MagicJack Ordeals

D_Tintagel_Demondong

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I used to spend about $300/month on long distance calls. I got that down to about $40/month with a special phone plan. This isn't so bad, but I saw the MagicJack ad that promised $20.00/year for unlimited calls anywhere in the U.S. or Canada (after a $50 activation fee).

I ordered a MagicJack on Monday, April 7. I received it on Tuesday, April 15. It came in a surprisingly small package. It was a little device that you plug into your USB port. You then plug your phone into it and, supposedly, you are up and running in minutes.

The device installed it's own software after I plugged it in. It wouldn't let me register. After a useless chat with their customer service, I was given a link to their Customer Returns page. I filled out the form and it led me to a dead end. Basically, I was screwed over; I'm stuck with both this thing and my regular phone.

This is the chat I had with their tech support:

Please wait for a site operator to respond.

You are now chatting with 'Nick'

Nick: Hello, how may I help you?

Rec: hey. i did the magicfix and it's telling me that my usb device isnt' found

Nick: Download and run the Recover Tool from the link below. After running the tool, unplug your magicJack, wait 15 seconds, and plug it back in.

Nick: http://www.magicjacktv.com/1/site/downloads/mjrecover_setup.exe

Rec: thank you. it worked

Nick: You are welcome.

Nick: Is there anything else I may help you with today?

Rec: yes

Rec: i don't know if it's technical though

Rec: i tried to fill out the resigstration on my other PC and it wouldn't let me

Rec: and this one seems to have the same problem....

Nick: May I know the message you are getting?

Rec: i'm entering my info on the Registration screen and i select CANADA from the dropdown list ... but the State/Province dropdown remains disabled

Rec: i can't choose Ontario

Nick: I am sorry Victor, this area code is not available yet.

Nick: If your area code is not listed when you select a number, please select any other number. You will be able to change to your local area code one time for free, once it becomes available. For available area codes go to: http://www.magicjacktv.com/1/areacodes.asp

Rec: ok. thanks

Rec: hello?

Nick: Yes

Nick: Is there anything else I may help you with today?

Rec: there are no Ontario cities on this list

Rec: i don't think i can use MagicJack

Rec: can i get a refund?

Nick: Victor, you can use magicjack with any area code . Once your area code is available, you can change it once without any charge.

Rec: are you a human?

Rec: you gave me a list of states with area codes that are available. i live in the province of Ontario

Rec: Ontario isn't on this list

Rec: i need a 613 area code

Nick: Available Area Codes

Nick: http://www.magicjacktv.com/1/areacodes.asp

Rec: that's the same listing. it goes from OK to OR. i need ON because i live in Ontario

Rec: your commercials implied that this service worked in canada, but i don't see any provinces on this list

Nick: One moment please...

Rec: ok

Nick: Victor, you can use any available area code to register your magicjack and then it will work in Canada without any problem.

Rec: what if local friends call me? won't they be paying long distance rates?

Rec: if i get a florida area code, won't they have to pay to call FL?

Nick: Yes, but you can make calls within USA and Canada for free.

Rec: ok. this won't work. my friends have to be able to call me without paying long distance

Rec: i need a 613 area code

Rec: that's where i live. that's where my friends are. they won't call me if they have to pay 30 cents/minute

Nick: I am sorry Victor, this area code is not available yet.

Rec: ok. i assuemed that magicjack would work across canada. I mean, your commercials claimed i could make calls from 'anywhere' in canada

Rec: i think that i need a refund

Nick: Victor, you can use magicjack with any area code.

Rec: i know that i can make outcalls with magicjack. i am more concerned about incalls.

Rec: my friends will be paying a fortune to call me

Rec: is this a human?

Nick: Please click the link below

Nick: http://my.magicjack.com/returns.html

Rec: ok

Nick: Please fill the complete form and explain your issue in the comment box.

Nick: Is there anything else I may help you with today?

Rec: no thanks

Nick: Thank you for stopping by to chat, I hope I did a good job at addressing your concerns. Please take a second to answer a one question survey about the service I provided. Please click the "close" button on the top right of this screen and the survey will appear. Thanks again!

Nick: Have a good day!

Chat session has been terminated by the site operator.
 

Principessa

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That sucks! I would return the whole thing and demand your money back. Copy the Better Business Bureau as well. Not sure if this constitutes mail fraud; but it was shipped to you correct?
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$400 on long distance phone calls and not a single one was to me? :wtf1:
 

D_Tintagel_Demondong

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I used MagicJack to call a friend last night. The quality was good.

I am still pissed off about not being able to get incalls, but I think that I'll continue to use it for outcalls. I already paid $50 for five years of service, and I doubt that I'll get that back. Still, I'd normally pay about $5000 for five years of long distance outcalls, so it's not so bad.

The four things that bothered me the most about this thing were:

  1. They don't tell you that many area codes aren't available, especially in Canada.
  2. They don't tell you that you have to leave your PC on to send/receive calls.
  3. They don't tell you that 911 isn't available in Canada.
  4. Their customer service is horrible.

P.S. I'd call you NJ... if you gave me your number.
 

Scrufuss

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Sounds like magic jack AND Vonage are both deceptive and misleading...
My cousin got a Vonage account but it wouldn't work with his networked multi computer system. After hours of help on the phone they still couldnt get it to work.
So he wanted to quit the account. THEN he found out about the 250$ disconnect fee.
THEY WERE GOING TO CHARGE HIM FOR BREAKING THE CONTRACT regardless that they couldn't make it work with his system...
Long story short they ended up paying HIM about $1,000 for costs and refunds after he took them to court... But it took over a year
I love a happy ending