VoipCheap & VoipBuster- VoIP free trial scam

[Blue_Max]

VoipCheap & VoipBuster, both, state in their End User License Agreement, "New users can try VoipCheap/VoipBuster out for free for a total of 60 minutes. During this trial period you can only call the destinations marked as free."

When I tried I kept getting the message "you do not have enough credit."

VoipCheap helpdesk replied, "In order to use your freedays you must add credit to your account. Without credit the program will continue to work in trial mode."

I pointed out that I was not refering to 'freedays' but 'trial period'. In 'trail mode', I should be able to make calls to destinations marked as free.

VoipCheap helpdesk replied, "You have already made 12 free trial calls, the trial mode is now over."

My reply: I never got a connection when I called those numbers. Only the message, "you do not have enough credit". As you can see duration of calls were 0 secs, 2 secs, etc.
Also take note that:
1. Those 12 calls included freephone numbers
2. Total time is just a few seconds; free trial your company offer is 60 minutes.

I added: Please give me intelligent replies. I will not buy credit if you do not. I am also raising this issue at the forum.

VoipCheap helpdesk retort, "Yes you do that. We have deleted your account."

Not only unethical and unprofessional but also a sad example in cutomer relations; I thought!

Another claim they both make is:
"Buying credits entitles you to 90 Freedays to call free* destinations list for 90 days. credit will NOT expire."
Apparently there are strings attached to this. See thread 'VoipCheap Credit expiry problem' at MoneySavingExpert forum by 'ralph' who lost his money.

PS.
VoIPBuster, VoIPCheap.co.uk, Voipstunt, Voipdiscount, Netappel, SIP Discount, Sparvoip, Internetcalls, Poivy and Voipcheap.com are all part of Betamax GmbH & Co KG, Köln

[Nick]

Yes indeed their "FREE" statement in the footer here (http://www.voipcheap.co.uk/en/index.html) is a bit confussing if you don't get free calls.



* Max 300 minutes per week of free calls, measured over the last 7 days and per unique IP address. Unused free minutes cannot be taken to the following week(s). If limit is exceeded the normal rates apply. With your FREE DAYS you can call for free to all the destinations listed as free! when you have no FREE DAYS left the normal rates apply. You can get extra Freedays by buying credit
In this day and age FREE usually means FREE but for a limited time or a very small fee.

These clearly use the word "FREE" a lot and really should have been up front if their was a small fee to cover say the number you get and then get free calls.

Would be nice for a reply from them ;)


MAX, Do you ever intend on paying for a service or was it because it was free you'd take advantage? What was the use of the free calling or future paid service Business or Home use? Are you in the UK as they are not and might be better for you to use a UK based company!

[Blue_Max]

Thank you for your response

When I registered with them I was ready and willing to pay for the service. Later when I saw the free trial offer, I decided to try it out before buying credits. But it did not work. And the respose from the 'helpdesk' was appalling to say the least. So I would not risk having any dealings with them. Thought it is prudent to stay well clear.

I am new to all this. Planning to trial it at home first and if found satisfactory use it for a small business that I own.

BTW.

The 60 minute free trial is part of their End User License Agreement and as such they are clearly breaking the law.

New users can try VoipCheap out for free for a total of 60 minutes. During this trial period you can only call the destinations marked as free. Register your account by buying credit in order to extend your free calls.
http://www.voipcheap.co.uk/en/termsofuse.html

Yes, I am in the UK and still on the lookout for a value for money VoIP service provider.
Have been using localphone.com for a while. So far so good. But not sure about their SMS service.