After years of being under the thumb of the big phone companies, today's top voice over IP services are offering an out. Just make sure you don't jump from the frying pan to the fire before careful consideration. Star Reviews decided to check out Lingo once again, and we found some brand new features and pricing here. Continue on for our entire experience.
What's New?
• Special offers for customers switching from other VOIP services.
• Lingo was rated as one of the top 10 VOIP providers by IT Week Magazine.
Star Reviews' Favorite Feature:
We really liked Lingo's refer-a-friend program because of its two-fold benefit. First, you get a $25 Lingo credit for each friend you refer. Then, once your friend is a Lingo customer, all of your calls to them are free even if you don't have one of Lingo's unlimited plans. You have to love free in-network calling.
About Lingo:
Lingo is the VOIP subsidiary of Primus Telecommunications Group. They company has been providing Voice Over IP services since 1999 and has had almost a decade to perfect its technology. Because longevity is important when selecting a VOIP provider, the fact that they're not the new kid on the block is a big plus.
What Lingo Offers:
Whether you need home or business VOIP services, Lingo has a plan that will meet your needs. All Lingo VOIP plans include:
• Voice mail
• Three-way calling
• Speed dial
• Simultaneous ring
• Call waiting, forwarding, ID
• Anonymous call rejection
• Do not disturb
• Automatic redial
Lingo Pricing:
• Lingo Link is just $7.95 per month, which includes unlimited calling to other Lingo subscribers.
• Small Talk, which includes 500 monthly minutes and unlimited in-network calling is $14.95 per month.
• Global Gabber, which includes unlimited calls to the US, Canada and Puerto Rico and 300 international minutes, costs just $34.95 per month.
• Talk 365, which includes unlimited calls to the US, Canada and Puerto Rico is paid yearly at $195 per year.
• Chatter Box, which includes unlimited calls to countries internationally, is just $21.95 per month.
The Lingo Experience:
The Lingo website was very easy to navigate and finding plan information and features wasn't a problem at all. After selecting the plan we wanted, we were asked if we wanted a new phone number or if we wanted to transfer our existing one. We asked Lingo to transfer the number we already have and they immediately notified us that it would take a minimum of 20 business days to have the number transferred. This, while a long wait, was a breath of fresh air because Lingo was up front and honest about this fact while other companies don't really tell you until you've already signed up for service.
We were then told that Lingo would provide us with a temporary number until our existing number was transferred. After the transfer of our existing number, we could discontinue the temporary number or keep it for about five bucks a month. We then provided Lingo with our location information so they could provide us with a local number and we were brought to a page confirming our package details.
Again, we found some hidden charges at this point in the process including a $1.35 Universal Fund fee, a 99 cent Regulatory Recovery fee, a $1.99 emergency services fee, a $9.95 shipping fee and a $29.95 activation fee. At least, however, they showed us these costs prior to asking us for our credit card information. After that, it was just a few more steps (such as providing billing and shipping information) and we were all set.
Lingo's Customer Support:
Okay, here's the deal – Lingo does offer customer support via phone, email and an online FAQ but offering it and actually making it easy to get in touch with them are two different things. We called Lingo and it took (no joke) more than an hour to get an answer to a simple question regarding transferring our existing number to a Lingo service. Add that to the fact that we never received a response to our email inquiry and the picture doesn't look good. At least there are the FAQs, which offer extensive information on Lingo services and common questions one would run into using a Lingo phone line.
Upside:
Great prices, good line quality, discounts and specials available.
Downside:
Frustrating customer service experiences.
Summary:
We have to admit we liked Lingo for their easy navigation and simple to sign up for VOIP service. The pricing here isn't bad, with a basic plan costing you $7.95 a month. But, keep in mind that like many of their competitors, Lingo does tack on some extra fees such as a $1.99 emergency services fee and a $29.95 activation fee. There are, however, plenty of discounts and specials here, so you can probably save some money if you look hard. If you wish to transfer an existing number, it can take 20 days, which Lingo tells you up front (which we appreciated.) Customer support, unfortunately, was disappointing here. Telephone support took about an hour to pick up and we never received an email response. If you can settle for a FAQs database, you should find the help you need. Lingo has established itself in the VOIP industry, so we do recommend them.