$1.95 + tax per month (or $23.40 + tax annually) 911 fee for VoIP unlock key users starting October 1, 2024

[iDrone]

What if you've just paid the $150 Voip unlock fee and number transfer in the last few months. what kind of value is that?

If it was done in the last 30 days, you should be able to receive money back. If it was done more than 30 days ago, admittedly that would suck. However, this what was stated in their terms: "Fongo reserves the right to change the Services and any fees for the Services at any time. In the event that fees are to be charged on the Freephoneline Services in the future, Fongo will notify the Customer by providing thirty (30) days written notice to the email address submitted at registration (or the current email address, if updated in Customer Account)"
https://web.archive.org/web/20240118011 ... e.ca/terms
Nevertheless, I believe even at $1.95 per month for unlimited calling + all their features it is still a great deal, and I am not sure if there are any other companies that can beat this.

[Liptonbrisk]

If it was done in the last 30 days, you should be able to receive money back.

Out of curiosity, do you see that somewhere for VoIP unlock keys?

For Freephoneline, refunds have traditionally not been offered. The idea was to test the desktop app (no longer available for new customers) first, and then if that worked, go ahead and buy a VoIP unlock key.

“Any fees and charges for the Service, Equipment or other services or products purchased under this Fongo Service Schedule are non-refundable unless otherwise specified.”

I don’t see anything about refunds for Freephoneline.
https://www.fongo.com/about-fongo/legal/terms/

[iDrone]

Out of curiosity, do you see that somewhere for VoIP unlock keys?

Not specifically, however since the FreePhoneLine name is now misleading and on the VOIP Unlock Key webpage nothing is stated about a monthly fee, members may be protected under the Consumer Protection Act.

[Erft]

iDrone wrote: ↑

Not specifically, however since the FreePhoneLine name is now misleading and on the VOIP Unlock Key webpage nothing is stated about a monthly fee, members may be protected under the Consumer Protection Act.

That may be why FPL has chosen to not put a monthly fee on the use of a VOIP Unlock Key, but instead has chosen to add the monthly fee as a use-of-911.

[iDrone]

That may be why FPL has chosen to not put a monthly fee on the use of a VOIP Unlock Key, but instead has chosen to add the monthly fee as a use-of-911.

In that case they should at least change the front page and change the 911 Calling green checkmark into a yellow exclamation mark, then below explaining that a monthly $1.95 fee will be charged. Maybe also change the name into Fongo Home Phone Basic. The way it is now, knowing that you'll have to pay $1.95 monthly without any mention of it upfront, is just misleading and not transparent.

[fguser100]

Bulkvs might be another option. I haven't looked into it too much, but it appears their DID is $0.25 with $0.002 per minute. They charge a $5 port fee (vs. voip.ms no-charge).

E911 with bulk is $0.49. Not sure if it's optional.

I've asked several questions and here are Bulkvs answers

"
If I port a canadian phone number to bulkvs.com

0) What is the Port in fee
$5.00

1) What is the Cost per month (only for the DID)
$0.25

2) Is 911 mandatory or optional
Optional

3) Is CNAM mandatory or optional
yes

4) Is call charges rounded to the minute or by 10 second or else
6 second increments

5) Is there surcharge for short call ? If yes what is your definition of a short call and what is the surcharge
Not for inbound, for outbound...

8.1. Call Duration - The rates agreed to by Bulk Solutions under this Agreement are based upon the condition that Customer will maintain a call duration of greater than 6 seconds in length for at least 90% of Customer's total calls. If more than 10% of Customer's traffic is 6 seconds or less in duration, Supplier shall have the right to charge $0.02 per call, suspend the service and notify the Customer of the occurrence. Customer acknowledges that in any case Bulk Solutions notifies the Customer of such such termination attributes, the service plan will be renegotiated to reflect the actual traffic type send to Bulk Solutions by the Customer


6) What is a Port out fee
Free if you port out after 6 months, if a number is with us less than 6 months the cost is $1.00 per number

7) Is there a minimum minutes usage required per month
There is not

8) Can I use only ATA (Analog Telephone Adapter), and/or only softphone to use your service or do I need something else
You could use any SIP System, typically customer's use switches or PBXs but an ATA will work as well if it supports SIP

9) Do you have group ring : for 1 DID can I have in bound call rings simultaneously on my ATA(s) and softphone(s) ? if so what would be the limit of number of devices registered for 1 DID

We do not offer any HostedPBX features like ring groups voicemail etc...

"

All figures are in US dollar.

