Consumer Rights Wiki - User contributions [en]

Talk:Collective Shout

2025-09-08T18:37:43Z

Lowspeedguy: /* Propose reversion to prev. version */ Reply

==Relevancy to CRW==

I would argue that the article is relevant here due to the activist group having a history of attempting to or preemptively blocking customers' ability to otherwise engage in lawful transactions because CS finds something offensive. The ability to obtain something ought to be taken into consideration, even though it might not be nearly as important to the focus of this wiki as having said thing and then having it altered in an anti-consumer manner. — [[User:Sojourna|Sojourna]] ([[User talk:Sojourna|talk]]) 05:38, 4 September 2025 (UTC)

:Agreed, their tantrums towards payment processors should be evidence enough to say that their actions are harming consumers. Their actions have been responsible for developers on itch.io and Steam to not get paid in general [[User:JamesTDG|JamesTDG]] ([[User talk:JamesTDG|talk]]) 07:06, 4 September 2025 (UTC)
::I will agree with Sojourna and James as well. I will give @[[User:DzLamme|DzLamme]] one week to respond to this talk page for his side. If no response is given, the deletion notice will be removed. [[User:Mr Pollo|Mr Pollo]] ([[User talk:Mr Pollo|talk]]) 00:51, 5 September 2025 (UTC)
:::I have read that some NSFW games got de-indexed due to lobbying and pressure on payment processors. I'm not for censorship, in general. I don't agree with many of the stances the group takes, however their intentions were framed as though they are just an anti-consumer group. The article gave the following reason for the groups actions in 2014:
:::''the video game encouraged players to "murder women for entertainment."''
:::The article came across hostile, like calling their lobbying, ''tantrums'', while leaving out any responsibility Itch has towards its customers and indie developers.
:::I was unable to find a history of anti-consumer rights, I am not in Australia and have not done a deep dive on them so I may be ignorant of some things. [[User:DzLamme|DzLD]] ([[User talk:DzLamme|talk]]) 06:50, 5 September 2025 (UTC)
::::Well their entire purpose is to censor anything they don't like, which would severely restrict the consumer's ability to purchase legal things, so I would say that their goals are quite anti-consumer. [[User:Lowspeedguy|Lowspeedguy]] ([[User talk:Lowspeedguy|talk]]) 14:07, 5 September 2025 (UTC)
:::::Not to mention, they want to ensure that these games that they are protesting against, are not distributed at all, meaning it also hurts consumers who have paid for these games as well. Just imagine paying for some mature title, only to have it be revoked from your library, because some Karen in Australia got upset over the wrong things [[User:JamesTDG|JamesTDG]] ([[User talk:JamesTDG|talk]]) 14:11, 5 September 2025 (UTC)
::::::Looking more into it, it does sound like being anti-consumer is their entire point. They're lobbyists wanting to take down media that goes against their values.
::::::From the archived website: "Collective Shout is a grassroots movement challenging the objectification of women and sexualisation of girls in media, advertising and popular culture. We target corporations, advertisers, marketers and media which exploit the bodies of women and girls to sell products and services and campaign to change their behaviour." [[User:Beanie Bo|Beanie Bo]] ([[User talk:Beanie Bo|talk]]) 14:53, 5 September 2025 (UTC)
:::::::This is the description of the game they specifically wanted gone from a newsweek article:
:::::::''No Mercy appeared on the PC gaming platform Steam in early April. The game allowed players to control a character who rapes, tortures and kills women. It did not carry an age rating or content warning and was described by some users and critics as a 'rape simulator.'''
:::::::''No Mercy features scenes in which the player rapes a woman, who then becomes pregnant, gives birth to a baby, and is then murdered along with her newborn.'' [[User:DzLamme|DzLD]] ([[User talk:DzLamme|talk]]) 15:08, 5 September 2025 (UTC)
:::::Apparently the protesting of NSFW/Mature video games started specifically against ''No Mercy''. Itch de-indexed the games, as far as I can tell it wasn't because of any new legislation, they did it without notifying any customers. I disagree with much of CS's positions, but Itch wasn't forced to do what they did the way they did it. They chose profit over their customers, it would cost money to go through each title one by one. The games that I found CS reference besides GTA are games I don't want to describe on this wiki.
:::::Which payment processors are involved, I can't find a name? [[User:DzLamme|DzLD]] ([[User talk:DzLamme|talk]]) 15:00, 5 September 2025 (UTC)
::::::At least for itch.io, it's visa and mastercard. [[User:Lowspeedguy|Lowspeedguy]] ([[User talk:Lowspeedguy|talk]]) 16:11, 5 September 2025 (UTC)
:::::This incidents opens up the debate about financial censorship, the role of payment processors as content moderators, and the impact on creative freedom. They don't want to get rid of every game ever, the games in question are objectively for adults only. ''Daddy, Say My Name'', ''Sex Education With Richard And Mr. Dickson'', ''Short Horns'', based on the descriptions, the games content and themes violated the credit co. policies. The group is not main antagonist. I really wanna make it clear that I'm not defending their positions i.e. porn, abortion, etc. [[User:DzLamme|DzLD]] ([[User talk:DzLamme|talk]]) 15:49, 5 September 2025 (UTC)
::::::They also want to take down games like gta, which means many, if not most, games that aren't porn are under their scope. [[User:Lowspeedguy|Lowspeedguy]] ([[User talk:Lowspeedguy|talk]]) 16:14, 5 September 2025 (UTC)
:::::::It's like if an environmentalist lobbies and gets laws passed ending the production of combustion engines to save the planet. You cant buy a gas engine anymore, but you can still buy a car. [[User:DzLamme|DzLD]] ([[User talk:DzLamme|talk]]) 16:48, 5 September 2025 (UTC)
::::::::CS has tried to [https://www.collectiveshout.org/prostitution_survivors_call_on_target_to_withdraw_gta_v_for_extreme_violence_against_women remove GTA] in the past. The reason the payment processors didn't make steam take down games like gta is likely because the payment processors knew that removing those games wouldn't lessen the risk of damaging their PR, so it's more like if an environmentalist tried to lobby for all methods of transportation except biking banned, but only got gas powered cars banned. [[User:Lowspeedguy|Lowspeedguy]] ([[User talk:Lowspeedguy|talk]]) 13:23, 8 September 2025 (UTC)
:I think this group is a bit fascist and only incidentally anti-consumer. [[User:DzLamme|DzLD]] ([[User talk:DzLamme|talk]]) 16:59, 5 September 2025 (UTC)
:'''Caitlin Roper''', the campaigns manager said Collective Shout's campaign was only intended to remove rape and incest games.
:''We did not set out to get all NSFW content removed. We specifically targeted rape games, games that promoted sexualised violence against women and children,'' she said.
:[https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08-03/adult-video-games-removed-from-steam-after-campaign/105597886][Https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08-03/adult-video-games-removed-from-steam-after-campaign/105597886 https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08-03/adult-video-games-removed-from-steam-after-campaign/105597886] [[User:DzLamme|DzLD]] ([[User talk:DzLamme|talk]]) 19:23, 5 September 2025 (UTC)
::Regardless of their intentions, it has had the effect of removing customers' right to engage in ''lawful'' transactions. What good is "right to own" if you have been rendered unable to obtain something in the first place?
::<br />
::And to add: The group ''is'' one of the main parties to the controversy regardless of one's position on the subject. It's not as though Collective Shout's involvement is merely incidental when it was pressure ''from them'' that led to Mastercard, Visa, and PayPal suddenly caring a lot more about video games based around sexual violence or otherwise deeply disturbing themes. — [[User:Sojourna|Sojourna]] ([[User talk:Sojourna|talk]]) 00:23, 6 September 2025 (UTC)
:::I am not saying their involvement was incidental, I'm saying that this talk page is larger than an article on CS's systemic anti-consumer practices could be. I started an article about the DeIndexing, tell me what you think. [[User:DzLamme|DzLD]] ([[User talk:DzLamme|talk]]) 00:44, 6 September 2025 (UTC)

