Hummm.....i joined this list because I wanted to convert our 3 offices to VOIP...i've learned more in the last 24hrs than I have in the last 6months, definitely thinking of putting off the decision till the technology gets better ,
So, although I agree that we shouldnt air out dirty laundry (and what seemed like some old history between 2 individuals) I think this type of open forum does allow potential customers to understand the other side of the technology better. Thx M -----Original Message----- From: Stephan Monette [mailto:monet...@unlimitel.ca] Sent: August 4, 2010 11:46 AM To: Tony Cowling Cc: Taug Bisiness List Subject: Re: [biz] Unlimitel Hey Tony, I hear you. We had customers who got their system hacked and rank up a bill of $7,000 in just 2 hours. I was the one who called the customer at 23:00 on a Thursday night asking what was going on. Imagine if we didn't called the customer, it would had went all night for $60,000!!! I know another telecom provider in Ottawa that lost over $200,000 with just one customer. That business customer filed for bankruptcy immediately and the telecom provider was stuck with the bill. People do not realize how much money service providers looses to hacked systems and bad debts. They do not realize how much is at risk all the time. Stephan. On 2010-08-04, at 11:16 AM, Tony Cowling wrote: > This has been a most entertaining and in the end quite a constructive feed. > Just my opinion. > > A couple of years ago I went to a conference in Florida for vici and met a > couple of fellas from Brazil, they had been wrestling with fraud, hacked > systems etc for call center clients in Brazil just ONE incident came to > $50,000.00. (some number you called to pre pay cell phones and huge call > centers 2k seats plus so blend right in to the bill i guess). > > Sometimes its hard to find that right balance..... > > > > On Wed, Aug 4, 2010 at 11:01 AM, Henry Coleman <henry.cole...@voip-pbx.ca>wrote: > >> I think Stephan has got it about right, however he may want to look a >> product offering for new Asterisk (TAUG) members who basically want to >> experiment with VoIP lines. >> Although $50 is not a lot of money a six month introductory rate ($25) for >> new customers may bring in some new clients that can be developed as they >> grow. >> As for myself I have found Unlimitel to have constantly improved their QOS >> over the years and quite frankly would not consider any other carrier >> unless >> I had to. I would also like to mention a problem I had a couple of months >> ago when one of my client's servers got hacked ( It was my fault for >> leaving >> the door open). The hacker >> made about 12 calls to North Korea early one morning. Within an hour, >> someone from Unlimitel called me to ask if this was "real", at which time I >> said "NO" and cut the calls and fix the >> security hole. Although I had to pay for these calls ($200) if I had been >> on >> a post payed business model I could have racked up thousands of dollars of >> calls without knowing. >> I am not a large user of VoIP services but I have to have the peace of mind >> that comes with knowing that my clients can be sure that their lines are >> the >> highest quality and are not going to disconnected >> because the VoIP supplier goes out of business. It is in everyone's >> interest >> to have a strong a viable carrier. >> PS I shall be giving Unlimitel a back-up credit card (just in case) >> >> H >> >> On Wed, Aug 4, 2010 at 8:47 AM, Kovalenko, Alex <a...@kovasys.com> wrote: >> >>> Whoa. I did not mean to open a can of worms. >>> >>> I have resolved a problem by providing Unlimitel with my girlfriend's >>> credit card # to authorize a payment for $12, after getting my >>> girlfriend in the middle of the day over to McGill to scan her credit >>> card form and signature (she was not too happy :) ) and will provide >>> them with new CCs when they come in from a bank (hopefully this >>> morning). Thank you. >>> >>> What I wanted to say was that I was a bit surprised that they treat >>> you like a criminal threating to cut off your service within hours >>> (for $12 nevertheless) even when you have steady minutes / payments >>> for the last several years. I understand that it could become a >>> problem, but maybe with new accounts, and not long term existing >>> clients. As for www.VoIPGizmos.ca - we have clients who pay after and >>> have about $8,000 in outstanding payments - we only give this benefit >>> of the doubt to customers who have spent several thousand with us in a >>> past and not for new ones. As Mike Lipkin would say, Trust your fellow >>> man. >>> >>> BUT.... Unlimitel VoIP quality and support is amazing and highly >>> recommended and the only of its kind in Canada. Just make sure no one >>> steals your credit cards or you are in trouble, Buster. :) >>> >>> -- >>> Alex Kovalenko, http://ca.linkedin.com/in/kovasys >>> Director of Operations @ Kovasys IT Recruitment >>> IT Recruitment and Headhunting | Chasseur de Tête en TI >>> 888.568.2747 x701 | www.ITHeadhunters.ca >>> >>> Read about us in the News: >>> http://bit.ly/KovasysNews >>> >>> Join our IT Jobs Association Linkedin group: >>> http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=2464449 >>> >>> Follow us on Twitter: >>> http://www.twitter.com/kovasys >>> >>> >>> >>> On Wed, Aug 4, 2010 at 7:46 AM, Mark Palser <mpal...