Review by Judy Star 
Posted: 29 days ago
member for 30 days, 3 visits, last login: 23 days ago
 San Diego,San Diego,CA
 Contract price not specified.
 "Great Bargain"
 "N/A"
 "Quality sound, excellent price, nice staff, and a great bargain"
| Web-site:
Ease of Installation:
Call Quality:
Reliability:
Tech Support:
Value for money:
(ratings match consensus)
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My son told me about this product a few months ago. He lives on the east coast and it was getting expensive to talk with all of the long distance. I got the product 8 months ago. We started off on the month to month plan just to see if it would work out. We immediatley noticed the savings and jumped at the 2 year plan. We just got it out of the way and it's been great. I'm already saving money on a daily basis and I was able to keep my number. I will say that I was having a little trouble figuring out how to plug the thing in but I called them and they had someone right there to talk me through it. I have to say it was really nice to actually talk to someone rather than an automated machine... or someone that doesn't speak english.
This really turned out to be a good move... and we've saved alot of money. Plus there are some cool features and a free 2nd line. I'm just so used to the standard dial and talk that it's been neat to have the same feel of the land line but getting all of this other stuff and for less. I love finding the bargains. 
Followup comments:  
Wake up call
@qwest.net
|  BEWARE Bait and switch bast@#%$
$39.36 plus $1 plus $10 reconnect fee.
So a $ 199 "residential freedom" plan actually ended up costing me $302.62..
=============
SVC#81 10/1/2009 to 10/1/2010 -- Residential Freedom - Free Second Year $199.950 1.0 $199.95
SVC#81 10/1/2009 to 10/1/2010 -- Regulatory Recovery Fee $11.880 1.0 $11.88
SVC#81 10/1/2009 to 10/1/2010 -- 911 Cost Recovery $11.880 1.0 $11.88
SVC#81 10/1/2009 to 10/1/2010 -- Residential Freedom - Free Second Year Rebate $-199.950 1.0 ($199.95)
DTL#10602 --VoIP #10225..5054732820 $0.000 1.0 $0.00
DTL#10602 --VoiceMail #7097..5054732820 $0.000 1.0 $0.00
TAX#1001 FSLS ($199.95 x 7.3%)
ETC, ETC.... | |
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mr me
@aacc.edu | Re: BEWARE Bait and switch bast@#%$ This is how all phone services work. I've never seen one that didn't. It isn't bait and switch, it's status quo. | |
| | 
PhonePower
Premium
join:2007-07-20
Winnetka, CA
1 edit | Let me begin by suggesting you edit your phone number from a public forum. It can act as as telemarketer bait and can cause a flood of unwanted calls.
While it's nearly impossible to win a conversation with a client that feels like they were misinformed, I will simply state the facts:
The fact that we charge taxes and fees for the free 2nd year are clearly disclosed on the:
- product page prior to ordering
- in the email confirmation
- on the terms of service
I truly don't see how it can be more transparent. We even go as far as to bold the text in the confirmation email with this exact text and bolding:
"You will be assessed applicable taxes, surcharges, and fees at the start of the second year. These fees will be calculated based on the standard price for the service. Services are subject to suspension and termination if balances are not paid in a timely manner per Section 4 of Phone Power's Terms of Service."
Additionally, I see that we sent you a total of 6 credit card declined and suspend warning emails over a 10 day period prior to actually suspending your service.
As you know our billing department has already refunded any and all reconnection fees and late fees as one time client courtesy independently (not as a result of this) of this post.
You may be glad to see that you now get 60 minutes free international calling to over 80 countries every month, a free fax catcher service and 24 hour technical support. These are definitely features and services which were not included when you signed up but have been added as we continue to expand our service offering. | |
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wake up call
@qwest.net
| MORE LIES
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Phone Power Confirmation of Your Order
Thank you for placing your Order for Digital Voice Service
Your Order Number is 60199. You will receive another email once we have your new Phone Number or have received a transfer date from your current provider if you are transferring a number.
If you chose to receive a new phone number you will receive a confirmation that will include your phone number shortly.
If you are transferring an existing phone number we will initiate the transfer request with your current provider. This process normally takes 3-10 business days. We will notify you of the transfer date at that time.
If you have any questions please email our Ordering Department:
sales@phonepower.com
For Your Reference:
Your Username: **Hidden**
Your Password: **Hidden**
We look forward to providing you with excellent customer service.
Thank you for choosing Phone Power.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Want transparency? Mention in plain English, (before the purchase is ever made) that at the end of the first year, there will be further charges of $38.36 in addition to the $253.26 you are about to pay for the "$199" plan. How hard would that be?
