I've been through a long and hard battle with Vonage, and I'm finally going to say screw it. I'll summarize my case by saying say I've been on the phone 20+ times since August, averaging 30 minutes a call. Tonight, they intentionally hung up on me, and I'm through. I've got enough money now that I can afford cell phones as an alternative. (Yes, good bit of stupidity on my part, but I had other reasons I needed to keep the service from August - December).

I'd like to know if anybody has ever gone through the process of issuing a formal complaint against a company, and what options are available to do so. I know its a case of individual consumer vs. large corporate giant, and I'm more or less screwed. One $30/month customer won't mean crap to a company that probably brings in $30/mil or more a month.

I'm also not looking to invest too much more time into this issue, but I'd like there to be an awareness of some sort somewhere for how terrible of customer service I received. Long-term repercussions or consequences are a plus. I have a strong sense telling me they want me gone anyways, so all the better for both parties.

1/29/2007 10:21:20 PM

This is why they need the ability to edit thread titles .... STEPS.

1/29/2007 10:21:46 PM

Better Business Bureau?

1/29/2007 10:22:08 PM

http://www.bbb.org

1/29/2007 10:22:31 PM

what are you trying to do? Cancel service? Something about equipment? I've had Vonage for 4 years with no problems

1/29/2007 10:23:17 PM

you cant really do shit unless you want to hire a lawyer. which would cost more than you'd ever receive.

i suppose you could hassle them by filing a small claims on your own behalf. i've never done that, so i have no idea if it'd be worth it.

maybe the negative publicity would want to make them settle?

somehow i doubt it.


maybe one of our TWW law school peeps knows?

1/29/2007 10:26:03 PM

Been looking through bbc stuff since before I posted this. Good suggestion though, keep them coming. Would love to hear any personal experiences more than anything else.

1/29/2007 10:47:02 PM

http://www.consumerist.com

1/29/2007 11:55:54 PM

i like when people say "i have my reasons for doing x" and it completely legitimizes the situation for a given thread...

1/30/2007 12:10:14 AM

If you're still at State give Student Legal Services a holla

http://www.ncsu.edu/stud_affairs/legal_services/

I used them to sue my crook of a landlord.

[Edited on January 30, 2007 at 12:15 AM. Reason : oh, and they're free]

1/30/2007 12:14:22 AM

If you really have legitimate issues maybe send one of those watchdog reporters, though I think they end to do local stuff.

1/30/2007 12:15:02 AM

Unless they give you trouble about cancelling I do not see what you gonna get them in trouble for. Its very widely known that their customer service sucks.

1/30/2007 9:32:32 AM

I have a similar situation, this is probably the right thread rather than start a new one ~

My gas was shut off last week leaving me and two roommates without heat. I called to have it restarted (which literally takes all of 30 seconds) and they said it would be a week to get a technician.

Piedmont natural gas is the only gas company in Charlotte and therefore has a monopoly on the heating fuel market, leaving me no alternative but to accept the week long waiting period. By the way, it is fucking cold in case you haven't noticed. I bitched to the CSR and then her manager that the builder called monday to have the heat turned off, and 24 hours later, it was off, yet it takes a week to turn it on? Obviously they have you squarely by the balls. I can at least live with (albiet angrily) cable taking a week to install. But heat is pretty much a necessity when it is 20 degrees outside. I asked what if I was a 80 year old woman, would you just let me die of cold?

Anyway /rant but is there any local news service that might deal with this problem? If someone dies due to the cold and lack of heat, will their policy change, or will they hire more servicemen? If a government-regulated monopoly cannot make enough $$$ to accommodate their customers, then shouldn't the government expand their customer base or raise rates to allow this?

1/30/2007 9:47:05 AM

1/30/2007 10:09:02 AM

Does the bbb work with online companies?

1/30/2007 10:15:57 AM

Depending on what your complaint is, you can file a complaint with the attorney general's office. You will need to research what kind of complaint to file. They will investigate it for you and contact the company.

I had to do the same when a debt collector kept calling my house (3-4 times a day sometimes) looking for someone that had the number before us. They refused to take the number off the list, until I said "law student" and mentioned a few key things. I filed a complaint on the company anyway to help others that were having the same problem.

I have written many letters to companies complaining about service issues. They have a record of who you have talked to. If they get a letter, that person is not going to look too hot.

[Edited on January 30, 2007 at 10:19 AM. Reason : k]

1/30/2007 10:18:02 AM

Quote :

"If someone dies due to the cold and lack of heat, will their policy change, or will they hire more servicemen?"

They would hire a lawyer.

1/30/2007 10:23:59 AM

http://www.ripoffreport.com/

the bad business bureau

1/30/2007 8:10:47 PM

Quote :

" If someone dies due to the cold and lack of heat, will their policy change, or will they hire more servicemen? If a government-regulated monopoly cannot make enough $$$ to accommodate their customers, then shouldn't the government expand their customer base or raise rates to allow this? "

shut the fuck up and pay your gas bill. people like you deserve to die in the cold for thinking that utility companies owe you anything. it's not a monopoly, and the fact that it's government regulated in no way means that they have to provide you with free heat.

1/30/2007 10:29:51 PM

OR YOU COULD MOVE TO MIAMI WHERE THEY DONT NEED GAS HEATING


OTHER FUN FACTS ABOUT MIAMI


NO COWS EXIST ON ANY FARMS THERE WHATSOEVER

1/30/2007 10:32:52 PM

plenty of houses in Miami have gas heating. the last time I visited relatives down there, they had to use their gas furnace because a cold front moved through.

[Edited on January 30, 2007 at 10:34 PM. Reason : you never found evidence of a single fucking cattle farm in Miami.]

1/30/2007 10:34:14 PM

OH SO THATS WHY YOU NEVER CAME BACK TO THE THREAD


NOT BECAUSE EVERYONE AND THEIR FUCKING BROTHER POINTED OUT HOW MUCH A FUCKING DOUCHEBAG TURDBALL WRONG-ASS LOSER YOU ARE

[Edited on January 30, 2007 at 10:42 PM. Reason : talkin out of your ass-ass motherfucker]

1/30/2007 10:42:07 PM

bttt, service cancelled ... anything postmortem that can be done?

2/12/2007 7:08:55 PM

get a thick blanket

2/12/2007 7:45:28 PM