potential) customers.
I think paypal/skype should take another look at the policy in place and ask if it is really worth it.
Posted at 11:05 pm on Jul 30th
The Skype/PayPal credit card issue is not about customer identity. PayPal knows the customer identity (postal address/bank account verification) and Skype has full access to those information. The thing is that Skype and PayPal have financial problems and both are required by their creditors to back up their financial in-house transactions through credit cards.
However, If PayPal is going south, who cares? Just use Moneybookers.com to buy SkypeOut etc. and all is good.
In addition, check out Gizmo5.com and make a difference. Gizmo5 is, other than Skype, a VoIP/SIP phone and one can IM (and call) all the AIM, Windows Messenger, Yahoo! Messenger, ICQ, Google Talk, MySpace etc. buddies for free without running several messenger clients. Gizmo5 offers, beside the Skype gimmicks, lower rates, IM forwarding via e-mail/SMS, two-way SMS, free Call IN numbers (i.e. http://www.IPKall.com), several Gizmo5 accounts need only one funding source etc. etc. And yes, Gismo5 uses, other than Skype, open standard network protocols and, other than Skype, centralized and secure servers instead of insecure ’supernodes’. Last but not least, one can receive calls on Gizmo5 from all VoIP/SIP phones. So what?
Posted at 3:50 pm on Aug 12th
I have semnt 7 requests to Skype for assistance with password recovery. It has been over a week and there are no requests. Does anyone have any suggestions?:
Hello,
My Skype user name is mrrexx777. I have filled in the online help form several times in the last 1-2 weeks and have not received a response.
I have forgotten my password and I have also forgotten the email alias I used for the account, as such I can’t manually reset the password or get a token. Could you please send a password reset token to the email address you have on record for my account so I can start using my account again. I am travelling and my family is in Europe, I need to stay in touch.
With kindest regards,
Michael Roberts
Posted at 5:12 pm on Aug 18th
üye olmak istiyorum.
Posted at 5:12 pm on Aug 18th
çok tatlı bir bayanım
Posted at 5:13 pm on Aug 18th
kitap okumayı gezmeyi eğlenmeyi araştırmayı seven insanım
Posted at 5:14 pm on Aug 18th
ceniş
Posted at 6:07 pm on Dec 17th
Hi,
I also had the same problem today trying to do a $10 topup. I have $1900 in my Paypal account and an over credit limit credit card on file at Paypal, and it still wants me to enter a credit card. I entered another credit card and it said that one was already on file, which it was not, i had deleted it, which is scary.
In the end i topped up directly with my debit card.
Paypal should also be sued for saying that you can “purchase online with
a credit card, anytime” in its advertising. When you try, if you have funds in your Paypal account, no matter how hard you try, it won’t let you use your credit card. This is false advertising.
Even though I run my business through Paypal, and they provide me with tons of no hassle revenue from my customers, I still hate them.
Their Nazi policies, false advertising and crappy/non-existant customer support need to go.
Thanks… feel better now..
Shaun
Posted at 11:47 am on Feb 5th
[…] http://en.onsoftware.com/why-have-skype-changed-paypal-payments/ […]
Posted at 7:22 pm on Mar 23rd
It is not Skype that requires a credit card on file, it’s Paypal that requires it when you get to the payment terminal.
The reason for this is that Skype connects to PayPal using subscription payments, and as all of you here now, then it is not possible to have subscriptions (automated payments) with Paypal unless you have a bank or credit card connected to Paypal.
Posted at 3:36 pm on Mar 29th
Hi I am a new skype user and I dont have a credit card how can i buy credit. It should be quite simple. I have a debit card will this do. Thanking you in advance for assistance.
Posted at 9:04 am on Mar 30th
@Fadwa, A debit card will suffice. Just click on the skype credit on your Skype account and it will take you through the setup process.
Posted at 1:21 am on May 18th
I’m trying to top up my SkypeOut as well - I need online phoning (hearing disability, can’t use regular phone).
They won’t let me top up my minutes without giving them a credit card - I’ve written to “both” - as with others, no response back.
It’s hijacking credit card numgers - and - a previous poster said it’s because they are having credit problems.. well, no wonder.. they are denying people’s ability to use it by demanding credit cards.
I only add money to PayPal to pay certain bills - and now I can’t pay them through PayPal/Skype or whatever the constellation is.
I don’t ahve a credit card, don’t want one, refuse to get one because PayPal is having credit problems.
I’ve also - and this is why I think it is Skype - not PayPal - made payments for things other than Skype that went through fine. The only demand for credit card is Skype.
Anne
Posted at 8:45 pm on Jun 16th
complete bullshit if you ask me. I’m so pissed right now.