VOIP Phone Service
Magic Jack is a VOIP phone service which allows you to make free local and long distance calls within the United States and Canada. You can also use Magic Jack phone service in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. It consists of a device that is plugged into the computer’s USB port and software that creates the ability to transmit voice over your high speed internet connection. Your computer must be on to use Magic Jack, although you will still receive voice mail. Magic Jack lets you use a standard telephone, including cordless telephones. Nothing special to buy, unless you want to. You may also use a headset or your computer’s built in microphone and speakers, which would be easier to use when on the road instead of a bulky phone.
When traveling internationally, you may take your Magic Jack with you and call anywhere in the United States or Canada for free while you are away from home. Cheaper to use than Skype or Vonage, Magic Jack costs only $39.95 for the first year, and $19.95 each year after that. Multi-year plans are available and save you some money too. You might want to invest in a 5 year plan. Magic Jack is so cheap and works so well, I wouldn’t be surprised if the cost didn’t raise after a while. Magic Jack costs more the first year because you are also paying for the USB device.
Magic Jack can save you money because you can ditch your regular phone service, or if you decide to keep your old phone company, it gives you a second line and free long distance calling. Well worth the $20 a year it costs.
In addition to Voice Mail, Magic Jack also provides Caller ID, Call Waiting, Call Forwarding, 3-Way Calling and free Directory Assistance…oh, and a free phone number.
June 10th, 2008 at 5:53 pm
I have received my magicJack 30 days ago and now I want to buy the service and I can’t use it because I haven’t bought it. I tried to buy the service but you are treating me like a new customer and want to send me another majicJack. What can Ii do to make mine work?
June 10th, 2008 at 6:01 pm
Any problems you are having with the purchase of your Magic Jack need to be addressed to the Magic Jack company. This web site is not affiliated with Magic Jack in any way, it is a personal review site of the service. Here are the links to the official Magic Jack web site:
http://www.magicjack.com
Here is the direct link to their customer care page:
http://www.magicjack.com/1/customercare.asp
Best of luck in resolving your problem with them!
June 23rd, 2008 at 4:28 pm
what is their phone number I can’t find it?
June 23rd, 2008 at 6:39 pm
They don’t advertise their phone number at all on the magicjack.com website, that is for sure. The only way I have heard of getting their phone number is to go to their customer service chat and get it from them. Here is the link to that:
http://www.magicjack.com/3/customercare.asp
June 28th, 2008 at 6:11 pm
I’d like to cut back on my phone bill and have thought about going to Magic Jack. Is this a reputable company? Does the jack attached to a computer really work? Is it as reasonable and workable as it sounds? I’d like to get some advice before I take the plunge and drop my local phone service. Thanks for your help.
June 29th, 2008 at 1:18 pm
@Sharon,
Magic Jack does work well when it’s working, but as a new company they seem to be having their growing pains. I think it is worth a try, but I don’t recommend dropping your local phone service right away until you give Magic Jack a good tryout, say maybe 4-6 months. I do hear a lot of complaints that Magic Jack works well at first and then develops problems later.
Hope this helps.
June 29th, 2008 at 4:55 pm
Beware of Magicjack !!!!
They claim unlimited use, but look at section 6 of the terms of service. it reads…..
If magicJack sees excessive use or systematic or intentional misuse, it reserves the right, in our sole discretion, to terminate your use of the magicJack device and/or Software immediately, and you will not be entitled to get a refund of any licensing fee or any other fee you may have paid to us.
Excessive use is not defined and the online customer service chat is in my opinion, USELESS!
They would not give me a straight answer to what constitutes “excessive use” instead they just kept talking about refunds and refering me to the terms of use page.
June 29th, 2008 at 7:56 pm
Magic Jack definitely needs to work on their customer service! Providing a phone number to call would be a huge step in the right direction.
June 30th, 2008 at 6:19 pm
My daughter will be attending a university in South America – Santiago, Chili to be exact for her fall semester. We would like to use Magic Jack or any other service to stay in touch with her. I guess I’m curious if Magic Jack would work from Chili or what other options we might have. Any advise would be appreciated. -Thanks
June 30th, 2008 at 8:19 pm
Magic Jack is supposed to work from other countries, as long as you have a broadband or high-speed internet connection like DSL, Wifi, etc. It’s cheap enough to give it a try, also Skype will work internationally but there is a per minute fee.
