Avoid Viatalk

[compdoc]

I opened an BYOD account with viatalk to test a trixbox server. I configured the line on that server and made about 15 test calls - about 12 of which were made to my own cell phone. The last call was on Sep 20th, 2007. Most calls were only a few seconds in length.

At that point, I shut down the trixbox server and havent used the viatalk number whatsoever since. In fact, the server is sitting in my garage and connected to nothing...

Well, imagine my surprize when I find viatalk is billing my CC# for going over my 500 minutes for the account for the month of October. Somehow, someone is using my account!

So, i call viatalk hoping to clear this up, and after waiting about 30 minutes on hold, the moron customer support rep tells me its not possible that anyone but me could be making calls on the account, and how great the security is and that I must be giving out my account password to other people.

I dont even know what the call setup password is offhand, much less handing it out to anyone. Why would I do that, to cheat viatalk out of a few minutes?

And yet, someone is making calls - so much for all that great security...

I asked him to close the account, since that option isnt anywhere on the website. I service and sell phone systems, and I'll forever tell everyone I know to avoid viatalk like the plaque...

[compdoc]

I think I've figured this out.

I created an account with viatalk a month ago.

When I logged in for the first time, I found someone else's name already entered into the account details. I changed the name to mine, but now I find I'm being charged for minutes I never used.

The previous owner is still using the account. And this is viatalk's fault.

This is happening because viatalk has not changed the password for the softphone config.

When someone logs in, and then clicks the Softphone Config icon, and then the Get Config button, it should generate a new unique password each time, and not give everyone who has ever used the account the same password.

Or better yet, allow the users to create their own password.

Because of their poor website programming, I'm being billed for minutes I never used, and the previous owner is still using the account for free.

Of course, this also means that anyone who wants a free line just needs to sign up once and then stop paying. After that, they can use the account to make all the calls they want...

Cool, huh?

[bobis]

Thanks for sharing, hackers can do anything or mabe its the company knowing if you took them to court, they would win. I opened a western union checking account 2 years ago and within 3 days my money was gone! Its was only 100 dollars but whenever you lose money you know you did not spend it sucks!!!

you shouldent need to worry about the company, cant you file a report with the FBI or something, my parents were billed for some calls they did not make, called the Phone company(there always useless!) and they said they couldent help so my parents files a report with the city police station and they sent it to the FBI and everything was OK.

[macdan10]

Simply call your credit card provider, explain the situation and initiate charge back procedures for the charges. VT will have to prove that they are not at fault. You need to make sure you can reasonably prove you didn't make the calls. The call logs should show the numbers which have been called. Make sure you have the details of the second party recorded, screen shots or print outs etc.

The police or the FCC cannot help you because the telecom laws in the USA applies to phone companies not VOIP providers. Which is why the services they provide are less than satisfactory in some instances.

[compdoc]

Update:

Viatalk did remove the charge for going over the 500 minute limit on calls, although without even contacting me about it.

The account is still being used by unknown persons, even a month after I've stopped using the account.

I've written several emails and even called Viatalk to request the BYOD password be changed, but it's never been done. They won't even close my account at my request.

I've written sales, billing, and tech support. The only responses I've gotten were "its not my department". When a company allows its staff to pass the buck in this way, its no surprize that nothing gets accomplished.

[leafgreen]

Well frankly bro, that's not a very good reason to tell everyone else not use Viatalk. But I agree that it's a good reason for *you* not to use them. Now if *everyone* was having the same problem, then yeah. But you just seem to have had an anomolous experience.

I've been using them for about 2 years, and although I've had problems, I'm still going to renew.

ciao peeps,
Leafgreen
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