==Final argument, regardless of outcome==

@[[User:Mr Pollo|Mr Pollo]]

:The term anti-consumer should be reserved for practices that prioritize profit or control over consumer rights without ethical justification. Collective Shout's advocacy, while controversial, is rooted in preventing harm rather than suppressing choice for financial gain. Labeling them as anti-consumer overlooks their motivations and conflates them with corporations whose actions are objectively more harmful to consumers. Their methods can be critiqued as overly broad or collaterally damaging, but not inherently anti-consumer in the same way as corporate practices.
[[User:DzLamme|DzLD]] ([[User talk:DzLamme|talk]]) 08:22, 7 September 2025 (UTC)

:I have discussed this with @[[User:Keith|Keith]] and we have agreed that the Collective Shout article is relevant to the wiki for a few reasons:
:#All of Itch.io's NSFW tagged games were deindexed as a result of Collective Shout's actions [https://itch.io/updates/update-on-nsfw-content]
:#Said games did not violate Steam and Itch.io's terms prior to the incident
:#Like @[[User:Lowspeedguy|Lowspeedguy]] mentioned before, their campaign against GTA V [https://www.collectiveshout.org/win_target_and_kmart_remove_r18_game_from_stores] was heavily misguided (as killing women isn't required in the storyline or to progress in the game).
:#The wider impact this incident can have on consumer's rights in the future.
:We appreciate your bringing this up in the talk page, as not many users wish to share their opinions on existing articles. [[User:Mr Pollo|Mr Pollo]] ([[User talk:Mr Pollo|talk]]) 16:03, 8 September 2025 (UTC)
::I think part of the issue here is that, if we took such a definition of anti-consumer, there could be a lot of very conusmer-relevant things that we may not end up talking about, despite them being very relevant/important. I do think that this article has grown beyond where it needs to be, and might need to be pared back however. [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 16:13, 8 September 2025 (UTC)
:::I may have misunderstood your point @[[User:DzLamme|DzLamme]] (thinking that you were arguing for the article's non-inclusion, rather than commenting on the use of the term 'anti-consumer'). in any case, I'll replace the deletion notice with a relevancy discussion notice, as i don't think there's a good reason for the article to be deleted in short order. [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 16:15, 8 September 2025 (UTC)

