Vonage to pay customers $100 million for not letting them quit

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Hat tip, Joe.My.God.

Vonage To Pay $100M For Making It Hard To Cancel

November 4, 2022

CBS News reports:

Vonage will pay $100 million to settle claims it trapped customers in unwanted accounts by forcing people to call to cancel, keeping them on hold for hours and charging hundreds of dollars to end service, government regulators said Thursday.

The New Jersey-based company, which provides internet-based phone services, made it easy for customers to sign up for accounts online but difficult to leave, according to a Federal Trade Commission complaint.

Starting in 2017, Vonage took an online cancellation link off its website to make it harder for customers to leave, the agency said.

Read the full article.

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MONEYWATCH

Vonage to pay customers $100 million for not letting them quit

BY IRINA IVANOVA

UPDATED ON: NOVEMBER 3, 2022 / 4:35 PM / MONEYWATCH

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[jmbar2]

1. OK, now do Avast

I signed up for a free version of basic antivirus some time in the past. They converted it to a super plan at $70/year and tried to bill my credit card. I couldn't even find it on my computer - may have been an older computer.

They did exactly the same thing as described above. Gaaaahhhhh....

Roach Motel business model.

[IbogaProject]

3. Spectrum kept me on through 4 or 5 reps

I had to cancel service for at least 30 days to get an affordable deal mandated by NY state. When it was a local company Tine Warner had unpublished deals. We were paying $25 then it went up over a few months. Final straw was sign up for a 'promotional' two year contract at 75 or take your chance on 85 a month for just internet. I said no and they lied about the plan I was quitting to qualify for. Now they get $15 a month. The cancel call was closer to 2 hours than 1.