Terms & Conditions
1. INTRODUCTION.
These Terms of Service constitute the agreement between Vectrafon Inc. and the user of Vectrafon's communications services and any related products or services. This agreement governs both our service and any Vectrafon-approved or Vectrafon-provided devices used with our service. It applies to all lines on each Vectrafon account. Vectrafon Inc. is sometimes referred to as "we," "us," "our," or "Vectrafon" and the user is sometimes referred to as "you," "your," or "user," or "customer".
By subscribing to or using our service, you agree to these Terms of Service. All information linked to these Terms of Service is part of it.
2. EMERGENCY SERVICES - 911 DIALING.
Vectrafon's E911 (Enhanced 911) service is different from traditional 911, but it is a safe and reliable means of emergency dialing that may differ depending on where you are located when using your Vectrafon service.
With E911 service, when you dial 911 your Vectrafon telephone number and registered address is sent to the local emergency center serving your location, and emergency operators have access to this information in order to send help and call you back if necessary.
For each phone line you must provide a registered address where you will be using our service at the time you subscribe. Additionally, if you move your device to another location, you must update your address. If you do not update your location, your 911 calls may be sent to an emergency center near your old address. For purposes of 911 dialing, you may register only one location at a time for each phone line.
Please remember that our 911 Dialing service will not function in the event of a broadband or power outage or if your broadband, Internet Service Provider (ISP), or Vectrafon phone service is terminated.
3. SERVICE
3.1 Service Distinctions.
Our service is not a telecommunications service, and we provide it on a best efforts basis. There are important distinctions between a telecommunications service and our service. Our service is subject to different regulatory treatment than a telecommunications service. This treatment may limit or otherwise affect your rights of redress before regulatory agencies. Events beyond our control may affect our service, such as power outages, fluctuations in the internet, your underlying ISP or broadband service, or maintenance. We will act in good faith to minimize disruptions to your use of and access to our service.
3.2 Residential Use of Service and Device.
If you subscribe to our residential services, we provide you with service and the device solely for residential use.
3.3 Inconsistent Use.
If you use the service or the device in a way that is inconsistent with the normal use for your service or plan, you will be required to pay the rates for the service or plan that would apply to the way you used the service or device.
3.4 No 0+ or Operator Assisted Calling;
May Not Support x11 Calling. Our service does not support 0+ or operator assisted calling, including, without limitation, collect calls, third party billing calls, 900, or calling card calls. Our service may not support 311, 511, and other x11 services in one or more service areas. Our service does support specified dialing such as 911 and 411, which are provided for elsewhere in these Terms of Service.
3.5 No Directory Listing.
The phone numbers you get from us will not be listed in any telephone directories. However, any phone numbers you transfer from your local phone company may be listed.
3.6 Incompatibility With Other Services.
(a) Non-Voice Equipment Limitations.
You acknowledge that our service may not be compatible with all non-voice communications equipment, including but not limited to home security systems, medical monitoring equipment, satellite television systems, and computer modems. You waive any claim against Vectrafon for interference with or disruption of these services and equipment.
(b) Certain Broadband, Cable Modem, and Other Services.
Some providers of broadband service may provide modems that prevent the transmission of communications using our service. We do not warrant that our services will be compatible with all broadband services and expressly disclaim any express or implied warranties regarding the compatibility of our service with any particular broadband service.
4. LENGTH OF SERVICE.
4.1 Service Term.
We provide our service for terms of a set length that depend on the term that you have signed up for (for example, 30 days, one year, and two years). Your term begins on the subscription date, which is the date you first ordered service or the date we successfully process your payment, whichever is later. It is not the day you receive the equipment you ordered or the first time you use the service. You are purchasing our service for the full service term.
4.2 Automatic Renewal.
The terms of this agreement automatically renew for the same term unless you call us to cancel your service before the end of your current service term. 1-888-5VECTRA (1-888-583-2872) The renewal begins on the day after the last day of your term.
