christcorp
Premium
join:2001-05-21
Cheyenne, WY
 ·Bresnan Online
 ·VOIPo
| reply to jeffnyc
Re: [VoiceStick] Is VoiceStick now charging for incoming calls o
When I first got voicestick, I called them specifically about their next to nothing plan vs the $9.95 400 minute plan. At the time I signed up, minutes for outgoing was $0.02 with free incoming. Now, not being the person who believes in getting something for nothing, I planned on making outgoing calls also and NOT using it as a free number for inbound. I specifically asked them however how they could charge $10 for 400 minutes, when at $0.02 a minute, the same price would get you 500 minutes and ALL TAXES AND FEES are included in the price. The lady giggled and said;
"Yes, we know that. But some people asked for a limited minute plan so they could have a regular bill and not have to worry about "Refilling" the account. If they can't read and figure out that the N2N plan is a better deal, then that is their fault".
I agree with her 100%. Even at $0.02 for outgoing and $0.011 for incoming, the N2N is still a better plan that the 400 minute plan. Taxes and fees are already included and you get about the same amount of minutes without all the hassles. Even under the old plan, the N2N plan was a better deal.
Anyway, I still like voicestick. Most of the time they are up and running and sound great. The E911 works. It's a great second line in case my primary line; (Packet8); goes down. "Which has only happened 5 times in 2 years for a very short period of time". I highly recommend them. Especially for a 2nd line or backup. I NEVER choose 2 lines with the same provider. It doesn't save you money, and if they go down, so do both lines. Later... Mike.... |
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jeffnyc
join:2004-06-09
New York, NY
| reply to voip_user
yes... he meant 0.011 - obvious typo - technically 0.018 =)
mike - i do agree that the n2n plan people should not complain but for the $9.95 400 min they should include incoming otherwise its not worth it.... $9.95 ~ $12 with e911 fee, that much money would give you 666 minutes on the n2n plan.... which is why I went with the n2n plan (no satanistic jokes please  |
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redshift
Premium
join:2004-03-23
Beverly Hills, CA | reply to christcorp
Re: Voicestick must have purchased some incoming minutes!
Isn't that 1.1c/min not 11c/min? |
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christcorp
Premium
join:2001-05-21
Cheyenne, WY
·Bresnan Online
·VOIPo
| reply to cbrain
To look at it realistically, I'm sure that there were a lot of people using Voicestick basically as an incoming line only. So, they throw on 1000+ minutes a month incoming on it in a month, with the next 2 nothing plan, and voicestick makes $0.00 a month on the service. That doesn't seem quite right.
They do offer regular monthly packages just like the majority of voip providers where they have a "Pseudo" unlimited package for incoming or outgoing. But, as a backup line or 2nd line for my occasional use, voicestick suits my needs perfectly. They make some money off of me each month and I have a second line to use. I can't fault voicestick at all for not wanting to give away a "FREE" voip line every month. Granted, you might have actually used outgoing and paid for service. There are however a lot of people who only used it as an incoming line for free. Nothing wrong with charging for incoming. Especially at $0.11 a minute. Later... Mike.... |
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cbrain
join:2000-05-21
Silver Spring, MD
·VoicePulse for Bus..
 ·Verizon FIOS
·Comcast
·Future Nine Corpor..
·VoiceStick
| reply to jeffnyc
said by jeffnyc  :Yeah, the incoming call charges suck... I would rather they charged 2 cents or even 2.5 cents instead of 1.18 but unlimited incoming. I was very positive towards VoiceStick before they started billing incoming. I expect notice from any legitimate vendor before such a change. I tried to make contact many times by email, phone and by direct contact. I never got a single informative answer. My regular incoming on that line would bill out @ well over $10/mo. I would use the line if they offered U/L incoming for around $6/mo or $10/mo including a bucket of outgoing. Last week I informed contacts to use another incoming option. I'll still use VoiceStick where they make economic sense. They already lost my incoming. Incoming is not as easy or fast to move. If they raise the price of outgoing, my next outbound call will reflect the change. |
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jeffnyc
join:2004-06-09
New York, NY | reply to dualsub2006
Yeah, the incoming call charges suck... I would rather they charged 2 cents or even 2.5 cents instead of 1.18 but unlimited incoming. |
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dualsub2006
join:2007-07-18
Newport, KY
| reply to celtic
said by celtic :I would pay a fixed $10 per month for unlimited incoming and a bucket of outbound. Skype In with Skype Out is $8.95 a month on the quarterly plan. Drops to $7.50 if you do the annual plan. Unlimited in and out to US and Canada with no connection charges. Works like a charm.
