MagicJack
New number ripoff, customer service run around

I was getting unwanted phone calls and decided to change my magicjack phone number. I went to the MJ website, logged in, and proceeded to go through the process of 'changing' my number. After paying a $10 fee, and letting MJ 'generate' the last 4 digits of my 'changed' number, I rebooted the MJ device, and tried to call a number. When I dialed the number, I was greeted with a message saying something to affect of 'The number you dialed cannot be completed.in order to use this number, you must purchase INTERNATIONAL prepaid calling minutes'. WHAT!? This was a suprise, because I was calling a local number (my mother, who lives down the street). I contacted the MJ customer service through they're online 'chat', and, after clearly explaining the problem, was told that basically I was outta luck, and they would not refund the $10, because I 'received' the new number, even though it was useless unless I 'purchased' prepaid international minutes. It didnt matter that I was making a local call.By the way, I 'chatted' with 3 different so called customer service reps, and they told me the same thing. After a couple of hours, I decided to give it one more try with a different rep 'Josh'. He told me the same thing, then gave me instructions as to how to 'change' my number. I explained that I had already went through the process, and thats how I ended up with the mess I was in. He just repeated what the others had said, that I needed to purchase prepaid minutes to make calls with the new number.

I ask 2 of the reps this question: If someone goes to the local BestBuy, and purchases a new MJ, will they have to buy prepaid minutes to use it? No response.

What it comes down too, IMO, is that MJ is deliberatly misleading people by telling them they can puchase a new/changed number for $10, but fail to explain they will have to purchase 'prepaid' minutes to use the number. Also, customer service is horrible. One of the customer service reps didnt even understand what 'domestic' long distance is.

So now, after giving MJ $10, I have a 'new' number that is'nt really practical to use, and they won't refund my money, and I'm still getting wrong number/unwanted calls.

Company: MagicJack
Country: USA
State: Florida
City: West Palm Beach
Site: magicjack.com

  <     >