4.3 Our right to disconnect.
We have the right to suspend or discontinue service generally, or to disconnect your service, at any time. In addition, we reserve the right to immediately disconnect your service at any time without notice:
4.4 Fees upon disconnection.
(a) Disconnection by you. If you attempt to disconnect service before the end of your current service term, you will be responsible for all the charges for your current term, including unbilled charges, plus any disconnection fee. In addition, if you disconnect service that is based on a commitment before the end of the commitment, you agree to pay us the applicable recovery fee.�
(b) Disconnection by us without a reason. If we discontinue service generally, or disconnect your service without a stated reason, you will only be responsible for the charges that have accrued through the date of the disconnection, including a pro-rated portion of the final service term charges, and any recovery fees.
(c) Disconnection by us with a reason. If we disconnect your service for any of the reasons listed in section 6.4 above, you will be responsible for all charges through the end of your current service term, including unbilled charges, plus any disconnection and any recovery fees.
(d) All of charges owed at the time of disconnection will be immediately payable. We will pursue collection for unpaid amounts on disconnected accounts and may report these unpaid charges to credit bureaus.
4.5 Number Transfer or "Port" on Service Disconnection.
(a) Single line Accounts.You may be able to take, or "port," your current number to another service provider. If you ask your new service provider to port a number from us, and we receive your request from the new service provider, we will automatically terminate our service for that number upon successful completion of the port. Once your service is terminated and the port is completed, you will remain responsible for all charges and fees through the end of that billing cycle, including any cancellation fees. If a port is unsuccessful for any reason, your service and your agreement with us will not terminate, you will remain a Vectrafon customer, and you will continue to be responsible for all charges and fees associated with your Vectrafon service.
(b) Multiple-line Accounts.If you request your new service provider to port a number from us and you have multiple numbers assigned to your account and/or additional devices such as the WiFi or Softphone on your account, you are required to inform us of your intent to terminate all the services on your account, prior to the successful completion of the requested port or we will select the most appropriate billing plan for any remaining numbers and/or devices on your Vectrafon account,and you will continue to be responsible for all the charges and fees associated with the remaining services on your Vectrafon account. Once the port of the requested number is completed, you will remain responsible for all charges and fees through the end of that billing cycle, including any cancellation fees applicable to the ported number.
4.6 Termination of Service.
In order to terminate your service, you must contact our Customer Care Department, via telephone, at the following toll-free number: 1-888-5VECTRA (1-888-583-2872).
5. DEVICES
5.1 Devices received from us:
(a) Limited Warranty. Except as set forth in these Terms of Service, if you received a device from us and the device included a limited warranty from another person (such as the manufacturer) at the time you received it, you should read the separate limited warranty document you got with the device for information on the limitation and disclaimer of certain warranties. We will provide a limited warranty on the device only for manufacturing defects for a period of 1 year from your subscription date. Some States do not allow limitations on how long an implied warranty lasts, so the above limitation may not apply to you.
(b) Repair or replacement. Your only remedy for any breach of any limited warranty or other breach of any duty regarding a device is to get a repaired or replacement device by following our return procedures. This limited warranty applies in place of the limited warranty included with the device if the included limited warranty is less favorable to you than this warranty.
(c) Service Cancellation. If you cancel your service within the money back guarantee period, you may obtain a credit for the amount paid for the device, if you return your device to us according to the money back guarantee conditions.
(d) Receipt of damaged devices. If you receive cartons or devices that are visibly damaged, you must note the damage on the carrier's freight bill or receipt and keep a copy. You must also keep the original carton, all packing materials, and parts in the same condition in which you received them from the carrier. You must then contact our customer care department immediately at 1-888-5VECTRA (1-888-583-2872).
(e) Ownership and Risk of Loss. You will own your device and bear all the risk of loss, theft, or damage. This risk is from the time we ship your device to you until the time you return it to us according to this agreement.
