voip_user
join:2006-06-14
Middletown, CT
 ·VoiceStick
1 edit |  [VoiceStick] Is VoiceStick now charging for incoming calls on N2
I just noticed this today in my call logs
8/16/2007 6:05:33 PM INCOMING INBOUND RATE 1 0.01
Anybody else see such charges. I believe their biggest advantage over other similar providers was free unimited incoming calls but looks like that is changing. Time to evaluate if it is worth staying with them after this. |
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ice5428
join:2007-07-17 | Re: [VoiceStick] Is VoiceStick now charging for incoming calls o
Yup, incoming calls are now .01 per minute. No emails explaining this from voicestick. I emailed them and have received no reply. |
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jeffnyc
join:2004-06-09
New York, NY
4 edits | reply to voip_user
wow... i had a feeling that was coming since i couldnt find it posted anywhere on their site recently that incoming calls were included.... i agree this was a major advantage of voicestick
even though i have magicjack, i would still use voicestick because they hold my number and i want them to consider my account active - with this change i may have to shift more to magicjack for outgoing....
you have to admit, the n2n plan is still a great plan... dont forget you are not paying any taxes/fees on top of it which with some voips amount to several bucks a month... at 1 cent a minute thats an offset for a few hundred incoming minutes
voicestick does have to have a viable business model to make profit otherwise they may follow the sun  i just wish their customer service was at the level it was in the days when bruce was an active participant in this forum...
matt - you still on this forum??? |
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cbrain
join:2000-05-21
Silver Spring, MD
·VoicePulse for Bus..
 ·Verizon FIOS
 ·Comcast
·Future Nine Corpor..
·VoiceStick
·Packet8
| reply to voip_user
On the plus side, we now have incoming call logs. I suppose it's better than closing the business without notice ... and I don't begrudge the money ... but I really resent such a precedent. It's like a restaurant raising prices after taking your order. The difference between earning and cheating. I'll wait until this all settles and hope it is a mistake or they have a good explanation. If not ... how can we trust any terms. |
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voipjunk
join:2004-08-07
Largo, FL
·RoadRunner Cable
| reply to voip_user
This is ridiculous, Any company should not change the plan without informing subscribers. I think VOIP industry in US is really not caring anything about Law and rights. We have seen Sunrocket shutdown, now this... I think its really a time to stay with a good company or stick to Magicjack. |
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mazilo
From Mazilo
Premium
join:2002-05-30
Lilburn, GA
| said by voipjunk  :This is ridiculous, Any company should not change the plan without informing subscribers. Perhaps, it is time to let the FEDs intervene? Where is BruceN when we need him?  |
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slow mo
join:2002-03-19
USA
| reply to voip_user
said by voip_user :I just noticed this today in my call logs 8/16/2007 6:05:33 PM INCOMING INBOUND RATE 1 0.01 Anybody else see such charges. I believe their biggest advantage over other similar providers was free unimited incoming calls but looks like that is changing. Time to evaluate if it is worth staying with them after this. How about numbers within VS network calling each other? |
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navin2004
join:2006-05-14
Rocky Hill, CT
·3 Web
| reply to voip_user
I just saw my call logs and was suprised to see this.
Sneaky way of doing this without informing.
As it is they don't let you call tollfree numbers of calling card providers and if they are now going to charge incoming calls too, then it's like a cellphone with a wire stuck to your Gimzo.
I now have to pay for stupid incoming telemarketing calls.
I took there service because of this and free in-network calling. My port-in was just completed 2 days back.
I wish voipvoip starts some unlimited calling type plans, as there customer service is way better. I signed up with them and then cancelled after seeing voicestick. |
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voiplover
Premium
join:2004-05-28
Portsmouth, NH
·callwithus
·Axvoice
| reply to slow mo
I still consider the N2N plan as a gift from them.
They owe me nothing and I know that they need to make about $5/month to break even. I've enjoyed the free incoming but expected this to happen a while ago. Without a monthly min I'm going to stay around. It has been a good backup and is an excellent plan for those with broadband and just a cell phone. |
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meb
join:2002-12-12
Potomac, MD
| said by voiplover :I still consider the N2N plan as a gift from them. They owe me nothing and I know that they need to make about $5/month to break even. I've enjoyed the free incoming but expected this to happen a while ago. Without a monthly min I'm going to stay around. It has been a good backup and is an excellent plan for those with broadband and just a cell phone. But why not give notice? What is next? If I didn't see it here I might not have enough on deposit to cover the increased billing. Would they cut me off without notice? I'll wait for comment from VoiceStick and hope it comes soon. |
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voiplover
Premium
join:2004-05-28
Portsmouth, NH | Yes, you are right. Notice would have been the right thing.
