vB Easy Archive - Getting Ready to Ditch Vonage

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Getting Ready to Ditch Vonage
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Posted by: TXLady

I'm changing my previously positive recommendation for Vonage.

In the last few days, my service has drastically declined in quality. When I call people, they hear "electronic noise" or "Martians" as my boss called it. On my end I can hear them but there is some sort of interference.

I've made no changes to my network and my internet connection is working flawlessly as usual.

I almost ditched it in the first month before I finally got through to the right tech who helped me get this set up. It's been working great for two months but I don't have time to spend hours on the phone with tech support every two months to figure out what is wrong.

Of course, now I'm on hold for customer service to cancel my line. If I wasn't irritated enough already, I was after trying to figure out which options to select to cancel my service. (In case you're wondering, it's questions about your billing.) Estimated waiting time is 25 minutes..........guess I'll see how long it really is. Hopefully this will be the LAST time I have to deal with them. I'd rather pay more to TMO than deal with this.

Unfortunately, I will lose the phone number which was local to my primary customer to save them from long distance calls but at least they'll be able to hear me.

Posted by: TXLady

It's done and over. Only took 24 of the promised 25 minutes on hold. Took only a few minutes to cancel and it was done immediately with final billing of $39.99 disconnect fee.

Actually, it was much less painful than trying to deal with the tech reps again.

Surprisingly, the rep didn't even try to talk me out of it.

Posted by: MO3iusONE

Good to hear that it was easy to cancel..I remember when I had AOL and i tried to cancel it..it was a nightmare...

Posted by: Onerat

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mo3iusone

Good to hear that it was easy to cancel..I remember when I had AOL and i tried to cancel it..it was a nightmare...

hahah - to cancel AOL is a big hassle...they just dont understand....

to the OP - did you switch to another VOIP? I was considering getting vonage as a secondary VOIP provider...I already have my main phone line as a VOIP and I love it (through my cable provider)...

Posted by: TXLady

Quote:

Originally Posted by paradigm2200

Since I have to have reliable communications for work (I'm a telecommuter), I am getting a company cell phone instead of the VOIP. I can't afford the trial and error method.

When Vonage worked, it was great. But when it doesn't..........

Posted by: jdr30

i used to work for vonage .. worst company ever

Posted by: jbradg

I upgraded my old Motorola VTA to a Linksys PAP2 VTA and I have better luck with my Vonage now. Mine seems to work pretty good. Packet loss on cable networks is a big issue and most people don't realize it's happening. Not so bad if you're just browsing the web, but it really hurts a VoIP call. Most cable plants suck when it comes to noise.

As for Vonage, the tech support sucks. They are at the bottom of my list when it comes to tech support. When I have had to call, 3 times in the almost 3 years I've had Vonage, it's gotten worse each time. Sure, they seem to answer the phone faster now, but I the languange barrier really becomes a HUGE issue.

I now have E911 (haven't tested it yet though). I think VOIP is still too bleeding edge for most consumers. At least with someone like Time Warner Cable's digital phone, you can call someone and have them come out and fix it if it doesn't work. But, it's not as cheap and has less features.

Posted by: M5Rahul

I too am on my way OUT from Vonage... Although, I've had ZERO issues with the service, I couldn't resist SunRocket's "Memorial Day" offer [ $99/yr - unlimited mins - Nationwide + CAN + PR .. not that I ever call CAN or PR

]

Just waiting for my *gizmo* now

Goodbye Vonage!!

Posted by: underlord2

Quote:

Originally Posted by M5Rahul

I too am on my way OUT from Vonage... Although, I've had ZERO issues with the service, I couldn't resist SunRocket's "Memorial Day" offer [ $99/yr - unlimited mins - Nationwide + CAN + PR .. not that I ever call CAN or PR

]

Just waiting for my *gizmo* now

Goodbye Vonage!!

Is there any service that lets you call england or maybe australia for free?

Posted by: qwerty11

Quote:

Originally Posted by underlord2

Is there any service that lets you call england or maybe australia for free?

Yeah, Vonage. LOL...
They just added select countries to non-cell #'s in Europe, including England.

Posted by: crow610

Quote:

Originally Posted by carrolldf

In the last few days, my service has drastically declined in quality. When I call people, they hear "electronic noise" or "Martians" as my boss called it. On my end I can hear them but there is some sort of interference.

Your boss is not the only one hearing those Martians. When I call my brother whom has Vonage, I constantly get startled by loud beep sounds (I think my heartrate goes up a bit after that occurs). Is this something that Vonage is aware of because he has had it for quite some time now and still no chage!

No wonder why their IPO did horribly!

Posted by: CurtisPulley

Quote:

Originally Posted by M5Rahul

]

Just waiting for my *gizmo* now

Goodbye Vonage!!

