Magic Jack Complaint

The Magic Jack's VoIP Costs Me $54.97 Extra In Electricity And My PC Wasn't Even Running 24/7! - Magic Jack VoIP Telephone Service

the2ndflood's Picture Reviewed by the2ndflood
Please Improve 		+1  

I ordered the Magic Jack a few months back, but didn't use it until a month ago. I didn't like the idea of keeping my computer on all of the time. In order to use the current USB Magic Jack; you MUST HAVE YOUR COMPUTER ON! So I decided to give this a shot. I didn't keep my computer on 24/7, but more of several hours a day. When my electricity bill came in, it was $54.97 higher then any other month. Seeing as everything has been the same; the only difference has been the Magic Jack. So Yes, you go get unlimited local and long distance calling using VoIP. I'm not sure how secure their VoIP is, because VoIP can be hacked. This type of service uses an IP address and data packets, so anyone that can trace the IP has the power to hack into the calls. The Magic Jack service overall is good. Calls sound clear and it is nice knowing I won't need to pay for the service again until around this time next year. But with my electricity bill being $54.97 higher every month, there is no cost savings to me. In fact I am putting pressure on the electrical grid, which hurts the environment. So as-is the Magic Jack is worthless to me. I would spend less on any other VoIP service and not even have to use this much electricity. Other VoIP services use a simple plug-in unit; where you just plug the phone into your high-speed data line and your ready to go. But seeing as Magic Jack needs your computer on in order to use the service; you will run up a higher electricity bill and burn out your computer sooner. Also leaving your computer on gives hackers a chance to hack into your system, because there is always ways around firewalls.

So this is not a complaint, but more of a suggestion. If the next generation of Magic Jack were to be a plug-in model; that didn't need a PC in order to work; then I would buy that unit instead. But right now I'm going to sell my Magic Jack because I'm not going to spend $54.97 per month on my electricity bill. Also seeing as $54.97 was the charge for running my computer several hours a day, but not even 24/7; my bill could easily be $100 higher if I had the Magic Jack service on all of the time.

Right now Magic Jack just isn't worth it unless you already keep your PC on constantly. So keep in mind there is other hidden cost with the Magic Jack unit.


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Comments - Consumers and Companies Connect by Commenting


coconut says: (3 weeks ago)
0  
I think that MagicJack is completely misleading and I called them on it. In the FAQ they state that as long as you share the same area code as your family and friends, they will not be charged a long distance fee, but that is not true. You also have to share the same prefix (which makes sense, but they did not disclose this info). The only prefixes they have in my state are in the southern part and would be long distance for anyone to call me...including my kids schools, my work, etc. We returned the product the next day and it has now been 2 weeks and I have not seen the release of funds from my account. I did not authorize this hold, it doesn't make any sense if it is a free month trial period and for you do not have access to your money. I have chatted online with the agents several times and they keep telling me different stories. The first agent I talked to said they could release my funds immediately following the return of the product...that same day. When that didn't happen, I asked again. That second time they stated that it was policy that it takes 2 days to release the hold, and I asked her to show me the policy, but she could not. The third and a few times after, they told me that it takes 3 business days but it's been beyond that and I have yet to see my money. I contacted the Better Business Bureau and they said that I will have access to my funds within 3 days also, which is today. The money is still not there in my account and I guess I will report back to the BBB. Beware of this scam...they are not all that they are cracked up to be and they will do anything to hold on to your money!

firbs says: (1 month ago)
0  
first of all it does not just"plug in and go". that is a lie.. majic jack is confusing and has to be registered ahead of use.. which after 5 minutes i am not happy, nor do i care for such a lie. do not buy, believe me. this has a hidden agenda. Not what they present. i do not recommend.

the2ndflood says: (2 months ago)
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Oh, never mind. It's not Notworthit, it is Dothemath and Dizfunkshunal, and on and on. Sorry Notworthit. I'm just getting sick of being called names because someone didn't bother to read my review.

