Hook

terms of service

The following terms and conditions apply to Hook Communications Inc. ("hook™") provision of telephony services (the "Services") and sets out the basic rights, obligations and limitations of hook™ to its Subscribers (the "Subscriber"). All of the terms and conditions contained herein (hereinafter referred to as "Terms") bind both hook™ and the Subscriber and are subject to change from time to time at the sole discretion of hook™, without any prior notice to the Subscriber.

General

This is our agreement with you, the Subscriber. You agree not to use our Service for an illegal purpose, violating any law, making annoying or offensive calls, or interfering with other Subscribers' Service. You further agree not to resell, transfer, or share your service.

1.0 Emergency Services-9-1-1 Dialing through VoIP (Voice Over IP) services

1.01 Non-Availability of Traditional 9-1-1 or E9-1-1 Dialing Service.

hook™ offers a form of 9-1-1 Dialing service (9-1-1 Dialing) that is similar to traditional 9-1-1 (9-1-1) service but has some important differences and limitations when compared with enhanced 9-1-1 Dialing service (E9-1-1) available in most locations in conjunction with traditional telephone service. With both traditional 9-1-1 and E9-1-1 Dialing service, your call is sent directly to the nearest emergency response center. In addition, with E9-1-1 Dialing service, your call-back number and address are visible to the emergency response center operator. With hook™'s 9-1-1 Dialing service, your call is sent to a national emergency call center. The call center operator will confirm your location information and then transfer your 9-1-1 call to the emergency response center nearest your location. You should be prepared to confirm your address and call-back number with the operator. Do not hang up unless told directly to do so and if disconnected, you should dial 9-1-1 again.

1.02 Registration of Physical Location Required

You should ensure your location information, when registered with hook™, is kept current at all times. In case you are not able to speak during the 9-1-1 call, the call taker would dispatch emergency response vehicles to your last registered address. You need to update your 9-1-1 Dialing information if you move your device to a different location. To update or verify your 9-1-1 Dialing information you will need to log into your account at www.ihook.com. Your 9-1-1 Dialing service is activated when you subscribe to hook™.

1.03 Service Outages.

9-1-1 Dialing service will not function in the event of a power or broadband outage or if your broadband Internet or hook™ service is suspended or terminated. Following a power failure or disruption, you may need to reset or reconfigure your hook™ VoIP Adapter prior to utilizing the service, including 9-1-1 Dialing.

1.04 Re-Registration Required if You Change, Add, or Transfer a Number.

You must update and verify online your location of use for each changed, newly added or newly transferred number in order for 9-1-1 Dialing to function correctly.

1.05 Network Congestion; Reduced Speed for Routing or Answering 9-1-1 Dialing Calls.

There may be a greater possibility of network congestion and/or reduced speed in the routing of a 9-1-1 call made utilizing the Service as compared to traditional 9-1-1 Dialing over traditional public telephone networks.

1.06 Conveying Limitations to other household residents and guests.

You should inform any household residents, guests and other persons who may be present at the physical location where you utilize hook™ service, of the important differences in and limitations of VoIP 9-1-1 Dialing service as compared with E9-1-1 Dialing service, as set out above.

1.07 Disclaimer of Liability and Indemnification.

We do not have any control over whether, or the manner in which, calls using our 9-1-1 Dialing service are answered or addressed by any local emergency response center. We disclaim all responsibility for the conduct of local emergency response centers and the national emergency calling center. We rely on third parties to assist us in routing 9-1-1 calls to local emergency response centers and to a national emergency calling center. We disclaim any and all liability or responsibility in the event such third party data used to route calls is incorrect or yields an erroneous result. Neither hook™ nor its officers or employees may be held liable for any claim, damage, or loss, and you hereby waive any and all such claims or causes of action, arising from or relating to our 9-1-1 Dialing service unless such claims or causes of action arose from our gross negligence, recklessness or willful misconduct. You shall defend, indemnify, and hold harmless hook™, its officers, directors, employees, affiliates and agents and any other service provider who furnishes services to you in connection the Service, from any and all claims, losses, damages, fines, penalties, costs and expenses (including, without limitation, legal fees and expenses) by, or on behalf of, you or any third party relating to the absence, failure or outage of the Service, including 9-1-1 Dialing, incorrectly routed 9-1-1 Dialing calls, and/or the inability of any user of the Service to be able to use 9-1-1 Dialing or access emergency service personnel.

