iTalk Global Communications Inc. cheats consumers

I signed a 14-month contract with the iTalkBB, a long-distance phone service company, in December 2006. The contract expires in Febuary 2008. I do not want to continue the service, so I did not renew the contract when it expired early this month. Surprisingly, I recently found that my credit card was charged with $299 on Feb. 8, 2008. Then I checked with iTalkBB and found they automatically renewed my contract for one more year. They told me that they sent me an email message before the expiration of the old contract. I did not receive the email message (probably screened out as spam message) and they renewed my contract by themselves. When I asked them to cancel it they told me they would charged one month service fee. I never used the long-distance service after the expiration of the old contract. I feel I was cheated by this company and I do not think I have the responsibility to pay one more month service fee.

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They absolutely cheat on you, my experience is even worse

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I don't think the company is cheating you. Did you read the renewal rule and regulation in the agreement when you signed the first 14 months contract at the very beginning? This is the exactly case as people get auto insurance renewal. If you don't inform them, they will renew the contract for another year. They also charge you a month if you inform them to cancel after they renewed your insurance. It is a very popular way for the business world, and it is fair.

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This cheap Chinese company is so short-sighted in the way they do business. Yes, you save 3-4 bucks each month comparing with other companies like Vontage. But once you lock into their yearly contract, you are screwed! yes, you hear me, you are screwed. Because once you have finished the contract, and decide to discontinue the service, that's the time you find you are stuck. The service is automatically renewed for another year without your knowledge (No other US phone company is doing this), and you are charged for another $300 for a year. You call them to say I don't want the service anymore, and just charge my account for the 13-14 days of phone service that I have not even used. You think you only paid $10 maybe to get rid of the hassle of dealing with them anymore. Guess what, at the end, you still be charged for $150 to break away from them! Do not ignore the bill, because soon they will hire collection agency to deal with you. What is also ridiculous is that they will charge you for the VOIP adapter that other companies give away for free (after yearly contract). You paid $15 at the beginning of the contract and think you have owned the adapter. But after the contract ends and you don't return the adapter, they will charge you additional $50 on top of the $15 you've already paid. What a rip off! Stay away from this Chinese company when you can! Because you will end up paying a lot more than other companies, and the worst is that once you are trapped you can never break off without a big fight.

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they credited you except for one month after contract expired that it was still active---- so i dont think they cheated you