==Propose reversion to prev. version==

it looks like since revision https://consumerrights.wiki/index.php?title=Collective_Shout&oldid=23853 - the article has both ballooned in size, and has also lost a lot of its citations. It seemed to be in a reasonable place at that point, so might it be best for us to revert it to that state? (minus the deletion notice, i don't think that was necessary as of the mentioned revision) [[User:Keith|Keith]] ([[User talk:Keith|talk]]) 16:24, 8 September 2025 (UTC)

:I think the "Methods and Campaigns" section is still relevant as a header, but could be condensed into a paragraph or two. It shows the the tactics they use and why they were so effective in their aggressive activism. NPOV is key [[User:Beanie Bo|Beanie Bo]] ([[User talk:Beanie Bo|talk]]) 16:42, 8 September 2025 (UTC)
:I agree. There is also the fact that the current version repeats itself a lot. [[User:Lowspeedguy|Lowspeedguy]] ([[User talk:Lowspeedguy|talk]]) 18:37, 8 September 2025 (UTC)

Talk:Collective Shout

2025-09-08T13:23:57Z

Lowspeedguy: /* Relevancy to CRW */ Reply

Talk:Collective Shout

2025-09-05T16:14:05Z

Lowspeedguy: /* Relevancy to CRW */ Reply

Talk:Collective Shout

2025-09-05T16:11:31Z

Lowspeedguy: /* Relevancy to CRW */ Reply

Talk:Collective Shout

2025-09-05T14:07:18Z

Lowspeedguy: /* Relevancy to CRW */ Reply

Talk:3CX

2025-08-26T01:36:51Z

Lowspeedguy: /* Interesting Consumer Complaints */

== Interesting Consumer Complaints ==
So while researching 3CX for a bit, I found one that had, along with some common other complaints, had some stuff I think deserves to be on this wiki page if they are true. This is partially a reminder for myself to research it, and partially an attempt to give future researchers a starting off point. I found them [https://www.trustpilot.com/review/3cx.com here].

The review says:

"I share the same views as a previous poster. Not only did they increase the price without any prior notice and done it multiple times in a relatively short timeframe, they also are messaging partners clients directly promoting their products without the clients ever consenting. In addition to that, V20 removed some features which V18 had and they refuse to acknowledge it. 3cx partners should begin to look elswhere since 3cx seems to go the atlassian way..."

Another interesting complaint (this one came before the other review; the other one just got my attention more) says:

"Herein, a factual detail of events without slander or expressing personal view. However, we finish with a recommendation should any potential reseller consider a partnership relationship with 3CX.

We signed up as a reseller with 3CX on 19th October 2021. We were enormously impressed with the features, facilities and price. Over the last four years, we have invested heavily into the product, focussing our attentions on the SMB market. Understandably, as costs to deliver, develop and maintain the platform, 3CX have increased their prices. Without exception, price increases over the years have exceeded inflation by some margin.

This year we came to renew a customer licence and was presented with a significant cost increase (18% above inflation CPI). We expressed concern to 3CX UK at this price increase - asking how we can justify the increase to our customers. As a direct result of writing the email expressing our concern, 3CX cancelled our partnership. The net result of this action has increased our cost of sale by 36.8%

We see other postings on Trustpilot delivering indisputable evidence, testifying to the fact 3CX are eliminating SMBs from their customer portfolio.

The 3CX partnership business model attracts resellers into a discount relationship resulting in an attractive, competitive arrangement to secure end users into the 3CX domain. Once a period of saturation (no new customer licences in a year), 3CX cancels the partnership giving them instant profit. It is enormously challenging to change a telephone system once set up, commissioned and implemented live - and they know it!

We finish with our recommendation. Should you consider becoming a 3CX partner, please be aware the company is at liberty to cancel their customer partnerships without reason in accordance with their T&Cs. Please proceed with your eyes wide open."

If you find any other notable complaints to research, put them here.

[[User:Lowspeedguy|Lowspeedguy]] ([[User talk:Lowspeedguy|talk]]) 02:15, 24 August 2025 (UTC)

User:Lowspeedguy

2025-08-26T01:35:03Z

Lowspeedguy:

Hello, I want to help the best I can and am currently focusing on improving the [[3CX]] page. Glory to Clippy!

Talk:3CX

2025-08-25T16:11:49Z

Lowspeedguy: /* Interesting Consumer Complaints */ Added a link that was meant to be there from the beginning.

