BasicTalk Reviews

Basic Talk [Vontage] has been taking my money for 1 year. They haven't honored the agreement. There has been no service for a year (No dial tone). I've followed all of the cancellation instructions, but they never honor that. They ignore all emails, calls, and cancellation requests and continue to deduct money even knowing that haven't provided the service. They put you off and tell you they will call you back in 24 hrs, but they even lie about that. I asked to cancel on the cancellation line. The lady tried to get me to accept a new box for $79, but refused to address all the money they have taken and failed to provide service (no dial tone). Why would I accept another box after 1 year of no service, with no way to cancel, that they will honor! I've placed stop payments and they just change the amount the next month to keep taking money. I've asked for a full refund and they say they will call you back, but they don't. Basic Talk used to be good years ago. NOW, NOT SURE WHAT CHANGED SINCE THEY WENT DARK, IT'S ALL A SCAM TO GET YOUR MONEY!! They don't care if you have service or not, which is a violation of the agreement. If you place stop payments they will change the amount to continue deducting money so you lose stop payment fees. NIGHTMARE!!!! Cancel your business card on file (Even if it is a pain to do so). They will not stop deducting. This went on for almost one year. Horrible customer service! They are unapologetic scammers! How does a company ignore tech support requests knowing the line does work, but find ways to continue taking your money without providing service - SCAM that's how!!!!!!

Week of 11-14-2022 still not refunded received!

Date of experience: November 04, 2022

Basic Talk has been a great service for me for years...until the last 6 months. I've been with them since before 2015. I use the line mostly as a message line while my main line is my cell. It was great to have an inexpensive service for that rather than pay the high charges from other companies. I can't make a call without static overload. People often can't hear me, I often can't hear them. I understand that Vonage is not adding anymore BT customers so those of us that still have it are basically grandfathered. I'm sure this is why there's no support and service is poor now. I think Vonage is trying to push us all out. If they don't want to provide the service anymore, why not just give us notice so we can find another carrier. I'm very disappointed.

Date of experience: August 19, 2022

I called support today to cancel one of the two lines I have through Basic Talk. Spoke to a man (Rajesh, in India) that could barely speak English. He refused to let me speak to an English speaking person and then canceled the number I wanted to keep instead of the number I told him to cancel. I called back on my other line to inform him of the mistake and he canceled the other line too. These people are criminals.

Date of experience: September 23, 2021

Is Basic Talk out of business?
All of a sudden it won't connect to Grandstreams the first of this month. it is paid automatically for this month but the modem won't connect to the internet but it is set up right. no phone# to contact, no repsonse to e-mail. No one there?? I have had Basic Talk for several years with no problem until now..

Date of experience: November 03, 2021

Everything these reviews point out is entirely true. The service sucks. The calls drop. Your number can be hacked spoofed like it was a cell phone. This is xo/vonage that owns these numbers and they suck. They sell your personal info to Indian call centers to call you everyday to get scammed by them. Porting my number as far away as possible from basic talk.

Date of experience: July 31, 2021

Number was hacked, and basic talk acted if I was the guilty party, shutting off my phone without letting me know. Suspending my account, not returning phone calls, charging me for service that I do not have. Cannot cancel because no one wants to take responsibility to handle this problem, every one is pointing to the other dept. I am stuck in the middle.

Date of experience: November 22, 2020

If you try to cancel your plan, be careful. They will tell you you're all set and they are sorry to see you go and then they will email you a letter thanking you for continuing your service with them and the charges will continue to be applied to your credit card. If you happen not to notice the charges, they will state that they have a policy of not offering refunds. This company is scamming its customers.

Date of experience: August 21, 2018

The service is fine. However, I called 3 times and was very clear that I was cancelling my account. They agreed to cancel during each call, but never cancelled it and continued charging my account. Then, they refused to issue a refund despite the fact they openly admitted that they could see I had called and that it hadn't been used in over a year. I would not recommend Basic Talk to ANYONE! They are a scam!!

Date of experience: January 13, 2017

I tried to transfer my old number on Basictalk and three weeks later it's still not done. Their system must be full of bugs cause it keeps returning an error but, they don't tell you what's wrong. Numerous conference calls with their off shore "customer service" doesn't help either. Additionally, every time you logon their system forgets what your password is and you have to go through their "forgot password" nonsense. Stay away from this joke.

