Vonage ripoff misleading quotes fraudulent terms and conditions Holmdel New Jersey

Basically, I ordered the Vonage internet phone device during a 'free' promotional 30 period, where I was told that if I decided to end my service, I would be reimbursed the shipping and handling charges and would send back the device. I make international calls, and only decided on Vonage after speaking to 4 different reps at the company over a 2 week period, during which time, a rate of $.04 per minute to UK mobile calls was consistently confirmed. I made received the unit on a Thursday, made calls to a UK mobile phone on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and on Monday, received an e-mail from Vonage announcing the successful billing of $75.00 to my account.

I was told that no billing was to take place until 30 days from the day I started my service, and the $75.00 was an overbilling to begin with. After another 3-4 reps (and good luck to those who really think they can get a supervisor or anyone in charge at Vonage to pick up the phone) I was told the 'correct' rate is actually $.34 per minute, so that is why I am being charged. Another rep, who in an effort to keep me from cancelling told me she would reprocess the calls at $.04 cents and told me my new charge would be $26.00 never followed through. The $75.00 went thru my account and sent me into overdraft, which my institution charges a $27.00 fee for.


I called the next day (Tues) to cancel. I was then told that I would also be charged an additional $39.99 for disconnecting (though the 'terms and cond' states that those who cancel, while in a 30 day trial period ARE AN EXCEPTION to the disconnect policy). At present, I still have not been able to reach a supervisor. To add insult (and more overdraft fees) to injury, on the Thursday immediately following the cancellation, Vonage charged an addtl. $76.50 to my credit card for 'final fees and conditions' that aren't outlined anywhere. They have now made a total of $205.50 go through my account for a free 30 day trial that lasted from 7/17/06 thru 7/25/06!!!!

I had to cancel my debit card with my bank and they (Washington Mutual) are going to dispute the charges and temporarily add the money back to my account as they go after Vonage to reimburse them. This was the only way of cutting Vonage off from further charging my account. I have now done internet research on this company, and come to find that they are at the center of a number of legal disputes---mostly being sued by big name companies for ripping off technology and promoting it as if it is theirs. One of the plantiffs is suing them for $180 million, while Verizon is also suing them. It appears this 'revolutionary' company exists only by ripping off customers and competition alike. I have found it impossible to find any valid contact info, even on the corporate level, to file my complaint with this company. They only list 'vonage.com' as a contact source and a toll free #. I have filed with both the Better Business Bureau in NJ and the one here in Nevada.

Kris
Las Vegas, Nevada
U.S.A.