Magic Jack: Magic CRAP!

Magic Jack is first and foremost a resource hog! It installs itself in many places inside your machine as a hard drive, CD/DVD device, Audio device, USB device. It will also create several registry entries to completely embed itself in your machine. This device in essence, assimilates your computer. Causing severe boot time lag, logon lag and, in many cases, performance lags and freezes! You pay $19.95/yr after an initial $39.95 startup. QOS (Quality of Service) is largely not guaranteed and their technical support lacks severely.  If it's too good to be true, it usually is. And trust me; this IS too good to be true.

Quality of calls are unsatisfactory at best. Many calls experience “dropouts” and static (not my phones nor computers –different phones were tried as well as cords and connections). Not to mention that the computers comes to a grinding halt when the device is updating itself. It can take up to 10 minutes while the GUI says, “Just a moment of patience for a lifetime of free calls…” That moment turns into several minutes, like I said. Faxing is impossible with this device as well. Not that I fax often but do have the occasional fax to send. Getting tech support, or any support, for that matter, takes nearly an act of Congress! There is only one method of contact with these people and that's via Internet Chat. Once you are in a chat room, after explaining your issue, the typical answer is usually pointing out something about your computer. Not unusual, for many service providers. However, these people are relentless! They will go to great lengths to protect the reputation of their product, including and beyond telling you that your computer needs to either be replaced or requires major repair! Suffice it to say that support is really next to impossible because they ignore all the facts. Even trying the unit on another machine with the same results makes no difference to them. Fault is always directed to “your computer.”

Cancellation is an absolute nightmare. They keep your credit card information even if you instruct them otherwise. However, they will admit that you requested non-auto renew at the time of original setup. Beware, they will charge your cc when you request cancellation. They then accuse you of actually initiating the transaction yourself. They said that I had to logon with an E-mail address I have NEVER heard of (now they are making up information as they go along). Getting your money back is an entirely different ordeal all together. Not only do they require you to verify all given info, they then instruct you to provide your bank’s fax #. This is information not readily accessible to the general public. But in order to complete the transaction, this information seems to be crucial. After arduously searching for the information they request, you are then given a ticket #, assurances that this will be processed within 2 hours and a promise of a follow-up E-mail. None of this happens. No confirmation E-mail, no refund, and when you call to follow up yourself, you are then informed that a REPLACEMENT will be shipped to your location. No where was replacement ever mentioned.

Removal is a nightmare as well! Once you remove Magic Jack, it still leaves behind “footprints,” like many other programs do but this one is an exception to the amount left! You are then stuck with the decision to either run Factory Restore or go through your computer with a “fine-tooth comb.” Registry entries, folders and files buried deeply inside your system and, most destructive, the service is still running! The consumer is basically left with this along with a fraudulent charge on their card.

Fact is, why would I be interested in renewal with all the issues I’ve encountered? That just makes no sense. They cannot be trusted with financial information, even once.  They cannot support their product (inexperienced techs at best).  And, last but not least, they make up any story under the sun to keep you paying them.  It is a fraud.  Bottom line, Magic Jack is not a safe bet. Tell your friends to stay away from Magic Jack.