annex1982
join:2005-02-15
Cleveland, OH
| [Other] RocketVoIP switches plan to business: overuse
Hi all...I have a problem with RocketVoip (www.rocketvoip.com) They said their service is unlimited ($24.95) and suddenly they sent me an email about a week ago, telling me that I'm not qualified as a residential user and they asked me to switch to business plan. Please read the attached email.
"Dear Customer,
We greatly appreciate your business and hope you're enjoying the superior quality of our service. Unfortunately, you do not meet our criteria for a "residential user" according to the WQN agreement you accepted at the time of your purchase.
Fortunately, we have developed a more suitable program that we believe will better meet your needs. This is the best value available with superior quality. For only $14.95 per month, you receive:
§ 500 minutes to the US, Canada, and over 30 countries that you can also use with your cell phone
§ Lowest per minute rate plan for all international calls (see attached)
§ Unlimited rocketVoIP to rocketVoIP calls
§ Unlimited inbound calls.
We would like to continue your service, but in order to do so, we will need your response to this email within 24 hours, accepting or declining our new $14.95 plan, or we will discontinue your service. Please send an email to support@rocketVoIP.com stating "accept" or "decline" along with your rocketVoIP telephone number, and we will update your account accordingly.
We look forward to being your broadband phone service provider,
RocketVoIP Customer Compliance"
I use this service a lot to call my GF and my family abroad (I don't use the service for business purpose). I think a CSR told me that they flag customers who use more than 1200 min/mo. It's not fair since their ad says unlimited. Indeed I need more than 1200 min/mo and I use the service for personal usage.
The bottom line is that their ad is lying and misleading the customers.
Is there anybody can help me with this?
Thank you in advance and I'm sorry for the long story. |
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Test99
Premium
join:2003-04-24
San Jose, CA
 ·DSL EXTREME
 ·InPhonex
| Re: [Other] RocketVoIP switches plan to business:
What countries do you want to call? Maybe one of these providers would be a better option:
»BroadVoice.com
»Lingo.com
»www.mutualphone.com/ (not unlimited, but very low rates)
»www.voipbuster.com/ (PC-to-phone service is free for now)
--
FWD 50775 |
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annex1982
join:2005-02-15
Cleveland, OH
| reply to annex1982
I make the phone call to jakarta indonesia. They offer unlimited plan to this city and that's the reason I signed up with them and I talk a lot with my girlfriend and family in Jakarta.
Unfortunately they limit the calls as it is said on the email. A CSR keeps saying that I'm not a regular residential user, while their ad says it "UNLIMITED" and I've been using the service to call my parents and my GF. I've been using about 1200 min since I signed up on March 26.
Thank you for you advice but those companies don't have unlimited service to Jakarta Indonesia. Thank you |
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WhyADuck
Premium
join:2003-03-05
| reply to annex1982
Rather than repost what I said before, I'll simply refer you to three of my earlier messages in the P8 thread:
»/speak/p···12945224
»/speak/p···12948107
»/speak/p···12955067
(I had a lot more to say in that thread, »[Packet8] P8 switching us to Business2000.unlimited overuse , but those three messages should give you the gist of it).
Basically my advice to you would be similar - if RocketVoIP doesn't back down on this, file a complaint with your state's Attorney General and/or other consumer protection agencies. Any company that uses the word unlimited in their advertising should be held to that, and if they don't really want to offer unlimited service, then they are engaging in false and deceptive advertising by using that word. |
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WhyADuck
Premium
join:2003-03-05 | reply to annex1982
Does the person you are talking to in Jakarta have an Internet connection of any kind (either broadband or dial-up)? If so you might be able to communicate using Free World Dialup or Skype. |
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hartfordct
join:2002-09-27
Rocky Hill, CT | reply to annex1982
Annex, I got my problem solved after I talked to Tim. He had cleared my account. If you can't get it resolved I would suggest that you file a complaint to BBB, FTC and FCC. |
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dustenm
join:2004-06-11
Hanover, PA
| I was wondering if anyone could tell me what kind of adapter RocketVoIP uses and if anyone knows if they use G.729 Codec? I am thinking to switching to them because of all the free countries you can call. I have lingo now and I am happy with them but the extra free countries are an added + I just need to make sure that they use G.729 as I do travel and need to use it on dialup 56k sometimes. |
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annex1982
join:2005-02-15
Cleveland, OH
| reply to annex1982
THanks for the response guys.
Unfortunately my GF doesn't really use the internet that much. so I can't rely using the internet phone like skype, etc.
They use G.729 codec indeed. The voice is very clear and that's the reason I like their VoIP and another good thing is that they work with your cellphone. That's pretty cool actually.
hartfordct: Do you have any idea how many minutes you've been using the service? I think once it reaches 1200 min before the end of your billing cycle, you'll get the same problem as I do.