== Interesting Consumer Complaints ==
So while researching 3CX for a bit, I found one that had, along with some common other complaints, had some stuff I think deserves to be on this wiki page if they are true. This is partially a reminder for myself to research it, and partially an attempt to give future researchers a starting off point. I found them here [https://www.trustpilot.com/review/3cx.com here].

The review says:

"I share the same views as a previous poster. Not only did they increase the price without any prior notice and done it multiple times in a relatively short timeframe, they also are messaging partners clients directly promoting their products without the clients ever consenting. In addition to that, V20 removed some features which V18 had and they refuse to acknowledge it. 3cx partners should begin to look elswhere since 3cx seems to go the atlassian way..."

Another interesting complaint (this one came before the other review; the other one just got my attention more) says:

"Herein, a factual detail of events without slander or expressing personal view. However, we finish with a recommendation should any potential reseller consider a partnership relationship with 3CX.

We signed up as a reseller with 3CX on 19th October 2021. We were enormously impressed with the features, facilities and price. Over the last four years, we have invested heavily into the product, focussing our attentions on the SMB market. Understandably, as costs to deliver, develop and maintain the platform, 3CX have increased their prices. Without exception, price increases over the years have exceeded inflation by some margin.

This year we came to renew a customer licence and was presented with a significant cost increase (18% above inflation CPI). We expressed concern to 3CX UK at this price increase - asking how we can justify the increase to our customers. As a direct result of writing the email expressing our concern, 3CX cancelled our partnership. The net result of this action has increased our cost of sale by 36.8%

We see other postings on Trustpilot delivering indisputable evidence, testifying to the fact 3CX are eliminating SMBs from their customer portfolio.

The 3CX partnership business model attracts resellers into a discount relationship resulting in an attractive, competitive arrangement to secure end users into the 3CX domain. Once a period of saturation (no new customer licences in a year), 3CX cancels the partnership giving them instant profit. It is enormously challenging to change a telephone system once set up, commissioned and implemented live - and they know it!

We finish with our recommendation. Should you consider becoming a 3CX partner, please be aware the company is at liberty to cancel their customer partnerships without reason in accordance with their T&Cs. Please proceed with your eyes wide open."

If you find any other notable complaints to research, put them here.

[[User:Lowspeedguy|Lowspeedguy]] ([[User talk:Lowspeedguy|talk]]) 02:15, 24 August 2025 (UTC)

3CX

2025-08-25T04:05:24Z

Lowspeedguy: Added a link that defines "public switched telephone network" to better comply with the editorial guidelines.

{{StubNotice}}
[[wikipedia:3CX|3CX, Inc.]], is a software development company and developer of the 3CX Phone System<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last= |title=ENTERPRISE GRADE PHONE SYSTEM |url=https://www.3cx.com/phone-system/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250813032918/https://www.3cx.com/phone-system/ |archive-date=2025-08-13 |access-date=2025-08-13 |website=3cx.com}}</ref> founded in Cyprus in 2005-11-01.

{{CompanyCargo
| Founded = 2005-11-01
| Industry = Telecommunication
| Website = https://www.3cx.com/
| Logo = 3CX Logo Grey background-1028917583.png
| Type = Private
}}

The 3CX Phone System is a digital [[wikipedia:Private_branch_exchange|private branch exchange]] based on the [[wikipedia:Session_Initiation_Protocol|Session Initiation Protocol]] (SIP) standard facilitating calls via either the [[wikipedia:Public_switched_telephone_network|public switched telephone network (PSTN)]] or using [[wikipedia:Voice_over_IP|Voice over Internet Protocol]] (VoIP) services <ref name=":0" />.

In 2023, during a major supply chain attack affecting the 3CX desktop application, the company's public response included engaging the services of Google-owned cybersecurity firm [[wikipedia:Mandiant|Mandiant]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lakshmanan |first=Ravie |date=Mar 31, 2023 |title=3CX Supply Chain Attack — Here's What We Know So Far |url=https://thehackernews.com/2023/03/3cx-supply-chain-attack-heres-what-we.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250627055223/https://thehackernews.com/2023/03/3cx-supply-chain-attack-heres-what-we.html |archive-date=June 27, 2025 |access-date=2025-08-12 |website=thehackernews.com}}</ref> and advising customers to uninstall affected versions.