1.08 Alternate 9-1-1 Arrangements.

If you are not comfortable with the limitations of the 9-1-1 Dialing service, you should consider having an alternate means of accessing traditional 9-1-1 or E9-1-1 Dialing services, or terminate the Service.

2.0 SERVICE

2.01 "hooking".

hook™ compensates you for referring other customers to hook™. We call that "hooking". When your friends sign up to hook™ through your referral, you will earn $50 of hook™ rewards dollars plus years of free phone service. If you are unable to refer any friends to hook™; after the first thirty (30) days you will billed the monthly fees associated with your hook™ phone plan.

The number of free years of phone service and hook™ rewards dollars is dependent on the number of friends or people you refer. You first 2 friends earn you 1 year plus $100 in hook™ reward dollars. Every subsequent referral will earn you an additional 1 year of phone service plus $50 hook™ rewards dollars. (see figure a)

Figure a



The hook™ phone adapter and any promotional gift is yours to keep. There are no refunds. Subscriber may use the Services provided by hook™ for long distance calling or local calling provided that Subscriber does so in compliance with all applicable laws and the terms herein. Subscriber acknowledges that he/she is the person authorized to subscribe for the Services. The Services may only be used by Subscriber and all persons having the Subscriber's permission to use the Services. Subscriber may only use the Services for voice telephone calls to landlines as the Services cannot be used for Internet connections, faxing or other data transmission without the express written consent from hook™.


Customers may earn hook™ reward dollars for referring friends to hook™. For every hook™ referral you will earn $50 to be at the hook™ rewards website which includes thousands of products form top brands. Reward dollars have no cash value and are available for you to use for up to 3 years from the date earned.

2.03 Charges, Billing and Payment.

Should you accumulate charges because you are not referring to hook™ or you are accumulating long distance charges; you will be responsible for paying all charges, plus all applicable taxes thereon, for the Services subscribed for from hook™. (which charges are subject to change from time to time at the sole discretion of hook™ without notice to Subscriber), including for all calls: (i) made via Subscriber's telephones or telecommunications systems; (ii) made using any number or authorization access code assigned to Subscriber; and (iii) which are charged to Subscriber's account. Subscriber is responsible for the security of Subscriber's authorization codes, and access to Subscriber's telephones and telecommunications systems. NSF and all refused payments shall incur a $25 administrative fee per occurrence. hook™ reserves the right to charge a 25% administrative fee for all accounts remitted to collections. Any reference to Tax 1 or T1 is in fact an additional service charge, fee, administration cost recovery, system use charge, or other item which we either may retain or be obligated to pay in whole or in part to others and the use of the word Tax does not mean that it is in fact any payment to any government.

Subscriber must pay for the charges of Services by credit card by providing hook™ with Subscriber's credit card number upon subscribing for the Service; Subscriber authorizes hook™ to make such charges against such credit card to satisfy all charges for the Services. hook™ will charge Subscriber's credit card for the hook™ services in advance commencing 30 days after the date of activation of the Services Call increments may vary depending on destination and length of call. Subscriber must bring payment inquiries and disputes to hook™'s attention within 10 days after the charge for the Services have been paid or Subscriber will be deemed to have accepted such charges as accurate in all respects. You also agree to make all your payments by pre-authorized credit card payment with the card number you gave hook™ during the activation process unless you have enrolled for billing services in which case payment is due upon receipt of invoice.