My guess is that we will see that soon. I also would not have know if I wasn't reading it here. |
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hfrisch
join:2007-02-13
Holmdel, NJ
| reply to voip_user
Notice would have been good, but they also cut their outbound US rate from $0.02 to $0.012 without notice and they upgraded their servers by sending an e-mail at 3PM saying that the upgrade will take place at 2PM. They don't seem so good on communication - but the service works well and is pretty cost effective for me. |
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celtic
join:2001-02-08
USA
| said by hfrisch :... They don't seem so good on communication - but the service works well and is pretty cost effective for me. That's good. And we have a choice as to which provider we use. What if this change made it not cost effective and you didn't find out until after you made your choice? |
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hfrisch
join:2007-02-13
Holmdel, NJ
| reply to voip_user
Then I would have been out part of the $10 or so max balance that the account has (usually less - maybe an average of $5 or $6) - same as what I'll be out if they go under. Even with $0.01 for incoming, their N2N plan still looks like the best deal around for low volume calling. |
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dualsub2006
join:2007-07-18
Newport, KY
| Everyone in the business is higher that .01 on incoming calls. Skype is still the undisputed leader if you are only calling the US or Canada on outbound rates but they are still higher than .01 a minute for inbound. And hey, haven't been able to log in to Skype much lately so you guys don't have it so bad. |
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voiplover
Premium
join:2004-05-28
Portsmouth, NH
·callwithus
·Axvoice
|  I just want to point out that for us, every penny that we have given Voicestick so far has been worth it. Call quality has been good. Better than any of the others that I have tried at around those prices. I don't expect that I'm paying for any CS support time at those rates so I have never contacted them...
If latter down the road the prices increase more than it is worth to us then I'll reconsider or just let my prepaid credits die. So far so good! |
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voip_user
join:2006-06-14
Middletown, CT
·VoiceStick
| Yes Voicestick's N2N plan is good and they are really ahead of their competition by a mile in terms of overall cost. Now that things have changed and they are billing for incoming calls that margin of cost advantage has reduced
They may very well still be the cheapest but the margin has reduced. With free incoming calls it was very easy to overlook some of their shortcomings (reliability, not able to call certain 800 numbers for conference calls, issues accessing VM, poor customer service etc ..). Now things will be different.
Let me give an example earlier we could make 1200 minutes calls for $15, now it would be 600 outgoing minutes and 600 incoming minutes. There are lot of operators (like VT) who charge about the same (VT has $15 for 500 minute plan) |
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navin2004
join:2006-05-14
Rocky Hill, CT
·3 Web
| reply to hfrisch
This is from VS Terms of Service....
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
10. CHANGES TO THE AGREEMENT, SERVICES OR PLAN. i2telecom reserves the right to make changes to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Services and/or the Plan ("Change of Service"). In the event of a Change of Service, i2telecom will notify the End User at least ten (10) days in advance of the date on which the Change of Service is to take effect ("Change Date"). Any Change of Service charges will be applied to the End User's account as appropriate, pro rata as calculated from the Change Date. End User can, within ten (10) days of i2telecom's notification, send notice to i2telecom stating that the End User does not accept the Change of Service, and can terminate this Agreement. In such event, End User will be responsible for any sums due hereunder in addition to any applicable disconnection fees. If the End User does not send i2telecom notification of their desire to terminate this Agreement or uses the Services after the Change Date, the End User is deemed to have accepted and consented to the Change of Service. End User may request a Plan change at anytime, a change of service fee, termination fee, and or other terms and conditions may apply.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
They clearly violated there own TOS by not giving a notice.
And if they are going to charge for incoming to makes sure they recover a minimum amount per month from N2N plans, then they should now allow calls to 1-800 numbers of calling cards and not charge airtime for that. It's not fair when they don't have customer support folks to look at why outbound calling to some international destination does not work when calling direcly, while at the same time not letting those folks use a calling card to call that same destination. In my opinion that is restricting full use of what at the end of the day is a "phone line". |
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jeffnyc
join:2004-06-09
New York, NY
| reply to slow mo
said by slow mo :How about numbers within VS network calling each other? I am pretty sure all VS to VS are still free.
Also, not that some of you may consider this significant but I believe incoming calls are being charged at $0.012 not $0.01, a 5 min incoming call costs 6 cents. |
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cbrain
join:2000-05-21
Silver Spring, MD
·VoicePulse for Bus..
·Verizon FIOS
·Comcast
·Future Nine Corpor..
·VoiceStick
·Packet8
| reply to voip_user
I haven't seen an announcement yet. Why don't we wait until it is official that VoiceStick is billing for incoming before we accept it, or make favorable comparisons to competitors. If I were marketing director and read this thread, I would conclude it was time to charge for incoming whether it was planed or not. |
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