the2ndflood says: (2 months ago)
0  
I have written an UPDATED review to include all of the details I didn't add before. I didn't want some 10 page review, but since I am now being sent messages every single day; being told the same 3 users have made a new FAKE account and posting something stupid; I have no choice. I "Notworthit", who is the same person who keeps posting the same bashing comments over and over again, under different names, claimed in one of their bashing comments that they don't even own the Magic Jack! They are just citing other web sites! They didn't read anything I had posted, they just keep messing with my review. So once the new review is up; I will post it; then the same 3 FAKE users will most likely start bashing that one as well. But that one will at least have enough details to where I won't have to keep explaining my point to these little kids.

dothemath says: (2 months ago)
-1  
The math does not work. Most PCs have 350w power supplies. Even at full load (unlikely) 350w * 24hrs = 8400 watts / 1000 = 8.4 KWH (kilowatt hours) * 30 (days) = 252 KWH * 0.10 (10 cents a kilowatt hour) =$25(USD).... even if you had a 500-1000w powersupply the machine is not going to run full load 24/7, most likely more like 100w idling... which would be more like $7.20 a month. Plug in your own rate, or buy a killawatt http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=202443274&listingid=5668435&dcaid=17902 and see for yourself (handy to test other appliances as well!). My laptop draws .5 amps peak (fluke multimeter) that would be $3.96/mo.

notworthit says: (2 months ago)
-1  
Thanks the2ndflood. There are many factors in how much electricity you PC waste. If it's set to go on stand by when not in use, that will knock your rating to less then 10 watts an hour, wise guy. also with 2x1000w is equal to 2Kw AN HOUR if your PC is on 24/7, then that's 48KW A DAY at 10 cents a KW (that's how much I pay) that will cost you (0.10 X 30 x 48) that is 144$ dollar a month. So there is two explanation for your post(cost). You machine is always on stand by when your not using it. Or you are just an ignorant that lives in your parents basement, play games all day on your PC. And have no clue what your parents are paying for your power. I also want to make it clear that when your PC is in stand by mode, your Magic Jack application does NOT function. There are other factors that I'm not gonna mention here (how many hard drive you have..etc) It's rated UP TO 1000W, NOT 1000W all the time. Dizfunkshunal, do your research before making an idiotic ignorant comments.

the2ndflood says: (2 months ago)
0  
I hate posting reviews because of trash like Dizfunkshunal! People that just look for reasons to bash people over the web, because in person they are weak, and over the web they can be scum. Did you even read anything? DIFFERENT COMPUTERS, DIFFERENT POWER RATES, DIFFERENT ACC'S! Anything? Did you bother to open your eyes and point your eyes to those things called WORDS and READ?! I ALREADY COVERED THIS!!! I'm sick of people making this fake accounts over and over again just so they can keep posting these things! Even after I turned my PC, the Rates were still high enough were Magic Jack WASN'T WORTH IT!! HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO EXPLAIN THIS? GO BUY IT AND USE IT!! I'M SICK OF EXPLAINING THIS TO PEOPLE! If you don't trust me, THEN BUY IT FOR YOURSELF!! My God man! The Software and Electricity rates make Magic Jack NOT SO MAGIC!!!

Dizfunkshunal says: (2 months ago)
-2  
You are a complete idiot. I dont even own a MagicJack and know you full of it. I'm a gamer. I have a seriously powerful computer using 2 1000w power supplys and don't use no where near $54.97 not even half of that. My computer runs 24/7 never gets shut off except for upgrades.

notworthit says: (2 months ago)
0  
Same problem. my Electric bill was up 100$. my computer was on 24/7. I turned it back off for a whole month and my bill went back to a 100$ cheaper..so NOT worth it unless they have a skype alike phones that don't require a PC.

the2ndflood says: (2 months ago)
0  
The calling part of Magicjack isn't the problem ib42; that part works very well. The problem is the PC needs to be on 24/7. Even after I tuned the PC by turning off the hard drive, DVD-ROM, ect, it still uses a bunch of power. The other problem is the software. It nags you day and night! It is always popping up, unless you download software to hide it. Even then it still takes a while to lead at start-up. So yeah, you get cheap phone calls, and you get to be harassed by ads and pop-ups, all day, everyday, as long as the PC is on! Magicjack didn't need to put ads in their software! I already own it! And they could have created a router that has the same functions as a PC; so the user doesn't need to have the PC on 24/7! So it's good in some ways, and VERY BAD IN OTHERS!


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