2.04 Credit and Security Deposits

hook™ reserves the right to examine Subscriber's credit record before activating the Services. Should hook™ at any time consider a prepaid credit deposit to be insufficient, a further credit deposit may be required before it provides, continues, or reinstates the Services to Subscriber. hook™ will determine, at its discretion, how Subscriber's deposit or other security will be allocated to satisfy outstanding amounts owed by Subscriber to hook™. By subscribing to the Services, Subscriber authorizes hook™ to investigate Subscriber's credit worthiness, exchange credit information with credit reporting agencies on an ongoing basis and agree from time to time, to provide appropriate authorizations and financial information as hook™ may reasonably request for this purpose. All deposits or other prepayments made by a Subscriber in connection with the Services will earn no interest.


(a) Subscriber owes amounts to hook™ that are past due;
(b) Subscriber does not provide a security deposit or satisfy alternate security measures when requested by hook™;
(c) hook™ has terminated the Services to the Subscriber in the past; and
(d) hook™ does not provide the requested Services to the country(s) desired by Subscriber.

2.06 Services Interruption

(a) hook™ may interrupt the Services to the Subscriber at any time for any duration of time, without any notice or liability, in order to install, inspect, repair, replace or to perform necessary maintenance on the telecommunications equipment, facilities or network, or for other technical reasons as may be required. hook™ telecommunications service is provided to the Subscriber on a best-efforts basis. Subscriber acknowledges that hook™ VoIP service requires high-speed Internet connectivity. Poor or lack of Internet connectivity, power failure, computer viruses and the like (Connectivity Issues) will cause service interruption and or failure of the service to function. It is the responsibility of the Subscriber to remedy these Connectivity Issues.

(b) hook™ is not liable for:

(i) any disruption or unavailability of the Services;
(ii) any act or omission of any third party (including any other local telephone company, any connecting carrier or underlying carrier or other provider of connections, facilities, or Services);
(iii) Subscriber's conduct, acts or omissions, or the operation or failure of Subscriber's equipment or facilities;
(iv) any event beyond the reasonable control of hook™ including acts of God, inclement weather including lightning, labour disputes, riots or civil disputes, war or armed conflict, any law, governmental order, decision or regulation, or order of any court of competent jurisdiction;
(v) its failure, for any reason, to activate the Services on the activation date Subscriber requested; and
(vi) any charges by third parties including other telephone companies or wireless carriers for services they may have rendered in lieu of hook™ service.

(c) hook™ is a marketing company and does not provide actual telecom services. hook™ acts as an agent of various third party carriers and subscriber accounts are the property of the respective carrier. The employees or agents of other carriers are not and shall not be deemed to be agents or employees of hook™. There is no express or implied warranty or condition, whether of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or otherwise, with respect to the Services. In subscribing for the Services, Subscriber obtains no proprietary right or interest in, any particular facility, service, equipment, telephone number or code associated with the Services.

Subscriber agrees to indemnify and hold harmless hook™ against all claims, including fees and expenses of counsel, resulting from Subscriber's use (or the use by others with Subscriber's explicit or implicit consent) of the Services, Subscriber's codes, facilities or equipment, which causes direct or indirect damage or harm to another party or to the property of another.


(a) Without incurring any liability whatsoever, hook™ may suspend or terminate any or all of the Services for any reason whatsoever, including, without limitation, where Subscriber:

(i) fails to pay an account that is past due, or Subscriber provides payment by credit card which is not honoured by Subscriber's bank;
(ii) fails to provide interim payments when requested by hook™;
(iii) fails to provide or maintain a reasonable deposit or alternate security when requested to do so by hook™;
(iv) fails to meet hook™'s credit requirements, or Subscriber becomes bankrupt or otherwise insolvent;
(v) fails to comply with the terms of a deferred payment or credit agreement with hook™;
(vi) violates any provision of these Terms;
(vii) uses or permits others to use the Services for a purpose or in a manner that is contrary to law; or for the purpose of making harassing, threatening, abusive, annoying or offensive calls;
(viii) charges or allow others to charge any other person for the use of the Services without hook™'s prior written agreement;
(ix) harasses, threatens or otherwise act unreasonably towards hook™, its employees or agents, or in relation to the Services;
(x) alters or otherwise interferes with hook™'s facilities or equipment, or fail to replace or modify equipment or facilities which may harm, damage, interfere or pose a danger to others, the Services, or hook™'s equipment, facilities or network; or
(xi) fails to provide payment for other accounts with hook™, including amounts owed by Subscriber as a guarantor for the account of another;
(xii) uses or permits others to use the Services for resell
(xiii) Abuses the network with excessive usage as may be determined by hook™. Excessive usage shall be determined solely by hook™;
(xiv) uses or permits others to use the service for commercial or business use.