Hope this helps.
August 7th, 2008 at 6:57 pm
Hi Blair,
After I saw your pointnts, though I can give you an insight in to this. I have been using the magicjack in India for almost 8 months. And it works well. You can purchase it without any doubt.
Hope this helps you!
Thanks,
King
August 7th, 2008 at 7:01 pm
@Sharon,
The only con that I realized with the magic jack is that, you have to have the internet connected computer continuously working all the time you may need th phone. Other than this I say it works well. With this you also have a soft phone option where you may not need a phone equipment, only a mike!
August 8th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
I do have to agree with Guest’s comments. There may be some periods of adjustments as magicjack is a new and very very fast growning company. However, it does work well for me. I had a few problems with it but a 7 dollar ac powered usb hub solved all of them for me!
August 29th, 2008 at 2:44 am
hi i had a question for “king”. which internet provider do u need in india to make sure that the magic jack works there.
thanks
saby
August 29th, 2008 at 12:54 pm
Saby,
You need a high-speed internet service, such as broadband or dsl.
Hope this helps.
September 8th, 2008 at 6:06 pm
I recently purchased a magic jack but we have not been able to up-grade our DTV TIVO (DVR) using this line. IN the past we used our regular phone line for this Can the majic jack be used for this, and if so what are we doing wrong.
October 1st, 2008 at 1:36 pm
I just bougt my magicjack from the website http://www.voip-ms.com and the service was great and they shipp al over the world:)
I love magicjack it works great.
October 23rd, 2008 at 8:52 pm
I need help in setting the system to call 1
October 23rd, 2008 at 8:53 pm
I need help in getting set up for 911
October 23rd, 2008 at 11:12 pm
What difficulty are you having?
October 24th, 2008 at 2:42 am
CHRIS IS CORRECT!!!! I only wished I had read his comments before renewing my contract for the second year.
I want to warn others as well. Chris is correct about their “Terms of Service” – notably section 6 “Proper use” here http://www.magicjack.com/9/faq/
I had been using MagicJack since August 2007 to make “unlimited” calls to my girlfriend 3000 miles away (now wife). As of October 23, 2008, I received my recorded “Dear John” msg from MagicJack. Calling out gave me the following msg: “Thank you for calling. Due to unusual call volume on your phone, please call 214-884-5124 to receive an important update.” The gist being that I had “breached” their terms of service.
Like Chris, I could not get them to define “excessive use”. Now I have a limited service where I can continue receiving “free” calls, however I can only make outgoing calls by purchasing minutes through them. Since I had renewed my service over 30 days ago, I was not eligible for a full refund according to Andrew, the customer service guy. I asked for a physical address to write an official complaint letter and here it is for all of you who have been jilted by MagicJack:
MagicJack Customer Service
P.O. Box 6846
West Palm Beach, Florida 33405
So much for my happy honeymoon with MagicJack.
SERIOUSLY THOUGH, the phone service was just okay. Phone conversations were intermittent with beeps, clicks and static throughout my use. It was cheap….but if you make frequent calls to, say, your significant other, expect a “Dear John” msg from MagicJack and a useless castrated service afterwards.
October 24th, 2008 at 4:54 am
ADDENDUM TO ABOVE: The company *does* have a bad track record with refunds in particular – e.g., the deceptive nature of their “free” offer. The Florida section of the BBB gives them an “F” rating with 688 complaints as of today. See below:
http://www.seflorida.bbb.org/BusinessReport.aspx?CompanyID=92003333
October 24th, 2008 at 3:22 pm
I got my account terminated today also for “excessive usage”. The rep refused to define what “excessive” was and said there would be no refund. So much for “unlimited”. They are shysters.
October 25th, 2008 at 9:14 am
@CHRIS and DAN
so this is what it is all about then!!
For the past 48 hours I have been having this recording
“Thank u for calling due to unusual call volumes on your phone please call 214-884-5142 to receive an important update”
I tried chatting with tech support and all they told me was to call that number period! I asked them why I need to call the number and why can’t they just tell me what it is all about and they will just say they are not authorized for the type of problem so the best way for me to do is just call the number. When ever I try calling the number it just tell me.
