Anonymous
Premium
join:2004-06-01
IA
 ·Mediacom
| reply to lacibaci
Re: Vonage price increase
I had Vonage for about 4 months. Used it as a secondary line but I canceled my service due to this price increase and they could not charge my the ETF due to the fact they broke the contract.
I liked the service, had no problems at all and really did not mind getting a $1 increase BUT doing this and advertising their never changing price is simply dishonest.
I was offered 6 months at $14.99 rate for unlimited and they called me today to offer 2 months free and while I was explaining why I discontinued the service she hung up on me. |
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travelguy
join:1999-09-03
Santa Fe, NM
| reply to focuspuller
I'd be surprised if they didn't. Those "fees" are not government taxes, they are just a way for Vonage to advertise a lower price. When you impose a tax, you look at the money going to the company and all of that is going to Vonage. That they say they are using that money for some vaguely government related purpose means nothing. |
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focuspuller
join:2002-03-17
Macungie, PA
| reply to lacibaci
Vonage is charging sales tax on the fees...this is like taxing taxes.
This is the breakdown I just got from them:
Residential Basic 500 Minutes Plan: $1.08
Basic Residential FAX Plan: $0.60
Regulatory Recovery Fee: $0.12
Emergency 911 Cost Recovery: $0.12
Federal Program Fee: $0.17
Total Sales Tax: $2.08
I'm checking with the State to see if the above can be taxed.
Check you bills also |
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jhacker
join:2001-12-11
Peoria, IL
·Comcast
 ·Vonage
·Comcast Digital Vo..
| reply to lacibaci
I dropped Vonage in April for CDV, and haven't looked back. The only thing I miss about Vonage is it's extensive calling features. However, they didn't have call screening like Comcast does. My $20 Comcast service ends up only being about $25. My $25 Vonage plan with their junk fees added ended up being over $34. Now, with this price increase that they don't have to call a 'price increase', it would have been over $35. It's funny that they still advertise their $24.99 unlimited plan while saying they've never increased the price. If people only knew!! Plus, I actually recommended Vonage to a friend because they wanted cheap international calling. They were actually going to sign-up until told them about the 2-year contract. They said, "NO THANKS!!" |
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Mediocrates
join:2008-05-27
Raleigh, NC | reply to lacibaci
$25 + $6 in crud fees and 'taxes'. At least in North Carolina. This sort of thing is getting ridiculous. |
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travelguy
join:1999-09-03
Santa Fe, NM
| reply to randi
No. Vonage has always offered two residential plans: A 500 minute domestic US (outbound) for $17.99/mo and an unlimited domestic US (outbound) plan for $24.99/mo. On the unlimited plan, calls to UK standard numbers are free.
In addition, there are also addon plans for unlimited international calls to other countries. |
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randi
@bellsouth.net
| reply to lacibaci
whats w/500 mins. a month. I thought it was unlimited local/long distance. I received a flyer from vonage which said int`l calls 2 the u.k. were free on a landline & .04 min 4 a cell & that offer was good til 7/15/09. When I 1st spoke to a rep early last mo. I was told the 1st mo. svc. was $9,99 then $24.99/mo afterwards. Nothing was ever mentioned about $4.95 mo. 4 int`l. Is that a new "hidden" fee? |
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JEKking
@comcast.net
|  reply to garys_2k
My recent bill(July 2) has gone from $23.78 to $26.70 per month for the 500 minutes a month plan here in Philadelphia.
I like my service and call quality but every few months my bill goes up quite a bit(more than a couple cents) and it's getting out of hand IMO.
Not sure what I might do to reduce my costs for phone service but they are only increasing my need to do something else. |
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Yikes2000
join:2001-08-15
Irvine, CA | reply to Yikes2000
I also mentioned that my cable company is constantly sending me 6-months free offers for their VoIP. And that's my plan if I cancel with Vonage. |
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Yikes2000
join:2001-08-15
Irvine, CA
·Vonage
·Future Nine Corpor..
