Rate Increase

Posts: 9 · Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 6:33 pm Post subject: Gotta go

I have been a "value" customer for 4 1/2 yrs. so I don't change providers at the drop of a hat, but this rate hike caused me think about the "value" I get for my hard earned money.

I can't justify staying with Vonage so I've started the porting process to a provider that bills by the minute. My bill should be cut in half.

Posts: 830 · Vonage Forum Evangelist Joined: Jun 08, 2007 Posts: 830

buckeyefan wrote:

I have been a "value" customer for 4 1/2 yrs. so I don't change providers at the drop of a hat, but this rate hike caused me think about the "value" I get for my hard earned money.

I can't justify staying with Vonage so I've started the porting process to a provider that bills by the minute. My bill should be cut in half.

Yeah "value" customer was probably not the right word, since many here including me fit into this category. The individual or consumer category I was speaking of is one who will switch without hesitation when a competing product shows up that is seemingly cheaper, again and again. My point was it is hard to build a business on that kind of customer. Many businesses would be bankrupt if they relied on this kind of customer.

That being said, I am always comparing what I pay, the value I receive and alternatives. Don't blame you for porting out IF you have an altenative that doesn't turn out to be another SunRocket.

Of course IF Vonage is a price leader in this business (guess we will find out), your new service price may increase as well.

My Vonage agreement ends in May and my cellphones end in November '09. With the growing competition and convergence in the wireless industry (new cell lines have stagnated), I am hoping to see lower prices and perhaps some Wireless LAN connected cellphone devices with free minutes such as the I-Phone is supposedly going to have.

Posts: 6 · New Forum Member Joined: Mar 22, 2006 Posts: 6

Honestly, I've been thinking about dropping Vonage for a long time now and the rate increase(I just got the email, mines going to happen in Feb) is just the final nail in the coffin. I'll probably call Vonage and cancel my service this week and I'll make sure they know that its because of the rate hike.

Pretty much all of my contact with friends is either in person or online through chat/email. My only phone calls are related to emergency contact or billing questions. My November statement shows I used 24 minutes. My October was 1 minute. September 0 minutes. August 6 minutes. The only reason my November time was so high was due to having a house guest.

I'm the sort that could deal with a 500 minute a _year_ plan.

I got Vonage in 2005 due to AT&T constantly raising their rates and tacking on fee after fee. My $12/month service was ending up costing me over $20/month.

Looking through my Vonage billing history, I was paying $16.94 total a month when I first started. Now, 3 years later, with fees and taxes that are tacked on, my basic service is $20.73. I always get furious when I see advertisements claiming $14.99/month phone service when I really pay $20.73. Now, that 14.99 is turning into 17.99 so there's no telling where the bait-and-switch fees are going to make the end monthly total.

I'm sick of p(l)aying the game. I left AT&T for the same practices that I'm leaving Vonage.

Posts: 352 · Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2008 8:52 am Post subject:

NXTwoThou wrote:

I got Vonage in 2005 due to AT&T constantly raising their rates and tacking on fee after fee. My $12/month service was ending up costing me over $20/month.

Looking through my Vonage billing history, I was paying $16.94 total a month when I first started. Now, 3 years later, with fees and taxes that are tacked on, my basic service is $20.73. I always get furious when I see advertisements claiming $14.99/month phone service when I really pay $20.73. Now, that 14.99 is turning into 17.99 so there's no telling where the bait-and-switch fees are going to make the end monthly total.

I'm sick of p(l)aying the game. I left AT&T for the same practices that I'm leaving Vonage.

Then you better not get a phone at all. ALL the phone companies, including cellphone, have the same "fees" that jack up phone cost. My old Verizon POTS phone was $32. per month but ended up costing $45 per month with "fees." You may not like it but all phone companies quote what their charge is per month and do not include the additional fees in what monthly charges are. Make sure you check deeply into any other company before signing the bottom line because the next one will be just the same.