“Thank u for calling magic jack out office hours are from 8:00am – 5:00pm CT please call back during our office hours.”
Guess what? it was 2pm CT Friday.. NO holiday. I guess they do not want my business. I am like outside United states and I cannot waste another 3 hours sitting and wastin my money to call them and just to listen to the recording to call them back when it is office hours. But if this is what it is really about just for me to call them and buy minutes well I do not intent to.
Do you think it is just best for me to buy a new magic jack and create a new account?
October 25th, 2008 at 2:51 pm
hi, i’m a client of Magic Jack i got a problem since 3 days with my magic. i do need the customer care number.can you please send it to my email adress.
October 27th, 2008 at 4:01 pm
same problem here. we should do something about this! this is a scam! false advertising! they said we will have unlimited calls! yeah right?! thanks magicCRAP!
October 28th, 2008 at 8:09 pm
It happened to me as well. When I complained and posted their website promise “make all the free calls you please” they cut me off. I have tried contacting them on six different occasions chatting with 12 different people and no help. It is a scam! It has been four days. I am going to get my money back by complaining to VISA for false advertising.
October 30th, 2008 at 5:23 am
Same problem here just wish I had googled this issue before I spent so much time trying to get it fixed.
October 30th, 2008 at 3:26 pm
I’ve been trying to install magicjack directly thru the USB on my computer with no success; also with a purchased AC powered USB hub as suggested with installation guide, still no success. Any other suggestions or method to pass on regarding inst’ln? Also when magicJact is plugged in USB the it freezes the computer which cannot even be turned off unless usb is unplugged.
Mavis on Oct.30/08 10:26am
November 1st, 2008 at 4:17 pm
what is the phone number forcustomer service…please help me solve this mystery
November 6th, 2008 at 3:20 am
can someone please give me a call i do have a guestion on your item XXX XXX-XXXX
thank you
November 6th, 2008 at 2:09 pm
@cece chavez,
This site is not affiliated with Magic Jack in any way, it is just a review of their service. For your question, you should contact their customer service at the Magic Jack website here:
http://www.magicjack.com
Here is the direct link to their customer care page:
http://www.magicjack.com/1/customercare.asp
I have also removed your phone number from your comment for your privacy.
Hope this helps!
November 9th, 2008 at 12:54 pm
My parents have your service and half the time I can’t get through because there system is down and down has been down again for a week. Now I am using up there cell phone minutes. I feel your company is ripping off a lot of people. It’s no wonder your company doesn’t have a phone number because it would always be busy and would never get through. You need to make it right with your customers. Cheap prices or not. My parents phone is usually not clear.
I feel your company has taken advantage of a lot of people that are on a tight income. What good is it if you can’t use it. All of us children feel this was a big mistake for our parents to go with your company.
Please make it right for my parents. There frustated over this whole situation. Please contact me and my parents.
Phone number removed by admin.
Please at least e-mail us.
Please make this right for your customers.
My Aunt and Uncle are also having problems with you system.
Thank you.
Becky Burke
November 9th, 2008 at 6:18 pm
Becky,
This site is not an official arm of Magicjack and has no affiliation with them.It is just a place to review the MJ and some users experiences. If you are able to edit your comment you should remove your phone numbers. You have to go to the official website if you have concerns. If you would like help in making the device work fopr your family, go to http://www.magicjacksupport.com. It is also an unofficial site butthere are several thousand members and many questions and answers available to you there. Good luck.
November 10th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
@Becky,
I removed your phone numbers for your privacy.
November 11th, 2008 at 5:48 pm
Please if you reading its worth trying then don’t how can you trust company without phone No. or an add. may be some of this posting is from them only trying to convince all that its good… be care full you will not get any reply or your money back so think twice
November 24th, 2008 at 2:59 am
after reading various posts about the “excessive use” issue on different websites: we called from usa to canada 1 hour a day for 2 whole months. i also noticed the common fact that it happened to mostly everyone on oct. 23rd, 2008. so, this seems like a sudden ploy to make new revenue; regardless of your contract time left, your location, your technical difficulties (even if you have none). if it works for you, then good luck; like everyone ends up learning the hard way; when it sounds too good to be true, it usually is. don’t bother giving magic jack new customers (your friends and family) so that magic jack will make more money if this is the way they treat their current customers.
if 1 hour a day for 2 whole months is considered abusive; then what magic joke with they come up with next???? and yes, no matter when you call that number—we have left 10 voicemails on that number and not one return call ever. we have called over 20 times, and not once did anyone pick up that phone even during the stated business hours.
