Well… I figured out why I didn’t like phone companies.
Got the TW phone installed, but I didn’t get the number that I was promised. Nice….
Called them up and basically got told that they don’t have the number. I hung up on them and will call them tomorrow when maybe I can get someone who has a clue.
I received an automated call from Time Warner to verify the scheduled time and date. The automated call said between 3pm and 5pm. Now I am beginning to remember why I didn’t like Time Warner either….
As long as everyone and their brother are advertising their March madness picks, here are mine.
Remember, when you win, I would like a small portion… a beer is fine.
Talked to the same person at Time Warner. I have an install scheduled for Monday the 7th between 5pm and 8pm.
I received a phone call from Time Warner and I will be able to get my phone number back. I told the person that I would like to then go back to Time Warner as a phone customer and not worry about Vonage any longer. I will be receiving a phone call from them on the 4th.
The support case number for my phone number being “slammed” is *****095 (same one as before). The technical support person decided that I should get a month free of Vonage phone for my inconvenience.
I was connected over to a sales person who was going to set up new service, but needed a debit card or credit card to set up the account. The card was needed for taxes and other items for the account. I told him that I canceled my card and didn’t have debit or credit card. He then insisted on me asking someone around me to “borrow” their card to make this “sale”. My perception is that this sales person really really really really wanted a sale even if it was free. I politely told him that I would wait for the resolution of my support tickets and thanked him for his time and hung up. If I am going to get something that is “free”, it is free. Not nickel and dime you.
I called the Sprint Wireline Fraud Management Department and of course, left a voice mail on their answering machine. I am sure that I will get a call back.
I called the FCC Slamming (http://www.fcc.gov/slamming/) phone number. But, the number would not go through. Maybe my cell phone? Maybe the number has been disconnected?
Sprint called me back and told me that even though it is on the Sprint network, the number belongs to Time Warner.
Called Time Warner and they are looking into how they were able to get the phone number. The person that I talked to said that they shouldn’t have had access to the phone number until today.
The Time Warner person called me back and basically they requested the phone number from Vonage (because Time Warner had a new customer) and Vonage did approve (or did not deny) the number transfer. What they should have done was deny the transfer because the number was already in service.
Finally recieved an email from Vonage:
From: portout@vonage.com
Sent: Tuesday, March 01, 2011 3:26 PM
To: {my email address}
Subject: [vonage.com #*****095] Regarding the recent transfer of 414-***-****
Dear Jeff Tangen,
In regards to the telephone number 414-***-****, our investigation found that we did receive a valid
request to transfer the number to another phone company. We honored the request because we are
obligated to do so.
If you have additional questions or if you wish to transfer your phone number back to Vonage and would
like assistance, please let us know and we will be happy to assist you.
Sincerely,
David
Vonage Port Out Department
Well, that is interesting. They honored the phone number transfer request because they were obligated to do so.
Another flurry of phone calls to Sprint and Vonage. Anything taken care of?
Well… with Vonage, I am suppose to receive an email from the phone number transfer department about my phone number being “slammed”.
Not much today, again. Attempted to call Sprint Wireless and they said that they didn’t have my phone number. Have to wait for tomorrow to call Sprint.
Vonage did tell me the person who the person was who has my phone number now. I am sure that was something that they probably should not have done.
Not much on the Vonage issue today.
I did go my bank and canceled my debit card so that Vonage can not attempt any payments from that card going forward.
Recieved this email on Friday.
From: The Vonage Team <donotreply@vonage.com>
Sent: Friday, February 25, 2011 1:30 PM
To: {my email address}
Subject: Cancellation Confirmation
Vonage Account Number: {my account number}
Vonage Number(s): {my home phone number}
Cancellation Confirmation Number: {cancellation confirmation number}
Dear Jeff Tangen,
To view important information in Spanish regarding your Vonage account, please visit
http://espanol.vonage.com/emails/c. Para ver informacisn importante en espaqol sobre tu cuenta de
Vonage, visita el enlace anterior.
We’ve transferred your phone number(s) referenced above to another phone service provider as
requested.
Here are a few more important details to keep in mind:
o Your cancellation is effective February 25, 2011.
You will no longer be able to make or receive calls using your Vonage service.
This includes 911 calls; please remember in the event of an emergency,
911 dialing from your Vonage phone will no longer work and you will not be
able to make a 911 call unless you have another form of telephone service.
o You’ll continue to have access to the account details in your online account
for 90 days from February 25, 2011.
Charges for any overages, payphone calls to Vonage toll free numbers, and out of plan international calls
or any other features and services outside your plan are separately emailed, billed and charged to your
payment method within seven (7) days after cancellation.
Isn’t this a nice email. Of course, let’s make this crystal clear. I never canceled my Vonage service. Let’s make something else clear. I never authorized a transfer of my phone number to Sprint.
So, I called Vonage again and got another support case opened up. The support case number is *****095. This person was going to escalate this to a manager and I would be contacted in 24 to 48 hours.
Well… I decided to call Vonage again in the evening and basically gave the person both of the ticket numbers and that person was reading off the script. I went off on her and ended up with her supervisor. After I made it clear to the supervisor on what was going on, the supervisor told me that the “off line group” (or something like that) had to do research on this issue and that I would hear something back in 3-5 business days.
3-5 business days? Are they serious? I could not have my home phone number for at least 8 days. Really. 8 days.
The email talks about charging my card for any outstanding charges. So, tomorrow, I am off to the bank (or call them) and authorize them to deny any Vonage payment attempts.