Overage Charges Explained

Speako does not automatically charge overage fees when your voice minutes run out. Instead, call handling behaviour changes based on your balance. This article explains what happens at each stage.

No automatic overage billing

Unlike some services that bill you for every minute over your limit, Speako uses a different model. When your plan minutes run out:

  1. If you have extra minute packages: The AI continues answering calls, drawing from your extra package balance.
  2. If you have no extra packages: Your AI receptionist may stop answering calls until you purchase more minutes or your cycle resets.

There is no automatic "overage charge" applied to your bill. The AI does not silently run up additional costs — it stops rather than billing you indefinitely.

The extra minutes buffer

Purchasing top-up packages acts as your overage buffer. This gives you control: you decide in advance how much additional capacity you want, rather than discovering an unexpected charge at month end.

See Purchasing Extra Minute Packages for how to buy packages.

What happens when all minutes run out

When both plan minutes and extra package minutes are exhausted:

  • The AI receptionist stops answering calls.
  • Calls to the AI's phone number may go to your fallback number or ring unanswered (depending on your phone configuration).
  • You'll receive a critical usage notification in your dashboard.

Preventing service interruption

To avoid running out of minutes:

  • Monitor your usage: Check the Billing page regularly, especially in busy periods.
  • Buy packages proactively: Don't wait for the critical alert. If you see 75–80% usage and there's still a week left in your cycle, buy a package.
  • Upgrade your plan: If you consistently exhaust your minutes before the cycle ends, upgrading gives you a higher base allowance.

⚠️ Important: During peak periods (holidays, special events), your call volume may be significantly higher than normal. Plan ahead by buying extra packages before these periods, not during them.

💡 Tip: Unused extra minutes carry over to the next month. Buying a package of extra minutes doesn't expire at cycle end — only your plan's included minutes reset monthly. This means proactive purchasing has no downside.