5.2 Tampering with the Device.
You may not change the electronic serial number or equipment identifier of your device or perform a factory reset of your device without first getting our written consent.
5.3 Prohibited Devices.
You are prohibited from using Vectrafon services with any devices other than Vectrafon-approved devices received from retailers or from us.
5.4 Disclaimer.
Other than express warranties for the device in the documentation that comes with your device and the retail customer limited warranty in this agreement, following the term of the limited warranty, we make no warranties of any kind, express or implied, and specifically disclaim, following the term of the limited warranty, any warranty of merchantability, fitness of the device for a particular purpose, title or non-infringement, or any warranty arising by usage of trade, course of dealing, or course of performance, or any warranty that the device or any firmware or software is "error free" or will meet your requirements. This section does not limit any disclaimer or limitation of warranty in the documentation provided with your device. Device warranties do not apply to Business Plus customers.
This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may also have other rights which vary from State to State.
6. FEES, TAXES, AND OTHER CHARGES.
6.1 Fees and charges.
We will publish on our web site the fees and charges. These fees and charges may change from time to time. We may introduce new products and services at special introductory pricing. At our discretion, we may change introductory pricing. Where required by law, we will send notification of invoices to your email address on file with us. We reserve the right to bill you more frequently if you owe us more than $75.
6.2 Billing increments.
We bill usage charges in full minute increments. We round partial minutes up to the next full minute, unless we state otherwise in the rate schedules on our web site. We bill fractional usage charges in full cents. We round up cents when the value is $.005 or more and down when the value is less than $.005, unless we state otherwise in the rate schedules on our website.
6.3 Taxes
State and local governments may assess taxes, surcharges, or
fees, or all of these, on your use of our service. These charges may be a flat
fee or a percentage of your Vectrafon charges and may change without notice.
These charges are based on the rates applicable to the address you provided to
us. You are responsible for all applicable taxes, fees, or charges for your
subscription, use, or payment for our service or your device. These amounts are
in addition to the payment for your service or devices. We will bill these
charges to your payment method according to the terms in this agreement. If you
are exempt from payment of any of these taxes, you must provide us with an
original certificate that satisfies the legal requirements attesting to
tax-exempt status. Tax exemption will only apply from the date we receive your
certificate. Vectrafon, Inc.,
6.4 Payphone Charges.
If you use our "Toll Free Plus" feature, or any toll free feature that we offer in the future, we will recover from you any charges imposed on us either directly or indirectly for toll free calls made to your number. We may recover these amounts by means of a per-call charge, rounded up to the next cent, or in any other way we decide is appropriate for the recovery of these costs.
6.5 Charges for Directory Calls (411).
We will charge you $0.99 for each call you make to Vectrafon directory assistance.
6.6 >Activation Fee.
We will charge you a one-time activation fee of $29.99 for residential service and any other activation fee that may apply to the particular features or service that you select. We are currently waiving all activation fees.
6.7 Disconnection Fee (Applies only to the residential service).
You will be charged a disconnection fee of $39.99 per voice line if your service is disconnected, subject to state and local laws. However, if your subscription is disconnected after 2 years following your subscription date, the disconnection fee is waived.
6.8 Recovery Fee.
If you disconnect service based on a commitment before the end of the commitment period, you agree to pay us the applicable recovery fee. A recovery fee is equal to the difference between the price you paid and the regular price of the good, service, or other benefit you received. Any recovery fees are cumulative and are in addition to any other amounts you may owe us, including any disconnection fees.
6.9 No Credit Allowances or Refunds for Prepaid Service Plan Customers.
Subject to our money back guarantee and law, we will neither credit nor refund any service fees or any other amounts you pay for any prepaid service plans.
6.10 No Credit for Non-Usage
Non-usage of the service does not entitle you to a credit for, or refund of, any portion of a payment made to us.