Let me know how you like SunRocket. I've been a long time user and advocate of their service. You can't beat their prices.

Posted by: PhillipD76

I have had a few problems on this end with my Vonage as well. Sometimes when people call they will get a message that the number has been disconnected. Or when they call the number of rings goes by for voicemail and it will pick up and just sit there .. dead air with no voicemail announcements. or sometimes the indicator for voicemail stays lit, even if ALL the messages are deleted from the system. I may stay though.. Im lazy.. hehe but if Verizon sends me the offer again in the mail for 39.95 for a land line and DSL included I may jump on that.

Posted by: SRALPH

I have had a few problems with Vonage that one needs to be aware of if considering this as a full replacment for a landline:

1) Some toll free numbers will not work. For instance, when I tried to call Bell Canada to cancel my landline - LOL! I have since found the same with other 800 numbers.

2) The softphone is extra - i.e. the ability to use your laptop as a phone costs an extra fee each month and has a limit on the number of minutes. I travel consistently for wrk and this was a key feature I wanted. Its benefit has been hit or miss as I can also use MSN to voice chat if the other end gets online.

3) Softphone may be "port blocked". I was at a hotel recently in Bermuda that had free wifi in the lobby. I could get email and internet browsing, but MSN and softphone were blocked. THere was no highspeed in the room either.

Still hanging in though as the voice quality is still okay at home and savings are there.

Posted by: WaltA

Quote:

Originally Posted by SRALPH

1) Some toll free numbers will not work. For instance, when I tried to call Bell Canada to cancel my landline - LOL! I have since found the same with other 800 numbers.

I wonder if that is due to the "service fee" the calling company (not the caller) needs to pay to the "800" providing company?

I know that some times, one has to pay this fee when calling an "800" number from a pay phone.

Posted by: jase88

A disconnect fee? You can't be serious?! That's crazy....

Quote:

Originally Posted by carrolldf

It's done and over. Only took 24 of the promised 25 minutes on hold. Took only a few minutes to cancel and it was done immediately with final billing of $39.99 disconnect fee.

Actually, it was much less painful than trying to deal with the tech reps again.

Surprisingly, the rep didn't even try to talk me out of it.

Posted by: mikethaler

Quote:

Originally Posted by SRALPH

800 numbers can be blocked. The holder of the 800 number can set up the acct. to refuse calls from particular exchanges, states, or another country.
Eg. I can't call Bell's satellite service (BEV) from the states on their 800 number. Have to call in on their 416 (Toronto) number which is not made very public. My guess is that Vonage sends out call info showing the call is originating in the U.S. even if you have a Canadian virtual number.
My guess is you can't call Bell's phone division's 800 number even from a telco line fm. the states.

...mike

Posted by: blupupher

Well, i have had a few small problems with Vonage (a slight echo when someone calls and had a problem with the voice mail light not going off even when there were no mesages, but that was taken care of by customer service in a total of about 10 minutes).
I am spending $5 less a month for Highspeed and Vonage than I was for dial up and a land line, not a hard choice. Plus I was able to change my wife's cell plan since she can make LD calls on Vonage now instead of her cell, so another $10 saved.

Posted by: CurtisPulley

Quote:

Originally Posted by blupupher

Well, i have had a few small problems with Vonage (a slight echo when someone calls and had a problem with the voice mail light not going off even when there were no mesages, but that was taken care of by customer service in a total of about 10 minutes).
I am spending $5 less a month for Highspeed and Vonage than I was for dial up and a land line, not a hard choice. Plus I was able to change my wife's cell plan since she can make LD calls on Vonage now instead of her cell, so another $10 saved.

The best part of VoIP is being able to save money, wehther you use Vonage or SunRocket, or whoever...it's simply cheaper than an old land line.

Posted by: mikethaler

Quote:

Originally Posted by CurtisPulley

The best part of VoIP is being able to save money, wehther you use Vonage or SunRocket, or whoever...it's simply cheaper than an old land line.

I just signed up w. VOIP (Lingo) less than two weeks ago. IF the voice quality were not equiv. to (or close to) telco, i would return the equipment during the trial period. It is indistiinguishable from telco - we have decided to keep it. If the quality weren't there we wouldn't keep it, no matter what the price.

...mike

Posted by: underlord2

Quote:

Originally Posted by qwerty11

Yeah, Vonage. LOL...
They just added select countries to non-cell #'s in Europe, including England.

Awesome! Does it cost the reciever of the call in Europe for a Phone Call?

Posted by: mikethaler

Quote:

Originally Posted by underlord2

Awesome! Does it cost the reciever of the call in Europe for a Phone Call?

