So I signed up with Vonage a couple of years ago to be my home phone service. To any who don't know what it is, Vonage offers telephone service to people with broadband internet connections.
At the time (and still to this day I think) they were offering unlimited local and long distance calling - including calls to Canada and Puerto Rico, for $24.99/month + taxes, etc. My monthly bill has regularly been $33.40.
Last month I received an offer from Vonage that if I pre-paid for the next year, I would be charged $239.00/year + taxes, etc. I called them yesterday and my annual rate, with taxes and other charges, was going to be $325.00/year. I would be saving $75.00 per year with the pre-paid.
For a moment I balked at the offer and the girl came back and told me she could offer me a lower amount if I was still interested. I told her I was listening and she offered me $290.00 for the year after all taxes and other charges. I hesitated again for a moment and she came back with $275.00/year but that she couldn't lower the figure beyond that. I said 'yes'.
I am going to end up saving $125.00/year with this now in place. In fact, broken down monthly, I am now paying less per month than the service is advertised for before taxes and other charges - $22.92.
I was speaking with some family members last night at a get-together and was telling them about my "deal". They were stunned at how little I was (and was going to be) paying for my phone. All of them are hooked up to the internet via broadband but they all use the old fashioned land lines for their phones. Some of them are paying close to $80/month for less service than I am getting for a quarter of that.
Why do people with broadband connections still use the likes of AT&T and Verizon for their telephone service? Is it me or are these companies way over-charging their customers? Is the technology such that they have to charge that much more or is it simply greed?
Andy
At the time (and still to this day I think) they were offering unlimited local and long distance calling - including calls to Canada and Puerto Rico, for $24.99/month + taxes, etc. My monthly bill has regularly been $33.40.
Last month I received an offer from Vonage that if I pre-paid for the next year, I would be charged $239.00/year + taxes, etc. I called them yesterday and my annual rate, with taxes and other charges, was going to be $325.00/year. I would be saving $75.00 per year with the pre-paid.
For a moment I balked at the offer and the girl came back and told me she could offer me a lower amount if I was still interested. I told her I was listening and she offered me $290.00 for the year after all taxes and other charges. I hesitated again for a moment and she came back with $275.00/year but that she couldn't lower the figure beyond that. I said 'yes'.
I am going to end up saving $125.00/year with this now in place. In fact, broken down monthly, I am now paying less per month than the service is advertised for before taxes and other charges - $22.92.
I was speaking with some family members last night at a get-together and was telling them about my "deal". They were stunned at how little I was (and was going to be) paying for my phone. All of them are hooked up to the internet via broadband but they all use the old fashioned land lines for their phones. Some of them are paying close to $80/month for less service than I am getting for a quarter of that.
Why do people with broadband connections still use the likes of AT&T and Verizon for their telephone service? Is it me or are these companies way over-charging their customers? Is the technology such that they have to charge that much more or is it simply greed?
Andy
Dislike ads? Become a Fastlane member:
Subscribe today and surround yourself with winners and millionaire mentors, not those broke friends who only want to drink beer and play video games. :-)
Membership Required: Upgrade to Expose Nearly 1,000,000 Posts
Ready to Unleash the Millionaire Entrepreneur in You?
Become a member of the Fastlane Forum, the private community founded by best-selling author and multi-millionaire entrepreneur MJ DeMarco. Since 2007, MJ DeMarco has poured his heart and soul into the Fastlane Forum, helping entrepreneurs reclaim their time, win their financial freedom, and live their best life.
With more than 39,000 posts packed with insights, strategies, and advice, you’re not just a member—you’re stepping into MJ’s inner-circle, a place where you’ll never be left alone.
Become a member and gain immediate access to...
- Active Community: Ever join a community only to find it DEAD? Not at Fastlane! As you can see from our home page, life-changing content is posted dozens of times daily.
- Exclusive Insights: Direct access to MJ DeMarco’s daily contributions and wisdom.
- Powerful Networking Opportunities: Connect with a diverse group of successful entrepreneurs who can offer mentorship, collaboration, and opportunities.
- Proven Strategies: Learn from the best in the business, with actionable advice and strategies that can accelerate your success.
"You are the average of the five people you surround yourself with the most..."
Who are you surrounding yourself with? Surround yourself with millionaire success. Join Fastlane today!
Join Today