7. BILLING AND PAYMENT.
7.1 Billing.
We will bill you for each term of service. When you subscribe to our service, you must give us a valid email address and a payment method that we accept. We reserve the right to stop accepting your payment method or your payments. You must advise us at once if your payment method expires, you close your account, your billing address changes, your email address changes, or your payment method is cancelled and replaced on account of loss or theft. Except for usage-based charges, we will bill in advance to your payment method all charges, fees, taxes, and surcharges for each service term. We will bill monthly as due immediately usage-based charges and any other charges which we decide to bill as due immediately. Bills will be sent to the email address on record.
7.2 Payment.
When you subscribe to our service, you authorize us to collect from your payment method. This authorization will remain valid until 30 days after you terminate our authority to charge your payment method. We will then charge you any disconnection fee and any other outstanding charges and disconnect your service.
7.3 Collection.
If we disconnect your service, you will remain liable to us for all charges under this agreement and all the costs we incur to collect these charges, including, without limitation, collection costs and attorney's fees.
7.4 Notices.
You understand that it is difficult for us to distinguish between credit and debit cards. You agree to waive your rights under Regulation E to receive 10 days advance notice from us regarding the amount that we will debit from your account. While we may send you messages about your billing from time to time, we are not obligated to do so. We may change or cease our messages at any time without notice to you.
7.5 Billing Disputes.
If you want to dispute any Vectrafon charges on your statement, you must notify us within 7 days after you receive your statement from your bank or credit card issuer. If you do not dispute the charges within 7 days, you waive any right to contest the charges.
8. PROHIBITED USES; UNLAWFUL USES AND INAPPROPRIATE CONDUCT.
8.1 Lawful purposes only.
You may use our service and your device only for lawful, proper and appropriate purposes. You may not use our service or your device in any way that is illegal, improper or inappropriate.
In addition, you shall not use our service or your device for:
- auto-dialing
- continuous, or extensive call forwarding
- telemarketing (including charitable or political solicitation or polling)
- fax or voicemail broadcasting, or
- fax or voicemail blasting
and, you shall not use our service or your device to:
- impersonate another person;
- send bulk unsolicited messages;
- use robots, data mining techniques, or other automated devices or programs to catalog, download, store, or otherwise reproduce or distribute information from our service or use any automated means to manipulate our service;
- use our service to violate any law, rule, or regulation;
- violate any third party's intellectual property or personal rights; or
- exceed your permitted access to our service.
8.2 Monitoring.
We may monitor the use of our service for violations of this agreement. We may remove or block all communications if we suspect a violation of this agreement, or if we think it necessary in order to protect our service, or Vectrafon, its parent, affiliates, directors, officers, agents, and employees from harm.
8.3 Providing information to authorities and third parties.
If we believe that you have used our service or your device for an unlawful purpose, we may forward the relevant communication and other information, including your identity, to the appropriate authorities for investigation and prosecution. You consent to our forwarding of any such communications and information to these authorities. In addition, we may disclose your name, telephone number, credit card information, and other personal information, any communications sent or received by you, and any other information that we may have about your account, including but not limited to, types of service, length of service, MAC address(es), IP address(es), email address(es), registered 911 address, and all other account information, as follows:
(i) in response to law enforcement or other governmental agency requests;
(ii) as required by law, regulation, rule, subpoena, search warrant, or court order;
(iii) as necessary to identify, contact, or bring legal action against someone who may be misusing the service, the device, or both;
(iv) to protect Vectrafon's rights and property; or
(v) in emergency situations where disclosure of such information is necessary to protect Vectrafon customers or third parties from imminent harm.
8.4 Use of Service
and Device by Customers Outside the
Although we encourage you to use our service to call foreign
countries from the
8.5 No Transfer of Service.
You may not resell or transfer your service or your device or provide a telephone service to anyone else by using your Vectrafon service or features of your Vectrafon service without first getting our written consent.
8.6 No Alterations or Tampering.
If you copy or alter or have someone else copy or alter the firmware or software of the device in any way that facilitates a compromise of your service, you are responsible for any charges that result. You may not attempt to hack or otherwise disrupt our service or make any use of our service that is inconsistent with its intended purpose.
