Missing six months of service on Original MJ Plus?

[Roundabout]

I posted this elsewhere on the forum but haven't had anyone respond. Maybe someone will read it here and let me know what their experience is with this issue.

Has anyone out there run into this issue, before I get worked up enough to brave a chat with MJ's hellish support? I bought a brand new MJ+ from Walgreens to replace my old USB/Thin Client combo. This is an "original" MJ+, not the newer version, and I paid about $55 including tax for it. So, on the back of the package, it very clearly states you get a year of service with the purchase of this unit...OK...so I bring it home and activate it on my existing account, which had expired the day before (although calling was still working, I guess there's a few days grace period after expiration).

So far, so good. I go and unplug my HP T5710 and the old MJ, plug in the new MJ+ and tried calling, it worked first time. Miracle! Feeling happy, I decided to go back and check on my account at my.magicjack.com - and wouldn't you know - they had to find a way to screw me. It showed only six months of service, instead of one year.

Now, I was aware that the "New" MJ+ 2013 or 2014 only included six months of service, but the package on this one, the so-called "original" MJ+ clearly states right on the package that it includes one year of service. So what gives? Did they screw me because I had existing service and added this unit to my account? If I had activated this as a new MJ with a new account, would I have gotten a full year? I'm pretty pissed but I wanted to ask here before I jump all over the chat people, since they are well known to make your blood boil.

Note again, I had exactly ZERO time left on my existing account, it expired the day before I added the MJ+ so it's not a "replacement" of time that was already in my account. This makes no sense to me. Any input from others with the same experience is appreciated. Thx.

[Pilot]

You should have taken the thing back to the store for a full refund, believe you even paid too much for this old model.
Now, phone customer accounts "service" and explain.

[Roundabout]

Hi Pilot,

Thanks for your response. I don't know if Walgreens will take it back after it's been used/opened or not. It was $49.95 + Tax, and Radio Shack and CVS was selling the exact same so-called "Original" MJ+ with the same packaging for the same price as of last week. None of these retailers are selling the new 2014 MJ+. Maybe they just have a lot of old stock to get rid of? I don't know, but all the packages say the same thing - one year of service included (I checked at all the stores). There's people on eBay selling the same one with the same text on the package also.

Does Magicjack think they can get away with just screwing everyone that buys one of the "original" units out of six months of service? That's why I'm asking here, since there has to be other people that have bought this original unit and had the same thing happen to them.

If no one else chimes in about this I guess I'll have to get on the chat with their CS, not looking forward to that experience after dealing with them in the past with the old MJ USB model.

I'd appreciate it if anyone else that has bought the Original MJ+ would speak about their experience, especially if they got the full year service as promised. At least then I would know if I'm the exception or the rule.

[Los Angeles jack]

Not sure about your service being cut in half but this issue should come as a warning to all "original" MJP renewals (including myself) to be on the lookout for this down the road. I hate it when the rug gets pulled out from under me. I just renewed my original MJP on 12/31/13 so thanks for the heads up and I'll be checking on my own subscription as well.

[Roundabout]

LAjack,

Yes, that would be a good idea on your part to check your account. I was shocked when I saw there was only six months (although, it's not that surprising, since this company is one of the worst on the planet for screwing people over). I still haven't gotten onto the CS Chat Line from Hell yet but I need to do it, and at least find out what their excuse is - and you know they have one ready. Surely I am not the first person to find this out, but obviously they keep doing it, as long as they can get away with it.

If they refuse to credit the missing six months, I will take appropriate action. The easiest path to do this is to wait until the jack expires, go and buy another one and return the used one in the package, and add the new one to my account to get the full year as I was supposed to get in the first place. Of course, this assumes that the store will take back an opened one. I don't like to have to resort to such tactics, but there isn't much choice when they screw you - the only answer is to screw them back.

After that, I'm pretty much done with MJ and will buy an OOMA. Not a lot more money but at least I know I'm going to get what I paid for.

[Pilot]

Better (?) to phone them about accounts............

Phone Number for MJ accounts is / was 214.884.5124

[Roundabout]

Thanks for the phone number, Pilot. I didn't even know they had a phone number where you can call and talk directly to someone - although I assume since they're so cheap, the CS people are located in India. One reason why I really don't want to have to talk to them is because I used a fake name when registering years ago, and the last time I talked to them several years back, they insisted on knowing my real name. I figured that they could see it anyway when I paid for extra years service, so I told them my true name. Last time I checked, it still had the fake name on my account, though, so they didn't update it.

Anyway, thanks again for the info, and I still will keep checking this thread to see if anyone else had the same experience of not getting the full year of service on their MJ+.