Voice Over Internet Protocal (VoIP) providers use an Internet connection to turn analog signals – like those used in traditional phone lines – into a digital, broadband signal. As an incentive for consumers to switch to their services, VoIP operators often advertise free sign up or a one-time minimal fee.  For consumers, however, it’s the fine print that can leave them vulnerable.

One VoIP provider that has generated an ongoing list of complaints from consumers is Lingo. Chief among those complaints: Unauthorized billing practices, hidden fees, inflexible and deceptive contracts and poor customer service.

Over the past two years, various consumer Web sites and online reviews of VoIP providers have registered a litany of issues against Lingo.  “Do not use Lingo,” said one customer. “They baited and switched me.

“I started out with a low monthly rate. After the initial inexpensive period of six months, I was expecting monthly rates of around $20. My rate jumped to $39.42. There is another problem with this company. They charge via credit card. And they are very difficult to remove from your credit card. Beware of Lingo’s ability to have selective memory, be misleading and have hidden charges. This company is a nightmare.”

Another apparent problem for Lingo customers concerns the company’s unlimited calling plan known as “Lingo World Max.” Specifically, customers allege that Lingo terminate, at will, any user it deems as unprofitable from the Lingo World Max plan.

Lingo is a subsidiary of Primus Telecommunications Group, Inc. In March 2009, Virginia-based Primus filed for bankruptcy protection. Several months later, the company won court approval of a reorganization plan to reduce its debt by approximately 40%. In July 2009, Primus successfully emerged from bankruptcy protection.

If you’ve experienced problems with Lingo or another VoIP provider, please contact us to tell your story.

Online offers of free products or courtesy gift cards may wind up putting a hole in your wallet. The scam works something like this: A coupon appears on the computer screen after you’ve purchased an item online from a retailer. After clicking on the “free” coupon, consumers are routed to another Web site to complete some type of survey. The final step cinches the scam when you’re asked to provide personal information, i.e. a credit card number or even a cell-phone number

Every year, millions of consumers who thought they were getting free coupons or discounts on their next online purchase become victims of unauthorized charges on their credit cards and phone bills.

A March 1, 2010, story on KATU.com illustrates this point. According to the story, Brenda Hansen clicked on what she thought was a legitimate coupon for $250 to Safeway. After being routed to another site, she was asked to take an online survey and enter her mobile-phone number. 

Hansen never did receive her $250 coupon. Instead, she got an extra $9.99 on her monthly mobile-phone bill. 

The fine print on the survey that Hansen completed revealed some critical insight. The survey questions she answered actually were sign-ups to pay for monthly services. 

One of the companies behind the offers was World Avenue, which the Florida Attorney General’s office sued in 2007 for allegedly deceiving consumers. In 2008, World Avenue lost the lawsuit and ended up paying $1 million in fines.

If you are a victim of unauthorized credit card charges, you may have a right to recovery. Contact us today by completing the form on this page. 

Investment schemes, bank overdraft fees, Toyota accelerator defects, Lexus paint issues – make no mistake, consumer complaints are growing by the day, as more businesses provide unacceptable products and services.

According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), identity theft was the top complaint filed by consumers in 2009. Other consumer complaints that made the list include:

Maddox Hargett & Caruso, P.C. is committed to defending consumers against unscrupulous businesses and corporations. We make companies take responsibility for faulty products, false advertising or misrepresentation. If you’ve been wronged by a company’s product or service, contact us today. We will fight for your rights.

Acceleration flaws on Toyota Motor’s vehicles now have the attention of NASA, which the government is recruiting to study the issue as part of its investigation into the automaker. At least 51 deaths have been linked to acceleration problems on Toyota vehicles. 

The government also has tapped the National Research Council for its insight. The studies will cost some $3 million. 

Toyota has recalled more than 8 million cars and trucks worldwide for defects. As reported March 30 by Bloomberg, the company faces at least 27 lawsuits and more than 80 class-action cases linking electronics systems to deaths or injuries in crashes. 

If you have had concerns about your Toyota vehicle, please contact us. We want to hear your story. We will investigate the matter and advise regarding your legal options.

With the value of Toyota vehicles plummeting in the face of massive recalls, the six million affected consumers are, in turn, filing lawsuits in record numbers. At least 89 class-action lawsuits have been filed to date, which could end up costing Toyota more than $3 billion. According to a review by the Associated Press, the financial estimates are just the tip of the iceberg because they don’t include potential payouts for wrongful death and injury lawsuits. Lawsuits against Toyota began escalating last year, following a slew of recalls connected to sudden unintended acceleration. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has since reported that 52 people died in accelerator-related crashes.

Useless and patronizing are the words many consumers use to describe Lexus management and their response to alleged paint defects with Lexus vehicles. Now the Lexus story has taken a more dangerous turn involving unintended acceleration problems causing safety concerns.

