I entered a 2-year contract (in August) with Private Internet Access (PIA) for VPN service (I am currently residing in Costa Rica). I thought the two-year term would result in a cost savings, and I didn't anticipate any problems with their service. They have a refund policy that is only good for the first 30 days. After that, no refund. Well, I didn't have any problems in the first 30 days. However, over time, more and more websites are blocking the PIA VPN, which means the service is not really working as advertised and I'm constantly trying to work around these limitations.
My wife uses a competitor, Express VPN, and she doesn't experience these issues. I have contacted PIA, and they are merely quoting their refund policy and saying I am not eligible for a refund. I just want my $189.95 (or pro-rated balance) back.
Service is terrible because once I connect to their VPN service my Internet Speed slows significantly. e.g., when connected to their VPN my download speed is about 2.0mbps to 7.0 mbps. If i connect directly to Xfinity I get between 47.0mbps to about 60.0mbps. I have contacted them about the problem but they did not follow through with a resolution. Poor customer service. Simply put, they just collect your money and fail to provide good customer service in this instance. and of course, they fail in the Internet Speed area. It cuts back on your speed when using their service.
This service blocks many commonly used sites such as craigslist.I was not aware of this when I paid for one year of service. My father went in the hospital shortly after with complications from cancer so I didn't have a chance to try the service out for several days. By the time I found that I could not visit many of my usual sites when going through the VPN they refused to return any of my money. So I am stuck with 11 + months of useless service. I guess they need the money more than they need customer respect.
Because of the housing crisis on Long Island in New York, I am forced to continue to rent this illegal apartment. I receive my Internet access (wireless only, unfortunately) via my landlord's ISP, Optimum. Since it's completely wide open, no security at all, I was compelled to find a VPN company. I signed up with Private internet Access which seems to be located in Denver, CO but I believe to be a UK company. All seemed okay (probably because I didn't know enough to really check into it) until it came time to renew. They did not process my (automatically-renewing) card, kept saying (and still do!) I was "not protected", but of course they took my money, $39.95, anyway. I've opened a couple of tickets, sent emails, tried to call the (866) number on my bank statement (one can never get through) but have heard absolutely nothing. just now I logged in again but had the big red message at the top, Not Protected. Thinking of moving someplace where I can contract with the ISP directly :)
Private Internet Access Reviews
I entered a 2-year contract (in August) with Private Internet Access (PIA) for VPN service (I am currently residing in Costa Rica). I thought the two-year term would result in a cost savings, and I didn't anticipate any problems with their service. They have a refund policy that is only good for the first 30 days. After that, no refund. Well, I didn't have any problems in the first 30 days. However, over time, more and more websites are blocking the PIA VPN, which means the service is not really working as advertised and I'm constantly trying to work around these limitations.
My wife uses a competitor, Express VPN, and she doesn't experience these issues. I have contacted PIA, and they are merely quoting their refund policy and saying I am not eligible for a refund. I just want my $189.95 (or pro-rated balance) back.
Service is terrible because once I connect to their VPN service my Internet Speed slows significantly. e.g., when connected to their VPN my download speed is about 2.0mbps to 7.0 mbps. If i connect directly to Xfinity I get between 47.0mbps to about 60.0mbps. I have contacted them about the problem but they did not follow through with a resolution. Poor customer service. Simply put, they just collect your money and fail to provide good customer service in this instance. and of course, they fail in the Internet Speed area. It cuts back on your speed when using their service.
This service blocks many commonly used sites such as craigslist.I was not aware of this when I paid for one year of service. My father went in the hospital shortly after with complications from cancer so I didn't have a chance to try the service out for several days. By the time I found that I could not visit many of my usual sites when going through the VPN they refused to return any of my money. So I am stuck with 11 + months of useless service. I guess they need the money more than they need customer respect.
Because of the housing crisis on Long Island in New York, I am forced to continue to rent this illegal apartment. I receive my Internet access (wireless only, unfortunately) via my landlord's ISP, Optimum. Since it's completely wide open, no security at all, I was compelled to find a VPN company. I signed up with Private internet Access which seems to be located in Denver, CO but I believe to be a UK company. All seemed okay (probably because I didn't know enough to really check into it) until it came time to renew. They did not process my (automatically-renewing) card, kept saying (and still do!) I was "not protected", but of course they took my money, $39.95, anyway. I've opened a couple of tickets, sent emails, tried to call the (866) number on my bank statement (one can never get through) but have heard absolutely nothing. just now I logged in again but had the big red message at the top, Not Protected. Thinking of moving someplace where I can contract with the ISP directly :)