==Controversies==

====Customer and Partner Relations====
The company's CTO, Nick Galea, has been the subject of criticism from some 3CX users and partners for alleged heavy-handed moderation practices and perceived unprofessional conduct in public forums. Multiple users on Reddit have reported being banned from the official 3CX community forums for raising technical concerns or criticizing company policies. <ref>{{Cite web |title=My 3CX Partnership Deleted and All Linked Clients Lost |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/3CX/comments/xev0u5/my_3cx_partnership_deleted_and_all_linked_clients/}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Banned from the 3CX Community |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/3CX/comments/xn0ztp/banned_from_the_3cx_community/}}</ref>

====Supply Chain Incident Response====
In March 2023, 3CX was the victim of a high-profile supply chain hack, thought to be the result of a cascade failure starting with the software X_Trader. This attack was linked to an earlier incident perpetrated by North Korean hackers, targeting software company [https://www.marketswiki.com/wiki/Trading_Technologies_International Trading Technologies]. A 3CX employee's PC containing the Trading Technologies App was used by the hackers to compromise their software and distribute malware to consumers. <ref>{{Cite news |last=Greenberg |first=Andy |date=Apr 20, 2023 |title=The Huge 3CX Breach Was Actually 2 Linked Supply Chain Attacks |url=https://www.wired.com/story/3cx-supply-chain-attack-times-two/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250726115243/https://www.wired.com/story/3cx-supply-chain-attack-times-two/ |archive-date=July 26, 2025 |work=Wired |pages=2025-08-12}}</ref><ref name=":1" />

3CX also faced backlash for requiring users to pay a fee when opening support tickets during the breach, which led to further public criticism from system administrators and IT professionals.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=CrowdStrike |date=2023-03-29 |title=// 2023-03-29 // SITUATIONAL AWARENESS // CrowdStrike Tracking Active Intrusion Campaign Targeting 3CX Customers // |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/crowdstrike/comments/125r3uu/20230329_situational_awareness_crowdstrike/ |website=reddit}}</ref><blockquote>"I have been in contact with 3CX and their suggestion is to open a support ticket at £75 per incident. Ludicrous." -wars_t (reddit.com) </blockquote>

==References:==
<references />
[[Category:3CX]]

User:Lowspeedguy

2025-08-25T03:52:31Z

Lowspeedguy: Created

Hello, I want to help the best I can and am currently focusing on improving the [[3CX]] page. Glory to clippy!

3CX

2025-08-24T02:52:08Z

Lowspeedguy: Added the sixth reference link to the first Supply Chain Incident Response paragraph, as it is further proof of it and now it is more lixely for people to click on it if they want more proof for the paragraph's claim.

{{StubNotice}}
[[wikipedia:3CX|3CX, Inc.]], is a software development company and developer of the 3CX Phone System<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last= |title=ENTERPRISE GRADE PHONE SYSTEM |url=https://www.3cx.com/phone-system/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250813032918/https://www.3cx.com/phone-system/ |archive-date=2025-08-13 |access-date=2025-08-13 |website=3cx.com}}</ref> founded in Cyprus in 2005-11-01.

{{CompanyCargo
| Founded = 2005-11-01
| Industry = Telecommunication
| Website = https://www.3cx.com/
| Logo = 3CX Logo Grey background-1028917583.png
| Type = Private
}}

The 3CX Phone System is a digital [[wikipedia:Private_branch_exchange|private branch exchange]] based on the [[wikipedia:Session_Initiation_Protocol|Session Initiation Protocol]] (SIP) standard facilitating calls via either the public switched telephone network (PSTN) or using [[wikipedia:Voice_over_IP|Voice over Internet Protocol]] (VoIP) services <ref name=":0" />.

In 2023, during a major supply chain attack affecting the 3CX desktop application, the company's public response included engaging the services of Google-owned cybersecurity firm [[wikipedia:Mandiant|Mandiant]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lakshmanan |first=Ravie |date=Mar 31, 2023 |title=3CX Supply Chain Attack — Here's What We Know So Far |url=https://thehackernews.com/2023/03/3cx-supply-chain-attack-heres-what-we.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250627055223/https://thehackernews.com/2023/03/3cx-supply-chain-attack-heres-what-we.html |archive-date=June 27, 2025 |access-date=2025-08-12 |website=thehackernews.com}}</ref> and advising customers to uninstall affected versions.

==Controversies==

====Customer and Partner Relations====
The company's CTO, Nick Galea, has been the subject of criticism from some 3CX users and partners for alleged heavy-handed moderation practices and perceived unprofessional conduct in public forums. Multiple users on Reddit have reported being banned from the official 3CX community forums for raising technical concerns or criticizing company policies. <ref>{{Cite web |title=My 3CX Partnership Deleted and All Linked Clients Lost |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/3CX/comments/xev0u5/my_3cx_partnership_deleted_and_all_linked_clients/}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Banned from the 3CX Community |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/3CX/comments/xn0ztp/banned_from_the_3cx_community/}}</ref>

====Supply Chain Incident Response====
In March 2023, 3CX was the victim of a high-profile supply chain hack, thought to be the result of a cascade failure starting with the software X_Trader. This attack was linked to an earlier incident perpetrated by North Korean hackers, targeting software company [https://www.marketswiki.com/wiki/Trading_Technologies_International Trading Technologies]. A 3CX employee's PC containing the Trading Technologies App was used by the hackers to compromise their software and distribute malware to consumers. <ref>{{Cite news |last=Greenberg |first=Andy |date=Apr 20, 2023 |title=The Huge 3CX Breach Was Actually 2 Linked Supply Chain Attacks |url=https://www.wired.com/story/3cx-supply-chain-attack-times-two/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250726115243/https://www.wired.com/story/3cx-supply-chain-attack-times-two/ |archive-date=July 26, 2025 |work=Wired |pages=2025-08-12}}</ref><ref name=":1" />