 ·DSL EXTREME
| reply to lacibaci
Still bound by a 2-year commitment with Vonage, I called them to ask if this $1 fee increase is sufficient to waive the $39.99 disconnection fee if I cancel today. The lady said no. She explained that this fee increase is mandated by the law, or in other words, Vonage has no choice in the matter.
I persisted to disagree. I said my Vonage service already included E911 before, and I'm forced to pay $1 extra starting July 15. After a while, she offered to lower my bill to $14.99 (from $24.99) for six months *AND* to give me a month free ($30 value). So my 10-minute phone call saved me $90. Not bad.
YMMV depending on how you talk to the customer service representative and what mood he/she is in... |
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mddg99
join:2009-06-26
Saint Augustine, FL | reply to Mediocrates
check out VOIPo; offering $18/mth unlimited (in reality bout 4000 min); no activation fee till 6/29; free shipping; no equipment charge; |
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mddg99
join:2009-06-26
Saint Augustine, FL | reply to jmilochik
CallCentric offers unlimited personal inbound for $5.95 / month; outbound pay as you go for $.0198 / min; I'm considering them for my next port if VOIPo doesn't work; signed today; leaving Vonage after 4+ yrs; |
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mddg99
join:2009-06-26
Saint Augustine, FL
| reply to andunn
Was planning to port out by SEP, when my 500 rate increase deferment ended, so today's email prompted me to look, again, and take action; signed with VOIPo this evening; $18 unlimited, no activation fee till 6/29, free shipping; $18 that's it to get up and running; second choice is CallCentric if VOIPo doesn't work out |
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Mediocrates
join:2008-05-27
Raleigh, NC | reply to lacibaci
I just got an email from Vonage noting a 50 cent junk fee increase. |
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garys_2k
join:2004-05-07
Farmington, MI | reply to jmilochik
FYI, an incoming only number with Future-Nine is $5.00 per month and all incoming minutes are free. You can port your number from Vonage to F9 for a one time cost of $25. 911 is optional and an extra $1/month if you want it. |
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jmilochik
join:2003-10-22
South Amboy, NJ
·Vonage
| reply to lacibaci
I am on the residential hold account (use to be called Basic 0). I pay $4.99 + fees and taxes. WITHOUT the increase, I am now paying $8.50 a month. With these new fees, I will be paying $9.50 a month (about a 12% increase), HALF of the cost is fees. I use this basically for incoming calls (I do not want to have to carry my blackberry with me everywhere in my house), but the fees are getting crazy. I am seriously thinking of cancelling my account after 6 years of good service. |
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trgarri
@rr.com
| reply to lacibaci
I was just as appalled when I received the advisory in the mail from Vonage. They change the name or the "fees and taxes" and try to sell you into believing that the increases are due to added service. But when you look back at the service provided under the "old name" it is the very same service you were getting before. It is all tricks in marketing!!! An easy way to increase fees. Each month I have been noticing that my bill goes up by a couple of cents and now I can expect it to go up by approx. $2 for unlimited. I will be switching as soon as my early cancellation is reduced from $115 to $40 which will be in December. |
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ednj
join:2001-03-09
Hillsborough, NJ
·Comcast
·Patriot Media
| reply to lacibaci
I dropped Vonage in May in favor of Comcast Tripple Play. I am saving about $9.00 month total (Digital Cable, HSI, DV incl. tax) and getting the convenience of dealing with only one vendor. In addition, Comcast DV offers a battery back-up of up to four hours so I have phone service in the event of a power failure. Call quality is very good, as well. |
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garys_2k
join:2004-05-07
Farmington, MI | reply to andunn
Yes, AFAIK Vonage's 100 minute plan includes unlimited incoming minutes. |
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andunn
join:2001-09-06
Linn Creek, MO | reply to garys_2k
So the 100 minute plan includes unlimited incoming calls? Does Vonage to Vonage take away from your 100 minutes or is that still free? |
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