Tencent's Workbuddy refunds half of DeepSeek-V4.1 Flash credits after a quiet promo change
Workbuddy extended a half-price deal without telling users, then charged full price. It apologized and is refunding the difference automatically.
The short version
- Workbuddy added DeepSeek-V4.1 Flash on September 10 with a two-week 50%-off points offer.
- The offer was meant to end September 24, but the team extended it to November 5.
- Full price returned at 14:00 on November 5, and users were not told in time.
- Usage from November 5, 14:00 to November 8, 23:59 is re-billed at half price.
- No application is needed, and refunds should arrive within 7 working days.
Why it matters
When you use an AI model through a third-party app, that app sets the price and the promotion terms, not the model's maker. A discount that ends quietly can double your cost for the same work. Note the end date of any deal before building a routine around it.
What Workbuddy announced
As Phoenix Tech (ifeng Tech) reported, citing IT Home, Tencent's Workbuddy posted a public apology on the evening before the November 9 report. The notice explained how the discount on DeepSeek-V4.1 Flash, a fast DeepSeek model, had changed without users being told.
The team admitted that not announcing the change caused users trouble, and said it was sorry.
How the promotion shifted
Workbuddy added DeepSeek-V4.1 Flash on September 10 and started a two-week offer. Points spent on the model were billed at half price, and the offer was set to end on September 24.
The team later chose to extend it to November 5. At 14:00 that day, billing went back to the normal rate. The extension and the end of the deal were not announced in time, so some users were charged full price without expecting it.
What users get back
Any account that used DeepSeek-V4.1 Flash between 14:00 on November 5 and 23:59 on November 8 will have those points re-billed at the half-price rate. The difference, which is 50% of the points actually spent, goes back to the user.
- No claim or application is needed.
- The system calculates and returns the points automatically.
- The refund is expected within 7 working days.
The lesson for people who pay in points
The source does not say how many users were affected or how many points are involved, so the scale is unknown. The episode still shows something simple about reselling. An app that offers a model through its own points system decides what each task costs and when a deal ends.
A practical habit is to track what a typical task costs you, not the size of the headline discount. If a workflow depends on a promotion, write down its end date.
What to watch
- Whether Workbuddy now announces future promotion changes ahead of time.
- Whether the refunds arrive within the promised 7 working days.
Try it
Open any AI app where you pay with points or credits and check whether a discount is running. If one is, note its end date and what the same task costs at full price.
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Listen to the daily showsFirst reported by Phoenix Tech (ifeng Tech) · Read the original. Written by the SI Agent News Desk from the reporting above.Written with AI from the source above. Every number is checked against the source. Spot a mistake? Corrections.