8.7 Theft of Service.
You may not use or obtain our service in any manner that avoids Vectrafon policies and procedures, including an illegal or improper manner. You will notify us immediately at 1-888-5VECTRA or support@vectrafon.com if your device is stolen or if you believe that your service is being stolen, fraudulently used, or otherwise being used in an unauthorized manner. When you notify us of one of these events, you must provide your account number and a detailed description of the circumstances of the theft, fraudulent use, or unauthorized use of service. If you fail to notify us in a timely manner, we may disconnect your service and levy additional charges on you. Until you notify us, you will be liable for all use of our service using a device stolen from you and any stolen, fraudulent, or unauthorized use of our service whether or not it involves a stolen device.
8.8 Unauthorized Usage of Device; Firmware or Software.
Except as stated for Business Plus customers, you have not been granted any license to use the firmware or software we use to provide our service or that we provide to you in providing our service, or that is embedded in your device, other than a nontransferable, revocable license to use the firmware or software in object code form (without making any modification to it) strictly according the terms and conditions of this agreement. You also agree that you will use your device exclusively for our service. We will not provide any passwords, codes, or other information or assistance that would enable you to use your device for any other purpose. We reserve the right to prohibit the use of any interface device that we have not provided to you. You warrant that you possess all required rights, including software or firmware licenses, or both, to use any interface device that we have not provided to you. You may not reverse compile, disassemble, or reverse engineer, or otherwise attempt to derive the source code from the binary code of the firmware or software.
9. LIMITATION ON WARRANTIES, REMEDIES AND LIABILITY.
9.1 AS IS Services.
You agree that our services are provided "as is," except to the extent provided below.
9.2 No Warranties on Service.
We make no warranties, express or implied, including but not limited to, any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness of the service or device for a particular purpose, title or non-infringement or any warranty arising by usage of trade, course of dealing or course of performance. In addition, we do not warrant that the service or device will be without failure, delay, interruption, error, degradation of voice quality, or loss of content, data, or information. Neither Vectrafon nor its officers, directors, employees, affiliates or agents, or any other service provider or vendor who furnishes services, devices, or products to the customer for our service will be liable for unauthorized access to our or your transmission facilities or premises equipment or for unauthorized access to, or alteration, theft, or destruction of, customer's data files, programs, procedures, or information through accident, fraudulent means, devices, or any other method, regardless of whether such damage occurs as a result of Vectrafon's or its service provider's or vendors' negligence. Statements and descriptions concerning our service or device, if any, by Vectrafon or Vectrafon's agents or installers are informational and are not given as a warranty of any kind.
9.3 Device Warranties and Limitations (See Section 7)
9.4 No Credit Allowances for Interruption of Vectrafon Service.
We will not give you credit for any interruption of Vectrafon service, including international calling services.
9.5 Limitation of Liability.
We will not be liable for any delay or failure to provide service, including 911 Dialing, at any time or any interruption or degradation of voice quality that is caused by any of the following:
9.6 Disclaimer of Liability for Damages.
In no event will Vectrafon, its officers, directors, employees, affiliates or agents or any other service provider who furnishes services or devices to you in connection with our service be liable for any damages, including but not limited to personal injury, wrongful death, property damage, loss of data, loss of revenue or profits, or damages arising out of or in connection with the use or inability to use a device or the service, including inability to access emergency service personnel through the 911 dialing service or to obtain emergency help. These limitations apply to claims founded in breach of contract, breach of warranty, product liability, tort, and any and all other theories of liability. These limitations apply whether or not we were informed of the likelihood of any particular type of damages.
Some States do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages, so the above limitation or exclusion may not apply to you.