(b) A suspension or termination will not affect Subscriber's obligation to pay any amounts owed to hook™ either during or after the suspension or termination. If termination occurs during a contract period, Subscriber will be charged for all usage plus the contract obligations. Should reactivation of services be required, hook™ will levy a reconnection fee of $25.

(c) Where the Services are cancelled, either by Subscriber or by hook™ as provided herein, and there is an undisputed credit balance on Subscriber's account, Subscriber may require that it be refunded to Subscriber and hook™ reserves the right to charge a reasonable processing fee in connection with issuing refunds.

3.0 Changes, and Modifications of the Services.

Without incurring liability, hook™ may at any time and without notice to Subscriber, change, modify or terminate the Services, in whole or in part (including the rates or charges). In the event of any such change or modification, Subscriber will be responsible for paying all charges incurred for the use of the Services despite the change or modification, both before and after the date thereof.

3.01 Subscriber Confidentiality and Privacy.

Before you begin to use our services, you will be asked to register to become a member. To complete the registration, you will need to give us some information about yourself including but not limited to your name, Email address, zip code, postal code, age, and occupation. hook™ is collecting this information and we retain ownership of it.

3.02 Use of Information

hook™ believes that knowing more about you will enable us to serve you better. It allows us to personalize the content and services we offer you. Information that you provide to hook™ is kept confidential. Your information is for the use of hook™ and its subsidiaries. It is not shared with any other third party.

3.03 Rate Changes

hook™ reserves the unilateral right to change, modify, increase, decrease, or add surcharges, connection fees as may be required from time to time.

3.04 Promotions

hook™ may at its sole discretion promote hook™ services from time to time through a variety of media channels. This may include free services for a spe cific period of time (promotional period). After the promotional period the Subscriber will be billed for services automatically. Subscriber must call hook™ Subscriber Service before the promotional period has elapsed and request to cancel future service. All cancellations must be verbal to Subscriber Service.

3.05 Service Abuse

You agree that your account may be monitored for use to determine abuse, residential, commercial, fraudulent, or use that undermines hook™ operations in any way. Based on its determination hook™ may deactivate service immediately without notice or liability. For service plans marketed as "Unlimited"; these plans are monitored for abuse that may hinder services to other Subscribers. Unlimited services are not to be used for telemarketing, or broadcasting of any kind. Abuse is deemed when usage of hook™ Unlimited services are in excess of 4000 minutes per month.

3.06 Equipment Returns

Some hook™ services require equipment to be shipped from hook™ to the Subscriber for use with the service. Where the equipment has not been purchased, the equipment must be returned to hook™ upon cancellation of services or when a replacement is approved by hook™. The following terms apply to Equipment Returns:

(a) All equipment that must be returned to hook™ for any reason must be at Subscribers' expense. hook™ will not accept collect packages or pay to have packages picked up. All returned equipment must be returned to hook™ in perfect resalable condition in its original packaging. Equipment returned in less than perfect condition, will be charged for refurbishing.

(b) Replacement: If the equipment is deemed defective by hook™, and new equipment is shipped to the Subscriber, the Subscriber is responsible at his own expense for the safe return of the defective unit to hook™ in good physical condition at the address indicated by hook™ representatives. All returned equipment must be accompanied with a note inside the packaging with the RA number (Return Authorization). Equipment without an RA will not be processed by hook™.