November 29th, 2008 at 11:02 pm
I just received my magic jack. The installation went well but I could not find an area code for Ontario, Canada. I now have a phone number from Alabama. A bit far from Ottawa!
No one could tell me that phone numbers with Canadian area codes are not available yet. The service which is offered to live assistance IS NOT live at all.
I wonder what kind of run around I will get when I return it and try to get a refund! Did anyone try to get a refund yet?
Dee.
December 2nd, 2008 at 8:05 am
I have the magicjack currently and am violently angry. Everytime I talk to customer care, they are incredibly rude and I can never talk to anyone with any real knowledge of the product. Right now, mine doesn’t even work and they won’t send a new one. In my opinion, this product was a complete waste of money and a rip off.
December 4th, 2008 at 7:00 pm
Please wait for a site operator to respond.
You are now chatting with ‘Zack’
Zack: Hello, how may I help you?
catherine: in regards to your terms of service etc, and the “unusual call volume on our account”
catherine: how much are you going to charge us to reinstate our service and what exactly will i get in return
Zack: Okay
catherine: how much are you going to charge us to reinstate our service and what exactly will i get in return
Zack: One moment please…
Zack: The cost of the magicJack is $39.95 which includes the 30 day free trial and the one year of service. After your one year, you can renew the service for only $19.95. This $19.95 is not constant cost, a possibility that it will increase next year or the other year. And it will be shipped through USPS, which cost $6.95 for standard mail and $10.90 for priority mail.
catherine: i already know that
Zack: The 30-day guarantee starts on the date of order.
catherine: im not asking about the 30-day guarantee
Zack: If you purchased the magicJack directly from our website and if for any reason the magicJack does not perform just as we say, you can return it to us during the first 30-days, and get a full refund of the purchase price minus shipping and handling. In order to receive a refund or you must request and receive a magicJack RMA number by e-mail and the magicJack device must be returned in its original packaging, be accompanied by proof of purchase and you will pay for the return shipping. If you purchased the magicJack from one of our authorized agents, please contact the distributor or retailer directly to learn about their refund policy.
catherine: our magic jack service was cut off last month around Oct. 23rd, and the message indicated for us to call a certain phone number, we left them a message and until now no call back from them. so it sounds like magic jack cut us off just because we call out too much. what is the hook? what are you going to charge us just to buy more minutes>
catherine: please read my question carefully
Zack: Yes you are asking about the 30-day guarantee
catherine: no i am not
Zack: Okay
Zack: Sorry
catherine: i have had the service since august 23rd 2008; i know how to count that i’m over the 30 days
catherine: our magic jack service was cut off last month around Oct. 23rd, and the message indicated for us to call a certain phone number, we left them a message and until now no call back from them. so it sounds like magic jack cut us off just because we call out too much. what is the hook? what are you going to charge us just to buy more minutes
Zack: May I know if you cannot call until now?
catherine: obviously
Zack: Okay
Zack: Please hold
Zack: Thank you for your patience. I will transfer you to a higher level of support. Please hold while I transfer you.
Please wait while I transfer the chat to the best suited site operator.
You are now chatting with ‘Cherry’
catherine: “due to unusual amount of calls from this phone please call 218-884-5124 to get important update”
Cherry: Hi Catherine
catherine: this is the message that i got and need more clarification on; nobody is ever calling me back from that number
catherine: hi
catherine: i want to know how much are you going to charge me to reinstate my service and exactly what will i receive in return
Cherry: You mean you want to return the device?
catherine: i know how to count; i am an adult and i know that i am over the 30 days; i did not once mention that i want to return the device to you or to zack
catherine: “due to unusual amount of calls from this phone please call 218-884-5124 to get important update” ===this is the message that i got and need more clarification on; nobody is ever calling me back from that number
catherine: this is my question=== how much are you going to charge to have us reinstate the service and what exactly will i get in return (ie. back to unlimited calling out)
There may be a problem communicating with Cherry. Please wait while your chat is transferred to another operator.