As reported March 10 by the Washington Post, investigators who conducted a 2007 inquiry found that at least three of every 100 Lexus ES 350 owners in Ohio reported experiencing unintended acceleration issues. 

“Anything over 1 percent would raise a red flag, particularly for the manufacturer,” said James C. Fell in the story. Fell worked at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for 30 years, as well as served as chief of research for traffic safety programs. 

Lexus is a subsidiary of Toyota Motor Corp., which has found itself in the hot seat because of massive recalls tied to problems with its Toyota and Lexus brands. To date, 8.1 million vehicles worldwide have been recalled by Toyota, with the possibility of more to come.

In December 2009, an article in Consumer Reports stated that 41% of the sudden acceleration complaints received at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in 2008 were related to Toyota and Lexus.

A March 10, 2010, Associated Press report says that class action lawsuits related to Toyota’s recalls over unintended acceleration could wind up costing the automaker $3 billion or more. The common allegation in the lawsuits centers on whether Toyota knew about accelerator problems and concealed them from buyers.  

Federal prosecutors have launched a criminal investigation into Toyota’s safety problems, and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is looking into what the automaker revealed to investors and consumers about past acceleration complaints.

Paint issues have become a growing source of frustration for many Lexus owners. Some consumers report that vehicles as new as 30 days are already showing signs of paint chipping on the car’s hood, as well as on the side mirrors. To the dismay of Lexus owners, however, the dealerships don’t appear to be coming up with an effective resolution. 

A simple Google of “Lexus paint problems” will produce a rash of complaints from Lexus owners who all voice similar dissatisfaction with their Lexus purchases. Whether it’s a paint quality issue, faulty workmanship or defective paint in general, it’s not what buyers expect in a premium, high-priced vehicle like the Lexus.

The bottom line: More and more once-proud Lexus owners are fast becoming unhappy customers. If you purchased or leased a Lexus automobile and experienced chipped or nicked paint and/or scratches on the car’s painted surface, contact us today. 

Lexus paint problems are sending buyers into overdrive, with many venting their frustration on the Internet via automotive forums. Their common complaint: Paint chipping issues with the Lexus 350, a pricey automobile that runs upwards of $35,000. 

Lexus buyers apparently have been voicing complaints about Lexus paint issues for several years now, with no resolution in sight. Lexus dealers provide an array of “reasons” for the problems, ranging from insects stuck in the protective cover to rail dust that settles during shipping. Buffing and retouching reportedly provide only a band-aid solution. 

Lexus, incidentally, is a division of Toyota Motor Corporation. Toyota is the Japanese car company that has been in the news lately for defects and problems associated with brakes on new Prius hybrids. Those problems have now led to the recall of 8.5 million vehicles. Earlier this week, the government ordered Toyota to turn over documents related to the recalls, pressing to find out how long the automaker knew about the safety defects before taking action.

If you purchased or leased a Lexus automobile and experienced chipped or nicked paint or scratches on the painted surface, contact us today. We would like to hear from you.

The Lexus slogan is “The Pursuit of Perfection.” But apparently that perfection doesn’t apply to the quality of paint used on certain Lexus models, including the Lexus ES 350. A number of Lexus owners have come forward with complaints of inferior paint, citing everything from paint that chips away easily to issues of blistering and flaking. 

Online posts in any number of automotive forums shed further light on the apparent dissatisfaction among Lexus owners over paint quality issues. One owner reports “multiple small chips to the white base on front hood near grille, as well as lots of swirl scratches on body without any good explanation.” 

Another user states that, “Previous vehicles from other automakers have never experienced anywhere near the number of chips that the Lexus has. My 10-year-old Accord looks pristine by comparison.” 

At a price of $35,000 and up, quality should be priority No. 1 for Lexus. Judging by the growing number of complaints, however, over alleged defects in the quality of paint being used on certain Lexus models, Lexus has some repair of its own to do.

If you purchased or leased a Lexus automobile and experienced chipped or nicked paint or scratches on the painted surface, contact us today. We would like to hear from you.

The Lexus ES 350 is supposed to be a top-of-the-line, luxury vehicle. Instead, many owners of the Lexus 350 are discovering that the car’s $35,000-plus price tag is unable to live up to all that it promised.

Specifically, consumers are reporting ongoing problems over the paint quality of their Lexus ES 350 automobiles, as well as other Lexus models. Lexus owners say that the paint on their vehicles chips, flakes away or blisters far too easily and that rust spots often appear shortly after they have purchased their car. The paint issues are especially prevalent with darker colors of paint.  

A quick google of “Lexus paint problems” or “Lexus paint defects” confirms these issues, providing a lengthy list of owner complaints.

The bottom line: In a growing number of cases, Lexus car owners are finding that their car payments will likely far outlast the paint job on their vehicle. If you purchased or leased a Lexus automobile and experienced chipped or nicked paint or scratches on the painted surface, contact us today. We would like to hear from you.