9.7 Disclaimer of 911 Liability.
We disclaim all responsibility for the conduct of local emergency response centers and the national emergency calling center. We do not have any control over any local emergency response center. Therefore, we are not responsible for whether they answer calls using our 911 dialing service, how they answer these calls, or how they handle them. We rely on third parties to assist us in routing 911 dialing calls to local emergency response centers and to a national emergency calling center. We are neither liable nor responsible if the data used by a third party to route calls is incorrect or produces an erroneous result. Neither Vectrafon nor its officers or employees may be held liable for any claim, damage, or loss, fine, penalty, cost, and expense (including, without limitation, attorneys fees) by, or on behalf of, you or any third party or user of our service, relating to our service, including, without limitation, 911 Dialing, or your device.
9.8 Limit on total liability.
Our total liability under this agreement will not exceed the service charges for the affected time period.
10. INDEMNIFICATION AND WAIVER OF CLAIMS.
10.1 Indemnification.
You shall defend, indemnify, and hold harmless Vectrafon, its officers, directors, employees, affiliates and agents, and any other service provider who furnishes services to you for our service, from any and all claims, losses, damages, fines, penalties, costs, and expenses (including, without limitation, attorneys fees) by, or on behalf of, you or any third party or user of our service, relating to our service, including, without limitation, 911 Dialing, or your device, or use of our service by you or others using your account (whether or not such usage is expressly authorized by you).
10.2< Waiver of Claim or Causes of Action.
You waive all claims or causes of action arising from or relating to our 911 dialing service unless the claims or causes of action arise from our gross negligence, recklessness, or willful misconduct.
10.3 Content.
You are liable for all liability that may arise from the content you transmit to any person, whether or not you authorize it, using your service or device. You promise that you and anyone who uses your service and all your and their content comply at all times with all laws, regulations, and written and electronic instructions for using our service and the device.
10.4 Account Information.
You are liable for all liability that may arise from your failure to provide true, accurate, current and complete information and to maintain and promptly update such information. If you provide any information that is, or we have reasonable grounds to suspect is, untrue, inaccurate, misleading, not current or incomplete, we may suspend or terminate or refuse any and all current or future use of the service, or any portion thereof. .
11. MISCELLANEOUS LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS.
11.1 Governing Law.
The law of the state of your residence will govern this agreement as well as the relationship between you and us, except to the extent such law is preempted by or inconsistent with applicable federal law. Because this agreement is a transaction in interstate commerce, the Federal Arbitration Act will govern the interpretation and enforcement of the arbitration provision in Section 14.�
11.2 No Waiver of Rights.
Our failure to exercise or enforce any right or provision of this agreement will not constitute a waiver of the right or provision. Vectrafon reserves all of its rights at law and equity to proceed against anyone who uses its services or device illegally or improperly. All determinations by Vectrafon under these Terms of Sale and exercise of its rights are made and done in our sole and absolute discretion.
11.3 Survival.
The provisions of this agreement that by their sense and context are intended to survive the termination or expiration of this agreement shall survive.
11.4 No Third Party Beneficiaries.
If you are not a party to this agreement, you do not have any remedy, claim, liability, reimbursement, or cause of action. This agreement does not create any other third party beneficiary rights.
11.5 Legal Age.
You promise that you are of legal age to enter into this agreement and that you have read and understand fully its terms and conditions.
11.6 Entire Agreement.
This agreement, including any future modifications to its terms, and the rates for services found on our web site constitute the entire agreement between you and Vectrafon. This agreement governs your use of our service, and the use of our services by the members of your household and your guests and employees. This agreement supersedes any prior agreements between you and Vectrafon. It also supersedes all prior or contemporaneous statements, understandings, writings, commitments, or representations concerning its subject matter.
11.7 Severability.
If any part of this agreement is legally declared invalid or unenforceable, all other parts of this agreement will remain valid and enforceable. This invalidity or non-enforceability will not invalidate or render unenforceable any other portion of this agreement.
