Online Fax

Overview

To some people, faxing may seem like an old, unnecessary relic from the 20th century that simply refuses to die peacefully.
However, for certain businesses and industries, including ones that must comply with strict data protection and privacy requirements, it is an essential part of their daily apparatus.
Even in today’s digital world, this reliable technology is still an efficient and secure way to transmit a document from point A to point B.

Internet fax services provide subscribers with a regular fax number that can continuously send and receive faxes 24 hours a day, either through a web portal or via email.
This type of service replaces the need to buy a physical fax machine, obtain a dedicated phone line, deal with high maintenance costs and cope with endless piles of paper.
Customers can establish a digital archive that stores the sent and received documents, which can be accessed from their PC, laptop or smartphone.

Each company offers its own packages that include the pages that can be sent or received per month and the cost per each additional page beyond the quota (overage fees).
Certain vendors offer advanced features such as:

• Email-to-Fax / Fax-to-Email
• International Faxing
• Local / Toll-Free Numbers
• Existing Fax Number Transfer
• Custom Cover Pages
• Scheduled Delivery
• Android / iPhone Mobile Apps
• Cloud Integration
• Electronic Signature
• Group Faxing
• Encryption
• HIPAA Compliance
• Free Trial

Consumer Tips: How to Avoid Online Fax Service Scams

Just like any other sector that involves customers, providers, and money that switches hands, the internet fax industry also has its fair share of scammers, fraudsters and poor quality services that operate online and look for potential victims.

Scammers use many illegal, unethical or dishonest ways to trick or mistreat customers in several ways.
Some shady vendors charge hidden or extra fees not properly disclosed before signing up with the service.

Other fraudulent providers have become notorious for not canceling trial membership accounts, even when specifically asked to do so.
They ignore free trial users’ requests to stop their membership and charge their credit cards against their will and without their approval.
In many such cases, requests for refunds are not honored, even for unauthorized charges, leaving a long trail of angry ripped off customers.

Some low-end services are unreliable, often involving broken or skewed pages, unexplained technical glitches or faxes that never make it to their destination.

Taking these steps will help you find credible and reliable companies in this market:

Read the Terms

The rotten apples of this industry are experts at creating terms filled with loopholes that entitle them to do whatever they want and bill the customer for as much and as long as they choose.
Avoid working with companies that use such illegitimate, anti-consumer practices.

Investigate the Electronic Fax Company’s BBB Record

Check the company’s record on the Better Business Bureau’s website.
What you’ll find there, will help you evaluate whether it’s a legitimate business that deserves your money and trust or if you must look elsewhere.

Look for current BBB rating, customer reviews, complaints, warnings and alerts on their business profile.
In addition, learn how long it has been in business – a potential indicator of experience and reputation.

If the business is not even listed with the BBB, this is a very bad sign.
On the other hand, if the online fax provider is certified as a BBB Accredited Business, it’s an important positive signal.

Pay Close Attention to Red Flags

Learn how to protect yourself better when ordering goods and services on the internet, to avoid scammers and keep safe in general.
Knowing how to check if a website is legitimate or not is the first line of defense.