Are you using Prepaid Data Bundles (PPDB) & Why ??

[SecretCode]

I use prepaid because I don't want to be locked in - either to one provider (in fact I'm using MTN's 100MB bundle this month), or to a fixed amount when I don't always need 3G.

My understanding of the lag/reservation is that there isn't any lag, or a minute or two at most, but that data is reserved by 1Mb or up to 2MB. That's the most I think you'd be able to go over *in bundle*.

But OOB rates definitely apply - it's just that you can only use OOB if you have airtime credit that was not in your bundle. This is quite likely if you bought airtime in a voucher because they don't come in the same amounts as data bundles. You can sort this out by recharging through internet banking or an ATM.

 

[ic]

My understanding of the lag/reservation is that there isn't any lag, or a minute or two at most, but that data is reserved by 1Mb or up to 2MB. That's the most I think you'd be able to go over *in bundle*.

The delta I saw yesterday with my PPDB, was close to 11MB...

 

[SecretCode]

 

[AirWolf]

I haven't used PPDBs yet, but will be doing so next week. Since the smallest bundle is twice what I normally use, I'll take this opportunity to do XP and linux updates But rollover would certainly be nice too

 

[Csnoopy]

Some Interesting information from customer care on PPDB's.

Thank you for your email communication to Vodacom.

Please note that your connection will be dropped once your data bundle has been reached if there are no funds in your account. If you have funds in your prepaid account then you will be charged R2.00 per megabyte.

Thank you for your email communication to Vodacom.

Please be advised that if you are able to receive the sms, Vodacom sends you 2 a month. The one is the threshold notification sms and the other the depletion notification sms. The Depletion Notification will be sent when a subscriber reaches a specific percentage (%) threshold of their data bundle usage for that month. The Depletion Notification is applicable to all bundles and all customers with data bundles will receive the same standard message once their data bundle is depleted.

[email protected].

 

[Praeses]

I wish they disconnected once the data-bundle was depleted regardless of the funds remaining...

 

[Csnoopy]

I wish they disconnected once the data-bundle was depleted regardless of the funds remaining...

Correct, who the hell are they to decide what to do with my left over money. Imagine the banks doing that. They are becoming like M...............e

 

[SlowInternet]

I'm also using PPDB for the convenience of 30 days from time of activation. Contract phones I just use for voice.

 

[acidrain]

I use PPDB's aswell. Use to use it because it was my only form of internet. Now i just use it when the wifi is down.... ahh the wonders of a wifi community

 

[ic]

I tend to disagree that PPDBs or at least OOBR R2.00/MB pre-paid is monitored in realtime - if this was the case then there would be no need for the pre-paid reservation system.

IMO the data usage stats & monitoring are somewhat better at the backend of Vodacom's systems, but still not technically realtime - AFAIK a manual disconnect is still the only way to force an update.

I guess I will have to wait until my current PPDB nears depletion to find out for sure.

Sadly I was too chicken to properly test this yesterday into OOBR territory bcos I had R25 of pre-paid credit that I wanted to put towards buying my next bundle, so as soon as I received the SMS to say that I was in OOBR territory, I disconnected, and on v4me I discovered that I actually had 0.57MB left of my PPDB - this was also confirmed by the presence of an "Out-of-bundle Data" usage credit on the "itemised statement" amounting to R1.25 and -592905 [bytes I assume].

 

[AirWolf]

So you didn't lose much this time ic My PPDB experience is going ok - the only issue I'm having is not being able to get true 3G HSDPA speeds (I normally use it after 8pm on my home pc)

 

[Iam3G]

Likewise sky.

 

[Csnoopy]

Was away for a couple of days so I still have some bytes left so will see how it goes.

 

[morkhans]

After reading some of the horror stories about CDB I've gone PPDB and its working well for me. Just waiting for Vodacom to wake up and give us roll-over (I have cast my vote).

 

[Csnoopy]

I wish they disconnected once the data-bundle was depleted regardless of the funds remaining...

This is the reason why I believe people are using PPDB not to go into OOB so easy. Now I am infromed by customercare that if you have any credit they just take it and it is done automatically ???

[vodacom customercare]. Thank you for your email communication to Vodacom.

Kindly be advised that once the data bundle has been depleted and you initiate a gprs connection the money will automatically be deducted from the available funds in your account.

Should you have any further queries, please contact us via e-mail at [email protected].

