freespeech to disconnect local geographic numbers for pay as you go customers

Bob24

I just received the following e-mail from them:

ATTENTION: This information is only for customers who subscribed to FULL-ACCESS (before new options were introduced) and had a local number assigned to their VOIP account.

Due to changes in charges by our local geographic number provider we have found it necessary to re-structure our pricing.
All customers who obtained a local number (01, 021, etc.. etc.) under the 'FULL-ACCESS' package will need to modify their subscriptions.

The following are the choices available;

1. The Pay As You Use (was FULL-ACCESS) account can be migrated to a 'Home Unlimited' account if you are home user OR a 'Small Business Unlimited' if you are a business user. Both options are paid monthly and include a local geographic number in pricing. For more details visit - http://www.freespeech.ie/options/home_unlimited.html

2. The Pay As You Use (was FULL-ACCESS) account can retain the local geographic number as an 'extra' - For more details visit - http://www.freespeech.ie/options/extra_phone_numbers.html

3. You can cancel your local geographic number. In this case you loose you local number and keep your 076 number only.

To change your account please contact our help desk - help@freespeech.ie

Are they allowed to change the terms of their service like that for existing customers?? (I guess yes because it is pay as you go and there is no contract, but still it doesn't sound very serious to me ...)

gc73

I'm also an existing "FULL-ACCESS" customer of Freespeech. Not impressed with the change of terms either. I doubt anything can be done about it

Nothing about freespeech is really free anymore and they're not even the cheapest voip provider. So I think in line with all the current changes the name should go too!

Bob24

Yep, either payingspeech or freenothing, the can decide

Btw I just tried to ring the comreg helpline to ask them if this was not a bit weird to them, but the girl was not very helpful (she had never heard of freespeech, and didn't seem to know what VoIP is, so she just told me to check the T&C).

Cabaal

Have you read the original T&C's in relation to changes they can make to them?

Bob24

I just had a quick look here and didn't find much. But I have no copy of the version which was applied when I registered (as it is pay as you go there is no contract and I don't remember but I guess there was just a checkbox to accept the T&Cs in the registration form).

It is the same as Vodafone telling their pay as you go customers: now you have to pay 5 euros extra each month to keep the phone number I had been providing you for free in the past. Of course they couldn't seriously do that, but I am wondering if they would be legally entitled to ...

lzbones

well I guess this is it

1.1 Service
1.1.1 General
For technical, operational and commercial reasons we shall be entitled to vary the Service and any aspect thereof at any time.

Bob24

OK thanks, for some reason I missed it even though it was obvious because I was not expecting something THAT vague

Cabaal

Its vague but at the end of the day they didn't have to offer free geo numbers to customers,

I don't think there are any other Irish VoIP providers that give free Geo numbers...must charge for geo numbers anf give a 076 numbetr for free....or in the case of skype they charge for the 076 number

It sucks but sure thats life.....