magicJack and MagicJack Plus Support, Reviews, FAQs and Hacks

tradertx · MagicJack User Joined: 25 Jan 2008 Posts: 36

I ran a forum wide search here for TELECONFERENCE BLOCK and TELECONFERENCE BLOCKING without getting any hits, so if anyone has already covered this, well, I tried to find your post first.

For the last year I have used my MagicJack a lot to call various teleconferences. They tend to last 1 to 1 1/2 hrs, and rarely up to 2 hours. The latest success was last Tuesday. This morning that came to a crashing halt (Aug 22, 2009).

When I tried to ring in as usual, a MJ message interrupted and said that the teleconference number I was trying to reach (712-338-800, brainwave communications) was not accessible, and that I should visit FreeMagicConference.com instead. It also referred me to 305-848-8888. When I checked out that website, MJ offered me an opportunity to set up my own free teleconference number and have "my" people call into it-----which does not solve my problem of access to the other guy's teleconference which I have zero control over.

Clearly, MJ wants a piece of the teleconference incoming calls business, and has no qualms blocking MJ users from accessing any of MJ's newly identified competitors----- with no notice to MJ users, AS USUAL. Thank, MJ, for destroying another piece of that "make all the free calls you want" part of their infomercial promise.

For the moment, the best alternative for teleconferences of that length is my previous standby, PennyTalk.com, even with their 49 cent connect charge. That, plus their penny a minute rate, handles the teleconference calls very well.

FYI, guys.

Yours,
tradertx

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bitstopjoe · Posted: Sat Aug 22, 2009 2:07 pm Post subject:

Not sure if this is the same thing but might be worth a read

http://www.magicjacksupport.com/mj-blocking-access-to-freeconferencecall-com-pimping-alt-t7355.html

Joe Sica

Magicjacktechsupport · MagicJack Contributor Joined: 21 Aug 2009 Posts: 58

If you do not have an access code, dial 305 848 8888. You will be prompted to either "Join a Conference Call" or "Set up a Conference Call". Choose "Set up a Conference Call" and follow the prompts. You will create a password and will be given a 10 digit code to access the conference call.
Distribute the code, time of call, and dial in number (305 848 8888) to all conference call attendees. You may use the access code for any future conference calls as well.
If you already have an access code, distribute the code, time of call, and dial in number (305 848 8888) to all conference call attendees. Dial 305 848 8888 and choose "Join a Conference Call".

http://www.freemagicconference.com/

tradertx · MagicJack User Joined: 25 Jan 2008 Posts: 36

Yes, bitstopjoe, thank you. Your link describes the same problem I'm having, and it all appears to have hit the fan this last week. The only choice I have (since I have no control over teleconferences that other people set up) is to use some other service than MJ to access them. I think it is dirty and sleazy that MJ users are not notified in advance that this is going to happen. I only found out 5 minutes before a teleconference I've been following weekly for several years now becomes suddenly inaccessible from MJ. Had I not had PennyTalk.com as a backup, I'd have missed out on some critical announcements with heavy financial consequences.

And, even PennyTalk.com's service occasionally runs into a teleconference service it can't penetrate (rare, but it happens).

Well, now we know.......

Yours,
tradertx

tradertx · MagicJack User Joined: 25 Jan 2008 Posts: 36

The discussions just keep coming---here's a whole FAQ on the mess:

http://www.freeconference.com/blockingfaq_press.aspx

BTW, the blocked teleconference that originally dragged me into this story is not a free service. It COSTS the person who sponsors and moderates it a monthly fee----so it's not just the free teleconference services being hit.

Yours,
tradertx

KingTuT · MagicJack Newbie Joined: 24 Aug 2009 Posts: 1

I checked on Google and found this in the MJ Forum, (mJ blocking access to FreeConferenceCall.com, pimping alt) people are talking, don't know how much good it will do. I chatted with someone in India this AM and didn't get any satisfaction, just that they said the same thing each time i joined the chat, MJ does not support free conference calls, please go to www. freemagicconference.com or something like that. Just another screwing once they get your money, this should be posted throughout the network so other people don't get sucked in without knowing this truth.

maine-iac · Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2009 1:44 pm Post subject:

I don't know that I would trust magicjack with a call of any importance, anyway. It is fine as a backup and for long distance calls, but I wouldn't use it for anything else.

Dbur · MagicJack Newbie Joined: 24 Aug 2009 Posts: 3

eKlipsch · MagicJack Newbie Joined: 25 Aug 2009 Posts: 2

I felt like I was banging my head against a wall here. I have little hope of resolution:

