Mediocrates
join:2008-05-27
Raleigh, NC
 ·Sprint Mobile Broa..
 ·Vonage
·AT&T CallVantage
| reply to lacibaci
Re: Vonage price increase
I think you're all fighting a withdrawal. If it isn't clear by now, the new baseline is about $30/month and climbing. And like I said, states need money, people need phones. Tax tax tax Fee Fee Fee.
When it hits about $38/month, and it will, I will seriously consider going back to BellSouth for a regular old wireline phone and a long distance plan or something like that. I mean who needs the headache of VoIP when it costs the same as POTS? |
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lacibaci
join:2000-04-10
Export, PA
 ·Windstream
·Vonage
| said by Mediocrates  :I think you're all fighting a withdrawal. If it isn't clear by now, the new baseline is about $30/month and climbing. And like I said, states need money, people need phones. Tax tax tax Fee Fee Fee. When it hits about $38/month, and it will, I will seriously consider going back to BellSouth for a regular old wireline phone and a long distance plan or something like that. I mean who needs the headache of VoIP when it costs the same as POTS? Exactly what I'm thinking. For now I will keep Vonage mainly because of Intl. calls...
Lac |
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garys_2k
join:2004-05-07
Farmington, MI
·Future Nine Corpor..
·Vonage
| reply to Mediocrates
said by Mediocrates :I mean who needs the headache of VoIP when it costs the same as POTS? Like I said, there are alternatives that aren't doing all this. Maybe because they're smaller, or maybe just because they aren't advertising and are flying under the radar, but alternatives do exist.
I went from over $24/month for my 500 minute/month plan (after price increase) to about half that. I still get E911 and reliable service.
I guess I'll throw in the towel on VoIP entirely if/when all the providers are forced to jack their customers around. So far, though, that's not happening. |
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PX Eliezer
Premium
join:2008-08-09
New Jersey
·Callcentric
·Optimum Voice
·callwithus
·voip.ms
| reply to Mediocrates
said by Mediocrates :I mean who needs the headache of VoIP when it costs the same as POTS? You are right, but there is LOTS more to Voip than Vonage or ATT/CV or cable phone service!! Those were the 3 most expensive ways to do it, so they are not good examples.
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Some alternate examples that are FAR less than POTS plans especially considering special features:
VoicePulse Local+200 plan.
Future/Nine various plans.
CallCentric "Personal Unlimited" incoming with PAYG outgoing plan.
PhonePower plans.
VOIPo.
and so forth.
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And with a good outfit like CallCentric, no headaches either.
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BTW, I could get a decent FutureNine phone plan for what Verizon POTS charges JUST FOR CALLER ID! |
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captainlynne
Awesome 9
join:2000-03-07
Miami, FL
 ·Comcast
| reply to lacibaci
I switched from the 500 minute plan to the 100 minute plan a few months ago. I still get unlimited incoming calls. Guess they must have had too many people do that so their last price increase didn't give them enough extra money. By raising "fees" across the board customers can't just avoid the increase by dumping to a cheaper plan.
I sure like the idea of porting my number over to google voice. I'll do that before dropping it totally and using my cell phone only. |
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garys_2k
join:2004-05-07
Farmington, MI | Rumors do seem to be running that GV will soon support porting in. That would be a plus, especially if they also opened up SIP access beyond Gizmo5. |
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andunn
join:2001-09-06
Linn Creek, MO | 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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garys_2k
join:2004-05-07
Farmington, MI | Yes, AFAIK Vonage's 100 minute plan includes unlimited incoming minutes. |
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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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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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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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garys_2k
join:2004-05-07
Farmington, MI | 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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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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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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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 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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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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Yikes2000
join:2001-08-15
Irvine, CA | 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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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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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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