Skype gone CRAZY

I use skype often, for chat, for voice, for friends, for work…
Until a few minutes ago, i didn’t realise how much I actually use it. The first place I go when I have a problem is to one of my skype contacts to see if they can help…

So about 15 minutes ago, the following happened:

1. ALL MY SKYPE CONTACTS DISAPPEARED

They aren’t hidden, they aren’t offline, they just have vanished, and skype wants to know if i want to add my first contact. Lesson to self – back up Skype contacts. I’ve logged in and out a few times, and still nothing – but every now and then one of my skype contacts speaks to me, and there messages pop up and i can answer, but after we chat, their name still isn’t in my list.

2. MY SKYPE BALANCE IS ZERO

I use skype often for skype out, (calling non skype phones), and buy credit from skype for this. My skype balance now shows ZERO. An hour ago, I had a healthy balance, and i haven’t made a skype out call in the last few hours, and my entire balance has disappeared!

3. I’m getting boxes popping up which is showing my contacts having chats with THEIR contacts…and i seem to be in the chat. Bizarre.

Guess it’s time to get on the phone to Skype!!!!!

UPDATE

Seems the problem wasn’t only confined to me…
The skype forum has details on others who have been hit by the skype bug:

http://forum.skype.com/lofiversion/index.php/t58383.html

Anyway, i’ve manually reconstructed most of my skype contacts, with the only disadvantage being that:
1. i’ve wrote off a day!!
2. i don’t think i got all of them

but as i still appear on your side, when you next speak to me on skype, if i haven’t got you in my list, i’ll include you

BUT it doesn’t look like you can back up skype contacts in mac straight from the skype app – you probably need to go into the files or something. so skype might be keeping centralized details of skype contacts, but when the skype bug hits, it’s better to have your own back up….