Afrihost Overusage

Unfortunately it is not financially viable for us to allow the positive amount to go over as we work on a breakage and for this to be sustainable we do charge for the extra bandwidth used and not vice versa. Also as stated in many threads we do not get the stats from IS immediately so it is possible to go over. Especially if you have a fast line and concurrent users (we do allow 5).

Other ISPs have a padded margin to allow extra bandwidth to not be deducted off your account, but since our markup is already so low, we can't offer that perk.In essence you are paying them for the extra bandwidth as you are paying us!

Maybe offer your clients the option of being capped at 99.8% usage?
 
There's your problem, you kept going thinking it's free, when you get to 90%+ it's time to topup.

400mb is 3 hours wrth on a 384line. If I am expecting to be capped I could easily go over by that amount.
 
Our updates are around 50 min.

Further more, it takes 13 min for the disconnect signal to reach the adsl line once sent from IS

that makes 63 min. which give one around 1.5gb @ 4mbps
 
Our updates are around 50 min.

Further more, it takes 13 min for the disconnect signal to reach the adsl line once sent from IS

that makes 63 min. which give one around 1.5gb @ 4mbps

@stormwalkerza - do you work for Afrihost?

63 minutes is a frikkin long time, and 1.5GB is a truckload! What will that figure jump to once Telkom releases 8/10/12 mbps?

Is this a problem faced by all ISPs who use IS as it's upstream provider?

If we can all just get uncapped, we won't have to worry anymore. Billing will be so easy!
 
@stormwalkerza - do you work for Afrihost?

63 minutes is a frikkin long time, and 1.5GB is a truckload! What will that figure jump to once Telkom releases 8/10/12 mbps?

Is this a problem faced by all ISPs who use IS as it's upstream provider?

If we can all just get uncapped, we won't have to worry anymore. Billing will be so easy!

i've used axxess semi prepaid packages, and they cap you pretty much as close as to your bought gigs as possible. i've safely started downloads larger than my remaining cap knowing that they will stop when it runs out. and i won't be out of pocket.

there is one thing i have always stated about this overusage issue. if afrihost are cutting corners in terms of their bandwidth accounting software they must say so. the thing is that when people buy a gig of cap, they assume it to be a commodity. they assume that a gig from one provider is the same as a gig from another. so if the package that is being sold is deficient in some way, tell people that is why it is cheaper. do not advertise we are pricing less than other providers and lead people to believe they can expect the same service.
 
Gian and I have discussed the option of capping clients at 98%, but then we will be hammered from the otherside that we are charging for a service we are not giving clients full access too. We get the stats from IS every 30 minutes, we are constantly looking at getting the stats quicker, however that is a flaw in the system for now.

@ToxicWazte You right when other companies start dropping prices this will be even more essential for us to sort out, but that also means that the bandwidth prices have dropped which means that we can offer better solutions.

@milomak You right, I am trying to get the Terms and Conditions changed for ADSL so that clients are aware about the way the bandwidth works before they purchased. I am currently liasing with Gian on that one.
 
Gian and I have discussed the option of capping clients at 98%, but then we will be hammered from the otherside that we are charging for a service we are not giving clients full access too. We get the stats from IS every 30 minutes, we are constantly looking at getting the stats quicker, however that is a flaw in the system for now.

If you get the stats every 30 minutes why is my account STILL working?
not that I'm complaining...
 
I can understand AfriHost's point of reasoning.

@afrihost rep - is it possible for you guys to have your own RADIUS server instead of using IS's server? Or is this option not financially feasible?
 
i was aparently 20 gigs over limit according to the client zone! is this even possible! now i have no connectivity
 
I have to say this is getting so tiring - same story being asked time and time again and same answers give each time.

Afrihost is a business for profit and they have based their business model on being much cheaper than most ISPs. This will mean that margins are tight and they need to watch all aspects so that they still make a reasonable profit.

Sadly they are working with some of the restrictions that are delightfully unique to SA and would be seen as absolute abuse in most countries.

What I like is that I am getting cheap (by SA standards) bandwidth and great service. Now in most cases when you get cheap you get poor service, so I feel that generally I am on a double good wicket. I think that many fellow forumites would feel the same way as I do. :):)

It is quite simple - if you have issues with this system feel free to go to another ISP who will charge you a (lot) more and hard cap you. Then you will not have to worry about going over a bit and having a bit less next month!

Please can people get this system into their heads and lets move on.
 