3CX also faced backlash for requiring users to pay a fee when opening support tickets during the breach, which led to further public criticism from system administrators and IT professionals.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=CrowdStrike |date=2023-03-29 |title=// 2023-03-29 // SITUATIONAL AWARENESS // CrowdStrike Tracking Active Intrusion Campaign Targeting 3CX Customers // |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/crowdstrike/comments/125r3uu/20230329_situational_awareness_crowdstrike/ |website=reddit}}</ref><blockquote>"I have been in contact with 3CX and their suggestion is to open a support ticket at £75 per incident. Ludicrous." -wars_t (reddit.com) </blockquote>

==References:==
<references />
[[Category:3CX]]

Talk:3CX

2025-08-24T02:22:32Z

Lowspeedguy:

== Interesting Consumer Complaints ==
So while researching 3CX for a bit, I found one that had, along with some common other complaints, had some stuff I think deserves to be on this wiki page if they are true. This is partially a reminder for myself to research it, and partially an attempt to give future researchers a starting off point. I found them here.

The review says:

"I share the same views as a previous poster. Not only did they increase the price without any prior notice and done it multiple times in a relatively short timeframe, they also are messaging partners clients directly promoting their products without the clients ever consenting. In addition to that, V20 removed some features which V18 had and they refuse to acknowledge it. 3cx partners should begin to look elswhere since 3cx seems to go the atlassian way..."

Another interesting complaint (this one came before the other review; the other one just got my attention more) says:

"Herein, a factual detail of events without slander or expressing personal view. However, we finish with a recommendation should any potential reseller consider a partnership relationship with 3CX.

We signed up as a reseller with 3CX on 19th October 2021. We were enormously impressed with the features, facilities and price. Over the last four years, we have invested heavily into the product, focussing our attentions on the SMB market. Understandably, as costs to deliver, develop and maintain the platform, 3CX have increased their prices. Without exception, price increases over the years have exceeded inflation by some margin.

This year we came to renew a customer licence and was presented with a significant cost increase (18% above inflation CPI). We expressed concern to 3CX UK at this price increase - asking how we can justify the increase to our customers. As a direct result of writing the email expressing our concern, 3CX cancelled our partnership. The net result of this action has increased our cost of sale by 36.8%

We see other postings on Trustpilot delivering indisputable evidence, testifying to the fact 3CX are eliminating SMBs from their customer portfolio.

The 3CX partnership business model attracts resellers into a discount relationship resulting in an attractive, competitive arrangement to secure end users into the 3CX domain. Once a period of saturation (no new customer licences in a year), 3CX cancels the partnership giving them instant profit. It is enormously challenging to change a telephone system once set up, commissioned and implemented live - and they know it!

We finish with our recommendation. Should you consider becoming a 3CX partner, please be aware the company is at liberty to cancel their customer partnerships without reason in accordance with their T&Cs. Please proceed with your eyes wide open."

If you find any other notable complaints to research, put them here.

[[User:Lowspeedguy|Lowspeedguy]] ([[User talk:Lowspeedguy|talk]]) 02:15, 24 August 2025 (UTC)

Talk:3CX

2025-08-24T02:21:44Z

Lowspeedguy: /* Interesting Consumer Complaints */

== Interesting Consumer Complaints ==
So while researching 3CX for a bit, I found one that had, along with some common other complaints, had some stuff I think deserves to be on this wiki page if they are true. This is partially a reminder for myself to research it, and partially an attempt to give future researchers a starting off point. I found them here.

The review says:

"I share the same views as a previous poster. Not only did they increase the price without any prior notice and done it multiple times in a relatively short timeframe, they also are messaging partners clients directly promoting their products without the clients ever consenting. In addition to that, V20 removed some features which V18 had and they refuse to acknowledge it. 3cx partners should begin to look elswhere since 3cx seems to go the atlassian way..."

Another interesting complaint (this one came before the other review; the other one just got my attention more) says:

"Herein, a factual detail of events without slander or expressing personal view. However, we finish with a recommendation should any potential reseller consider a partnership relationship with 3CX.

We signed up as a reseller with 3CX on 19th October 2021. We were enormously impressed with the features, facilities and price. Over the last four years, we have invested heavily into the product, focussing our attentions on the SMB market. Understandably, as costs to deliver, develop and maintain the platform, 3CX have increased their prices. Without exception, price increases over the years have exceeded inflation by some margin.