12. DISPUTE RESOLUTION AND BINDING ARBITRATION.
It is important that you read this entire section carefully. This section provides for resolution of disputes through final and binding arbitration before a neutral arbitrator instead of in a court by a judge or jury.
12.1 Arbitration.
Vectrafon and you agree to arbitrate any and all disputes and claims between you and Vectrafon. Arbitration means that all disputes and claims will be resolved by a neutral arbitrator instead of by a judge or jury in a court. This agreement to arbitrate is intended to be given the broadest possible meaning under the law. It includes, but is not limited to: disputes and claims arising out of or relating to any aspect of the relationship between you and Vectrafon, whether based in contract, tort, statute, fraud, misrepresentation or any other legal theory; disputes and claims that arose before this or any prior agreement (including, but not limited to, claims relating to advertising); disputes and claims that may arise after the termination of this agreement; disputes and claims that are currently the subject of individual litigation; disputes and claims that are currently the subject of purported class action litigation in which you are not a member of a certified class; and disputes and claims concerning the scope of this arbitration provision. References to "Vectrafon," "us" and "you" include our respective subsidiaries, affiliates, agents, employees, predecessors in interest, successors and assigns, as well as all authorized or unauthorized users or beneficiaries of the service under this agreement or any prior agreements between you and Vectrafon.
12.2 Informal Resolution of Disputes.
Our customer care department can resolve most customer concerns quickly and to the customer's satisfaction. If you have a dispute or claim against us, you should first contact the Vectrafon customer care department by telephone at 1-888-5VECTRA (1-888-583-2872) or by email at support@vectrafon.com. In the event your dispute or claim is not resolved to your satisfaction, you may seek to have that dispute or claim resolved as set forth below.
12.3 Formal Notice of Disputes.
A party who intends to seek arbitration must first send to the other party a written Notice of Dispute.
(A) A Notice of Dispute to Vectrafon must be sent to Vectrafon:
(1) by certified mail addressed to: Vectrafon,
(2) by email addressed to support@vectrafon.com.
(B) A Notice of Dispute to you must be sent to you
(1) by certified mail at the last mailing address that you registered with Vectrafon; or
(2) by email addressed to you at the last email address you registered with Vectrafon.
(C) The Notice of Dispute must
(1) describe the nature and basis of the dispute or claim; and
(2) set forth the specific relief sought.
(D) If you and Vectrafon do not reach an agreement to resolve the dispute or claim within thirty (30) days after the Notice of Dispute is received, you or Vectrafon may commence an arbitration proceeding. You may download or copy a form to initiate an arbitration proceeding from the AAA website: http://www.adr.org/si.asp?id=2062. The amount of any settlement offer made by you or Vectrafon shall not be disclosed to the arbitrator until after the arbitrator determines the amount, if any, to which you or Vectrafon is entitled.
12.4 Arbitrator and Arbitral Rules.
The arbitration shall be administered by the American
Arbitration Association ("AAA"). You may contact the AAA by telephone
at 1-800-778-7879, by email at Websitemail@adr.org, or by mail at
12.5 Location and Procedure of Arbitration.
Unless you and Vectrafon mutually agree otherwise, all hearings conducted as part of the arbitration shall take place at a location, convenient to you, in the county or parish of your billing address. If your claim is for $10,000 or less, you or Vectrafon may request that the arbitration be conducted solely on the basis of documents submitted to the arbitrator, through a telephonic hearing, or by an in-person hearing as established by the AAA Rules. If your claim is in excess of $10,000, the right to a hearing will be determined by the AAA Rules.
12.6 Fees and Costs.
For claims under $10,000, Vectrafon will reimburse you for your payment of the filing fee, following the completion of the arbitration. The filing fee currently is $125 for claims under $10,000, but is subject to change without notice by the AAA. If you are unable to pay the filing fee, Vectrafon will pay it directly upon receiving a written request from you or the AAA. Except as otherwise provided for herein, Vectrafon will pay all AAA filing, administration and arbitrator fees for any arbitration initiated in accordance with the notice requirements above. If, however, the arbitrator determines that either the substance of your claim or the relief sought in the Demand is frivolous, then the payment of all such fees shall be governed by the AAA Rules. In such case, you agree to reimburse Vectrafon for all monies previously disbursed by us that are otherwise your obligation to pay under the AAA Rules.