I am going to buy a cordless Skype In/Out phone that works just like a POTS/VOIP cordless plugged in to the wall. WalMart has them on sale just now. |
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jeffnyc
join:2004-06-09
New York, NY | reply to voip_user
Re: [VoiceStick] Is VoiceStick now charging for incoming calls o
Voicestick started charging for voicemail retrieval again 
Not only that it is currently down... |
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golubeg
| reply to jeffnyc
It says 'it will seem'. That sounds like you are not being double-billed. |
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meb
join:2002-12-12
Potomac, MD
| reply to jeffnyc
said by jeffnyc :So they are admittingly double charging for i2bridge calls??? They also charge incoming calls reaching voicemail. said by cbrain :--------------- From: via RT [mailto:customersupport@support.i2telecom.com] Sent: Friday, August 24, 2007 9:26 AM To: Subject: [support.i2telecom.com #12874] Heads up v- N2N incoming call billing ... If you are utilizing the i2bridge feature or global call forwarding, than it will seem as if you are being double billed. Look at your call history, you will see that you will now be charged for both the incoming call and the outgoing call, if you are on the Next2Nothing plan The i2bridge feature is now $4.95 billed monthly for every month you have it enabled. Thank you for your business and have a wonderful day. Customer Support Representative VoiceStick™ --------------- I noticed that too. They didn't sugar cote it. |
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jeffnyc
join:2004-06-09
New York, NY | reply to voip_user
So they are admittingly double charging for i2bridge calls??? They also charge incoming calls reaching voicemail. |
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cbrain
join:2000-05-21
Silver Spring, MD
·VoicePulse for Bus..
·Verizon FIOS
·Comcast
·Future Nine Corpor..
·VoiceStick
| reply to voip_user
Sounds like more VoiceStick changes in the works!
This just in ...
Notice the;
I do apologize, but in order to keep up with the latest changes at VoiceStick, it would be wise to login to your account everyday at www.voicestick.com.
---------------
From: via RT [mailto:customersupport@support.i2telecom.com]
Sent: Friday, August 24, 2007 9:26 AM
To:
Subject: [support.i2telecom.com #12874] Heads up v- N2N incoming call billing
I do apologize, but in order to keep up with the latest changes at VoiceStick, it would be wise to login to your account everyday at www.voicestick.com. We will not send out any mail or email correspondence in reference to system wide changes with the VoiceStick service. As of 08/17/07, we do charge for all inbound calls now. We are now charging the extremely low rate of $0.0118 per minute for inbound Calls. To avoid service interruption, customers without Unlimited Calling Plans must have prepaid funds available to cover the cost of these calls. If you are utilizing the i2bridge feature or global call forwarding, than it will seem as if you are being double billed. Look at your call history, you will see that you will now be charged for both the incoming call and the outgoing call, if you are on the Next2Nothing plan
The i2bridge feature is now $4.95 billed monthly for every month you have it enabled.
Thank you for your business and have a wonderful day.
Customer Support Representative
VoiceStick™
---------------
This in response to my email sent 8/17/07. |
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jeremyv
join:2007-05-22
Los Angeles, CA
| reply to voip_user
Re: [VoiceStick] Is VoiceStick now charging for incoming calls o
If VS would continue charging for their incoming calls then they will their advantage over other voip providers.
I am using SuiteAdvantage and I must admit Onesuite's free incoming calls on their voip is one of the major thing that I chose to go with them. So if Onesuite goes the same way of charging incoming calls then for sure a lot of use will have second thoughts about it. |
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cbrain
join:2000-05-21
Silver Spring, MD
·VoicePulse for Bus..
