Mr Matt
join:2008-01-29
Eustis, FL
 ·Comcast
 ·Embarq
|  New customers only?
 I hope the new ETF policy applies only to new customers activating after a future date specified by Lingo. Or on the other hand do they think they can make the new policy retroactive without some legal backlash? |
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mlundin
join:2001-03-27
Lawrence, KS | Works for me...
I'll just never sign up in the first place. |
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Tarheels Fan
Premium
join:2006-01-05
1 edit | reply to Mr Matt
Re: New customers only?
Looks like this is being sent to existing customers. This organization must be run by a bunch of morons. You can't enforce an ETF on existing customers...
Edit:: Spelling |
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Tomek
Premium
join:2002-01-30
Brooklyn, NY | reply to Mr Matt
Isnt't that like involuntary extension of contract? |
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TKJunkMail
Enjoy the sun
Premium
join:2002-03-03
Avalon, NJ
 ·Sprint Mobile Broa..
·Comcast
| reply to Tarheels Fan
said by Tarheels Fan  :Looks like this is being sent to exsisting customers. This organization must be run by a bunch of morons. You can't enforce an ETF on exsisting customers... I wonder how many Lingo customers will cancel before the 23rd? This warning may actually encourage a mass exodus of customers.
--
My BLOG .. .. Internet News .. .. My Web Page
Ask yourself one question: 'Do I feel lucky?' Well, do ya punk? |
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SteveLV702
Premium
join:2004-04-22
Henderson, NV
·Clearwire
| so cancel before contract goes into affect
thats why you always read the Terms of Service first which probably states somewhere in there that they can update the terms of service as long as they give you notification. But if you don't agree to the New Terms of Service you can cancel your service before it goes into affect without any penalty. |
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S_engineer
join:2007-05-16
Chicago, IL
·Comcast
| reply to TKJunkMail
Re: New customers only?
Maybe Lingo is up to something else, like having this a prelude to bankruptcy. If they knew there was going to be a mass exodus anyway, what better way to milk your existing customers.
This is only a hypothesis!
--
The "Lifetime" channel is responsible for 83% of all divorces...Robert Ginty |
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Jeffrey
too dark too early
Premium
join:2002-12-24
Dix Hills,NY
clubs: | reply to Tarheels Fan
This is insane if this is for existing customers. I'm almost speechless. |
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Jeffrey
too dark too early
Premium
join:2002-12-24
Dix Hills,NY
clubs:
·Optimum Online
 ·Verizon FIOS
 ·Vonage
·magicjack.com
1 edit | reply to TKJunkMail
said by TKJunkMail :said by Tarheels Fan :Looks like this is being sent to exsisting customers. This organization must be run by a bunch of morons. You can't enforce an ETF on exsisting customers... I wonder how many Lingo customers will cancel before the 23rd? This warning may actually encourage a mass exodus of customers. I'd probably change and switch to something else after being treated threatened like that. It's easier said than done, especially if you need to port your #, but I'd really consider leaving if I received a similar e-mail from Vonage.
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"Honesty may be the best policy, but it's important to remember that apparently, by elimination, dishonesty is the second-best policy." - George Carlin
[my ramblings] |
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K Patterson
Premium,MVM
join:2006-03-12
Columbus, OH | Lingo's terms and conditions not revised.
The terms and conditions on their web site were last revised on July 25, 2007, and do not reflect the announced changes. |
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pabster
join:2001-12-09
Waterloo, IA | Only In America...
...Do we have to pay a company NOT to do business with them. Lingo is hardly the first and they won't be the last. Vote with your wallet. |
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Kearnstd
Elf Wizard
Premium
join:2002-01-22
Mullica Hill, NJ
| reply to Mr Matt
Re: New customers only?
this could burn them if the contract when someone signed up doesnt have provisions for them to alter the terms like this. you could cancel and refuse to pay the ETF and if they tried to collect and the contract you agreed to at service start has no provisions for them to modify it in this way they would be in breach.
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[65 Arcanist]Filan(High Elf) Zone: Broadband Reports |
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Bezel
@snet.net
| Lingo Current TOS
If Customer subscribes to a residential calling plan, and cancels the Service for any reason or for convenience within twelve (12) months of the Activation Date. Customer will be charged a disconnect fee of $59.95 per account (the "Disconnect Fee"). The Disconnect Fee becomes due and payable immediately and will be billed directly to Customer’s credit card. If Customer has multiple accounts, Customer will be charged the Disconnect Fee of $59.95 per account for each account cancelled. A disconnect Fee shall not be charged to Customers who purchase Lingo approved Equipment from retailer. Cancellations will only be accepted via phone through Lingo’s Customer Care Department at the toll-free number listed on the first page of your invoice, and will be effective upon the date that you call. Lingo is not able to schedule cancellations for a future date. |
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PolarBear
The bear formerly known as aaron8301
Premium
join:2005-01-03
·CableOne
| reply to pabster
Re: Only In America...
said by pabster :Vote with your wallet. Indeed. If everyone did that, today's corporations wouldn't be able to screw consumers like they do.
This is a line I live by, from commenter Trai_Dep @ www.consumerist.com:
"one should consume with a higher purpose in mind: when you buy a product, you're supporting the whole operation. Spend judiciously." --
There comes a point in your life when you get tired of fixing everything and wiping everyone's ass. But it’s not giving up. It’s realizing that you don’t need certain people and the bullshit and drama they bring to your life. |
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jchambers28
join:2007-05-12
Alma, AR | reply to mlundin
Re: Works for me...
