Comments on: VONAGE SUCKS BALLS! http://www.firsttube.com/read/vonage-sucks-balls/ crunchy nuggets, served semi-daily Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:05:26 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: btsic http://www.firsttube.com/read/vonage-sucks-balls/comment-page-1/#comment-3219 btsic Tue, 01 Dec 2009 08:22:22 +0000 http://firsttube.com/?p=1307#comment-3219 I was with Vonage for a few years, but it seemed that the calls to international places kept getting worse and worse. It turned out they they buy second and third rate routes. I then swiched my home over to ClearTrunk. Transition was fine, they even helped me to get it working with the alarm system. Vonage continued to bill me even after the number was ported. After a few month with Cleartrunk, I decided to switch my company over to them. They have a hosted PBX. We got 6 extensions and 18 phone lines for $125 a month. I liked vonage, but there are more players in the market now who have better prices,better customer service, more features, and better quality. I was with Vonage for a few years, but it seemed that the calls to international places kept getting worse and worse. It turned out they they buy second and third rate routes. I then swiched my home over to ClearTrunk. Transition was fine, they even helped me to get it working with the alarm system. Vonage continued to bill me even after the number was ported. After a few month with Cleartrunk, I decided to switch my company over to them. They have a hosted PBX. We got 6 extensions and 18 phone lines for $125 a month. I liked vonage, but there are more players in the market now who have better prices,better customer service, more features, and better quality.

]]> By: btsic http://www.firsttube.com/read/vonage-sucks-balls/comment-page-1/#comment-3192 btsic Tue, 01 Dec 2009 02:22:22 +0000 http://firsttube.com/?p=1307#comment-3192 I was with Vonage for a few years, but it seemed that the calls to international places kept getting worse and worse. It turned out they they buy second and third rate routes. I then swiched my home over to ClearTrunk. Transition was fine, they even helped me to get it working with the alarm system. Vonage continued to bill me even after the number was ported. After a few month with Cleartrunk, I decided to switch my company over to them. They have a hosted PBX. We got 6 extensions and 18 phone lines for $125 a month. I liked vonage, but there are more players in the market now who have better prices,better customer service, more features, and better quality. I was with Vonage for a few years, but it seemed that the calls to international places kept getting worse and worse. It turned out they they buy second and third rate routes. I then swiched my home over to ClearTrunk. Transition was fine, they even helped me to get it working with the alarm system. Vonage continued to bill me even after the number was ported. After a few month with Cleartrunk, I decided to switch my company over to them. They have a hosted PBX. We got 6 extensions and 18 phone lines for $125 a month. I liked vonage, but there are more players in the market now who have better prices,better customer service, more features, and better quality.

]]> By: Art http://www.firsttube.com/read/vonage-sucks-balls/comment-page-1/#comment-2430 Art Tue, 28 Jul 2009 01:53:41 +0000 http://firsttube.com/?p=1307#comment-2430 I have had Vonage for a month and I'm sick of their crap. They suck. The Customer Service Reps can't speak English worth Damn, I can hardly understand them, after saying I can't understand what you are trying to tell me 4 or 5 times they finally slow down and speak at least half broken english, almost comprehendable. Where the hell are these people from? As I look over the list of dissatisfied customers I am considering it might not be a bad idea to File a Class Action Suit. Anyone interested? I have had Vonage for a month and I’m sick of their crap. They suck. The Customer Service Reps can’t speak English worth Damn, I can hardly understand them, after saying I can’t understand what you are trying to tell me 4 or 5 times they finally slow down and speak at least half broken english, almost comprehendable. Where the hell are these people from?
As I look over the list of dissatisfied customers I am considering it might not be a bad idea to File a Class Action Suit.
Anyone interested?

