[DrTCP]

Well, I started using 100 promotional minutes that came with the purchase of SPA3000 from Voxilla store. However, there was a some sort of account maint charge from Nov 2004 which reduced the available minutes to 82 as a starting point.

I just sent an email to iConnectHere customer service via their web form. It is a small charge difference but it is a matter of principle... 100 mins should be 100mins of US long distance service.

OTOH, the few test calls I've made with iConnectHere was actually very satisfactory in call quality. They have pretty attractive BYOD calling plans for low volume/pay as you go users.

[PhoneBoy]

The 100 free minutes is actually a balance of $3.00, which works out to about 100 free minutes at $0.029 a minute. I didn't know they started charging an account maintenance fee...

[DrTCP]

Originally Posted by PhoneBoy

The 100 free minutes is actually a balance of $3.00, which works out to about 100 free minutes at $0.029 a minute. I didn't know they started charging an account maintenance fee...

Isn't this a joint advertising/promotion between Voxilla and IconnectHere? It helps sell equipment for Voxilla and IconnectHere is able to solicit future customers out of the little value they have provided. They could have spent more into banner ads etc. so it is a good deal for both. If voxilla actually paying for this without IconnectHere pitching in, that I would rather get a $3 cheaper SPA3000 without the 100mins included in this offer.

Assuming the former (joint promotion), Voxilla should talk to IconnectHere regarding this account maintainance fee so there is truth in advertising. I was not expecting to land an account that was created 3-4 months earlier than I bough my SPA3000 and have already have an account maintanence fee charged to it. It is simply not right. If IconnectHere is not able to fix the problem, perhaps Voxilla should provide fresh accounts instead.

BTW, I am not sure if you are talking on behalf of Voxilla officially for this but thanks for the response. I did not hear from IconnectHere customer service (not even a "not our problem" reply) -- email via their form. That tells me about the care they are putting for potential new customers.

[lonnie]

the lack of customer service in the voip industry is merely endemic of the decline of our civilization in the grander sense. will it -voip- ever mature into something where people are paid for making, and a premium is put on -making customers happy?

in the present case, we're talking about three dollars.

seems to me ICH and voxilla are each blameless for allowing folks to sample the wares for free.

[DrTCP]

When the options are plentiful and switching is so easy, customer aquisition costs are generally higher than keeping someone in the service. ICH may be saving $0.65 in this case but loosing potential much more income and has to offer another $3.00 for someone else as well to make up that lost customer.

What am I supposed to think of a company, that cannot even get their customer support working during the honeymoon time?

[PhoneBoy]

I can understand everyone's concern on the truth in advertising thing. We're working the issue with Delta Three. No word yet.