GaryT2
join:2010-07-24
Aitkin, MN | HELP- Magic Jack can't call local ISP area code Here's what happened. Minnesota VOIP problems. I am in a rural area and my only ISP is DSL in the Area code 320. My free landline calling area within 320 is very small geographically like a 10 mile radius, a sixteenth of my county. Although the area assigned to 320 is almost ¼ of Minnesota….thanks to the pathetic utilities commission and the FTC in cahoots with Citizens Communications »en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Area_code_320 .
I can call my tiny service area in 320-684-xxxx and 320-676-xxxx. with my cell phone but not with my VOIP Magic Jack. My Magic Jack with an assigned number of 952-xxx-xxxx gets a busy signal when calling from my area code 320 DSL landline base …Citizens Communications-Frontier Telephone lines like 320-684-xxxx and 320-676-xxxx. . Is my ISP (Frontier) blocking VOIP on my local exchange? Magic Jack has no customer support. |
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 DrStrangeTechnically feasiblePremium
join:2001-07-23
West Hartford, CT
kudos:1 | No, but MagicJack might be. There are some rural telephone companies which charge much more for calls from outside to connect to their customers [the caller's phone carrier is charged, not the caller].
Some rural phone companies have taken advantage of this to set up conference lines which are 'free' to the caller but very expensive to the caller's phone company.
Several independent VOIP carriers have stopped completing calls to the areas served by these rural companies.
Here's a link for more info:
»MagicJack Blocking Access To FreeConferenceCall.com |
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| reply to GaryT2
My family all have magic Jack, spread over three states (FL, GA, and AL) None of us can reach the exchanges listed above. We receive three very quick short beeps, then dead air.
Also, we cant reach 706-965-xxxx or 706-937-xxxx or 706-935-xxxx
The inability to dial the 706 exchanges started recently, the first week of July. Would other MagicJack users try and let me know if you also can't get through?
My Mom is disabled, and can no longer call her doctor, pharmacist, or sheriffs department. |
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Reviews:
 ·magicjack.com
| said by Frustrated :
Would other MagicJack users try and let me know if you also can't get through?
My Mom is disabled, and can no longer call her doctor, pharmacist, or sheriffs department.
I get busy signals for any number I call at those (area code) prefixes.
Are you saying your mom gave up her landline for magicJack? And did so without having a cell phone as a backup (or primary emergency phone)?
I suggest that anyone who's going to try and use MJ as a landline, and doesn't have a cell phone, spend $100 on a T-Mobile prepaid phone (1000 minutes which last a year, and will carryover forever as you keep putting $100 into it each year).
In your mom's case, you can create a Skype pay-as-you-go account for $10. That's a good backup for MJ. It would fix your immediate problem. (But, doesn't solve the problem of not having a cell phone for emergencies.). The last time I looked, the Skype money will carryover forever as long as you make a call every 3 or 6 months (I forget). |
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PX EliezerPremium
join:2008-08-09
Hutt River
kudos:12 Reviews:
·voip.ms
·callwithus
·Callcentric
·Vitelity VOIP
·Optimum Voice
·Gizmo5
| Good idea about the cellphone, but in a very rural area, this might not work out either.
If T-Mobile is not available consider Verizon Wireless prepaid (if available). If Verizon Wireless is available you could also consider their reseller, PagePlus Cellular (prepaid). |
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PX EliezerPremium
join:2008-08-09
Hutt River
kudos:12 Reviews:
·voip.ms
·callwithus
·Callcentric
·Vitelity VOIP
·Optimum Voice
·Gizmo5
| reply to Frustrated
Both of the posters, GaryT2 and Frustrated, are in VERY rural areas, served by VERY small incumbent independent local phone companies.
Not to give anyone a hard time, because hindsight is always easier....
....But for OTHER people reading this who have yet to purchase a MJ:
a) If you want to be calling into very rural areas with MJ you will have problems. MJ cannot afford to pay high interconnect fees, and being that MJ costs 1.67 a month, it is hard to blame them.
b) Relying on MJ as a sole method of telephony, without backup, is foolish. It should be viewed as more of a supplement, and/or for distance calling.
c) Especially foolish to rely on spending 1.67 a month as a sole telephone for a disabled mother in a rural area.
Again, not to make anyone feel bad, but to warn OTHERS.
I'd suggest looking at some real VoIP companies, but in very rural areas, VoIP availability in general is often limited!
Think: If a VoIP company cannot make a profit serving a rural area by charging $ 15-25 a month, how could anyone do it at $ 1.67
If MagicJack local numbers (issued by their YMAX CLEC) are not available in your county, then the same situation will result in MJ having a hard time serving an area in general even for incoming calls. |
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Reviews:
·magicjack.com
| said by PX Eliezer:Think: If a VoIP company cannot make a profit serving a rural area by charging $ 15-25 a month, how could anyone do it at $ 1.67 Another thread with people reporting a similar, rural problem.
