MagicJack forces me to pay for a Local Call.

[Savario]

I get a recorded message when I call a specific number in my area code using Magic Jack, and Magic Jack Plus. It states to add pre-paid minutes to the account by going to http://my.magicjack.com/prepaid

When I go there it asks to purchase pre-paid minutes for "International" calling. Problem is, the call is within my same area code.

"magicJack completes calls to conference lines, platforms and certain non-ILEC area calls in conjunction with large phone carriers and these calls require a prepaid purchase. Please know that these rates are at a substantial discount to Verizon rates and the other largest carriers and are the wholesale rates of the largest carrier."

I have always called this same number for the past 3 years, now I am getting this message. Why?

[black_icon]

You may refer to the MJ's TOS; http://www.magicjack.com/tos/ and read the article number 4

[cell14]

As mentioned a zillion times on this forum ( and elsewhere) MJ does not provide free service to certain phone numbers, exchanges or even whole area codes. That usually happens when the local carrier charges to much for termination fees.
There are two choices : Either pay up or look for another service ( there are alternatives out there)

[Savario]

As mentioned a zillion times on this forum ( and elsewhere) MJ does not provide free service to certain phone numbers, exchanges or even whole area codes. That usually happens when the local carrier charges to much for termination fees.
There are two choices : Either pay up or look for another service ( there are alternatives out there)

Too bad they don't mention it in those MJ commercials, I must have seen that infomercial on a least a zillion channels.

[cell14]

Too bad they don't mention it in those MJ commercials, I must have seen that infomercial on a least a zillion channels.

That's why I watch TV with a remote in my hand. Commercial= click.

[Savario]

Too bad they don't mention it in those MJ commercials, I must have seen that infomercial on a least a zillion channels.

That's why I watch TV with a remote in my hand. Commercial= click.

but only because all the "numbers" on your remote work.

[Ruejo]

You may refer to the MJ's TOS; http://www.magicjack.com/tos/ and read the article number 4

Further info "We may provide for a fee, premium prepaid services, which may be powered by YMAX Communications Corp. (YMAX), and may include some inbound, international, conference, platform and outbound calls that receive a recording and certain calls to non-ILEC areas, and the rates for those services will be governed by listed price lists or tariffs."

That means if you are calling a certain number and you are able to hear a recording about purchasing a prepaid minutes, you need to purchase prepaid minutes. Otherwise, the call cannot be completed.

I understand this is hard for us magicJack customers but we cannot do anything about their policy.

[fantasy]

I purchased the prepaid minutes for conference calls with my Origami Owl Business. The first call said I had 1500 minutes. I was on the call for 45 minutes and next time i go to use it I only have 500!!!! What a rip off!!! I'll just use my cell and I wont be renewing my magic jack number.

[SteveHC]

but only because all the "numbers" on your remote work.

- LOL good one (I'm easily entertained)

[cell14]

but only because all the "numbers" on your remote work.

[katlady111]

[quote="Ruejo"][quote="black_icon"]You may refer to the MJ's TOS; http://www.magicjack.com/tos/ and read the article number 4[/quote]

Further info "We may provide for a fee, premium prepaid services, which may be powered by YMAX Communications Corp. (YMAX), and may include some inbound, international, conference, platform and [b][u]outbound calls that receive a recording[/u][/b] and certain calls to non-ILEC areas, and the rates for those services will be governed by listed price lists or tariffs."

That means if you are calling a certain number and you are able to hear a recording about purchasing a prepaid minutes, you need to purchase prepaid minutes. Otherwise, the call cannot be completed.

I understand this is hard for us magicJack customers but we cannot do anything about their policy.[/quote]


That's all well and good, but what I'm finding is that all of a sudden, calls I've made routinely in the past are now eliciting the recorded "go buy prepaid minutes" blurb -- and it all seems maddeningly arbirary as to when this occurs. For example, I can't call my local Walgreen's anymore without biting the prepaid bullet, but I can still call my local CVS.

Go figure. I am about done with MJ.

[mberlant]

The problem is not that the TOS spells this out now. The problem is that MJ made a material change in the TOS since the time we all contracted and paid for the service.

If a cell phone company were to make a similar change in its TOS, such as reducing Nights and Weekends to 1AM to 3AM they would be required under law to allow anyone who disagrees with the change to cancel the contract without an Early Termination Fee. MJ is similarly required by law to offer anyone who disagrees with the material change to cancel the contract without penalty and to receive a refund for the residual amount of the prepaid contract. Anything less is bait-and-switch, as they took our money under the pretense of allowing call termination to any US number yet delivered a service significantly less than contracted.

I wonder what would happen if everyone who was defrauded in this manner made a printout of their account page showing the remaining time on the prepaid contract along with a time stamped printout (from The Wayback Machine) of the TOS as it way it was worded at the time of payment for this subscription, and then brought it to their local courthouse as a small claim. I bet it would be less expensive to MJ to honor their advertising by providing the service they contracted for than to be subject to hundreds of thousands of $1500 judgements in Small Claims Courts around the US.