12.7 Waiver of Jury Trial.
You and Vectrafon agree that, by entering into this agreement, you and Vectrafon are waiving the right to a trial by jury.
12.8 Waiver of Class Actions.
You and Vectrafon agree that the arbitrator may award relief only in favor of the individual party seeking relief and only to the extent necessary to provide relief warranted by that party's individual claim. You and Vectrafon agree that you and Vectrafon may bring claims against the other only in your or its individual capacity, and not as a plaintiff or class member in any purported class or representative proceeding. You and Vectrafon agree that, unless you and Vectrafon agree otherwise, the arbitrator may not consolidate more than one person's or entity's claims, and may not otherwise preside over any form of a representative or class proceeding. Despite 13.7 or any other provision in this agreement to the contrary, if this specific waiver of class actions provision, or any portion thereof, is found to be unenforceable, then the entirety of this dispute resolution and binding arbitration provision shall be null and void.
12.9< Statute of Limitations:
You must contact us within one (1) year of the date of the occurrence of the event or facts giving rise to a dispute (except for billing disputes which are subject to section 9.5 of the agreement), or you waive the right to pursue a claim based upon such event, facts, or dispute.
12.10 Exceptions to Arbitration Agreement:
You and we agree:
(a) you may take your dispute to small claims court, if your dispute qualifies for hearing by such court;
(b) if you fail to timely pay amounts due, we may assign your account for collection, and the collection agency may pursue in court claims limited strictly to the collection of the past due debt and any interest or cost of collection permitted by law or the Agreement;
(c) you or we may take any disputes over the validity of any party's intellectual property rights to a court of competent jurisdiction;
(d) any dispute related to or arising from allegations associated with fraudulent or unauthorized use, theft, or piracy of service may be brought in a court of competent jurisdiction; and
(e) either you or we may seek any interim or preliminary relief from a court of competent jurisdiction, necessary to protect the rights or property of you or Vectrafon, pending the completion of arbitration.
12.11 Modification of Arbitration Provision.
Despite 15 or any other provision in this agreement to the contrary, if Vectrafon makes any substantive change to this arbitration provision, you may reject any such change and require Vectrafon to adhere to the language in this provision.
13. CHANGES TO THIS AGREEMENT.
We may change the terms and conditions of this agreement from time to time. By subscribing to our service, you agree that we may provide to you by use of electronic communications required notices, agreements, and other information concerning Vectrafon, including changes to this agreement. We may give you notice of a change by posting the change on the home page of Vectrafon.com or on the relevant web page of the applicable service. Such notices will be considered given and effective on the date posted. These changes will become binding on you on the date they are posted and we are not required to give you further notice in order for you to continue using our service. When posted, this agreement supersedes all previously agreed to electronic and written terms of service, including, without limitation, any terms included with the packaging of your device. It also supersedes any written terms provided to retail customers with retail distribution, including, without limitation, any written terms in the packaging of your device. If you want to withdraw your consent to receive notices electronically, you must discontinue your use of Vectrafon services.
14. PRIVACY
Vectrafon Service uses, in whole or in part, the public Internet and third party networks to transmit voice and other communications. Vectrafon is not liable for any lack of privacy which you may experience from using our service. Please refer to our Privacy Policy for additional information, such as how we use your information and how you can opt out of receiving marketing messaging.
You authorize us
(i) to investigate your credit history, including requesting a consumer report, when you sign up for our service and at any time after you sign up and
(ii) to share credit information about you with credit reporting agencies. Upon your request we will inform you whether or not we have requested a consumer report, and if a report was requested, the name and address of the consumer reporting agency that furnished the report