Should I talk to the upper level management first about this? Though it's impossible to talk to them. |
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dustenm
join:2004-06-11
Hanover, PA
| I called and talked to someone at RocketVoip and told them I am interested in getting there service I told them I use about 3000 minutes per month residintial usage and he said that is too much. He said 400 is the average usage but they allow there customers to use between 1500 to 1600 minutes per month.
Only 1500 to 1600 that is not much I think I will stay with lingo as they let me use all the minutes I want with no limits |
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sun rocket user
@comcast.net | reply to annex1982
does any body remeber voip2.net ...
probably same company with different name |
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sun rocket user
@comcast.net
| »Warning! VOIP2 charged me $500 for cancellation
old voip2 thread
every company has a different way of defining unlimited..
they do not make any thing clear...
it is a bait and switch |
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hartfordct
join:2002-09-27
Rocky Hill, CT
| reply to annex1982
said by annex1982  :THanks for the response guys. Unfortunately my GF doesn't really use the internet that much. so I can't rely using the internet phone like skype, etc. They use G.729 codec indeed. The voice is very clear and that's the reason I like their VoIP and another good thing is that they work with your cellphone. That's pretty cool actually. hartfordct: Do you have any idea how many minutes you've been using the service? I think once it reaches 1200 min before the end of your billing cycle, you'll get the same problem as I do. Should I talk to the upper level management first about this? Though it's impossible to talk to them. Annex, I have only used about 500 minutes so far this month. |
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annex1982
join:2005-02-15
Cleveland, OH | reply to annex1982
yeah it seems nothing is clear in this VoIP companies. It happened too to a lady from Illinois with Packet 8 and I think an AP reporter already wrote an article for that problem |
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annex1982
join:2005-02-15
Cleveland, OH
| reply to dustenm
I asked the same thing. I told Tim that I need 3000 min/mo. But Tim said he could not make an individual plan which makes sense to and I don understand that. But 1200 min/mo is way way too low.
It just doesn't make any sense that they limit the customer up to 1200 min. Basically once you've hit 1150 min before your billing cycle ends, the system will throw a red flag to your account and I don't thing they let you use up to 1500 - 1600 min as dustenm said |
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laserjobs
Premium
join:2004-05-02
Las Vegas, NV
 ·Cox HSI
| reply to annex1982
Sounds like Rocketvoip is just like packet8.
This should be the company's motto:
"Redefining Unlimited Calling to 1200 minutes a month"
or
"Do the Math, Unlimited really does mean 1200 minutes a month"
First some VoIP companies start acting like a traditional phone company by adding "Regulatory Recovery Fees" now some are redefining the word "Unlimited". Looks like we should have lawyers and regulation all over the industry in no time.  |
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ex p8
@excel.com | We need to find the companies that cheat like this black mark them... |
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hartfordct
join:2002-09-27
Rocky Hill, CT
| reply to annex1982
said by annex1982 :I asked the same thing. I told Tim that I need 3000 min/mo. But Tim said he could not make an individual plan which makes sense to and I don understand that. But 1200 min/mo is way way too low. It just doesn't make any sense that they limit the customer up to 1200 min. Basically once you've hit 1150 min before your billing cycle ends, the system will throw a red flag to your account and I don't thing they let you use up to 1500 - 1600 min as dustenm said Annex, here is the link to the joint Policy Statement from FTC and FCC about deceptive advertisement:
»www.ftc.gov/os/2000/03/jpsada.pdf
I would suggest you file a complain with FTC & FCC and also with your State Attorney. This is a case they (Rocket VoIP) will surely lose, just like Blockbuster Video lost the case in the "No Late Fees" advertisement. |
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annex1982
join:2005-02-15
Cleveland, OH
| hartfordct: Thanks for the link. I'm going to print the statement and read it over the weekend 
Anyway, Antz also posted a topic @ fatwallet.com
»www.fatwallet.com/forums/message···d=459513 |
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charliev
join:2001-07-18
Arvada, CO
| Having worked at ISPs in the 80s/90s when Internet usage was new, the UNLIMITED ploy is very common. CompuServe used the same ploy. When a user hit 1000 minutes in a month they were notified that the usage was high and they would have to change to a different plan such as a business plan for more a month.
Guess where the old ISP guys went? |
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annex1982
join:2005-02-15
Cleveland, OH
| said by charliev :Having worked at ISPs in the 80s/90s when Internet usage was new, the UNLIMITED ploy is very common. CompuServe used the same ploy. When a user hit 1000 minutes in a month they were notified that the usage was high and they would have to change to a different plan such as a business plan for more a month. Guess where the old ISP guys went? Hahahaha...that's funny. I guess we know where they went. I think history repeats here. |
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