ropeguru
Premium
join:2001-01-25
Hollywood, FL
clubs:
 ·VOIPo
1 edit | [VoicePulse Connect] New looks and features...
Anyone else get this?
Dear Robert,
We're sending out this email to our customers to announce recent upgrades to the VoicePulse Connect! service. We encourage you to login to the website and check out the new & improved features! A list of changes is included below:
- New name. To emphasize our commitment to the Asterisk community and our eagerness to promote its use, the service will now be referred to as: VoicePulse Connect for Asterisk
- Improved website. We redesigned it from scratch to get rid of those pesky signup and profile update bugs on the old site! (»connect.voicepulse.com/)
- Toll-free numbers available. We now offer inbound toll- free service for 4.9¢/min. We also support porting toll- free numbers from other providers.
- New API. We have begun testing an API for users to be able to manage their accounts programmatically, instead of having to login to the website. Currently, the only function available is GetBalance(), but we will be adding more soon!
- Improved billing. We rewrote the billing processes from scratch to support toll-free calls as well as update your balance on a more frequent basis. We will begin supporting international cards soon and we will also remove the need for international users to call in to recharge.
- Improved auto-recharge. Auto-recharge will now work more reliably, checking your account hourly to prevent unnecessary suspensions.
- New auto-recharge policy. When auto-recharge is activated, it will now 'learn' how much credit you use and keep your account from being suspended, especially near the end of the month when phone number charges are deducted from your account. Previously, accounts were being suspended because the balance was not enough to cover that month's phone number charge. These new changes will prevent your service from going down due to low balance. NOTE: If we attempt to recharge your account and it fails, your account will be suspended.
- New pricing. Stay tuned for new, lower US and international rates to be announced in May!
Attached to this email are two forms you should print, review and fax back to VoicePulse at your earliest convenience. Beginning in June, VoicePulse Connect will restrict usage for users that have not completed and returned a signed Terms of Service document. The LNP document is not required unless you'd like to port a regular or toll-free phone number to VoicePulse from another provider.
Regards,
VoicePulse Connect for Asterisk
»connect.voicepulse.com/
--
FWD#: 223611 |
|
ptrowski
Got Helix?
Premium
join:2005-03-14
Putnam, CT
clubs: |  I am not a VP customer, but each provider that improves their sites and offerings etc is a great step in the right direction.
--
Make a Difference-Join Team Helix! |
|
ropeguru
Premium
join:2001-01-25
Hollywood, FL
clubs:
·VOIPo
1 edit | reply to ropeguru
After further looking, they attached two documents. One is a TOS and the other a LOA if you want ot port your number. They state that you MUST return the TOS form filled out completely. I just looked at it and they are expecting users to write in all their credit card info and fax it back to them. And notonly do that want the CC number but they expect you to put your three digit code on there too.
ARE THEY NUTS????
I will never do that. I guess I will just have to wait for them to interrupt my service.
--
FWD#: 223611 |
|
ropeguru
Premium
join:2001-01-25
Hollywood, FL
clubs:
·VOIPo
1 edit | reply to ropeguru
For those of you that want to see the TOS, here ya go..
--
FWD#: 223611 |
|
ptrowski
Got Helix?
Premium
join:2005-03-14
Putnam, CT
clubs: | reply to ropeguru
I read it and I agree...hell no would I sign that and fax it. I would call them with the info, but never in a million years would I put all that CC info on there.
--
Make a Difference-Join Team Helix! |
|
csudsu11
join:2004-05-28
Hackensack, NJ
·VoicePulse
| reply to ropeguru
They didn't say they would shut you off if you didn't fax it, just "restrict usage". What that means remains to be seen... It could just be "you can't make $5000 in international phone calls".
I see no problem supplying this information for business use. I've had to fill out the same info to buy stuff from various online sites (servers, subscriptions, etc).
- My credit card came in the mail, anyone could have opened it.
- I'm faxing it to a company that already has my credit card info.
- This is no different from any financial firm that asks for my banking info for direct deposit. Or utilities that allow automatic payments by credit card.
- Other IAX providers ask for the same thing (»www.junctionnetworks.com/pdf/Aut···date.pdf)
- VoicePulse has a spotless reputation and it looks like they're cracking down on the same fraud that put their competitors out of business.
After all, if there's someone offering the same as they do for less, or with different requirements, you can always sign up with someone else and pay by Paypal because that's not suspicious at all.  |
|
kenn10
join:2003-09-10
Kennesaw, GA
·VoicePulse for Bus..
·Vitelity VOIP
 ·Comcast
·Vonage
 ·Verizon Online DSL
·ViaTalk
| reply to ropeguru
Perhaps you got the email because you dind't accept the TOS on the web site. When I logged into the new site, I had to update my billing information, read the TOS and click "Accept". I have received no email or manual forms, perhaps because I did this online. |
|
Fleed
join:2001-09-26
Europe
clubs:
| reply to ropeguru
The thing that worried me the most about their TOS is that they take no responsibility for whatever they may do to your credit card number. Sounds like a blank cheque to me, they could charge you millions, say they're sorry and point out that you agreed to not hold them liable. Very worrying!
