Billing FAQ
Last Updated 2026-08-17
AskCc's current public paid model uses fixed interview-time packs, not subscriptions, and does not auto-renew; this page explains time deductions, trials, refunds, and payment methods.
Billing questions
Are AskCc interview-time packs subscriptions?
No. Each purchase adds a fixed amount of interview time, which is deducted by the second as you use it. Starting a new interview requires at least 1 minute remaining; buy another pack only as needed. Nothing auto-renews.
Will my time pack auto-renew?
No. AskCc does not auto-renew packs or charge recurring subscription fees. If less than 1 minute remains, starting a new interview requires another pack, and you are charged only when you choose to buy it.
Does unused interview time expire?
No. Interview-time packs never expire or reset because of inactivity. Time is deducted by the second, and another pack is needed to start a new interview when less than 1 minute remains.
How is interview time deducted?
A live interview is metered by the second after it starts successfully and is displayed in minutes. Metering is based on how long the connection remains active, not on speech duration, transcript volume, or the number of answers. When the interview ends, the recorded seconds are deducted from your current time pack. Starting a new interview requires at least 1 minute remaining; otherwise, buy another pack as needed.
Does interview time keep running during silence or when there is no transcript?
Yes. AskCc meters how long the live-interview connection remains active, not the amount of speech, transcript text, or answers produced. This is because the system must keep the real-time recognition and assistance session available during an active connection so it can receive and process subsequent speech at any time. After a live interview starts successfully, time continues to be deducted by the second even if nobody is speaking, there is only ambient sound, the microphone is muted, or no transcript or answer has appeared. Metering stops when you end the interview or the connection drops, and resumes after a successful reconnection. End the interview whenever you are not using it.
What are AI credits? Do live interviews use them?
AI credits cover Local Agent model calls and metered preparation services. A successful web search or profile knowledge retrieval uses 1 credit. Knowledge Base uploads and cloud document parsing use verified file size at 1/2/5 credits per MiB for document/image/text. Local parsing is free. Live-interview model and retrieval work is included in interview time and does not separately use credits.
What happens to metering when an interview ends, disconnects, or reconnects?
Metering stops when you end the interview or the connection drops, and resumes after a successful reconnection. AskCc does not add the disconnected period to your interview time. Contact support if the displayed usage looks incorrect.
Does the free trial require a credit card?
No. The free trial includes 20 minutes of interview time and does not require a credit card.
How do I request a refund?
Refunds have two layers: statutory refunds required by applicable law are handled under that law; otherwise, a voluntary full unused-order refund is limited to one per account within 5 calendar days of purchase when the order remains completely unused. See the Refund Policy for full details.
What payment methods are supported?
The China service supports WeChat Pay and Alipay. Global purchases support cards and other Stripe payment methods, with the options available to you shown at checkout.