Warm Regards

Sharon Wolf

Email Contact Centre [/vodacom customercare]

 

[ic]

This is the reason why I believe people are using PPDB not to go into OOB so easy. Now I am infromed by customercare that if you have any credit they just take it and it is done automatically ???

[vodacom customercare]. Thank you for your email communication to Vodacom.

Kindly be advised that once the data bundle has been depleted and you initiate a gprs connection the money will automatically be deducted from the available funds in your account.

Should you have any further queries, please contact us via e-mail at [email protected].

Warm Regards

Sharon Wolf

Email Contact Centre [/vodacom customercare]

What I noticed with my previous [which was also my first] PPDB, is that Vodacom sends out quite accurate data usage notification SMSes: I received an SMS telling me that my PPDB was nearing depletion and shortly thereafter another SMS telling me that my PPDB had been depleted and that continuing to transfer data would cost R2.00/MB, so the usage notifications are in place, I did have R25 pre-paid credit which I wanted to put towards buying another PPDB, so I did disconnect when I received the 2nd data usage notification - I didn't want to chew up that R25 at R2.00/MB, ultimately I only lost 0.54MB due to the pre-paid reservation system and having to wait until the next day [for my PPDB to expire] before buying another PPDB.

Ultimately the easiest solution is to use PPDBs and Internet Banking to buy the exact amount of pre-paid credit to buy a PPDB and leave a R0.00 available pre-paid balance.

Sadly contract customers are not as lucky, and Vodacom really does need to urgently implement a new type of data bundle [for both pre-paid and contract] that is hard-capped: i.e. that does not allow OOBR data usage.

 

[Iam3G]

What I noticed with my previous [which was also my first] PPDB, is that Vodacom sends out quite accurate data usage notification SMSes: I received an SMS telling me that my PPDB was nearing depletion and shortly thereafter another SMS telling me that my PPDB had been depleted and that continuing to transfer data would cost R2.00/MB, so the usage notifications are in place, I did have R25 pre-paid credit which I wanted to put towards buying another PPDB, so I did disconnect when I received the 2nd data usage notification - I didn't want to chew up that R25 at R2.00/MB, ultimately I only lost 0.54MB due to the pre-paid reservation system and having to wait until the next day [for my PPDB to expire] before buying another PPDB.

Ultimately the easiest solution is to use PPDBs and Internet Banking to buy the exact amount of pre-paid credit to buy a PPDB and leave a R0.00 available pre-paid balance.

Sadly contract customers are not as lucky, and Vodacom really does need to urgently implement a new type of data bundle [for both pre-paid and contract] that is hard-capped: i.e. that does not allow OOBR data usage.

Exactly what happened to me also. I didnt notice though that the sms's came through so it chewed through about 6rand of my airtime so i quickly went to go load the new Data Bundle.

 

[Csnoopy]

What I noticed with my previous [which was also my first] PPDB, is that Vodacom sends out quite accurate data usage notification SMSes: I received an SMS telling me that my PPDB was nearing depletion and shortly thereafter another SMS telling me that my PPDB had been depleted and that continuing to transfer data would cost R2.00/MB, so the usage notifications are in place, I did have R25 pre-paid credit which I wanted to put towards buying another PPDB, so I did disconnect when I received the 2nd data usage notification - I didn't want to chew up that R25 at R2.00/MB, ultimately I only lost 0.54MB due to the pre-paid reservation system and having to wait until the next day [for my PPDB to expire] before buying another PPDB.

Ultimately the easiest solution is to use PPDBs and Internet Banking to buy the exact amount of pre-paid credit to buy a PPDB and leave a R0.00 available pre-paid balance.

Sadly contract customers are not as lucky, and Vodacom really does need to urgently implement a new type of data bundle [for both pre-paid and contract] that is hard-capped: i.e. that does not allow OOBR data usage.

I am also on PPDB now, so will see at the end what happens. I actually left R1.

Response from customercare.

Thank you for your email communication to Vodacom.

Kindly be advised that you need to have more R1 in your account to make a GPRS connection otherwise no connection will be made and you will receive an error message.

Should you have any further queries, please contact us via e-mail at [email protected].

Warm Regards

Eltino Martin

Email Contact Centre


Never buy Vouchers do it via Internet. If you have credit the Vafia will take it.

 

[vodacom3g]

If you have credit the Vafia will take it.

I assume you mean Vodacom? Please explain how Vodacom will 'take' your credit?

 

[AirWolf]

He means that you go into oob straight after your bundle is finished without a disconnect.