@acpa.ca> wrote: >>>> Reza, I understand where you're coming from but for me this is like >> when >>>> somebody asks for a reference and you can't give it because the person >>>> was useless. People come and ask TAUG who they would recommend, so if >>>> you've had a good experience with a company you put their name forth, >> if >>>> that happens to be any company but Unlimitel we can all read between >> the >>>> lines . To drag a person through the mud is bad enough but one who is a >>>> regular reader/contributor is just bad form in my opinion, this should >>>> have been discussed off board. I know I'm a lurker and read more than I >>>> post, just my 2 cents. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> From: Reza - Asterisk Consultant [mailto:aster...@neoenova.com] >>>> Sent: Wednesday, August 04, 2010 12:43 AM >>>> To: asterisk biz >>>> Subject: Re: [biz] Unlimitel >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Dear Mark (and readers): >>>> >>>> As a TAUG promoter, TAUG evangelist, and someone who has contributed >> for >>>> the benefit of TAUG and bringing/inviting over 100+ of my clients and >>>> students to TAUG from different avenues of expertise, including but not >>>> limited to promoting TAUG in major career fairs and providing Asterisk >>>> training (while representing TAUG) at international venues world wide >>>> over the past several years -- without prejudice, I have to interject >>>> here and say that this **is** also the place to bring forth concerns >>>> against carriers or service providers (not just recommendations) - for >>>> the benefit of everyone else, no matter how bitter it may sound. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Yes, the thread is ugly and though it may sound like a pissing contest >>>> (as per your words) - it needs to be heard by those who are considering >>>> VoIP services or have voip services from Unlimitel. >>>> >>>> I'm not going to speak for Keith, Alex, Bruce or Chuck -- though they >>>> are my friends, business associates and also competitors for the past >>>> several years. I am going to speak for myself about my experience >> with >>>> Unlimitel and readers may interpret this as they see fit. No doubt, >>>> Alex isn't happy, Keith, Bruce and Chuck are being diplomatic, but I'm >>>> going to be very blunt. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> On October 1st, 2009, 10:51 AM - I wrote to Stephan; " I got >>>> my own PRI's and have my own capacity now, and marketing to Toronto >>>> based SMB & SOHO. I need to port out 2 of my numbers. One is my >> home >>>> number and the other is my business number. 416-xxx-xxxx and >>>> 416-xxx-xxxx. Nothing personal - just that I need more control over >>>> these numbers. The 3rd number I have, I want to keep with you. >> Please >>>> advise which company holds the PRI for my number and the main BTN - in >>>> order to ensure my port out request goes smoothly. " >>>> >>>> Same day at 11:11 AM, I got a reply from him, " You will need >>>> to port out all your number as we will now close your account. In your >>>> port request just specify Bell as the carrier and Unlimitel as the >>>> reseller. Use your billing information you have with Unlimitel in your >>>> request. Bell will check your account status with our database to >> accept >>>> or reject the LNP request. This is your 30 days notice that we will be >>>> closing your account on November 1st 2009 and we will refund any >> balance >>>> from your prepaid account on that date. I checked your usage for the >>>> last 2 months and you used less than $6 in minutes. So we can't keep >>>> your account with us with such low revenues. " >>>> >>>> I have referred customers to Unlimitel over the past several years and >>>> had them purchase their own accounts with their own credit card for >>>> termination and origination. For each of these referrals, I had been >>>> offering Asterisk hosting solutions. Each of them are light users with >>>> an average of 200-300 minutes per month. So I knew Unlimitel's >> excuse >>>> to terminate me as a client was... well... (fill in the blanks). I >>>> would caution you twice before you do business with Unlimitel. Was I >>>> upset and am I upset at Unlimitel? Absolutely! Anyone would be. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> I assure you, and I promise you - I am **not** the only person >> Unlimitel >>>> has fired as a client. This entire SNAFU could have easily been >>>> avoided by Unlimitel if they exercised a little more customer friendly >>>> professional approach with elegant courtesy, reasonable time line, >>>> and/or parting away under good terms. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> As per your quote, " besides if you have nothing good to say, why say >>>> it, this is supposed to be a community helping each other " -- You say >>>> it, so your fellow community members are cautioned about the true >> nature >>>> of certain business owners and you say it, because you believe that is >>>> the right thing to do. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> I commend Alex and Keith for taking the stand in addressing their >>>> concerns openly and boldly. >>>> >>>> >>>> With no regrets, >>>> Reza. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> On Tue, Aug 3, 2010 at 4:36 PM, Mark Palser <mpal...@acpa.ca> wrote: >>>> >>>> Take this off board, really isn't the proper venue, besides if you have >>>> nothing good to say, why say it, this is supposed to be a community >>>> helping each other, not a place to have a pissing match. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>> >> ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____ >>>> >>>> Confidentiality Note >>>> >>>> This message is intended only for the use of the individual or entity >> to >>> which it is addressed, and may contain information that is privileged, >>> confidential and exempt from disclosure under applicable law. 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