]]> By: Alex Forster http://www.firsttube.com/read/vonage-sucks-balls/comment-page-1/#comment-2327 Alex Forster Mon, 22 Jun 2009 19:25:20 +0000 http://firsttube.com/?p=1307#comment-2327 I actually put a lot of research into a voip provider. If you don't need to port a number (and it doesn't sound like you do), get a Magicjack, throw away the USB dongle that comes with it, and buy a Linksys PAP2T. The PAP2T is a teeny, probably MIPS based SIP server with two phone jacks and an ethernet port. It eliminates the need to constantly have your PC on to receive calls, and it's cheap. Install the Magicjack software and set it all up, and then extract the SIP info (google around) and use it on the PAP2T. You now have voice service that's functionally identical to Vonage for $20/year. I actually put a lot of research into a voip provider. If you don’t need to port a number (and it doesn’t sound like you do), get a Magicjack, throw away the USB dongle that comes with it, and buy a Linksys PAP2T. The PAP2T is a teeny, probably MIPS based SIP server with two phone jacks and an ethernet port. It eliminates the need to constantly have your PC on to receive calls, and it’s cheap. Install the Magicjack software and set it all up, and then extract the SIP info (google around) and use it on the PAP2T. You now have voice service that’s functionally identical to Vonage for $20/year.

]]> By: Richard http://www.firsttube.com/read/vonage-sucks-balls/comment-page-1/#comment-2326 Richard Mon, 22 Jun 2009 19:00:11 +0000 http://firsttube.com/?p=1307#comment-2326 I've actually been with Vonage for over 4 years now. My biggest gripe is that their 25USD service is 40CAD. I got a second phone number with them (different area) last year. Either you're unlucky or I'm lucky, since my numbers don't seem to be very recycled. Perhaps an effect of the regions in Canada where they're in. I'm surprised that your device stopped working. The biggest problem I've had with mine was losing the adaptor when I moved once, but a cheap replacement was found in an electronics shop. I don't think it's actually much worse than a cell phone carrier. At least 4 years ago when I signed up with the Canadian one, it seemed clear that they wouldn't be able to fully refund the cost of the device (which I bought outright anyway) and required a year-long commitment at the time. I take it the VoIP adaptor in your contract was leased from them? Checking vonage.com, it seems that they note the 1 year term on their main banner, and clicking on Plans features text explaining the 39.99 disconnection fee (when within the year) and that the cost of the rebate afforded by them for the device only has to be reimbursed after the original 30-day money-back guarantee period if you're still in the one year contract. However, contracts always suck if there's doubt that you can enjoy the full period, and so does leasing equipment. I sometimes wish it would be abolished, but I do see the benefits for the company of having committed revenue and how that security enables the "deals" people get by entering into them. I actually *would* recommend Vonage to anyone who would otherwise pay more per month, or who move a lot. As a student who had to travel for co-op jobs, it was great having a "landline" at a fixed rate with a constant number even when out of the country. (I'm in New Zealand right now and still using it.) However, if you're well situated and don't make use of voicemail-in-your-inbox, effectively free national (and some international) calling or have a cellphone as your primary phone, then yah, 25USD/month with a subsidized phone adaptor is probably unnecessary. I’ve actually been with Vonage for over 4 years now.

My biggest gripe is that their 25USD service is 40CAD.

I got a second phone number with them (different area) last year. Either you’re unlucky or I’m lucky, since my numbers don’t seem to be very recycled. Perhaps an effect of the regions in Canada where they’re in.

I’m surprised that your device stopped working. The biggest problem I’ve had with mine was losing the adaptor when I moved once, but a cheap replacement was found in an electronics shop.

I don’t think it’s actually much worse than a cell phone carrier. At least 4 years ago when I signed up with the Canadian one, it seemed clear that they wouldn’t be able to fully refund the cost of the device (which I bought outright anyway) and required a year-long commitment at the time. I take it the VoIP adaptor in your contract was leased from them? Checking vonage.com, it seems that they note the 1 year term on their main banner, and clicking on Plans features text explaining the 39.99 disconnection fee (when within the year) and that the cost of the rebate afforded by them for the device only has to be reimbursed after the original 30-day money-back guarantee period if you’re still in the one year contract. However, contracts always suck if there’s doubt that you can enjoy the full period, and so does leasing equipment. I sometimes wish it would be abolished, but I do see the benefits for the company of having committed revenue and how that security enables the “deals” people get by entering into them.

I actually *would* recommend Vonage to anyone who would otherwise pay more per month, or who move a lot. As a student who had to travel for co-op jobs, it was great having a “landline” at a fixed rate with a constant number even when out of the country. (I’m in New Zealand right now and still using it.)

However, if you’re well situated and don’t make use of voicemail-in-your-inbox, effectively free national (and some international) calling or have a cellphone as your primary phone, then yah, 25USD/month with a subsidized phone adaptor is probably unnecessary.

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