You are now chatting with ‘Ezekiel’
catherine: “due to unusual amount of calls from this phone please call 218-884-5124 to get important update” === why do you give this message to your “customers” and don’t have a clear-cut answer? it’s easy, in plain words, if you want more business from me, as a customer, how much money do you plan to ask from me
catherine: how can i, the consumer, make an informed purchase of your product, if you don’t tell me in advance the price of buying more minutes….
Ezekiel: Please call that number Catherine.
Ezekiel: Once you can call that number, you will be able to get the updates that you should have from us regarding with this matter.
catherine: we have left 10 messages already. that is not good enough answer
catherine: nobody answers, nobody calls us back….what are you going to offer to make your customers happy?
catherine: how do you expect us to call that number
Ezekiel: We are advice by our higher department to tell the customer to tell them to call that number to a non magicJack Catherine.
Ezekiel: Sorry if I cannot give you any other answer aside from that and hope you uderstand my situation from here.
catherine: when you cut off our service; dont even tell me to use another phone === it is long distance===the reason why we bought your product in the first place
catherine: what do you mean “to a non Magic Jack”
Ezekiel: non magicJack telephone number
catherine: so you’re telling me that 218-884-5124 is not a magic jack number ; that has nothing to do with anything or the solution to my problem
catherine: i have to understand your situation from there? wow. what about customers who have paid for the service and device and can’t call out. wow, that doesn’t sound fair
Ezekiel: We are advice by our higher department to tell the customer to tell them to call that number to a non magicJack Catherine.
Chat session has been terminated by the site operator.
January 2nd, 2009 at 8:18 pm
I’ve been using Magic Jack since August 2008.I’m in the Philippines and my husband is in Canada. I had a Florida number so we saved a lot of phone cards. The service was okay until two months after I started using it, I got the “due to unusual call volume….recording” I talked to a lot of magicjack’s customer care (they’re all useless!!!) What I did was troubleshoot it myself. I changed my MagicJack number (you have the option to change it once with no charge). I was successful. And now, January 2, 2008, I am getting the recording again and can’t make any outgoing calls. Talked to a gazillion of useless customer care and i ended up with not a single useful information from them.
In fairness to MagicJack, their service was okay and me and my husband did save a lot of phone card money. However, they should warn us about the “unusual call volume” and more importantly, they should educate their customer care.
January 5th, 2009 at 12:43 pm
According to the faq at the official Magic Jack website, additional phone number changes cost $10. Have you tried an additional number change to see if that would work again? Still would make it cheap for months of international calls.
Link to the Magic Jack FAQ:
http://www.magicjack.com/1/faq/
January 14th, 2009 at 7:36 am
My friend and I talk on magicJack in the evenings. We have both had it since April of 2008. After this last update (December 2008) we get cut off after EXACTLY one hour.
We are both in the US and live about 2000 miles apart.
Has anyone else had this problem?
January 14th, 2009 at 4:51 pm
@Aron,
I haven’t had this problem yet, but then haven’t had a call recently that lasted that long. I’ll try it out soon and see if it happens to me also.
Does it let you call back after being cut off?
January 14th, 2009 at 10:22 pm
Hi,
I have noticved exactly the same. Four times I have been cut off exactly on the hour…right to the second. When I call my friend back, I am good for another hour – exactly one hour. That has happened four times.
It happened to my wife yesterday twice. I believe they have put in some way of timing calls. If it were internet it would be random times. But I believe it is Magic Jack. It can’t happen 6 times right to the second unless someone is doing it. I call my ISP and they said it has nothing to do with them.
January 15th, 2009 at 3:21 pm
Fortunately, you can call back and for free (once your Magic Jack yearly usage is paid).
January 18th, 2009 at 8:56 pm
Hi. i just need your free phone call cause information about the magikjack..
ther free phone that site.
thank you….