I have to say this is getting so tiring - same story being asked time and time again and same answers give each time.

Afrihost is a business for profit and they have based their business model on being much cheaper than most ISPs. This will mean that margins are tight and they need to watch all aspects so that they still make a reasonable profit.

Sadly they are working with some of the restrictions that are delightfully unique to SA and would be seen as absolute abuse in most countries.

What I like is that I am getting cheap (by SA standards) bandwidth and great service. Now in most cases when you get cheap you get poor service, so I feel that generally I am on a double good wicket. I think that many fellow forumites would feel the same way as I do. :):)

It is quite simple - if you have issues with this system feel free to go to another ISP who will charge you a (lot) more and hard cap you. Then you will not have to worry about going over a bit and having a bit less next month!

Please can people get this system into their heads and lets move on.

Agreed.
 
@Fulton17

MyBroadband is an open discussion forum - you are not forced to read these posts, feel free to ignore them if they bother you.

I've said this before, and I'll say it again. While we all applaud Afrihost for starting the ADSL price war and bringing us cheaper gigs, we should not just sit back and be happy with what we currently have. Afrihost can do better in this regard, and we should always be demanding better. We're grateful for what they've done so far, but we want more, we want better, and we want cheaper. There is nothing wrong with demanding this. If it bothers you, don't read it.

Afrihost need to improve their product as discussed in this thread.

Most South African's are afraid to complain about bad service, or demand better service or better products. That is a part of the reason why the whole country is in this mess. Everyone is just too happy to bend over and accept whatever the operators, ISPs, and other businesses are serving. That's why we're getting screwed on internet costs, cell phone costs, call costs, telecommunications, electiricity, water (very soon - read the media) and much much more.

Stop accepting mediocre, even if mediocre is currently 10 x better than everything else out there. Start demanding more, better, the best. Maybe then will things start to change in our favour...

Bending over and accepting whatever comes your way doesn't help anybody, except maybe your own irratation levels.
 
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@Fulton17

MyBroadband is an open discussion forum - you are not forced to read these posts, feel free to ignore them if they bother you.


Most South African's are afraid to complain about bad service, or demand better service or better products. That is a part of the reason why the whole country is in this mess. Everyone is just too happy to bend over and accept whatever the operators, ISPs, and other businesses are serving. That's why we're getting screwed on internet costs, cell phone costs, call costs, telecommunications, electiricity, water (very soon - read the media) and much much more.

.

Whilst I hear what you are saying in your first point and do believe it has some validity, the cliche of "flogging a dead horse" does come to mind. Maybe I am wrong and saying the same old thing over and over again might bear fruit.

I could not agree more with you on your point that South Africans are pathetic when it comes to complaining about poor service and are happy to be abused time and time again, I do think one needs to accept that in some situations there is nothing one can do and move on. If your words do not have any impact and you are not happy, then move on. One does have to be realistic too and know that just because I want a BMW at the price of a Tazz and me and 100's of other complain to BMW, they will not do it because it is not financially viable. (Anyone keen to join me on my quest???)

As Moshe said if overall prices do come down, then things will change.
 
I could not agree more with you on your point that South Africans are pathetic when it comes to complaining about poor service and are happy to be abused time and time again, I do think one needs to accept that in some situations there is nothing one can do and move on.

I believe that in this case, there is something that can be done. The discussion in this thread, and Moshe's replies, are testament to that. It could be that they are thinking about it, or do want to implement it, but don't have the time/resources/commitment, or the cost vs benefit analysis might indicate that it just isn't worth the effort/time/money. However, as customers, if we push them, and ask for it, it will definitely not go unnoticed, and it might sway that Cost vs Benefit analysis. Make your customers happy, and your customers will make you happy. Simple business rule.

We're definitely NOT flogging a dead horse, as you put it...

But your point is noted...
 
I have to say this is getting so tiring - same story being asked time and time again and same answers give each time.

Does the fact that it is a continous theme not perhaps suggest to you it is a problem?
 
I got a 6GB overuse, on a 512 Wimax connection :mad:

Guess I am done with afrihost, I take it easy on the download with WA till the 15th then get openwebs 1/2month uncapped thingy... and let the downloads rip.
 
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@ The_Librarian With regards your query about us getting our own radius server, unfortunately at the moment it is not financially viable for us to implement one.

Thanks for all your points, we definitely do pay heed to what you guys say! So thanks!
 
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