Please wait for a site operator to respond.
You are now chatting with 'Malik'
Your Issue ID for this chat is LTK419075135133X
Malik: Hello, how may I help you?
mark: Hi- I'm calling into a conference call and keep getting a message about setting up a free conference call
mark: i'm dialing into an existing conference- in other words I am a participant
mark: I am not hosting the conference
Malik: Unfortunately, the conference calling from the other provider is blocked by magicjack.
Malik: You need to set-up your own conference calling using the freemagicjack conference calling.
Malik: You need to use the freemagicjack conference calling and set-up a conference call since the other conference call has been blocked.
mark: This is my company conference call line. I can't use a different conference call service. Why is magicjack blocking this? This is why I bought magicjack- in order to call into company conference calls without tying up my home line.
mark: if I can't call my company conference calls magicjack is useless to me and I need to request a refund.
Malik: Thank you for your patience. I will transfer you to a higher level of support. Please hold while I transfer you.
Please wait while I transfer the chat to the best suited site operator.
You are now chatting with 'Michaela'
Your Issue ID for this chat is LTK419075135133X
Michaela: Hello this is Michaela, good day to you.
Michaela: Please allow me to assist you and read your previous chat. Thank you.
Michaela: May I know when this issue started?
mark: today is the first time I've experienced the issue
Michaela: Yes Mark since we have new updates for conference calling.
Michaela: Please let me know all your queries regarding conference calling so that I can forward your concern to our engineers.
Michaela: Would that be okay?
mark: All my queries? I'm not sure what you're asking? I just need to be able to call into my company conference calls.
Michaela: Yes, all your suggestions or comments about the new conference calling that some numbers has been blocked.
mark: I don't know anything about the new conference calling. I just need to be able to call into my corporate conference calls using magicjack. I can't use magicjack's conference call service as I am not hosting the conference calls. I am participating in conference calls from my employer.
Michaela: Yes, I understand you Mark but that is not possible anymore.
Michaela: You need to create a conference calling room and invite them to your conference.
Michaela: That's the new update Mark.
mark: okay- i need to request a refund then. If I can't call into my company conference calls magicjack is useless for me.
Michaela: We can't refund you anymore Marl.
Michaela: Mark*
mark: So I'm stuck paying for a service I can't use because you changed the service after I payed for it? Is that what you're telling me?
Michaela: No Mark.
Michaela: That is why I want to know your queries with regard to the new conference calling.
mark: I don't have any queries about the new conference calling. What I'm telling you is I can't use magicjacks conference call service. I work for an 80,000 person company which has an extensive conference call service I must use. Magicjack has blocked my ability to use that service. If you're telling me I can no longer call into my company conference calls then magicjack is useless for me and I would like my money back. During my trial period I was able to call into my company conference calls- magicjack has since changed that and I can no longer use it for the purpose I bought it.
Michaela: We can't refund you anymore Mark.
mark: So then I'm stuck paying for a service I can't use because you changed the service after I payed for it? Does that seem right to you? If the service didn't work during my trial period I would have returned the product, but it did work then- you have since changed it so it doesn't work. That doesn't seem right to me.
Michaela: Okay.
Michaela: I will escalate this issue to our engineers Marl.
Michaela: Mark*
mark: Okay- Can they fix this issue and re-enable my ability to call into my company conference calls?
Michaela: We will try but I can't promise Mark.
mark: Are you escalating now? What do I need to do? How will I know if/when the issue is fixed?
Michaela: I need your email address and full name so that they can email you back.
mark: When should I expect to hear from them?
Michaela: Thank you.
Michaela: Please wait for an email to be sent to you as soon as possible.

tradertx · MagicJack User Joined: 25 Jan 2008 Posts: 36

Dbur and eKlipsch, clearly both of you are also being smacked by the now infamous MagicJack drive-by assault management trick of no-notice-gotcha mo-money-for-us-but-less-for-you nonsense. At my peak MJ use, I was ringing into some six different teleconferences each week, ranging from 30 to 90 minutes, for which MJ was perfect.

Now I'm back to using PennyTalk.com, which has only failed to connect with a teleconference number once in the couple of years I had it. As long as the call is perhaps 30 minutes or more, the economics of 49 cents to connect plus a penny/minute work well.

I did spend a little time on MJ's newest competitor's website yesterday afternoon, tk6000.com, but I was the sole person online in their discussion forum. That's not good for a mid-afternoon weekday visit. They do have more videos on YouTube if you search on tk6000 (than on their discussion forum). Their standard deal is about $100 plus $9.95 s/h for a 3-year period, and then it reverts to a $19.95/year license. No PC needed, just their gadget (about the size of a MJ), a broadband plug-in location, and an AC power outlet. But, since they only went live in July, there's not much momentum or history of success yet. They do specify a maximum of 5,000 minutes/month in their terms of use. At least, that's a lot more straightforward than MJ's "mystery number" of "excessive use."

Yours,
tradertx

Dbur · MagicJack Newbie Joined: 24 Aug 2009 Posts: 3

Magicjacktechsupport · MagicJack Contributor Joined: 21 Aug 2009 Posts: 58

Hi Guys,

MJ is not going to re enable your ability to call on conference set up by another provider.

They have launched their own conference system for everyone .(Even a non magicjack user can create a conference room with them and can access from using any service provider.)

Check this link
http://www.freemagicconference.com/
_________________
Happy to help you !

Dbur · MagicJack Newbie Joined: 24 Aug 2009 Posts: 3

PTravel · Posted: Sat Aug 29, 2009 6:04 pm Post subject:

mykroft · MagicJack User Joined: 18 Oct 2008 Posts: 47

that is why you pay for everything like this with a CC. Most CC companies have no problems issusing chargebacks - some times up to 90 days or more - especially if you say they are not honoring a warrant or TOS. Ask ATT, Sprint and Verizon.

Especially after a company changes the barn without noitce AFTER the horses come home.

Your also better off contacting your state AG, and FL's state AG - magicsmuck has been slapped once already - I bet the FL AG would not hesitate to do it again.....