This year we came to renew a customer licence and was presented with a significant cost increase (18% above inflation CPI). We expressed concern to 3CX UK at this price increase - asking how we can justify the increase to our customers. As a direct result of writing the email expressing our concern, 3CX cancelled our partnership. The net result of this action has increased our cost of sale by 36.8%

We see other postings on Trustpilot delivering indisputable evidence, testifying to the fact 3CX are eliminating SMBs from their customer portfolio.

The 3CX partnership business model attracts resellers into a discount relationship resulting in an attractive, competitive arrangement to secure end users into the 3CX domain. Once a period of saturation (no new customer licences in a year), 3CX cancels the partnership giving them instant profit. It is enormously challenging to change a telephone system once set up, commissioned and implemented live - and they know it!

We finish with our recommendation. Should you consider becoming a 3CX partner, please be aware the company is at liberty to cancel their customer partnerships without reason in accordance with their T&Cs. Please proceed with your eyes wide open."

If you find notable complaints to research, put them here.

[[User:Lowspeedguy|Lowspeedguy]] ([[User talk:Lowspeedguy|talk]]) 02:15, 24 August 2025 (UTC)

Talk:3CX

2025-08-24T02:17:56Z

Lowspeedguy: Just moved the end-quotes to the end of the paragraphs.

== Interesting Consumer Complaints ==
So while researching 3CX for a bit, I found one that had, along with some common other complaints, had some stuff I think deserves to be on this wiki page if they are true. This is partially a reminder for myself to research it, and partially an attempt to give future researchers a starting off point. I found them here.

The review says:

"I share the same views as a previous poster. Not only did they increase the price without any prior notice and done it multiple times in a relatively short timeframe, they also are messaging partners clients directly promoting their products without the clients ever consenting. In addition to that, V20 removed some features which V18 had and they refuse to acknowledge it. 3cx partners should begin to look elswhere since 3cx seems to go the atlassian way..."

Another interesting complaint (this one came before the other review; the other one just got my attention more) says:

"Herein, a factual detail of events without slander or expressing personal view. However, we finish with a recommendation should any potential reseller consider a partnership relationship with 3CX.

We signed up as a reseller with 3CX on 19th October 2021. We were enormously impressed with the features, facilities and price. Over the last four years, we have invested heavily into the product, focussing our attentions on the SMB market. Understandably, as costs to deliver, develop and maintain the platform, 3CX have increased their prices. Without exception, price increases over the years have exceeded inflation by some margin.

This year we came to renew a customer licence and was presented with a significant cost increase (18% above inflation CPI). We expressed concern to 3CX UK at this price increase - asking how we can justify the increase to our customers. As a direct result of writing the email expressing our concern, 3CX cancelled our partnership. The net result of this action has increased our cost of sale by 36.8%

We see other postings on Trustpilot delivering indisputable evidence, testifying to the fact 3CX are eliminating SMBs from their customer portfolio.

The 3CX partnership business model attracts resellers into a discount relationship resulting in an attractive, competitive arrangement to secure end users into the 3CX domain. Once a period of saturation (no new customer licences in a year), 3CX cancels the partnership giving them instant profit. It is enormously challenging to change a telephone system once set up, commissioned and implemented live - and they know it!

We finish with our recommendation. Should you consider becoming a 3CX partner, please be aware the company is at liberty to cancel their customer partnerships without reason in accordance with their T&Cs. Please proceed with your eyes wide open."

[[User:Lowspeedguy|Lowspeedguy]] ([[User talk:Lowspeedguy|talk]]) 02:15, 24 August 2025 (UTC)

Talk:3CX

2025-08-24T02:15:50Z

Lowspeedguy: I found some notable reviews to research and verify.

== Interesting Consumer Complaints ==
So while researching 3CX for a bit, I found one that had, along with some common other complaints, had some stuff I think deserves to be on this wiki page if they are true. This is partially a reminder for myself to research it, and partially an attempt to give future researchers a starting off point. I found them here.

The review says:

"I share the same views as a previous poster. Not only did they increase the price without any prior notice and done it multiple times in a relatively short timeframe, they also are messaging partners clients directly promoting their products without the clients ever consenting. In addition to that, V20 removed some features which V18 had and they refuse to acknowledge it. 3cx partners should begin to look elswhere since 3cx seems to go the atlassian way...

"

Another interesting complaint (this one came before the other review; the other one just got my attention more) says:

"Herein, a factual detail of events without slander or expressing personal view. However, we finish with a recommendation should any potential reseller consider a partnership relationship with 3CX.

We signed up as a reseller with 3CX on 19th October 2021. We were enormously impressed with the features, facilities and price. Over the last four years, we have invested heavily into the product, focussing our attentions on the SMB market. Understandably, as costs to deliver, develop and maintain the platform, 3CX have increased their prices. Without exception, price increases over the years have exceeded inflation by some margin.