(c) Cancellation: Upon cancellation of hook™ services, the Subscriber is responsible at his own expense for the safe return of the equipment to hook™ in re-sellable condition at the address indicated by hook™ representatives. All returned equipment must be accompanied with a note inside the packaging with the RA number (Return Authorization). When a security deposit has been provided by the Subscriber to hook™ for the equipment, hook™ will issue the refund within six weeks from the equipment return date (Date in which the equipment arrived at the hook™ warehouse and a proof of delivery by signature can be established). Equipment without an RA will not be processed by hook™ and a security deposit refunds will not be issued.

(d) Fees: Equipment not returned as a result of replacement, or returned with physical damage is subject to a replacement fee of no less than $250. Equipment that is returned to hook™that is either physically damaged, or missing components will not be accepted and subsequently refunds for security deposits will not be issued. hook™ reserves the unilateral charge a fee when equipment is missing minor items such as cables, power supplies, manuals, packaging etc. Equipment not received by hook™ within 90 days from the RA issue date will not be accepted; the purchase price of at least $250 will be due and payable immediately.

(e) hook™ Mobile devices are non-refundable.

(f) hook™ Pre-paid may only be returned for refund within 30 days from the date of purchase and must have less than 15 minutes of usage. Returns are subject to a $25 restocking fee.

3.07 Equipment Warranty

All equipment that you receive from hook™ carries a one (1) year warranty on manufacture defects.

3.08 Telephone numbers

If you were assigned a telephone number from hook™, this number may at hook™ sole and absolute discretion and subject to applicable law be assigned to another Subscriber. Transferring phone numbers to hook™ (LNP) is possible only in hook™ serving territory. If you decide to LNP your existing phone number to hook™ from another telephone provider, it is possible that your service will be interrupted in certain circumstances while the transfer is in process. Specific LNP instructions are listed in the "transfer your number" web page in your online account.

3.09 No Directory Listing.

hook™ does not automatically provide directory listings.

4.0 Service Incompatibility

Home Security Systems: hook™ service may not be compatible with home security systems. You may be required to maintain a telephone connection through your local exchange carrier in order to use any alarm monitoring functions for any security system installed in your home or business. You are responsible for contacting the alarm monitoring company to test the compatibility of any alarm monitoring or security system with your hook™ service.

Fax Machines: Due to various machine configurations, Internet connectivity and bandwidth fluctuations, faxing using your fax machine and hook™ is provided on a best-efforts basis and hook™ assumes no liability whatsoever and provides guarantee that faxing will work.

hook™'s dial tone comes out of "line 1" and "line 2" on the back of the hook™ VoIP Adapter. In most cases you will connect a telephone to the back of the hook™ VoIP Adapter. You can also however connect the hook™ VoIP Adapter's "line 1" or "line 2" to any available telephone jack in the home. This setup MIGHT work and is not supported by the hook™ Technical Support Team because of the many variables.

4.01 Rate Guarantee.

hook™ will match or beat any advertised long distance rate for like services. Subscriber must contact hook™ to notify them of the competitor rate and hook™ shall confirm such, prior to adjusting Subscriber's rate. The rate guarantee does not apply to pre-paid calling cards, bundled minute plans and select regions of the world

4.02 General Terms

(a) Enurement/Assignment. These Terms are binding upon and shall ensure to the benefit of the parties and their respective successors, heirs, executors, administrators, personal representatives and permitted assigns; provided, however, that Subscriber shall not assign or transfer its rights or obligations under these Terms without the prior written consent of hook™.

(b) Notices. Notices shall be in writing and delivered by personal delivery or certified or registered mail to the last address provided by Subscriber.

(c) Unenforceable Provisions. If any part of these Terms shall be invalid or not enforceable under applicable law, such part shall be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity or unenforceable part only, without in any way affecting the remaining parts of these Terms.

(d) Governing Law. These Terms and the rights and obligations of the parties hereunder shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the province of Ontario, and the federal laws of Canada applicable in such province.

(e) Entire Agreement. These Terms set forth the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes and replaces all previous discussions, negotiations and agreements.

(f) French. Subscriber confirms that it wishes to have these Terms written in English only. Les parties aux présents confirment leur volonté que la Convention relative aux services de voix soit rédigée en langue anglaise seulement.