An massive OOB trap?

kaspaas

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I believed iBurst worked that when one exceeded the monthly bandwidth allowance one purchased under contract, one would be automatically moved to a degraded service at 64kb/s

Seems it is not the case:


http://www.iburst.co.za/default.aspx?link=packages_wireless#wireless_datalimit
Reached your data limit?
You have 3 options:

* Continue on Pay-per-use (all packages are activated with PPU by default) and pay R0,95 per MB used.
* Top up your bandwidth with a Bandwidth Booster. These allow you to buy bundles of extra bandwidth for less. Click here for more info.
* Opt out of PPU*, which means your service will be throttled or capped unless you purchase a Bandwidth Booster (see above)


It seems from this that unless you opt out of PPU, you will be billed at R972.80 per Gig of bandwidth used.
 
on same page: iBurst Wireless FAQs > Which packages will be throttled and which will be capped?

If you are on a Giga package or higher, your service will be slowed down (throttled) to a maximum of 64 kbps* once your cap is reached. You will need to purchase a bandwidth booster in order to continue normal service.

*Excessive use of data once your service has been throttled may result in additional charges to your account.
 
Last edited:
kaspaas,

as far as i'm aware, its available from the giga package upwards

cheers
reptile

just beat me to it...
 
on same page: iBurst Wireless FAQs > Which packages will be throttled and which will be capped?

If you are on a Giga package or higher, your service will be slowed down (throttled) to a maximum of 64 kbps* once your cap is reached. You will need to purchase a bandwidth booster in order to continue normal service.

*Excessive use of data once your service has been throttled may result in additional charges to your account.

Thanks.

Seems as if there is a bit of confusion in the writing :-)

I do hope the new Billing interface will provide a nice bird's eye view of all the options one has, and especially, the status of each option.
 
PPU is one of the biggest 'traps' that any unsuspecting new user signing up with iBurst could fall into.

You have 3 options:

* Continue on Pay-per-use (all packages are activated with PPU by default) and pay R0,95 per MB used.
* Top up your bandwidth with a Bandwidth Booster. These allow you to buy bundles of extra bandwidth for less. Click here for more info.
* Opt out of PPU*, which means your service will be throttled or capped unless you purchase a Bandwidth Booster (see above)

As far as I remember (I stand to be corrected) PPU was introduced along with those 'new' 'lower priced packages' which did not replace 'old' packages according to iBurst at the end of April 2008 (And the whole fiasco associated with that....)

This to me is blatant attempted profiteering by activating all packages with PPU by default UNLESS you opt out when signing up. I had to SPECIFICALLY bring this to the attention of a number of people I know when they signed up otherwise...

The FAIR thing to do would be only activate PPU IF the user specifically requests it, not the other way round... Not so?

It also states on the iBurst web site at http://www.iburst.co.za/default.aspx?link=packages_payperuse

Please note:
If you are currently on one of the old iBurst Wireless packages, your account will not automatically be provisioned with Pay-per-use. Instead, your data will either be capped or throttled when it is used up.
If you would like to apply for, or opt out of, Pay-per-use, you can do so by logging in to your account below.

*Terms and conditions apply

Now for those 'Terms & Condtions'...

http://www.iburst.co.za/default.aspx?link=profile_legaldoc&blogs=17

Pay-per-use: Terms and Conditions

Definitions
Subscriber: means the Subscriber as defined in the Subscriber Standard Terms and Conditions
iBurst: means the Service Provider as defined in the Subscriber Standard Terms and Conditions
Subscriber Standard Terms and Conditions: means the terms and conditions applicable to all iBurst Subscribers that can be found on www.iburst.co.za
PPU: means Pay-per-use
MB: means Megabytes
iBurst contract: means the contract concluded in terms of the Subscriber Standard Terms and Conditions
Opt out: means opting out of PPU. In these terms and conditions, Opting out of Pay-per-use on an iBurst Wireless package means that upon reaching the data limit/cap for the month, the Subscribers service will either be throttled (slowed to a maximum of 64 kbps) or capped (disconnected) depending on their package. Opting out of PPU on an iBurst ADSL package means that upon reaching the data limit/cap for the month, the Subscribers service will be capped (disconnected).
Bandwidth Booster: means an additional data bundle that can be purchased on an iBurst Wireless or iBurst ADSL connectivity package
FreeFlo: means FreeFlo package offered by iBurst
KickStart: means KickStart package offered by iBurst
Playa: means Playa package offered by iBurst

