Microsoft's nasty pricing policies for "$200" credits is fake

Question

Microsoft's nasty pricing policies for "$200" credits is fake

Daniel Danielecki 5

I just wanted to complain about how Microsoft is cheating customers with the $200 trick. We're expecting to change something in the settings so they'll be applied!! Can you imagine someone new to Azure doing it? Additionally, I only found it on Google. What's the trick!! You're CHEATERS!! I'm deactivating my subscription; what a SCAM. I prefer AWS, Firebase, Appwrite & Vercel. Much clearer rules! How can you ethically do that?

Suchitra Suregaunkar 16,780 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-12-23T10:03:55.3033333+00:00
Hello Daniel Danielecki

Thank you for posting your query on Microsoft Q&A platform.

I understand why this experience feels frustrating, especially if you expected the $200 Azure credit to continue applying automatically. Let me clarify how the Azure Free Account and credits work, as this often causes confusion for new users.

When an Azure Free Account is created, the $200 credit is valid only for the first 30 days from the sign‑up date. Any unused portion of that credit expires automatically after those 30 days, and there is no setting or option to extend or re‑enable it later. This behavior is by design.

After the initial 30‑day period, the subscription must be converted to pay‑as‑you‑go to avoid suspension. At that point, the $200 credit does not carry forward. However, you can still use select Azure services for free for up to 12 months, within fixed monthly limits. Any usage that exceeds those free tier limits is billed.

This distinction between the 30‑day $200 credit and the 12‑month free service quotas is often misunderstood, but they are separate offers and do not overlap.

You can find the official explanations here:

Azure Free Account – how credits work and how charges start https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/cost-management-billing/manage/avoid-charges-free-account

Azure Free Account FAQ https://azure.microsoft.com/free/free-account-faq/

From the billing and credit details shared, the credit appears to have been applied correctly during the eligible period, and charges started only after the credit expired and usage continued beyond the free tier limits.

Next steps you may consider:

Review and delete any running resources to prevent further charges

If you believe charges occurred after all resources were removed, you can contact Azure Billing Support for a review

How to open a billing support request: https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/azure-portal/supportability/how-to-create-azure-support-request

I hope this clarifies why the charges appeared and helps you decide the best way forward. Please let us know if you have additional questions or need help verifying resource usage.

Thanks,

Suchitra.
Daniel Danielecki 5 Reputation points

2025-12-23T11:33:14.8566667+00:00

Thank you for the comment. I'm aware you do not influence this nasty policy, but it's evil practice to do such tricks. I removed everything, and I will never come back.

It's often misunderstood for a reason, because other Cloud providers play fair rules, contrary to what Microsoft does.

Your answer

Daniel Danielecki 5 Reputation points

2025-12-23T11:33:14.8566667+00:00

Thank you for the comment. I'm aware you do not influence this nasty policy, but it's evil practice to do such tricks. I removed everything, and I will never come back.

It's often misunderstood for a reason, because other Cloud providers play fair rules, contrary to what Microsoft does.