What's a promise worth?

Posts: 10 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Feb 01, 2006 Posts: 10

I signed up with Vonage in August of 2005. In all those months, they've not been able to wrestle my old phone number out of the death-grip of Telus, my land-line provider. Vonage has apologetically issued credits to my account to counter the money I'm paying Telus to keep my old number alive, but (I gather), there's little hope they'll transfer the old number any time soon.
Recently, this crisis occurred: my Telus line went dead, but Vonage still hasn't taken possession of the old number, so people who call me get a rapid beeping tone and I get... nuthin'. This, of course, is catastrophic, but Vonage's "hands are tied" until the number transfer is complete. And that's up to Telus.
Out of necessity, I'm now giving out my "virtual" number so that clients can reach me. As it seems only doubly awkward to inform them that my number will someday be changed back to what it was before, I see no utility in waiting for the transfer of my old number to finally happen (especially since, after four months, it seems unlikely to be forthcoming any time soon).
My question is: what concession does Vonage make to customers who they've let down in this fashion? They promised to port my old number -- it was a selling feature that drew me to their service, but which, now that a (more than) reasonable amount of time has passed, they seem to be unable to deliver.
Has this happened to you? What "deal" did Vonage make with you in exchange for your abandoning your previous phone number? Or did you take the "bait & switch" without remuneration? Help me to negotiate in good faith by replying with your story.

Thanks,
John Roscoe
Trying Hard to Be a Happy Customer

Posts: 1123 · Vonage Forum **MVM** Joined: May 26, 2005 Posts: 1123

Wow, that's horrible. I mean seriously, I feel for you. But I don't think that it is Vonage's fault completely. I've been reading some interesting articles on LNP in Canada in general, and Telus specifically, and it seems they have problems letting people leave. In this original post, I think there's some good words from the second poster:

http://www.vonage-forum.com/ftopic11078.html

Posts: 10 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Feb 01, 2006 Posts: 10

navydavy2001 wrote:

I don't think that it is Vonage's fault completely. I've been reading some interesting articles on LNP in Canada in general, and Telus specifically, and it seems they have problems letting people leave.

You have committed the falacy of the straw man. Rather than take on an argument you don't like, you've chosen to address one you do. Here's where you've went wrong:

Telus never promised me anything. Vonage did, but isn't able to deliver it. The fact that Telus' irracibility was known to Vonage at the time they made that promise to me only erodes their position further.

Would you accept this bait and switch?

If so, please PM me. I'd like to discuss some realestate with you. And a bridge.

Thanks,

-John Roscoe

Posts: 2252 · Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2006 9:41 pm Post subject:

This topic is being discussed HERE