Minimum Balance to Start a Call
CallTuv requires enough credit for 3 minutes at the destination's rate before a call can start - here's why, and what to do when you see the prompt.
Updated
View as MarkdownBefore connecting a call, CallTuv checks that your balance covers at least 3 minutes at the destination's per-minute rate. If it doesn't, you'll see a prompt like "You need at least $0.30 (3 minutes calling time) to make this call."
What it means
The threshold scales with the destination. If the rate to your destination is $0.05/min, you need $0.15 available; at $0.50/min you need $1.50. This is only a gate for starting the call - billing itself stays per minute used, as explained in Understanding Rates and Per-Minute Billing.
What to do
- You're the team owner: top up - the prompt takes you straight there, or see How to Top Up Your Balance. On mobile, the top-up sheet opens right in the app.
- You're a team member: only owners can add credit, so the app will ask you to contact your team owner. See Inviting and Managing Team Members for how roles work.
Avoid hitting the minimum
Two easy ways to never see this prompt:
- Enable auto top-up - CallTuv adds credit automatically whenever your balance drops below $5.
- Keep an eye on the balance shown in the dashboard and app; it updates in real time as your team calls.
Remember that if your balance runs out during a call, the call ends when the next minute can't be covered - auto top-up prevents that too.
Frequently asked questions
- Why 3 minutes?
- It prevents calls from cutting off seconds after they connect. With less than 3 minutes of credit, a normal conversation would end almost immediately - the minimum guarantees a usable call.
- Do I lose the 3 minutes if my call is shorter?
- No. The 3-minute minimum is only a requirement to start the call - you're still billed only for the minutes you actually use.