This year we came to renew a customer licence and was presented with a significant cost increase (18% above inflation CPI). We expressed concern to 3CX UK at this price increase - asking how we can justify the increase to our customers. As a direct result of writing the email expressing our concern, 3CX cancelled our partnership. The net result of this action has increased our cost of sale by 36.8%

We see other postings on Trustpilot delivering indisputable evidence, testifying to the fact 3CX are eliminating SMBs from their customer portfolio.

The 3CX partnership business model attracts resellers into a discount relationship resulting in an attractive, competitive arrangement to secure end users into the 3CX domain. Once a period of saturation (no new customer licences in a year), 3CX cancels the partnership giving them instant profit. It is enormously challenging to change a telephone system once set up, commissioned and implemented live - and they know it!

We finish with our recommendation. Should you consider becoming a 3CX partner, please be aware the company is at liberty to cancel their customer partnerships without reason in accordance with their T&Cs. Please proceed with your eyes wide open.

"
[[User:Lowspeedguy|Lowspeedguy]] ([[User talk:Lowspeedguy|talk]]) 02:15, 24 August 2025 (UTC)

3CX

2025-08-22T15:44:35Z

Lowspeedguy: Just added a the before the word "company" in the third paragraph.

{{StubNotice}}
[[wikipedia:3CX|3CX, Inc.]], is a software development company and developer of the 3CX Phone System<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last= |title=ENTERPRISE GRADE PHONE SYSTEM |url=https://www.3cx.com/phone-system/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250813032918/https://www.3cx.com/phone-system/ |archive-date=2025-08-13 |access-date=2025-08-13 |website=3cx.com}}</ref> founded in Cyprus in 2005-11-01.

{{CompanyCargo
| Founded = 2005-11-01
| Industry = Telecommunication
| Website = https://www.3cx.com/
| Logo = 3CX Logo Grey background-1028917583.png
| Type = Private
}}

The 3CX Phone System is a software private branch exchange based on the [[wikipedia:Session_Initiation_Protocol|Session Initiation Protocol]] (SIP) standard to allow calls via the public switched telephone network (PSTN) or via [[wikipedia:Voice_over_IP|Voice over Internet Protocol]] (VoIP) services <ref name=":0" />.

In 2023, during a major supply chain attack affecting the 3CX desktop application, the company's public response included engaging the services of Google-owned cybersecurity firm [[wikipedia:Mandiant|Mandiant]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lakshmanan |first=Ravie |date=Mar 31, 2023 |title=3CX Supply Chain Attack — Here's What We Know So Far |url=https://thehackernews.com/2023/03/3cx-supply-chain-attack-heres-what-we.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250627055223/https://thehackernews.com/2023/03/3cx-supply-chain-attack-heres-what-we.html |archive-date=June 27, 2025 |access-date=2025-08-12 |website=thehackernews.com}}</ref> and advising customers to uninstall affected versions.

==Controversies==

====Customer and Partner Relations====
The company's CTO, Nick Galea, has been the subject of criticism from some 3CX users and partners for alleged heavy-handed moderation practices and perceived unprofessional conduct in public forums. Multiple users on Reddit have reported being banned from the official 3CX community forums for raising technical concerns or criticizing company policies. <ref>{{Cite web |title=My 3CX Partnership Deleted and All Linked Clients Lost |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/3CX/comments/xev0u5/my_3cx_partnership_deleted_and_all_linked_clients/}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Banned from the 3CX Community |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/3CX/comments/xn0ztp/banned_from_the_3cx_community/}}</ref>

====Supply Chain Incident Response====
In March 2023, 3CX was the victim of a high-profile supply chain attack, thought to be the result of a cascade failure starting with the software X_Trader. This attack was linked to an earlier hack by North Korean hackers to software company [https://www.marketswiki.com/wiki/Trading_Technologies_International Trading Technologies]. A 3CX employee's PC with the Trading Technologies App was used by the hackers to compromise their software and distribute malware to consumers. <ref>{{Cite news |last=Greenberg |first=Andy |date=Apr 20, 2023 |title=The Huge 3CX Breach Was Actually 2 Linked Supply Chain Attacks |url=https://www.wired.com/story/3cx-supply-chain-attack-times-two/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250726115243/https://www.wired.com/story/3cx-supply-chain-attack-times-two/ |archive-date=July 26, 2025 |work=Wired |pages=2025-08-12}}</ref>

3CX also faced backlash for requiring users to pay to open support tickets during the breach, which led to further public criticism from system administrators and IT professionals.<ref>{{Cite web |last=CrowdStrike |date=2023-03-29 |title=// 2023-03-29 // SITUATIONAL AWARENESS // CrowdStrike Tracking Active Intrusion Campaign Targeting 3CX Customers // |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/crowdstrike/comments/125r3uu/20230329_situational_awareness_crowdstrike/ |website=reddit}}</ref><blockquote>"I have been in contact with 3CX and their suggestion is to open a support ticket at £75 per incident. Ludicrous." -wars_t (reddit.com) </blockquote>

==References:==
<references />
[[Category:3CX]]