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FLORIDA, 31 STATES ANNOUNCE SETTLEMENT WITH VONAGE OVER CANCELLATION ISSUES

TALLAHASSEE, FL – Attorney General Bill McCollum today announced that  Florida and 31 states have reached a $3 million settlement with Vonage,  one of the nation’s largest providers of a service known as “Voice over  Internet Protocol,” an internet-based phone service. The settlement  requires Vonage to make significant changes to its marketing practices,  honor consumer cancellation requests, and provide refunds to eligible  consumers.

According to a multi-state investigation, the company at one time  allegedly paid incentives to customer service representatives for  retaining customers in lieu of cancellation. As a result, customers  reported that cancellation was extremely difficult and sometimes  impossible. Today’s agreement puts strict limitations on this practice and  requires recording and verification of these telephone calls.

The settlement also addresses a number of other marketing practices which  have led to consumer confusion about the cost associated with Vonage  equipment and service. Specifically, Vonage will revise its disclosures  regarding the offer of “free” services, money back guarantees and trial  periods. The settlement puts in place a broad restitution plan requiring  Vonage to make refunds to eligible consumers who have filed unresolved  complaints regarding unauthorized charges from January 2004 through March  16, 2010. Consumers can file a complaint by contacting the Attorney  General’s Office at 1-866-966-7226 or online at  http://www.myfloridalegal.com.

In addition to Florida, participating states include: Alabama, Arizona,  Arkansas, Connecticut, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky,  Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey,  New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania,  South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Washington,  Wisconsin, and West Virginia.

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Posted by Andrea Freygang on Nov 18 2009. Filed under Broward County, Business, Coconut Creek, Coral Springs, Dania, Davie, Fort Lauderdale, Hallandale, Hollywood, Lauderdale Lakes, Lauderdale by the Sea, Lauderhill, Local news, Miami, Miramar, Oakland Park, Palm Beach, Parkland, Pembroke Park, Pembroke Pines, Plantation, Pompano Beach, Sunrise, Tallahassee, Tamarac, Weston, cooper city, wilton manors. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

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