Here's what is now available on your site under plan details:
"Taxes and Fees on Free Service - Any plan that comes with free service will be assessed applicable taxes, surcharges, and fees periodically, based on the details of the plan selected. These fees will be calculated based on the standard price for the service. Services are subject to suspension and termination if balances are not paid in a timely manner per Section 4 of Phone Power's Terms of Service."
Ok, when I signed up, yes I did see this and figured it was why I was charged $253.26 instead of the advertised bait and switch $199. I just went through a mock sign up again and right up until the end there is no mention warning of more fees at the beginning of the second year period. Yes, agreed, there is a terms of agreement statement to click on, that is 15 pages long (microsoft word at size 12 font), and buried in part 7b (page 8) under the heading "TERM" there is this statement.
"If the Service Term is longer than twelve (12) months, additional taxes and fees will be charged after the initial twelve (12) months have passed."
Transparent? Hardly?
Do you know anyone who has time to read a 15 page service agreement these days? Maybe for a mortgage, but even then, it's highly doubtful. People just assume they are dealing with a legit business. Let's get real, the way you have it set up is clearly meant to mislead/deceive at best. Again, to answer your question, how could you be more transparent? By clearly stating up front before the person pays one dime, that there are going to be more charges for that "free" second year. Plain and simple. That was never the case for me. And I am a details person as you can see.
Last but not least, there still has been no "refund" or credit posted to my credit card. A credit to my phone power account does me no good as I am already paid in full for the term of my contract, and there is no way you will ever get further business from me. (Or any of the friends that I referred over the last year). They aren't gong to be happy either when they get wind of the hidden charges coming their way either. New laws of compliance for the internet are coming December 1, 2009. Expect to hear from the FTC, (deceptive/misleading advertising) my local attorney general's office, and the better business bureau if I don't see one by the end of my November statement. I MEAN it. I will do everything in my power to legally make this happen as a matter of principle. I'm just getting warmed up. The TRUTH matters to me. I see no integrity here so far.
I even have plans to create a blog and website regarding this. TAKE ACTION NOW or face an onslaught of TRUTH on every review website out there. How does the domain phonepowertruth.com sound to you? How about if I put of 100 blog sites with detailed articles stating only the facts? Is that what you want? Let's make it easy on both of us, I have said enough, and if you agree to actually credit back my credit card, and not my account, I will drop this now. I really don't have time for this petty bs. But if I am forced into it, believe me I will follow through. Hopefully by now you can see by now that I mean it. I already sent one email to your customer service with no reply so stating pretty much the same thing.
This not a threat, it's a call for justice. So far I have only stated the facts. People need to know the truth about your clearly deceptive practices. By no means is this type of deception "the norm." If I can save one person from getting ripped off it will be worth it.
I have all the proof I need to make my honest and truthful case known to the world and beyond.
Please forward my request to the owner or manager. Make them aware of the potential fines they face from the FTC beginning December 1, 2009.
Thank you very much for your time. | |
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PhonePower
Premium
join:2007-07-20
Winnetka, CA
4 edits | Re: Correct I can assure you that there was a refund when we said it was processed, it was not a store credit. It may take your bank a few days to process it. | |
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Wake up call
@qwest.net
| Thank you. Thank you, I appreciate it. I have calmed down now, and spent more than enough of my precious time and effort making my point. Please know that I wish no ill to Phone power. I am over it. Furthermore, I apologize for my crude delivery.
In all fairness the service I am recieving is indeed excellent, never a problem as far as that goes.
And even at the $300+ price it's still a pretty darn good deal compared to regular phone service. All the best to you, and I hope this was not a wasted effort; and that your marketing department or CEO will take these aggressive criticisms into consideration to hopefully make an even better experience available for future customers.. And of course that's none of my business, just an honest opinion.
Best regards,
Kirk | |
| | | | | | | | | | kenandalison
join:2004-05-19
Salt Lake City, UT
2 edits | Not the service I'd Hoped for... I had the same rude awakening when PP started charging the taxes, and fees on the, so called, free service.
I have had PP for 18 mos. and feel that the taxes, and fees on the "free period," 6 mos in my case, were not properly disclosed, but for ~$24 I'm not going to bother spending a great deal of time fighting with PP over it.
PP fees are high, and for me the quality of the service has been less than acceptable, so I'll be leaving or putting my account on the "monthly metered" plan until I can figure out what to do with the line. "Metered Monthly" Plan is $7.95+ approx. 30% in Taxes & Fees... | |
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