I am looking for another IAX provider as reliable as they are (and maybe cheaper too!) Voxee looks good so far, but i have to find out whether they're any good. |
|
nycityny
join:2005-08-09
New York, NY
·VoicePulse
·RCN CABLE
·ViaTalk
| reply to ropeguru
I don't really understand the objection to providing a credit card number via a fax. First, VoicePulse is a reputable company. Second, credit card companies do not hold customers responsible for illicit use. So if one is worried about the credit card number getting into the wrong hands, they are already protected by the issuing company's policies. The worst that would happen is the card is cancelled and a new card issued. |
|
llast08
join:2004-08-05
Boise, ID
| Yeah, really... How many people here have had their card "stolen" and were actually stuck paying the bill? People are worried about someone working for a company that already has your number stealing it when banks are losing their entire databases to hackers. |
|
ropeguru
Premium
join:2001-01-25
Hollywood, FL
clubs:
·VOIPo
| reply to csudsu11
said by csudsu11  :They didn't say they would shut you off if you didn't fax it, just "restrict usage". What that means remains to be seen... It could just be "you can't make $5000 in international phone calls". I see no problem supplying this information for business use. I've had to fill out the same info to buy stuff from various online sites (servers, subscriptions, etc). - My credit card came in the mail, anyone could have opened it. No, because in most cases, credit card issuers these days make you activate the card before you are allowed to use it. In most cases it MUST be done from the phone number attached to the account. That is called security.
- I'm faxing it to a company that already has my credit card info. So... Just because they already have it in electronic form (secure) doesn't mean they should have it on plain paper for any to get (insecure).
- This is no different from any financial firm that asks for my banking info for direct deposit. Or utilities that allow automatic payments by credit card. A financial firm will NEVER ask for all you CC infor for direct deposit. A firm asks for a blank CHECK which is VOIDED (hence cannot be used by anyone) for direct deposit. All utilities I have dealt with use some form of secure electronic entry to gain you CC number for billing and it is stored that way. None I have seen or used require all the information from your CC including the CCV number which is specific for that card.
And for one, I would not do business with them that way. Second, you will see they do NOT as for the CCV number which is a security code designated for that physical card to verify you have it with you. Most online transactions are requiring that number now. If you fax in your CC # and info and do not supply the CCV and someone gets your CC info, they will be limited on what online transactions they can do. If they have the CCV number they can do what they wish with your credit card online.
[BQUOTE}
- VoicePulse has a spotless reputation and it looks like they're cracking down on the same fraud that put their competitors out of business.Then they need to find another way of doing it WITHOUT comprimising the security of their customer's credit cards. If they provide me with a way for me to securely send them my CC info, ie. encrypted online form, then I will do so. But to as me to provide them this sensitive info on plain paper via a VERY insecure faxing method where anyone can grab the fax and have fun with my credit card, then they can restrict my account all they want as long as they do not lose my number.
After all, if there's someone offering the same as they do for less, or with different requirements, you can always sign up with someone else and pay by Paypal because that's not suspicious at all.
--
FWD#: 223611 |
|
ropeguru
Premium
join:2001-01-25
Hollywood, FL
clubs:
·VOIPo
| reply to kenn10
said by kenn10 :Perhaps you got the email because you dind't accept the TOS on the web site. When I logged into the new site, I had to update my billing information, read the TOS and click "Accept". I have received no email or manual forms, perhaps because I did this online. Maybe so.. Ihave been to the new website and it has NEVER prompted me to accept a new TOS. But if it allows me to do it online securely, I will.
--
FWD#: 223611 |
|
ropeguru
Premium
join:2001-01-25
Hollywood, FL
clubs:
·VOIPo
| reply to nycityny
said by nycityny :I don't really understand the objection to providing a credit card number via a fax. First, VoicePulse is a reputable company. Second, credit card companies do not hold customers responsible for illicit use. So if one is worried about the credit card number getting into the wrong hands, they are already protected by the issuing company's policies. The worst that would happen is the card is cancelled and a new card issued. Get a clue.. Most security issues incompanies come from the inside. I trust no one to have a copy of all my CC info sent to them on plain paper via an insecure fax.
--
FWD#: 223611 |
|
ropeguru
Premium
join:2001-01-25
Hollywood, FL
clubs:
·VOIPo
| reply to llast08
said by llast08 :Yeah, really... How many people here have had their card "stolen" and were actually stuck paying the bill? People are worried about someone working for a company that already has your number stealing it when banks are losing their entire databases to hackers. It is ignorant people like you that are causing most of the issues today. Always leave it for the other person to deal with and lose money on. If people like you would take five minutes to make sure what they are doing is more secure and could not be frauded, then the industry would not be taking such a loss on fraud and things would be cheaper.
