Vonage bans used VOIP adapters??

Posts: 6 · New Forum Member Joined: Mar 05, 2005 Posts: 6

I purchased a Linksys adapter from Staples which did not work with my phones, but upon investigating the Motorola VT1005Vs work fine. So I purchased a pair from a person who had cancelled their Vonage account due to poor service. I have twice tried to change the MAC address on my account to the Motorola adapter and Vonage reps have told me that Vonage prohibits a device that has once been activated from being used on an other account. The person I purchased the units from was charged the termination fee ($40 I believe) for the two units so they should have been his. I asked "so can I sell the Linksys adapters that didn't work for me" and was told Vonage wouldn't turn them on since I had registered their MAC addresses, even though I had purchased the devices myself.

Is this really Vonage's policy or is it that their system doesn't have a way to change MAC addresses? It seems absurd with people purchasing their own adapters that they are locked into this mindset of only activating virgin VOIP adapters.

Posts: 3198 · Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2005 7:25 pm Post subject:

it's a vonage thing. they change mac addresses all the time for people who buy new adaptors.

Posts: 126 · Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2005 4:25 am Post subject:

Hey, why don't we just go back to the Hitler days? Rolling Eyes

Posts: 6 · New Forum Member Joined: Mar 05, 2005 Posts: 6

Isn't Vonage in the business to sell their IP services? Their mantra should be "to make each phone caller use Vonage". So they should be trying to get people to sign-up for their service instead of placing obstacles in their way. I have 4 business lines I want to get setup on Vonage using these adapters and they are basically saying "Sorry, we don't want your business". Exclamation

I guess their rules are more important than $170/month in recurring revenue.

I don't understand what the issue is with using a previously used adapter, unless their backend database doesn't support reassignment of MAC addresses (perhaps whoever designed their backend system never thought someone would cancel their service).

With any adapter:

1. It was obtained through Vonage, and if someone sells it, that person is stuck with Vonage's $40 fee for not returning the equipment, so they have effectively paid for it.

2. It was purchased by the person on their own, so they own it and should be able to sell it.

At this point if a Vonage rep doesn't see this and offer to help I will just cancel the service and go to another VOIP provider.

Posts: 281 · Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2005 10:41 am Post subject:

So.. if I return my adapater when I cancel my servie... what does Vonage do with it? Throw it out?

Posts: 156 · Vonage Forum Master Joined: Jan 30, 2005 Posts: 156

There are many used adapters on Ebay. I wonder if those potential buyers are aware they are buying a paperweight? Cry

Posts: 482 · Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2005 2:20 pm Post subject:

matth wrote:

So.. if I return my adapater when I cancel my servie... what does Vonage do with it? Throw it out?

I know for a fact that Vonage sent me a router which had been previously used by another customer, so it seems natural that they are testing and recycling returned equipment. I don't really have a problem with that, though, since Vonage replaces it if anything goes wrong while I'm a customer.

Initially I believed Vonage should let customers activate a used router purchased from someone else. Then I wondered if Vonage may have decided it's riskier to try and support used, Ebay items and that it's a better business decision to get users setup correctly with new equipment. Maybe I'm giving them too much credit, but I'm sure they have a reason for doing it the way they do.

But I feel for you, having bought items you can't use.

Posts: 183 · Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2005 6:33 pm Post subject:

seattlezoid wrote:

There are many used adapters on Ebay. I wonder if those potential buyers are aware they are buying a paperweight? Cry

I didn't know until just now! I bought a Motorola VT1005 last night as a backup in case mine dies since I already know the Linksys ones don't work for me the same way as the Motorola. Maybe by the time I need it (if I need it) they will have reconsidered reactivating old TAs.

Posts: 9 · New Forum Member Joined: Mar 16, 2005 Posts: 9

Sorry to barge into this thread... but I don't understand what is the advantage of buying an adapter if you get one free with Vonage when you sign up.

Do the "other" adapters have extra features or something? Why not just stick with whatever Vonage gives you for free?

Thanks!

Posts: 196 · Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2005 4:07 pm Post subject:

hstraf wrote:

Sorry to barge into this thread... but I don't understand what is the advantage of buying an adapter if you get one free with Vonage when you sign up.

Do the "other" adapters have extra features or something? Why not just stick with whatever Vonage gives you for free?

Thanks!

It just saves you some fees and you can "GET IT NOW!!!" instead of waiting for one in the mail. Personally, I'd never buy one myself. Using the "borrowed" one allows you to ask for upgraded adapters as they come out.