It seems that bulkvs is not for ordinary user ( for example me ).
It would be good for users with more tech skill ( those who have FreePBX or alike )
It would be also good to park your DID if you have many and don't really use them or to use them only for outbound.

[andyha]

I got a Bulkvs account last Friday. Got verified today and have spent the last 3 hours trying to configure it to my OBI200. This NOT a consumer grade product! There's very little documantation, the fellow at the end of the support line is nice enough, but essentially just tells you to read the instruction which are cryptic. Only use Bulkvsif you really understand SIP, SIP Trunks etc. Trust me, it's NOT user friendly at all. I just asked and received a refund from Bulkvs.

I used to have a Voip.ms account and it was easy as pie as they have a tutorial on how to setup my OBI200. I'm still pondering whether or not to go back to Voip.ms..

Probably going to wait and see what happens in the next month or so and decide then. I mean I'll probably wind up paying about the same at Voip.ms as I would on FPL with the new $1.95 monthly charge. I really don't want to or like rewarding a company that essentially lied to me, but I also understand the changing nature of tech, so I'm not 100% against paying the new charge. I'll wait a bit and see what happens.

[Erft]

andyha wrote: ↑

I got a Bulkvs account last Friday. Got verified today and have spent the last 3 hours trying to configure it to my OBI200. This NOT a consumer grade product! There's very little documantation, the fellow at the end of the support line is nice enough, but essentially just tells you to read the instruction which are cryptic. Only use Bulkvsif you really understand SIP, SIP Trunks etc. Trust me, it's NOT user friendly at all. I just asked and received a refund from Bulkvs.

Thank you for this important information.

[RandyG]

...Maybe also change the name into Fongo Home Phone Basic. The way it is now, knowing that you'll have to pay $1.95 monthly without any mention of it upfront, is just misleading and not transparent

Ya, FreePhoneLine should change their name to "WasFreePhoneLine" now.

[RandyG]

I have 3 lines. One is a spare. One has 8 calls on it last month. The other maybe 20, configured as line1/line2 on my home phone.

IF all the lines are at one address, can't these be set up as one account, $1.95 /month? I guess I can pay that, if it's that or no phone at all.

Otherwise, can I park two of the lines?
I don't want to pay $80/yr. Or have to face bigger invoices, if FPL starts adding another $1 or $2 whenever they feel like it. (trust issues now)

I shouldn't have to pay 911 for inactive lines. But I did pay the lifetime fee up front, so not really fair to expect me to just let them go either.

[Liptonbrisk]

IF all the lines are at one address, can't these be set up as one account, $1.95 /month?

You can ask them yourself here: https://support.fongo.com/hc/requests/n ... nt_inquiry.

I don't work for Fongo. However, I do know the answer to your question: no.

Only one line is permitted per FPL account.

Otherwise, can I park two of the lines?

Here's Freephoneline's dormant account policy: https://support.freephoneline.ca/hc/art ... unt-policy.

If you have a VoIP unlock key on those lines, you are required to pay the $1.95 per month per line, unless you port out. If you don't pay you will eventually lose your lines otherwise.

You can read the FAQ located at https://www.fongo.com/freephoneline-911 ... rvice-fee/.

trust issues now

I appreciate your concern.

[Liptonbrisk]

I got a Bulkvs account last Friday. Got verified today and have spent the last 3 hours trying to configure it to my OBI200.

Supporting other service providers falls outside the scope of these forums. I'm not going to support Bulkvs, but it does work with your ATA.

[fguser100]

I did not receive any email but just got a voice mail today from FPL about 1.95$ fee.
So this is now official.

[Erft]

fguser100 wrote: ↑

I did not receive any email but just got a voice mail today from FPL about 1.95$ fee.
So this is now official.

A voicemail? That's darn weird.

[RandyG]

Yes, I got a recorded message call this morning too.

They really want their $1.95

Response to my email ( 3 lines, I don't want to pay $80/yr ):
"... The 911 service fee is per number, not per address, so if you have multiple FreePhoneLine numbers, you will have multiple fees. If this is the case, perhaps it's best to drop down to just one FreePhoneLine number. "

So, throw away a few numbers I paid for, a couple hundred bucks, or pay triple 911 fees is the recommendation.

[maxkuku]

I got an email last week and a recorded message call this morning from FPL as well .

[TetraSky]

Got the email as well. Been lurking in this thread for the past few days seeing what everyone had to say.
I'll probably end up porting my phone number to Fongo Mobile. Which, apparently, is entirely free and does not have a monthly e911 fee associated to it... Simply have to pay $25 to port my number and use their app on my phone. Crazy right ? Fongo can't afford to honor their free line with freephoneline anymore, but somehow, they still can with their mobile apps. I suppose it spies on you to steal and sell your data or something, which is why it's free.