--
FWD#: 223611 |
|
nycityny
join:2005-08-09
New York, NY
·VoicePulse
·RCN CABLE
·ViaTalk
| reply to ropeguru
said by ropeguru :said by nycityny :I don't really understand the objection to providing a credit card number via a fax. First, VoicePulse is a reputable company. Second, credit card companies do not hold customers responsible for illicit use. So if one is worried about the credit card number getting into the wrong hands, they are already protected by the issuing company's policies. The worst that would happen is the card is cancelled and a new card issued. Get a clue.. Most security issues incompanies come from the inside. I trust no one to have a copy of all my CC info sent to them on plain paper via an insecure fax. I have a clue. I've been using credit cards for over 25 years and have had illicit use only twice. I purchase on the Internet regularly and that has never caused me a problem. If you trust no one to have your credit card number then you are forgoing much of the ease of purchasing with a credit card. To each his own... |
|
ropeguru
Premium
join:2001-01-25
Hollywood, FL
clubs:
·VOIPo
1 edit | said by nycityny :said by ropeguru :said by nycityny :I don't really understand the objection to providing a credit card number via a fax. First, VoicePulse is a reputable company. Second, credit card companies do not hold customers responsible for illicit use. So if one is worried about the credit card number getting into the wrong hands, they are already protected by the issuing company's policies. The worst that would happen is the card is cancelled and a new card issued. Get a clue.. Most security issues incompanies come from the inside. I trust no one to have a copy of all my CC info sent to them on plain paper via an insecure fax. I have a clue. I've been using credit cards for over 25 years and have had illicit use only twice. I purchase on the Internet regularly and that has never caused me a problem. If you trust no one to have your credit card number then you are forgoing much of the ease of purchasing with a credit card. To each his own... There are a lot of people that have been using credit cards for just as many years as you have. That doesn't mean squat in today's ever changing world of fraud and the ingenious ways that crooks are learning to get your information and use it. If they weren't finding new ways to get and use your information, there would be the need for things like the CCV number that is supposed to help prove that you actually have the credit card in front of you and wasn't obtained off a receipt or some other way.
Like you, I do lots of transactions over the internet and I have never had any illicit transactions because of it. THe only one I ever had was the number was taken off a copy of a hotel receipt in LA when I was visiting there. They never got the charge to go through. Every transaction I conduct on the internet is with a company that allows me to put in my CC info through an encrypted connection that is stored in their database. I have NEVER ordered anything off the internet where they require me to insecurely fax my information to a fax machine where anyone can see my info.
I agree that you do have to trust companies when you are doing transactions over the internet. I do all the time. But only when they seem to take some reasonbale measures to protect my information. Giveing all the info on my credit card to a company by insecure transmission and storage methods is not what I consider a resonable measure.
When I compnay requests information like this via one of the most insecure methods of data transmission, then they are just making a lot easier for someone to steal your information.
--
FWD#: 223611 |
|
Nate425
Premium
join:2005-02-03
Charlottesville, VA
clubs:
1 edit | reply to nycityny
said by nycityny :I have a clue. I've been using credit cards for over 25 years and have had illicit use only twice. I purchase on the Internet regularly and that has never caused me a problem. If you trust no one to have your credit card number then you are forgoing much of the ease of purchasing with a credit card. To each his own... I don't think the issue is using a credit card to buy something over the internet, the issue is sending detailed credit card information on plain paper over a fax that anyone can pick up on the other end. I use credit/debit cards all the time, more than cash even, but there is no way I'd send that information over a fax. That's just asking for trouble. |
|
ropeguru
Premium
join:2001-01-25
Hollywood, FL
clubs:
·VOIPo
| said by Nate425 :said by nycityny :I have a clue. I've been using credit cards for over 25 years and have had illicit use only twice. I purchase on the Internet regularly and that has never caused me a problem. If you trust no one to have your credit card number then you are forgoing much of the ease of purchasing with a credit card. To each his own... I don't think the issue is using a credit card to buy something over the internet, the issue is sending detailed credit card information on plain paper over a fax that anyone can pick up on the other end. I use credit/debit cards all the time, more that cash even, but there is no way I'd send that information over a fax. That's just asking for trouble. Thanks Nate. I was actually editing my post to include that info when you wrote yours.
--
FWD#: 223611 |
|
ropeguru
Premium
join:2001-01-25
Hollywood, FL
clubs:
·VOIPo
| reply to kenn10
kenn10 I must apologize about the earlier post about not being prompted on their new website for verifing my info. I just went back to their site again and saw on the top right of my screen that my account had not been verified. Upon clicking the link to the verification, it stated the following:
Verify Your Account
Verifying your account gives you the ability to do the following:
* Activate auto-refill
* Access the API
* Add multiple phone numbers to your account
* Call expensive destinations
To verify your account, please complete and fax back the form below:
* VoicePulse Connect Terms of Service (pdf)
I will try and update my info in the portal on the account page and see if that is accepted as a verification. If not, I will be calling their legal dept. to try and educate them on issues with insecurely providing companies with credit card info.
--
FWD#: 223611 |
|
kenn10
join:2003-09-10
Kennesaw, GA
·VoicePulse for Bus..
·Vitelity VOIP
·Comcast
·Vonage
·Verizon Online DSL
·ViaTalk
| 
VP Connect! |
|
|
