AD-Hoc bundle expiry date change

gmr said:
That may make sense from a system perspective, but the reality is that no business can afford to put its systems before the customers interests. It's not a sustainable business model.

Let's look at this from the customer perspective. Last month I used up a 500Mb bundle by the 12th. I activated a 2Gb bundle on the same day, believing (based on information given, that the ad-hoc bundle would go for 30 days from then) that it would be a cost-effective approach (cost per MB, higher usage during the holidays, etc.). I now have to use this month's 500Mb PLUS the remaining 800Mb from the ad-hoc bundle by the 12th of this month. My normal rate of usage won't get through that, so I'll just be wasting it by not using it or by downloading stuff I would not ordinarily want anyway.

That's just not going to work in my favour, is it?
Click to expand...

That scenario seems pretty unfair to me :rolleyes:.
 
gmr said:
That may make sense from a system perspective, but the reality is that no business can afford to put its systems before the customers interests. It's not a sustainable business model.

Let's look at this from the customer perspective. Last month I used up a 500Mb bundle by the 12th. I activated a 2Gb bundle on the same day, believing (based on information given, that the ad-hoc bundle would go for 30 days from then) that it would be a cost-effective approach (cost per MB, higher usage during the holidays, etc.). I now have to use this month's 500Mb PLUS the remaining 800Mb from the ad-hoc bundle by the 12th of this month. My normal rate of usage won't get through that, so I'll just be wasting it by not using it or by downloading stuff I would not ordinarily want anyway.

That's just not going to work in my favour, is it?
Click to expand...

Let's look at the history.

1) You always could have a contract bundle that would start on the 1st of every month.

2) If you used this up, you could buy and ad-hoc bundle that would expire on the end on the month.

Took a lot of debate to get the ad-hoc extended to 30 days.

The fact that it now introduced a different usage model (LIFO) is just something we must work around. If I have to go back and complain that the new system is also not acceptable, they might easily just revert back to the old system with ad-hoc expiring at month end.

All the Vodacom systems do work in this way as far as I know, i.e. even with voice it's a LIFO system.

I will discuss it with the relevant people when I'm back though.
 
Typical... introduce something nobody will be able to use.

V3g, the problem is that if someone depletes their contract bundle on the 20th say and buys a new bundle they only have 30 days to use it, but if the contract bundle for the next month receives priority then they would have to use it up before being able to use up their bought bundle effectively making both bundles expire before the 20th. Now Vodacom might not care if this happens because they don't lose anything if someone wastes a bundle but they do get extra when that someone buys another.

They may not like the complaints but they are not without reason. The ad-hoc bundle should get priority so that the contract bundle still runs to month end as it should.

Or maybe I am wrong. Maybe everybody should start using only ad-hoc or prepaid bundles and forget that there is such a thing as a contract bundle.
 
And prepaid is still the cheapest, unless you get a discount for contracts which I'm not aware of.
 
Big Kriss said:
Another very good reason for opting for ppdb`s..
I added a 1G ad hoc in December as I had depleted my 2G`s open contract db on the 20th.

Then I read here that VC was rolling over the ad hoc for 30 days.Great stuff.
What they DONT say however,is that any roll over data is Not used before the new months open contract `s data bundle.

So for me to take advantage of my rolled over 300 odd Meg`s from last month,I HAVE to use up my 2 G`s first,and before the 20th I might add.Only then can I use my roll over data which then also EXPIRES by the 20th again!!

The dangling of a vrot carrot here,methinks..
Click to expand...
You misinterpreted what you read here. At no point in time was data bundle rollover mentioned for Ad-Hoc contract data bundles.

The change that was recently implemented for Ad-Hoc CDBs, was to allow Ad-Hoc CDBs to expire 30 days from activation as opposed to at the end of the month in which an Ad-Hoc CDB was activated.

For example: say you had bought an Ad-Hoc CDB on 30th of November 2007, that Ad-Hoc CDB would have expired on the 30th of November 2007. The change that was introduced, now allows for the expiry date to be in the next month for a maximum of 30 days, so if you buy an Ad-Hoc CDB today 2008-01-18, it will expire on 2008-02-16, which is a period of 30 days.

Also, if you refer to post#1 in this thread, you will see that it is explicitly mentioned that all unused data will be forfeit.
 