January 19th, 2009 at 6:03 pm
my problem is that my magicjack is not working properly the call is disconnect automaticlly after 5min. whenever i call, and i try again & again but call can’t connect. so please solve my problem as early as possible.
please give me your customercare tollfree number, because if the problem will again happen i able to talk with your customercare officer.
January 20th, 2009 at 2:37 pm
@Lafond Monique and jigar shah,
This site is not affiliated with Magic Jack in any way, it is a review of their service. For the problems you are having, you should contact their customer service at the official Magic Jack website here:
http://www.magicjack.com
Here is the direct link to their customer care page:
http://www.magicjack.com/1/customercare.asp
Best of luck in resolving your problems with them!
January 21st, 2009 at 3:10 am
I had to laugh at the reply listing the back and forth dialogue with the online agent. I had a similar experience talking in circles for hours hoping to get someone who actually knows something about the product. I have had hit and miss success, with frequent calls being a bit noisy and choppy. I had hoped to use the MJ line for my home office, which I use a day or two per week. I was on a conference call today that went to dial tone precisely at one hour, to the second. I dared try the chat line in hopes of learning more about the Cinderella time limit. They denied there was such a thing – of course. I explained that others have stated the same issue on the internet and that their boss admitted so in a posted written correspondence. Well I have to say that I have had more fulfilling conversations with my pet dog. I initially had high hopes and wondered if they had some new angle on creating nearly free phone service. My advice to anyone considering buying this for business is simply – don’t. I would also caution anyone on buying anything more than year to year service. It wouldn’t surprise me one day to wake up to silence on the other end of the line. I feel for the “English as a second language” customer service representatives. They probably dislike their jobs as much as we dislike MJs approach to customer satisfaction. Buyer beware!
January 31st, 2009 at 2:11 pm
I just purchased my Magicjack a week ago at Best Buy. And so far the service is as promised. But after reading these horrible experiences, I’m glad I saved the receipt!! I just have to make sure I return it within 30 days. Probably just exchange it for a new MagicJack and continue to make free calls.
Yeah this is abusing the system. But look at it this way. For every “defective” Magicjack Best Buy gets back from customer, guess who they return them directly to? MAGICJACK!
I feel for you all though, and I wish justice will be served. Call or write to your news station, and perhaps they will cover the story and give Magicjack the negative image they deserve
February 27th, 2009 at 2:16 am
i ‘m looking for 59.99 for 5 years magicjack
February 27th, 2009 at 2:33 pm
dodji,
Visit magicjack.com to purchase 5 years of service.
HTH
March 19th, 2009 at 7:39 pm
I dont know why the better buisness bearoue has not been contacted.I get a dial tone but cant call out.Magic Jack is a rip off They dont even have a number to contact them
June 20th, 2009 at 12:40 pm
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August 11th, 2009 at 8:24 pm
Sirs first of all I am not use to not being able to talk to somebody about my problems,you need to talk to people who deal with you !!!!
2nd. we live in Yuma, Az. 928 area code and everybody that calls us have to dile 1-928-387-1904 and all that call us live in the 928 area code but they are being charged a long dist. phone call why is this and if this is what is going to happen each time wer get a call then there should be a way to get away from useing the 928 and just dile our number 387-1904 please e-mail me or call me so I have something to tell our family and friends or we will think about droping magic jack and go with vonage so please get back to me fast or lose us
Thank You
Gary Foreman
woodygary1@aol.com
January 7th, 2010 at 1:19 pm
Keep up the fantastic work! Look forward to reading more from you in the future. I think it will be also nice if you add “send to email” tool so people can forward the articles to their friends easily.
January 17th, 2010 at 6:26 pm
I’ve had Magicjack for over a year and haven’t had any problems except trying to get a number I wanted in a certain area. I have my # forwarded to my cell phone and don’t have the jack plugged in for months at a time, since I don’t make outgoing call w/ Magicjack, just have the incoming calls go to my call
February 18th, 2010 at 2:14 am
i like magic jack NOT dont have a clue suppose 2 have no risk 30 day trial,took my money and i dont even have the dam thing yet
June 2nd, 2010 at 3:34 am
I am having problems again. I will try the AC powered USB.I was sucked into MJ. by the price previously I had Vonnage.I can’t recommend MJ untill I see an improvement in my longdistance sound quality.Local in SE Florida works great no problem.