PX, I agree that a person can't expect a lot from $1.67 per month.
My concern is the way MJ makes these surprise policy changes, doesn't grandfather existing customers, and doesn't refund money to those who are seriously affected.
Whether it was the 30-minute outbound call limit (now extended to 120 minutes). Or, blocking teleconference services based in rural areas.
If MJ's going to do things like this, it should refund money (including shipping) to affected customers. (It's probably not worth it for MJ to implement such a process for just $1.67 per month. But, that shouldn't be the customer's fault.).
The other problem is that MJ never communicates anything to customers. We can only speculate what's happened because, in the past, that's all we could do -- speculate.
Related to that problem, MJ doesn't disclose there is a 2-hour outbound limit. Nor that some prefixes are blocked.
If MJ has extended the rural block to normal phones, how can anyone make an informed choice at Radio Shack or Walmart? |
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DrStrangeTechnically feasiblePremium
join:2001-07-23
West Hartford, CT
kudos:1 | The three prefixes in question all belong to Ringgold Telephone Company in GA. I'm assuming that's a rural reverse-billed carrier.
So, what do we need to do next, wardial and see what's blocked? If Ymax/MJ aren't going to tell us what's blocked, someone will have to make a list.
I can see them blocking the teleconference numbers, because the conference lines are gaming the system. I don't think blocking the rest of the rural reverse-bill prefixes is right unless it's announced up-front, but [as you've said, and we all know] that's always the problem with Magicjack. |
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sabresfanSabresfan
join:2009-05-03
Hope Mills, NC Reviews:
·Sipgate VOIP
| reply to GaryT2
When I try and call Ringgold Telephone Company in GA with my MJ I get a fast busy signal. When I call with my Verizon cell it goes straight through. This is another reason people should not place their faith in a $1.67 a month phone service for all their calling needs. I may call Ringgold tomorrow and see what their customer service reps say for fun. |
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sabresfanSabresfan
join:2009-05-03
Hope Mills, NC | reply to GaryT2
As a work around that's free (for now) I would try googlevoice or whistlephone. I called from both and the call went through. I can't say it will work for all numbers but for the price it's good to have a couple of backups. |
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| reply to GaryT2
Thanks for the advice, and the workarounds. When we purchased the MagicJacks, we could get through at first. Our 30-day trial period having expired, we no longer are entitled to a refund (we purchased the 5-yr extension, because everything worked great...at first)
MagicJack still advertises "Make unlimited calls anywhere in the US or Canada for 19.95 per year". The claim does not mirror reality.
I think MagicJack should have to publish a list of area codes and exchanges that you CAN'T call, so that buyers would be informed that coverage is not 100%, as advertised.
For Pete's sake, my Mom can't even call the sheriffs department 706-935-2424. |
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PX EliezerPremium
join:2008-08-09
Hutt River
kudos:12 Reviews:
·voip.ms
·callwithus
·Callcentric
·Vitelity VOIP
·Optimum Voice
·Gizmo5
| said by Frustrated :
MagicJack still advertises "Make unlimited calls anywhere in the US or Canada for 19.95 per year". The claim does not mirror reality.
I think MagicJack should have to publish a list of area codes and exchanges that you CAN'T call, so that buyers would be informed that coverage is not 100%, as advertised.
You are right, but MJ has never cared about honesty or morality.
Beyond that, the old adage does apply. "If it sounds too good to be true...."
said by Frustrated :
For Pete's sake, my Mom can't even call the sheriffs department 706-935-2424.
Your county sheriff does have 911. Can she call 911? You really should test it! |
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Reviews:
·magicjack.com
| reply to Frustrated
said by Frustrated :
When we purchased the MagicJacks, we could get through at first. Our 30-day trial period having expired, we no longer are entitled to a refund (we purchased the 5-yr extension, because everything worked great...at first) You should consider filing a complaint with the BBB.
BBB's ratings are a scam. MJ had an "F" rating which was miraculously transformed into an "A" after it joined the BBB. (MJ didn't change its practices that much.). They obviously give better ratings to members. But, I'm sure the BBB has its limits.
Technically, MJ's Terms of Service say they can discontinue service at any time, and not owe you a refund. But, as you note, this smacks of false advertising. When MJ says "call everyone, talk as long as you want," and then implements a 30-minute (now 2-hour) call limit, or blocks who you can call, I think they are being very creative if they try to use the Terms of Service to justify it. I could understand if they went out of business and used the ToS to justify no refunds. But, advertising something they aren't going to deliver looks bad.
Talking about the 5-year plan. They really pushed that during the Black Friday (Thanksgiving) weekend of 2008. That's when it was advertised on the softphone. It was supposed to be a Black Friday deal only, but continued to be advertised past Christmas.