No country I know of charges land line customers for answering a call. In most of the world, tho, answering a cel call IS free as well, because the caller is paying a huge toll to dial a cel phone number. That toll is from 15 to 25 cents/min. - depending on the country. You can see this for your self. Calls to landlines to most lst world countries are about 3 to 6 cents/min. - depending on your LD carrier. The same carrier will charge about 20 cents a min. or more to a cel.
We in the U.S. are spoiled by LOW rates. That is why texting became popular over there - using a cel for voice is quite expensive.

...mike

Posted by: perfectlyfailing

Im getting curious about Vonage now. I may end up giving it a try. You need all new phones and stuff though right?

Posted by: mikethaler

Quote:

Originally Posted by iamkevin

Im getting curious about Vonage now. I may end up giving it a try. You need all new phones and stuff though right?

All you need is a "box" which Vonage gives you. You plug the output fm. the Cable modem/DSL bos into the "vonage box". Output from this "box" goes into your computer. (Wiring the phone box before the computer gives priority to the phone data - making for a better phone connection.)
THEN, what happens is you plug a REGULAR (analog) phone into an input in the "box". You will hear a normal dial tone when you pick up the phone. We have a cordless phone plugged into our "box".

...mike

Posted by: PhillipD76

Also, .... if you are sure your any lines are disconnected from your house to the street from the phone company. You can plug the telephone cable from the vonage box into an empty jack in your house somewhere and the rest of your phones will now connect to the vonage line just as they did to Verizon. That is what I have done in my house.

Posted by: nikecar

My linksys RT300 router blew out after a fe months. vonage is sending me another replacement. Stinks I have no phone service since yesterday. Granted, calls are routed to my cell, but I don't care to have to talk with everyone who is expecting the wife to pick up.

Posted by: Wide_opeN

100% Cellular is the way to go!

Posted by: SRALPH

Quote:

Originally Posted by cingular1977

100% Cellular is the way to go!

Right...

Until you travel abroad some time and make a few cell phone calls, only to discover on your next phone bill ENORMOUS charges due to roaming, etc. With my main line being a Vonage number, which I give to all my clients, I get messages via email and can decide who I'll call back and when, without incurring roaming charges.

Also, many North American cell phones are CDMA - which don't often work elsewhere in the world.

As a frequent traveller, I need more than one way to connect so that if one option won't work I have an alternative.

Posted by: TXLady

Quote:

Originally Posted by jase88

A disconnect fee? You can't be serious?! That's crazy....

From the terms of service:

Quote:

Expiration of the term or disconnection of Service will not excuse you from paying all accrued and unpaid charges due under this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if you disconnect Vonage service after the Money Back Guarantee period (see section 3.7), but within the first twelve months, Vonage charges a disconnection fee of $39.99 per line.

I was beyond the money back guarantee period. I had a lot of trouble first week or so but finally got it fixed and it worked fine for a while and then the "Martians" appeared and it was nearly unusable. Since this was my work phone, I couldn't afford to go through that every couple of months.

I would have cancelled it during the first week if I hadn't had a friend who swore by it "as soon as you get it set up right".

Posted by: Wide_opeN

Quote:

Originally Posted by SRALPH

I hear yah loud and clear, but for those of us whose needs aren't as pressing meaning we're country of origin bound I have to say I prefer cellular.

Posted by: AllanVS

Quote:

Originally Posted by SRALPH

I have had a few problems with Vonage that one needs to be aware of if considering this as a full replacment for a landline:

1) Some toll free numbers will not work. For instance, when I tried to call Bell Canada to cancel my landline - LOL! I have since found the same with other 800 numbers.

2) The softphone is extra - i.e. the ability to use your laptop as a phone costs an extra fee each month and has a limit on the number of minutes. I travel consistently for wrk and this was a key feature I wanted. Its benefit has been hit or miss as I can also use MSN to voice chat if the other end gets online.

3) Softphone may be "port blocked". I was at a hotel recently in Bermuda that had free wifi in the lobby. I could get email and internet browsing, but MSN and softphone were blocked. THere was no highspeed in the room either.

Still hanging in though as the voice quality is still okay at home and savings are there.

With my VoIP provider, I am able to take my router (which is smaller then a novel) and travel ANYWHERE in the world. I simply plug the router in, then plug a phone into the jack, and voila, I have the same high quality VoIP, and I can use the phone to call the same places I could at home. When I went to Ottawa, and stayed at the Raddisson I took it... Instead of paying the huge fees on LD home, I simply made ALL calls through my VoIP router. When I went to Yellowknife, same deal but at the Hilton. And when I went down to Boston, again, same deal. Pack my router and my cheap $10 phone I bought at Zellers, plugged in the cables, and away I went making LD calls with out paying the hotels a lot of money.