Lifetime Subscription Problem

Question

Hi, I posted a question around January 2025 in the Microsoft Community and I received a reply from CherryZ - MSFT on Feb 13 2025. I see it is now a "locked thread" and not findable. Here is my original question.

In 2018 while on a MS call center call to fix a problem, the tech sold me a "lifetime" subscription to Microsoft and Office for $399.99! This worked and I got updates automatically but, recently, I checked my account subscription and it said I have NO subscription! I assume lifetime means mine and I am still alive! I was on Chat for hours with a support person who was unable to help.

Can you help?

Did Microsoft unilaterally cancel my "lifetime subscription?"

Answer 1

Hi Deborah,

My name is Igor, it's a pleasure for me to help others and I'll try to help you. I am merely a fellow user trying to provide insight and information that may be helpful to others.

Seems this was either misunderstanding or misleading you. There is no "lifetime subscription" at all.

Office may be sold as one-time purchase or a subscription. One-time purchase means Office 2016, or Office 2019, or any late Office version. User pays for a licens once and may use this product forever.

Subscription (Office 365 and later Microsoft 365) means the use pays monthly or yearly during all period of Office using.

Can you tell the full name of purchased product?