Did not misinterpret anything..
The following is my story,facts.
2Gig bundle at start of December.
I ran out on 20th December.
I recharged 1 Gig bundle.
Used 700 odd Megs to end December.
Jan I get my new 2 Gig bundle.
I also see remaining 300 Meg from ad hoc 1 Gig bundle left over.
Great stuff I think.
Oops,data Im using is coming off my 2 Gig bundle,NOT my 30 day roll over from the ad hoc bundle..
So,means I must then use up my 2 Gig before I can use balance of rolled over ad hoc..
AND before 20th,else it expires..

"Then I read here that VC was rolling over the ad hoc for 30 days."
Whether or not the above was misinterpreted ,the bundle rolled over.Fact.
I cannot use it UNLESS ive depleted my new months bundle,and before the expiry date.Fact.
 
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ic said:
Taking Talking Points into account, using PPDBs could potentially be about 10% "cheaper" than using CDBs...
Click to expand...

Doesn't really mean anything to me until it can be converted to data bundles :rolleyes:
 
morkhans said:
ic said:
Taking Talking Points into account, using PPDBs could potentially be about 10% "cheaper" than using CDBs...
Click to expand...
Doesn't really mean anything to me until it can be converted to data bundles :rolleyes:
Click to expand...
Talking Points don't mean anything to me either ATM - my Talking Points as a result of buying PPDBs are most likely to expire [or maybe already have] before they reach the point where I am able to buy anything with them, but for those that regularly buy large PPDBs, it might be worth something like 10% of what they have spent on buying PPDBs.
 
I'm buying a 1GB DB every 30 days. This equates to 30 points. Points expire after 18 months which means I can get to a max of 540 points. The only thing that is marginally of value (and use, i don't need sms's or call discounts) would be one of the 1000 point phones, which I won't ever be able to get to. Why can't Vodacom convert points to airtime?
 
vodacom3g said:
I was not aware that pre-paid is cheaper. :confused:

Please give details.
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http://www.smartcall.co.za/smartLoad.shtml
Used to get R109 airtime for R100 but since somebody changed the maths it's now R109 for R99.19. Pick 'n Pay and Pep also sells airtime at a discount. I am not aware of any special discounts on contract bundles. Topup may get airtime at a discount, for 12 months that is.
morkhans said:
I'm buying a 1GB DB every 30 days. This equates to 30 points. Points expire after 18 months which means I can get to a max of 540 points. The only thing that is marginally of value (and use, i don't need sms's or call discounts) would be one of the 1000 point phones, which I won't ever be able to get to. Why can't Vodacom convert points to airtime?
Click to expand...
My problem too. It gets even worse when using multiple SIMs. Until Vodacom can attach an actual rand value to talking points so I can use it for bundles they aren't worth anything to me.
 
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vodacom3g said:
Thanks, but these are external to Vodacom obviously. But I'll bounce it off the products guys in any case.
Click to expand...

Yup. I think as people have shown, with airtime discount incentives you can pay less than you would on contract. Which is one of the factors counting against signing a 24 month contract.
 
Despite the prices being charged for bundles etc. the market for selling airtime is actually very competitive. Everyone gives a different discount depending on how much airtime they are selling and these little incentives sells more airtime which results in more discounts. Unlike the one price for all situation we have between Vodacom and MTN.
 
Ad-hoc bundles - some confirmation please

1. If I activate and Ad-hoc 500mb bundle today, will it be active until 24/25 Feb 2008?
2. Once the Ad-hoc is depleted, will my Bolt-on bundle kick in, or will it switch to the Bolt-on on the first, and switch back to the Ad-hoc once the bolt-on is depleted?

Thanks
 
LandyMan said:
1. If I activate and Ad-hoc 500mb bundle today, will it be active until 24/25 Feb 2008?
2. Once the Ad-hoc is depleted, will my Bolt-on bundle kick in, or will it switch to the Bolt-on on the first, and switch back to the Ad-hoc once the bolt-on is depleted?

Thanks
Click to expand...
The bolt-on would run first which means you will have to effectively use both by the time your ad-hoc expires. Don't give them the satisfaction, switch to prepaid until this bug is resolved. :)
 
Madness

:mad:

So i had 343.43 MB remaining from a ad-hoc bundle or R500 mb purchased last month (february)

so i think too myself awesome i've got 343.43 to burn through before my bolt-on kicks in...right?
OMG HOW NAAIVVEE I WAS , thats not how vodacom works at all
so i've just burned through 200 of my normal cap if I understand this correctly.

what kind of a shoddy business model is that!

thanks alot vodacom.!

i hate u guys.
:mad:
 
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