Mar 25 2021 04:15 AM - edited Mar 25 2021 04:16 AM
Hi, I signed up for Teams Free a couple of months ago, and now I got an email saying my trial is ending. Trial!? What!?!?
Also, when I go to the subscription page, I can clearly see that there is a FREE version of Teams, which I am apparently using.
Why am I getting these mails?
Will I lose Teams if I don't get a subscription?
Am I always going to get these 'reminder' emails if I can stay on Teams Free(if that's possible)?
I've attached a screenshot to illustrate the issue - the shot-across-the-bow email is on the left and the subscriptions page is on the right.
TIA
Bob
Mar 25 2021 04:50 AM
Apr 02 2021 08:50 AM - edited Apr 02 2021 08:51 AM
Thank you for your response. None of those applied or helped I'm afraid.
The first screen shot clearly shows I'm on the FREE version, and notably with no expiry date, but is at the same time saying 'the trial' will end. I would surmise that this is some kind of logic error in MS's auto-email system for actual trial users, or was engineered accidentally-on-purpose this way to trick/scare Free users into a subscription. Unfortunately, this 'dirty work' is common practice these days.
On balance, reviewing this again, I would say I don't have anything to worry about as I suspect this is trick/scare tactics. It certainly scared me into creating this post.
Apr 02 2021 09:23 AM
Apr 27 2021 05:36 AM
@ChristianBergstrom Hi there.
I have the same issue and so do a couple of others apparently (https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/msteams/forum/all/teams-free-is-actually-only-free-for-4-months-... and https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/msteams/forum/all/microsoft-teams-free-trial-ending/7f9a7873-a1f..., the first link is my post). I had some Support Cases open regarding this topic and a handful of support agents/embassadors/engineers I had contact with confirmed basically the picture I gathered by now: Currently (since when I don't know) there is no Teams free that won't expire after a certain period. (4 months for me.) Teams free is apparently meant as an evaluation/trial subscription. Unfortunately the product page does not state that. I find that highly misleading.
However it is possible to extend the trial by 30 days after entering payment information... But that's it apparently.
This is very disappointing.
Can you confirm though that the product "Teams free" was once without preset time limit?
cheers
Apr 27 2021 05:58 AM
Apr 27 2021 06:27 AM
This seems to be incorrect. My subscription will expire/be deactivated on may, 27th (see screen shot attached). I registered for Teams free, but nevertheless it gave me a test version ("Testversion", "(kostenlos)" translates to "free") which expires after 3 months (plus 30 days extension). Do you have a hint how I get proper Teams free? All the Microsoft support people I talked to (about 6 different persons, different departments) just confirmed what I wrote above.
Apr 27 2021 06:29 AM
Apr 27 2021 06:37 AM - edited Apr 27 2021 07:05 AM
@ChristianBergstrom Yes, I did. See also the posts by other users in the 2 links I provided in my first post. I am not the only one. Also I assume for @cambob it's the same. But I would be happy to be proven wrong :) I really would love to continue using Teams free.
EDIT: I attach 2 replies from Microsoft Support people confirming the problem (without offering a proper solution)
Apr 27 2021 07:18 AM
Apr 27 2021 07:37 AM
Apr 27 2021 07:52 AM
Apr 27 2021 07:56 AM - edited Apr 27 2021 08:05 AM
@ChristianBergstrom I can't log in there (see attached). So what does that mean now?
EDIT: funnily enough in my admin center it says "Microsoft Teams (free) - Trial" so it is a (time limited) trial for a free service? That doesn't make any sense, does it?
Apr 27 2021 08:15 AM
Apr 27 2021 08:21 AM
Apr 27 2021 08:56 AM
@ChristianBergstrom Just to add a little thingy... a couple of days ago, I created an additional Teams free account, which I don't plan to use, on another mail adress, advised by a support agent (she wanted to prove a point, probably because of some misunderstanding... see above regarding the windmills). I just claimed my admin onmicrosoft account for that one to check, what the product info says there... guess what: It's the same there (see attached, expiring 3 months after registering). Would you mind setting up a new Teams free account for yourself on an other (old/unused/...) email-address and check if you can get an (timewise) unlimited account? Maybe they changed something in the registering process? Or maybe I am truly doing something wrong?
Apr 27 2021 09:24 AM
Apr 28 2021 12:38 AM - edited Apr 28 2021 12:57 AM
@In_go_M Well, I now totally get your confusion. Something has obviously been changed. I created a brand new Microsoft Personal Account followed by a sign up for a Teams free org. (just as the one I already have since several months) and look and behold!
*UPDATE* I just realized I selected for "work or school" this time, when previously selecting for "personal use". That's the difference I can think of. Still very confusing and the support pages needs to be updated.
Apr 28 2021 01:45 AM - edited Apr 28 2021 02:24 AM
@ChristianBergstrom Thanks for testing! So you are saying by chosing "personal use" it should still work? But I guess it would be against the Terms of Use to then use it in a work environment, I assume... so this would be useless for my use case. And still the advertisement suggests this should be ok to use Teams free for work:
Well... let's see, I am expecting another (probably the 7th or 8th) call back today from the Microsoft support in this matter, maybe this time it will be more satisfying...
cheers
EDIT: I just tried to set up a new Teams account "for family and friends", but I failed, as I need to register with it a phone number but mine is already associated to my main account... so it won't let me. :(
EDIT2: maybe the @Microsoft_Teams_team can have a look at this then? tl;dr: teams free is now time limited? If so the product page and documentation need an update. If not there seems to be some weird stuff going on with the registration process: @ChristianBergstrom and I (and at least a couple of others) ended up with a 3 month trial for Teams free. Thanks for your attention.