Call today, but maybe not tomorrow!
Written: Jul 19 '01
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Inexpensive calls
Cons: Unreliable, billing problems
The Bottom Line: Cheap, but unreliable calls and customer service has no listening skills.
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| alladinjw's Full Review: Net2Phone |
Net2phone is has been around for awhile. They allow you to make free 5 minute calls in the US and low price domestic and International calls. I have friends in Europe so I figured I'd try it out. My long distance savings were 50% over MCI or ATT.
I downloaded the software onto my 1.3 gigahertz computer and installed it. Next is the test phase where you test your speakers and microphone. I tested it and everything worked. Then you have to fund your account to make calls. I used a credit card that I have for online purchases.
Finally, I dial my friend in Sweden. I hear it dial, but then I don't hear anything. So, I think maybe the speakers aren't working and test them again. Everything is fine, so I dial again. This time the call goes through, but I get an answering machine. I try again later, and get the dead air---no sound. Try again, same thing. Third time it goes through and we talk for about an hour. The sound seemed fine, I didn't experience the echo that other reviewers have been complaining about.
However, about every 2 out of 3 calls get dead air when I try it. Now the shocker, I check my bill and every time I get the dead air...they are billing me for 1-3 minutes. This occurs even if I hang up right away. I didn't have time to complain as I was going away for a vacation. However, when I got back I checked my account to verify the charges before I called them.
This is when I see my account has a 0 dollar balance even though I have made about 5 hours of calls. I check my credit card statement and net2phone has credited my account back the $20 that I originally charged. Free phone calls, can't be all bad, right?
So, I add another $10 and try to call some of my friends. Well, the net2phone software notifies me that my account is closed and to contact them. I contact them and they tell me that they are unable to verify the credit card. I used the card at 3 other web sites since I got back, so I explain that to them and they request that I send them a copy of my credit card statement. I call my credit card company and they verify no problems with my card and tell me that I should not send my statement as it is a security issue.
So, I tell that to Net2phone and they keep asking for a statement. To date, this has not been fixed and I requested that they close my account. At least I got 5 hours of free talk time!
Recommended:
No
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Epinions.com ID:
alladinjw
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Location: Southeastern MA
Reviews written: 68
Trusted by: 14 members
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