* These PPU Terms and Conditions are subject to the Subscriber Standard Terms and Conditions. These terms and conditions will be binding and enforceable against all Subscribers who subscribe to PPU.
* All iBurst packages will be automatically activated with Pay-per-use and the Subscriber may opt out on the packages in which opt out is allowed
* PPU opt out is allowed on iBurst Wireless and iBurst ADSL packages. PPU opt out or cancellation is not allowed on FreeFlo and iBurst HSDPA packages.
* Where PPU opt out is selected on iBurst Wireless, Subscribers on a KickStart or Playa package will be capped, while Subscribers on a Giga package or higher will be throttled.
* Where PPU opt out is selected on iBurst ADSL, Subscribers will be capped. There is no throttling on ADSL packages.
* Where a Subscriber is throttled or capped, the Subscriber will be required to top up with Bandwidth Booster in order to continue normal service.
* The monthly allocated data quota applicable to the Subscribers current package will still be in place even when PPU is active i.e. only once purchased data has been used will the Subscriber be billed for each additional MB of data used at the relevant PPU rate.
* The Subscriber will be responsible for all bandwidth used irrespective of source (viruses etc) of the request.
* The PPU price per MB will be made available to the Subscriber via the iBurst website and invoices are to be furnished to the Subscriber. The prices are subject to change from time to time at iBursts discretion, the pricelist will always be updated and Subscribers will be notified via the iBurst website and other available means should any changes be made. PPU rates vary per package.
* The Subscriber may at any time purchase Bandwidth Boosters. Purchases of Bandwidth Booster on account are subject to credit being available. There is no limit to the number of Bandwidth Boosters that maybe purchased via credit card.
* Any iBurst Wireless and iBurst ADSL PPU data used will be billed in 1MB increments or part thereof and will be rounded up to the next MB. Any iBurst HSDPA PPU data used will be billed in 1 byte increments or part thereof and will be rounded off to the nearest cent.
* The Subscriber may cancel PPU by forwarding a written notice to iBurst and cancelation shall be effected within 24 hours upon receipt of the aforesaid written notice.
* Any Subscriber who cancels their iBurst contract within 7(seven) days will be liable for PPU data used.
* Subscribers who have two modems in use on the same account will not be entitled to access PPU.
* Activation of PPU is subject to credit vetting.
* If a Month-2-month contract is declined based on the credit check performed for the activation of PPU, the Subscriber may still apply for a Month-2-month contract.
* iBurst will provide usage updates as accurate and often as possible, however iBurst will not be held liable for any delays or circumstances beyond its control that will prevent it from providing such usage updates.
* iBurst reserves the right to restrict the 10MB cap on FreeFlo to on-net and/or off-net data.
* These terms and conditions may be amended from time to time and it is the duty of the Subscriber to revisit them.

By accepting these terms and conditions the Subscriber agrees that he/she will use PPU at his/her own choice and that iBurst will not be liable for any loss, costs or damages of whatever nature suffered by the Subscriber or in any way relating to:

* use of PPU
* any failure to receive or any problem with a defect in PPU.
* any failure or interruption in PPU arising from any cause whatsoever, including but not limited to the negligence of iBurst.
* any suspension of PPU in accordance with these terms and conditions.
* The Subscribers sole and exclusive remedy will be to cease using PPU.

Makes you think doesn't it?
 
Although I'm pretty sure I'm not on PPU since I was on one of the 'old' packages (and I basically never exceed my Cap as i need the speed for business, Skype etc.) I just submitted the 'Opt out of PPU' request just to be safe...

We have received your request to cancel ’Pay-per-use’, we will let you know within 24 hours (excluding weekends).

I would strongly advise all users on iBurst to do the same unless you want to
billed at R972.80 per Gig of bandwidth used
 
Good to know thanks Jannie.

Something that I am unsure of here re. the current PPU model:

What happens if you upgrade/downgrade an existing package?

I cannot remember from experience if you then have to 'Opt out of PPU' again explicitly? Or is your previous preference re. PPU carried over automatically to the new package you select?
 
Hi guys.

The 64kbps after cap is applicable to the Giga (1 gig) package and up.
 
* Top up your bandwidth with a Bandwidth Booster. These allow you to buy bundles of extra bandwidth for less. Click here for more info.

And R499 for 3 gigs is not extra bandwidth for less if Im paying R999 for 10gigs
 
*Excessive use of data once your service has been throttled may result in additional charges to your account.

This is news to me - wonder when it has been added to the website?

Also wonders what is excessive usage and what the additional charges is. IIRC the last time iBurst was pushed on the issue of excessive usage they never responded.
 
Hi guys.

Excessive usage applies to a client breaking systems to achieve ridiculous amounts of usage. I will not publish these amounts and create a benchmark.
 
This is news to me - wonder when it has been added to the website?

Also wonders what is excessive usage and what the additional charges is. IIRC the last time iBurst was pushed on the issue of excessive usage they never responded.

I would also like to see a response from the iBurst team about this.
 
Very sly move and i feel sorry for the guys that dont read these forums when they get billed end of the month. Any option that costs extra money should be disabled by default. If i didnt read the forums I would be Pi$$ed if iburst didnt cap me and charged me for the extra bandwidth used at extremely high prices.

If i didnt know about it and disabled the option on the website , just 1 GB out of bunde would basically cost me double what i pay now for my 5Gb account. That is daylight robbery.
 
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