Posts: 3 · New Forum Member Joined: May 17, 2007 Posts: 3

I've been with Vonage for the past 4.5 years and I just got the e-mail as well.

Quote:

At Vonage, we're committed to providing exceptional phone service at a great value you can rely on. On December 1, 2008, the price of our Residential Basic 500 Minute Plan increased from $14.99 to $17.99. The new price will be reflected in your February 2009 bill. We're proud that we remain one of the most competitive choices among home phone providers.

I was already thinking of switching to another provider with the problems my adapter has been giving me as of late, and this just made my decision quite a bit easier. Guess I won't need that new adapter after all.

Kinda sad, I really do like Vonage, but as a casual user $18 + taxes is a bit too much to stomach. Just gonna go to Skype for $5/mo and get a skype home phone.

Bad decision Vonage, really bad decision.

Posts: 229 · Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2008 11:15 am Post subject: Re: Gotta go

buckeyefan wrote:

I have been a "value" customer for 4 1/2 yrs. so I don't change providers at the drop of a hat, but this rate hike caused me think about the "value" I get for my hard earned money.

I can't justify staying with Vonage so I've started the porting process to a provider that bills by the minute. My bill should be cut in half.

Did you talk to a Vonage account manager about your bill before you decided to leave? If they didn't mention it, Vonage offers a special Unlimited "Step Up" plan for $14.99/mo - everything that the $24.99/mo unlimited plan offers. Being a 4.5 year subscriber you should qualify for this.

Posts: 229 · Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2008 11:18 am Post subject:

NXTwoThou wrote:

Pretty much all of my contact with friends is either in person or online through chat/email. My only phone calls are related to emergency contact or billing questions. My November statement shows I used 24 minutes. My October was 1 minute. September 0 minutes. August 6 minutes. The only reason my November time was so high was due to having a house guest.

Call an ask to speak to a Vonage account manager. They offer a 100 minute plan for $9.99/mo that looks to be perfect for your needs.

Posts: 9 · Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2008 7:11 pm Post subject: Re: Gotta go

kamnet wrote:

buckeyefan wrote:

I have been a "value" customer for 4 1/2 yrs. so I don't change providers at the drop of a hat, but this rate hike caused me think about the "value" I get for my hard earned money.

I can't justify staying with Vonage so I've started the porting process to a provider that bills by the minute. My bill should be cut in half.

Did you talk to a Vonage account manager about your bill before you decided to leave? If they didn't mention it, Vonage offers a special Unlimited "Step Up" plan for $14.99/mo - everything that the $24.99/mo unlimited plan offers. Being a 4.5 year subscriber you should qualify for this.

About the only time I"ll **** and moan, and threaten to leave, is when I'm buying a car, TV, or other expensive appliance. It's not in my nature to call Vonage or any other utility and threaten them with cancellation if I don't get some super secret special plan. I won't do it. Not even to the cable company.

Posts: 229 · Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2008 8:18 pm Post subject:

You don't have to use it as a threat, but it is a tool that the account manager has at their disposal to help motivate you to stay with Vonage. And there is nothing wrong with calling them and inquiring about other offers which you may qualify for, especially if you are a long-time customer in good standing.

When I made my inquiry, I didn't make any threats to leave at all. I mentioned that a competitor was offering a package with certain features and prices and I wanted to know if Vonage would match it. They couldn't match it, but they did offer me a package that had most of the features of the competitor for the same price that I was already paying.

Posts: 9 · New Forum Member Joined: Nov 26, 2007 Posts: 9

I got my rate increase notice on the 9th, 4 days after the end of my billing cycle,
that the new price will be reflected in my February bill.
That's only 58 days notice till the new increased bill takes effect!
I didn't receive at least 60 days notice and I never received a "warning"
notice that the increase notice was even coming.

I've been using Vonage since October 2004, but on the Basic 500 Plan since October 2006.
What cases would someone get more than the 60 days notice?
Long term contract? New customers? Longer term customers?