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Way Beyond Communications Ripoff Big Promises-Tough Results Boca Raton Florida
I had decided to sign up for some VOIP telphone service with this company. They had offered me what sounded like a tremendous deal. Phone service over the internet for two lines at a cost of just $24.95/month plus $2.50 for protection assurance($27.45/month!!). No taxes,, no contract and no cancellation fee. The only thing I had to pay was an activation fee of $29.95 per line($59.90) plus 19.95 shipping and the protection fee of $2.50. A total charge of $85.35. This was to have a 30 day money back guarantee with no questions asked. In addition I was to receive a $50 cash rebate after one year, plus a free weekend for 2 in selected cities....plus two virtual area codes whereby people could call us at local rates. Not that this wasn't enough but we were also offered free International Calling for up to 250 minutes to selected countries(with a 3.9 cent per minute cost after that.
Yes, this offer was just to good to pass up so I signed up for it! In the sign up I was asked to fax a document to them that authorized Way Beyond Communications to transfer our numbers over to them. This way we could keep the same numbers we had before.
When I first got my activation charge posted to my credit card there was a small error. However it was quickly disposed of and solved.
On Friday 3/24/06 I received our equipment. On Saturday I wanted to set it up and found out that I had to purchase an Router to be used so that the phone numbers would connect. I called and was told that they could be purchased for $10 at either Wal-Mart or K-Mart. I went there and found out they cost $29-49 not $10.00!
After a lot of running around I foundly found the Router I wanted and paid an expert to come in and install it and the other equipment. Once we got it all hooked up I discovered that we were having a hard time receiving outside phone calls. It was then that I was advised that this would be a problem for up to 4 weeks(business day weeks)! I said I could not put up with that since all of my business calls, personal calls, and medical calls came thru these lines. I had previously understood that they system could be activated by Monday when the lines could be "Ported" over. I said I would have to cancel and just keep my existing service since I could not leave my phone service for almost a full month. However I did not feel it was proper to be charged the activation fees since I never even used the system.
I reached an agreement with the President of the company to cancel and if I would send back the Adapter I would receive a refund of my fees.
On Sunday I had occasion to talk to our phone company about our service and was advised by a representative to call in on Monday and verify that our service was intact and proper.
On Monday 3/27/06 I sent back the Adapter and returned the Router first thing in the morning. I tried to telephone the Phone Company but had a hard time doing so. I was on hold for about an hour the first time and a half an hour the second. That afternoon I got a call from a business associate who said he was trying to call all day and could not get thru! He had some material to give to me so I told him to just fax it. He tried that and the fax would not go thru either!
Now I got in touch with the phone company again and found out that the numbers had indeed been "Ported" today. I also found out that being "Ported" meant that they were officially given up by my phone company and given to the new VOIP company to use. This was their way of keeping my same numbers! I did not know before what "Porting" meant but you can bet your life that I do now. I was explained to that in order for me to get my original numbers back they would have to be given up and ported back to Verizon. I notified Way Beyond Communciations about that and was told that since they had already been ported to reverse them would involve a cost of $400!! I am livid! Why didn't Way Beyond cancel the porting when they knew I was going to cancel? Why should I be penalized for their neglect? I refused to pay this amount and still do so.
I am still madder then H**l about this and do not feel it was correct. My wife is amblulatory and has some real medical issues. Our phone number is in the hands of all of her medical people and it is mandatory that they be able to contact us. In addition our Business Associates all use this number as well as all of our Friends.
It stikes me that if there is not any cancellation fee what is the $400 charge for? If that is not a cancellation fee I guess I don't know what is?
I am planning to discuss this with our Attorney in the next day or so and see if there is any basis for a Lawsuit. I bet there is.
Mike
Post Falls, Idaho
U.S.A.