It kind of defeats the point of having a dedicated home phone line if I have it on my mobile... But I can just as well install it on my old Android phone and keep that plugged in at home with the battery management features enabled to not charge above 85%.

I thought about simply discarding my number entirely and just use my mobile... considering I use it less than an hour or two a year. Simply not worth the fee for the years to come. But if I can port it to another "free" service out there... and potentially add texting functionality to it if I want to... I may as well.

[Liptonbrisk]

I suppose it spies on you to steal and sell your data or something, which is why it's free.

It's an ad-supported app. The ads are rather prominent in Fongo Mobile, unless the user pays to remove them. In fact, people who paid to remove them “permanently”, will eventually need to pay to remove ads again: https://forums.redflagdeals.com/fongo-a ... e-2686747/.

Also, "911 Emergency calling service is unavailable for use with Fongo Mobile, Fongo Works and FreePhoneLine Desktop services in the provinces of Quebec, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Prince Edward Island."
https://www.fongo.com/about-fongo/legal/fongo-911/

At least the $1.95 + tax monthly fee with Freephoneline VoIP unlock keys includes 911 calling in those provinces.

[szyrob]

If I don't update payment info, will $1.95 be taken from the account balance? This is how I would prefer to pay the fee.

[Liptonbrisk]

If I don't update payment info, will $1.95 be taken from the account balance? This is how I would prefer to pay the fee.

The following summarizes what I was told.

If there's no valid payment method on file, World Credits will be deducted to pay an overdue balance just before the suspension date to keep the account alive.

Here are some considerations when World Credit balance is used:

1. Users will receive warnings about updating payment info before the credits are deducted.

2. The amount of credits deducted is the entire outstanding invoice value.

3. If there are not enough available credits the account will be suspended on the suspension date.

[lustucru]

I don't understand why so many many people are complaining about this small ridiculous monthly fee. I used to be a Bell Canada and Videotron customer more than than 20 years ago and they do charge a much higher fee for emergency service. Telco's incur charges from emergency dispatching service and it's quite normal customers pay to access this service.

I have been an FPL happy customer since 2012 and will continue to use this VOIP service that saved me a huge amount over many years.

FYI, other providers like Skype and VoipBuster do not allow calls to emergency services.

[zombie999]

So I added a credit card and when I go back to "payment info" tab, there is nothing there. That's totally scary as they just take your card info and there is no way to remove it. I set a $3 limit, so it should be safe. Hopefully they encrypt it, but account passwords are stored in plain text, so who knows.

[fguser100]

So I added a credit card and when I go back to "payment info" tab, there is nothing there. That's totally scary as they just take your card info and there is no way to remove it. I set a $3 limit, so it should be safe. Hopefully they encrypt it, but account passwords are stored in plain text, so who knows.

I hope that the reason why we don't see payment info is because it is kept in a safer place than freephonline.ca website.

[Liptonbrisk]

when I go back to "payment info" tab, there is nothing there.

No one sees credit card details on that page.

there is no way to remove it.

Unfortunately, at this time, you have to submit a (billing and payment inquiry) ticket and request to remove payment information: https://support.fongo.com/hc/requests/new.

Hopefully they encrypt it

I hope that the reason why we don't see payment info is because it is kept in a safer place than freephonline.ca website.

https://www.fongo.com/freephoneline-911 ... 85c3a1f07c

"FreePhoneLine’s systems that store customer information and process payments have many security layers to protect your information. Customer and payment information is stored internally on our encrypted database, so it is not being sent to a third party. Your payment information is not stored in plain text, so our employees don’t even have access to it. Our payment processing system uses a token for processing monthly payments."

[fguser100]

If I don't update payment info, will $1.95 be taken from the account balance? This is how I would prefer to pay the fee.

The following summarizes what I was told.

If there's no valid payment method on file, World Credits will be deducted to pay an overdue balance just before the suspension date to keep the account alive.

Here are some considerations when World Credit balance is used:

1. Users will receive warnings about updating payment info before the credits are deducted.

2. The amount of credits deducted is the entire outstanding invoice value.

3. If there are not enough available credits the account will be suspended on the suspension date.

Would you know if Credit Card info using to buy World Credit Balance is kept somewhere in Fongo or it is just a one time given info ?
If this is only a one time given info, then those who don't what to store their Credit Card info can buy World Credit instead .