That's 2 of us |
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mworks
join:2006-06-13
Faison, NC
| LIngo isn't worth using anyway
I had the absolute worst experience with lingo of any company I have ever used. The first month I lost the ability to call anyone local to me. Anyone within the same county could not be called , it would route it to a recorded message saying they had problems.
I called tech support and they promised it would be fixed in 24 hours. Two days later it still was not fixed. I spent over two weeks just trying to get service problems corrected till I called and canceled the service. Then they refused to cancel it . For FOUR months , they continued to bill me. When I got the credit card company involved they threatened me with their TOS saying they had the right to continue billing for those months and then wanted to charge the disconnect fee.
I would NEVER recommend them to anyone .
Use a two cans and a string.
You would be better off ! |
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buddahbless
join:2005-03-21
usa/canada
| SO TRUE I used Lingo years ago when they first started up and gave them the benefit of the drought but there service was such a bunch of crap that I had to cancel. ( read my post: Lingo- the laughing stock of broadband voip) there features were great but service was no where near acceptable for there price . If there unlimited north America package was $5-10 per month , or $60 prepaid per 1 year agreement is the ONLY way id consider there service again. all there system issues is not worth the price there asking. id be better of using Skype ($30 for 1 year of service). However now with this new 24 month contract, I would not even bother, Lingo can go belly up and id be the first to dance on there grave! |
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tmc8080
join:2004-04-24
Floral Park, NY
| i agree, cancel your accounts people!
what next, an early termination surcharge (or a door charge to enter the place) if you don't order the extra value meal at Burger King and McDonalds?
this is VOIP, not cell phones.. the whole idea of this was to get away from companies that played this kinds of games! if lingo want to join em, then it's time to leave 'em! |
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Anonymous
Premium
join:2004-06-01
IA
·Mediacom
1 edit | reply to mworks
Re: LIngo isn't worth using anyway
I tried them twice so far. Both times canceled within 30 days and never received any refunds. First time I tried them they told me they could not provide local area code a week after I signed up. The last time it took FIVE days of calling to cancel. The people that can cancel your account apparently work one day a week.
Never again... |
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fiberguy
My views are my own.
Premium
join:2005-05-20
| reply to Bezel
Re: Lingo Current TOS
said by Bezel :
. A disconnect Fee shall not be charged to Customers who purchase Lingo approved Equipment from retailer. The "fee" being charged, in my opinion, is fair. However, how they are stating it, in my opinion, is not.
We are all smart enough to know that the $99 disconnect fee is because customers are given some free-bees up front. And, to be honest, they are totally fair for once unlike cellular providers who go over board.
On Lingo's site:
Over $100 Instant Savings!
• FREE Linksys Adaptor - $50 value
• FREE First Month - $21.95 value
• FREE First Activation - $29.95 value
They are basically charging you for the free stuff they gave you up front when you disconnect. However, I find it a little wrong that they want 2 years time. However, its clear their business model is a loss at 12 months.
I personally think "disconnection fees" are questionable at best especially IF they charge an installation/activation fee.
So long as they clearly state there is a disconnection fee, ie: early termination fee, I see no issue with this. Additionally, if people don't want to pay the fee, don't take them up on the free offer. I'm sorry, but I can't sit here and cheer on with people and bitch about this when its clear that the fee is tied directly to the free equipment, first month, and activation.
So saying that, why complain? Why not just buy the equipment and pay full price and make this a non-issue? What I hear from some of the people in this particular forum is that they're not happy that they get free stuff AND have to stay a customer for a period agreed upon for doing so.
Cancellations will only be accepted via phone through Lingo’s Customer Care Department at the toll-free number listed on the first page of your invoice, and will be effective upon the date that you call. Lingo is not able to schedule cancellations for a future date. I have a SERIOUS problem with this. This was an AOL move that never gained favor by anyone that mattered. AOL would always cancel your service the day you called and simply didn't allow you to say "no more billing me" starting the next bill date. What this does is garner the provider free time/money back. This is very much like a telephone, cable, or satellite provider canceling service and having to send a refund check for $0.30 cents knowing damn well it cost more to give the 30 cents back and not keeping it. Why? Because it wasn't theirs to keep in the first place. So, by not being able to schedule a future cancellation is in my opinion, fraudulent at best. I'm also sure that you're able to call in, wait on hold for a reasonable amount of time, and get your service canceled on the first attempt? Probably not with out a hour or longer hold time. (Again, another issue I have - cable TV was cracked down on hold times rightfully so, why does any law maker allow this to happen elsewhere?) They need to have a method of cancellation outside a telephone call.
I think the cancellation system could be improved. If you go on line and request cancellation, they could send you a letter, to the billing address on file, with a code that you go to their website and enter the code on the day you want to cancel; I'd be fine with that.
All of this, in my opinion is fair and reasonable. The fact that simple solutions like this are not being demanded or implemented by our elected officials is yet another reason why we have a failed government of the people. (Yea.. side tracked there but still.. its totally in line with what providers like Lingo, Vonage, et all, are up to these days)
The way I see it, providers like Lingo and even Vonage, are playing a CLEAR gamble game with the consumer which puts the odds on the house. That's gambling where I come from and gambling is a regulated industry. |
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