·Verizon FIOS
·Comcast
·Future Nine Corpor..
·VoiceStick
| reply to meb
said by meb :Looks like Voicestick is pushing users to their $19.95/mo or annual plan. For the time being they must have a large inventory of numbers and are using this to attract new users without advertising. I think your right. Still no response to my email.
I'm going to inform friends and family to use an alternative number. And they all thought I was the phone expert.  |
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meb
join:2002-12-12
Potomac, MD | reply to voip_user
Looks like Voicestick is pushing users to their $19.95/mo or annual plan. For the time being they must have a large inventory of numbers and are using this to attract new users without advertising. |
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N9MD
Premium
join:2005-10-08
Wayne, NJ
·VOIPo
·ViaTalk
·PHONE POWER
·Callcentric
3 edits | reply to voip_user
Re: Ups & Downs of VoIP Pricing
Given the SunRocket debacle --- and the hundreds of postings regarding the various VoIP provider options and pricing plans --- one common thread seems to be emerging regarding pricing.
Those providers who we all considered "cheap" (which I define as "beneath inexpensive") are either disappearing or revising their pricing plans (e.g., VoiceStick). On the other side of the equation we are seeing either temporary reductions in pricing (or "special offers") from some providers trying to attract ex-SR customers --- or permanent reductions such as AxVoice which just reduced their unlimited US/Canada Plan to $18.99 per month, including a free virtual number.
I will be following all of the VoIP offerings closely with great interest, curious to see how it all shakes out in about 12 to 18 months from now. Who will be left standing and what will the pricing structure (and included features) be in 2009? And will only the strong survive? --- Vonage, and the PSTN-VoIP offerings. |
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celtic
join:2001-02-08
USA
| reply to Braga
Re: Voicestick must have purchased some incoming minutes!
said by Braga :
voicestick has an unlimited international plan for 24.99/month. That sounds like a competitive price, so I don't see how voicestick is only good for low-usage.
Mid usage is a better description. I don't need an international plan or a $19.95 plan. We all have cellular. I liked the Sunrocket $199/yr plan but no longer think paying a VoIP provider in advance is a good policy. I expected to pay Voicestick between $3 and $10 per month. I would pay a fixed $10 per month for unlimited incoming and a bucket of outbound. I may just move to the next cell plan and be done with this mess. |
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Braga
@teksavvy.com | reply to cbrain
voicestick has an unlimited international plan for 24.99/month. That sounds like a competitive price, so I don't see how voicestick is only good for low-usage. |
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cbrain
join:2000-05-21
Silver Spring, MD
·VoicePulse for Bus..
·Verizon FIOS
·Comcast
·Future Nine Corpor..
·VoiceStick
| reply to cbrain
said by cbrain :The address was correct. Sent this email Friday morning and got an auto response with ticket number Monday evening. Do they offer an express email option?  No reply yet addressing the issue.
I just noticed their limited plan which I think was $9.95/mo is no longer on VoiceStick web page.
I like VoiceStick and would like to continue to use them. I have not yet made changes and it looks like my current VoiceStick usage would bill out at over $20/month. Yesterdays incoming would bill out at $45/mo. These same calls moved to other current plans would cost less than $5/mo. I can shift outbound on the fly but once I change incoming, there is no reason to return. If VoiceStick wants to stay in the running for higher use accounts they need to act fast. |
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stephencole
join:2007-08-21
| reply to gbh2o
Re: [VoiceStick] Is VoiceStick now charging for incoming calls o
said by gbh2o :I have had similar email failure to them. However, yesterday the following notice was posted to the account page ;-( BILLING CHANGE - We are now charging the extremely low rate of $0.0118 per minute for inbound Calls. To avoid service interruption: Customers without Unlimited Calling Plans must have prepaid funds available to cover the cost of these calls It's not bad unless your account is set up for folks that don't have internet access and have to rely on the i2bridge to call out... all charges are automatically doubled then. Almost eliminates their advantage over OneSuite. Onesuite VoIP doesn't charge incoming calls, I hope they stay that way together with $2.95 monthly maintenance fee. |
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