Date of experience: December 06, 2017

Until Basic talk I was paying $25 dollars plus about $8 in fees and taxes. I get the same quality of service over the same internet connection I was using for the higher priced cable phone package. I can't get a telephone account for even twice the price that performs any better than Basic Talk! Love Basic Talk, worry free and hassle free service for $11 a month including taxes, amazing.

Date of experience: June 04, 2014

We don't know if the best attribute of Basic Talk is the ability to take it with us wherever we go or the low price. The sound is exceptionally clear, even on our older cordless phones. Normally we are very hesitant promoting products to our relatives, but we have recommended this service to family members. In the 9 months we have used Basic Talk we have been very satisfied.

Date of experience: June 03, 2014

Basic Talk First Year Cost $119.00

Magic Jack First Year Cost: $89.85

Difference = $29.15

Basic Talk Second Year Cost $119.00

Magic Jack Second Year Cost: $35.00

Difference = $84.00

Monthly cost:

Basic Talk = $9.99 (Plus tax and fees and if it stays at this rate)

Magic Jack = $1.67 (if it could be billed monthly which it can't)


So Basic Talk customers are you stupid or just really bad at math?

Date of experience: December 01, 2014

I have been charged for months for 2 lines and when I tried to call and cancel I was told I had to go to the website and submit my issue. Not everything should be solved through emails and internet. I personally prefer calling a customer service representative and solving my problems over the phone (which I am still getting charged for both lines). Other than that basic talk is great, and very affordable even 2 lines lol

Date of experience: June 03, 2014

I opened an account and about one month later Basic Talk opened another account using a different number (not my number) without my permission and began charging the payments to my credit card, the same card I used for my own account. When I discovered what they had done they denied it and refused to reimburse me!

Date of experience: December 03, 2019

At first I was unsure what kind of sound quality I would receive for the low monthly cost of Basic Talk. I must say I was very suprised at how good the sound is, For as often as we use our home phone, I felt we were over paying for big name phone service, for fewer services than we get with Basic Talk. I have No regrets trying this service and I would recommend Basic Talk to anyone who has internet service in their home.

Date of experience: June 03, 2014

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Technically, it works, and as the name implies it's BASIC service. Except for Caller ID, and Call waiting, you get NOTHING more. Call Forwarding should be BASIC!

PRICE is where it gets very deceptive!
It's pushed as $10/month. That's a lie!
I'm paying $15/month!
Besides actual REAL taxes, they make up several charges and attempt to bamboozle you into believing they are Federal taxes.
There are now "virtual" services which makes Basic Talk obsolete.
By the way, BASIC TALK is a dumbed down version of VONAGE, which owns it.

Date of experience: October 23, 2020

I have had Basic Talk for about 4 years at first they were very good, but for the last six months iv'e had nothing but trouble and i can't get anything done about the problem, so i'm going back to magic jack.I refuse to do business with a company that is almost impossible to deal with.My suggestion is don't even deal with them!!!!.

Date of experience: August 11, 2018

I love this service. I never have to worry about not having a phone. I remember the old days with AT&T and Pacific Bell. I was always stressing over how I was going to pay the bill each month or being upset because I couldn't afford long distance calls. I don't worry or stress about these things anymore. I can keep track of my mother, who lives far away and I know I always have service if I need it in an emergency. Basictalk rocks!

Date of experience: June 04, 2014

I was tired of paying for a home phone that I barely used, but didn't like the idea of not having a home phone since we still have children at home. Basic talk was the prefect solution for us. At $10/month I was able to still have a home phone without a big landline bill.

Important Note: Basic Talk will NOT work if your power is out our your internet is down.

Date of experience: June 08, 2014

They start with 9.99 but with the taxes and additional fees will end upto 13.00. Then they started charging 911 which as part of the deal vs magic jack is free. Then now the kick it up again. I choose them because they promise they have customer service but they never say its is some rude Indian guys who lies to yo. They promise I can transfer my njmber for 30 days but yhe loophole is they complicate everything...No customer service at all. Never will I take this service nor recommned it at all

Date of experience: September 13, 2019