Termination Fee Woes

Posts: 11 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Aug 04, 2006 Posts: 11

I attempted to cancel my account today. I signed up June 29th, was charged and was also charged on July 29th. This is not a big deal. Well today August 4th I attempted to cancel my account because they won't provide me with a local phone number. I was a few days past my "30 days money back" guarantee and that's fine, but they want to charge me $40.00 to terminate my account. Like most people I'm sure I never saw this fee listed. It is buried way down deep in the terms of service that I was alleged to have clicked on.

So basically I paid for June and July and will not be using it. There is 70$ and now they want to charge me $40.00 to cancel my account. I purchased the equipment myself. It is not theirs so they have no concern about getting anything back. I am NOT paying a termination fee.

I would be very very mindful about this if you are thinking about signing up.
I never saw this fee listed and do NOT agree with it. It seems very unfair and down right unethical.

They are NOT about the people at all. They are only about the fees!

If anyone with authority is reading this please cancel my account and override the termination fee. This is crazy. I'm unable to cancel my account at this time because I do not authorize them to charge my card.

This isn't so much about money, but more on principal.

My wife and I just purchased a new home. In doing so we had to disconnect all of our old services.

Gas - No termination Fee
Phone - No termination Fee
Electric - No termination Fee
Cable - No termination Fee
Internet - No termination Fee

Dave

Posts: 433 · Posted: Fri Aug 04, 2006 5:04 pm Post subject:

The fee is listed. Some companies charge an application fee when establishing service. Some charge a fee for early termination (cell phone companies as an example).

The reason for your cancelling because of no local number, may be valid, but is not an exception in the terms of service.

Posts: 11 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Aug 04, 2006 Posts: 11

houuser wrote:

The fee is listed. Some companies charge an application fee when establishing service. Some charge a fee for early termination (cell phone companies as an example).

The reason for your cancelling because of no local number, may be valid, but is not an exception in the terms of service.

If it were clearly listed I wouldn't be here today posting this. The fact of the matter is it wasn't clearly stated and down right hidden in the terms of service. Hidden because I was not aware of it. It doesn't matter if other people are aware of it. I was NOT aware of it and when I found it today after talking to them on the phone it is obvious they don't necessarly want you to find it.

Also the service states no monthly contracts. So there are no contracts right? Then why are they *attempting* to get me to pay a termination fee for a contract that doesn't exist. Technically speaking if there is no contract there is NOTHING that can hold me to pay that. I've already contact my bank and they will deal with this. It is figured out now, but for someone to have to go through this it is crazy.

Dave

Posts: 414 · Posted: Fri Aug 04, 2006 5:36 pm Post subject:

It is clearly listed on their site. If you go to the help section and click on the cancellation link, the bullet point link is: Does Vonage apply a disconnect fee?

Also, you agreed to the terms of service, if you didn't read them it is your own fault. The disconnect fee is talked about multiple times in the ToS, and I had no problem seeing it there before I signed up.

Posts: 11 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Aug 04, 2006 Posts: 11

xcrunxc wrote:

It is clearly listed on their site. If you go to the help section and click on the cancellation link, the bullet point link is: Does Vonage apply a disconnect fee?

Also, you agreed to the terms of service, if you didn't read them it is your own fault. The disconnect fee is talked about multiple times in the ToS, and I had no problem seeing it there before I signed up.

Dupe post.

Posts: 11 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Aug 04, 2006 Posts: 11

xcrunxc wrote:

It is clearly listed on their site. If you go to the help section and click on the cancellation link, the bullet point link is: Does Vonage apply a disconnect fee?

Also, you agreed to the terms of service, if you didn't read them it is your own fault. The disconnect fee is talked about multiple times in the ToS, and I had no problem seeing it there before I signed up.

I clicked help but do not see a "cancellation" link.... You have proven my point.

Dave

Posts: 414 · Posted: Fri Aug 04, 2006 5:52 pm Post subject:

Billing-> Cancellation. Two clicks.

Posts: 20 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Jul 24, 2006 Posts: 20

Well, it's not THAT easy to find, but a search for 'cancel' def. does the trick.

I don't like the way their help stuff is arranged anyway, though, so I've always used the search. Smile

Posts: 11 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Aug 04, 2006 Posts: 11

xcrunxc wrote:

Billing-> Cancellation. Two clicks.

Yes if you are looking for it I suppose, but I never did look for it.

Anyway I've talked with my bank and it will be taken care of on this end.

Thanks.
Dave

Posts: 171 · Posted: Fri Aug 04, 2006 10:18 pm Post subject:

sdsheeks wrote:

Anyway I've talked with my bank and it will be taken care of on this end.

My guess is that your bank will not be able to "fix" this since it isn't broken. You agreed to the terms when you signed up, just because you didn't read them doesn't mean you are not legally responsible for the fee.

I agree that the early disconnect fee is not right up front, nor do I think it's a good practice, but that does not change your legal responsibility. Good luck...