Sunrocket (my VoIP service provider) quietly called it quits yesterday. Normally, a company going bankrupt will already greatly inconvenience their customers. Sunrocket’s exit however, just absolutely takes the cake.

The CEO Lisa Hook, who only got the job less than 16 months ago, suddenly resigned last Friday. Without notifying any of Sunrocket’s subscribers or employees, she disconnected all services and laid all the employees off. Now thinking back, what did I really expect from an ex-”AOL broadband” executive. You can read the NYTimes’ perspective on the matter here:

Internet Phone Company Halts Operations

By MATT RICHTEL
Published: July 17, 2007

SunRocket, one of the largest start-up companies offering Internet phone service, has ceased operation and is moving its customers to one or more other companies, a person briefed on its status said yesterday.

A message on SunRocket’s customer service line said the company was “no longer taking customer service or sales calls.” Executives of SunRocket, which is based in Vienna, Va., and had 200,000 subscribers as of April, could not be reached for comment.

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The internet of course, is up in arms about what to do. If you are among the unfortunate Sunrocket subscriber base, contact your credit card company immediately and file a dispute.

Also, a member of slickdeals, y_2032, has suggested that Sunrocket violated FCC rules when they disconnected members’ services without prior notice. You can file a complaint against the CEO here:

I AM MORE CONCERNED THAT WE THE CUSTOMERS HAVE RECEIVED NO SHUTDOWN NOTICE.

I HAVE CONTACTED THE FCC WHO CLAIMS THAT THERE IS A REGULATION REQUIRING SHUTDOWN NOTICE. THE SUGGESTED THAT EVERYONE FILE A COMPLAINT. PLEASE CALL THE FCC AT:

Phone: 1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322)
TTY: 1-888-TELL-FCC (1-888-835-5322)
Fax: 1-866-418-0232
E-mail: fccinfo@fcc.gov

also submit an online complaint at:

http://svartifoss2.fcc.gov/cib/fcc475.cfm

as this lack of notification should NEVER happen again.

You can also unlock your current gizmo using one of these username / passwords:

• User:Admin || Password:7UprUtew
• Password: s.M