Then, around Dec. 20, MagicJack implemented a 30-minute call limit. Everyone's calls disconnected at exactly 30 minutes. It wasn't announced. Even the chatty support didn't know about it, denying there was any limit for 4 days.
So, that was an example of MJ selling something and then changing the service, making it almost unusable for the people who bought it.
Ironically, MJ met with the BBB just 3-4 days before offering the Thanksgiving weekend. And, it received its conversion from F to A rating around mid-March 2009. Well after screwing all those new long-term customers with the unannounced 30-minute call cap just 30 days after luring those customers in.
said by Frustrated :
MagicJack still advertises "Make unlimited calls anywhere in the US or Canada for 19.95 per year". The claim does not mirror reality.
I'm pretty sure you'll never find a reference to MJ using the word "unlimited." It's very important, if you file a complaint about them, that you be accurate. Otherwise, they'll zero in on your inaccuracies and say "we offer free calls, not unlimited" and ignore the substance of your complaint.
If you need evidence, magicJack said "call everyone. Talk as long as you want. For $19.95 per year." in this infomercial, at 35 seconds:
»www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsR3b2F9sUA |
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| Mr A number of references to 2 hour (or 30 minute) time limit. Is this per call, per day or ...? |
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DrStrangeTechnically feasiblePremium
join:2001-07-23
West Hartford, CT
kudos:1 | Re: MJ calling timeout It's 2 hours per call [occasionally less; the shortest timeout is 30 minutes].
»MagicJack terminating calls after 30 minutes? |
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| reply to GaryT2
Re: HELP- Magic Jack can't call local ISP area code Add 217 to the area codes MJ can't call. This is for Arthur, IL, a small, isolated, mainly farming town. |
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PX EliezerPremium
join:2008-08-09
Hutt River
kudos:12 Reviews:
·voip.ms
·callwithus
·Callcentric
·Vitelity VOIP
·Optimum Voice
·Gizmo5
| said by PoorRichard :
Add 217 to the area codes MJ can't call. This is for Arthur, IL, a small, isolated, mainly farming town.
You are right, this is outrageous.
But we have to be precise in our understanding of the situation.
Your statement as such is not accurate.
Area code 217 serves MANY places, and is served by many different phone companies.
See:
»www.telcodata.us/telcodata/telco···xchange=
I am sure that MJ is NOT boycotting a whole area code!
Yes, if there is a problem with the Illinois Consolidated Telephone Company, which serves the town of Arthur, this is a problem. (Interestingly, that company is now part of Consolidated Communications which serves many towns in 3 states).
But it's not the whole area code. |
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| reply to GaryT2
said by GaryT2:Here's what happened. Minnesota VOIP problems. I am in a rural area... I live in rural northern Minnesota. MJ has worked fine for almost a year, but now I cannot make any local exchange calls for over a week. Same as others, I get three short beeps and then nothing. I'd like to know if MJ is blocking the calls or my local rural telephone company. My local numbers are 218-243-NNNN.
I'm just glad I did not purchase the 5 year plan. I no longer can make local calls. I wonder how long it will be before MJ folds up shop, takes our remaining money, and sails off to the sunset?
MJ support either does not know of this problem, or they are being deceitful about it. I spent hours last week on online support chat trying to restore my local service. In the end, they said that they had reports of a few people not being able to make local calls and that they would tell me when service was restored. Sounds like many people are getting blocked, and that it might be MJ itself blocking the calls.
If I have to get another phone to make local calls, then MJ service is not worth the price for me. And I agree, if they cannot make local calls as promised, they should state so in their advertising. |
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Reviews:
·magicjack.com
1 edit | Best advice is probably to file a complaint with the FCC. I think everyone, even if they aren't affected, should file a complaint, here.
It may be understandable that MJ wants to reduce its operating costs, but traditional phone companies are not allowed to do what MJ is doing. MJ's doing exactly what the law was intended to prevent. Rural areas charging the higher costs to provide service in their area, and the "free market" cherry picking for higher profits. (I.e., the same thing USPS's monopoly on First Class mail was intended to prevent. Private entities competing in the profitable areas, and leaving the unprofitable areas unserved.).
I think it's a very valid complaint which should be filed with the FCC who enforces such things.
I'm curious what sparked MJ to take this course. They may be playing hardball to try and force better terms for interconnection agreements. But, that doesn't sound reasonable to me. I don't think they would hit a lot of rural carriers at once, causing them to complain to the FCC. It would be smarter to divide and conquer. One carrier at a time.
I think the timing may mean something (so close to MJ becoming a publically-traded company). The financials released around August 2 were from a period in which MJ wasn't regulated by the SEC and NASDAQ. Maybe those numbers were cooked a little, and now MJ is in a jam to show profitability. The risk of FCC action is better than the risk of shareholder (SEC) action?
It will be interesting if the FCC doesn't take action. |
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| I have filed a complaint (yesterday) with the FCC. I referenced magicJack and MGW Communications. |
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