Excessive Usage Policy

riverdusty

riverdusty

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 8, 2006
Messages
639
Reaction score
4
Location
Cape Town
This is a long post, so bare with me.

From the link http://www.iburst.co.za/default.aspx?link=packages_wireless

"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...."
Click to expand...

To which I responded with ....

"... Define "Excessive use" for me please?..."
Click to expand...

The first response I got was .... (names omitted)

Simply means that if you are going to be using your iBurst connection for streaming and doing peer to peer on the network.

Kind Regards,
Click to expand...

To which I responded ... (Paraphrased)

Thank you for the information. I would like to clarify this.
If I use 80Gigs of bandwidth while using skype, that would not be considered excessive usage?
If I use 80Gigs of bandwidth while downloading opensource software, that would not be considered excessive usage?
However, if I use torrents or gnutella networks, that will be considered excessive usage no matter the amount? Is there a set amout of peer to peer and streaming traffic that I am able to use? Is it limited to my cap or double my cap? Is there a number you can give me?
Click to expand...

To which the response was ... (from a different person)

An excessive usage is referred to, using more than the allowed amount of bandwidth when you are on a throttled service.

We are not allowed to disclose the maximum amount of data that can be used when you are on a 64kbps throttled speed.

Kind Regards
Click to expand...

To which I responded ... (at 12am Saturday morning)

Thank you for your response.
Could you please get me in contact with the person who says you are not allowed to disclose the maximum amount of data that can be used?
That is an unacceptable answer. You are basically threatening to charge for excessive usage without telling us what excessive usage is.
You are allowing iBurst the freedom to charge for even a single megabyte over the alloted cap. This is completely unacceptable.
If answering the question is not within your authority please put me in contact with someone who can.
I am not expecting an exact number, but a ballpark figure to allow me to avoid your excessive usage policy would be appreciated.
Click to expand...

So, they told me different definitions for excessive usage. They are not allowed to tell me what excessive usage is in terms of bandwidth usage. So they can just start charging me from 1MB over my cap and claim excessive usage? I'm curious, I shall pursue this further.

Response on a Saturday before 12pm... (I'm almost impressed)

Thank you for your response.

I have escalated this request to my Manager for further assistance regarding the Excessive usage on a throttled service.

I will provide you with feedback once I get an answer internally.

Kind Regards
Click to expand...

By "..to my manager.." do you think he means "..to my recycle bin..." ?
Now thats just nasty of me, but i would like to see if this does progress.

Hi
It has been almost a month since my request was escalated. Has there been any further development?
This is the second request of mine that has been escalated and disappeared. I'd appreciate it if you would respond.
Click to expand...

It is now the 30th of April. Their last response to me was on the 5th of April.
Thank you for the feedback.

My manager will provide with feedback tonight and I will give you an update once I have had response from him.
Click to expand...

They (The Managers) work nights? Interesting ... I shall see if this yields any results. (30/04/2008)

Anybody got comments, suggestions, questions or anything?
 
Last edited:
hmm...im also interested in what they would define "excessive" as I normally use a lot more than my cap and would they term online gaming as excessive usage? Is anything that puts more strain on them excessive usage? Do they consider downloading a certain amount in a specific amount of time excessive usage? eg. Person A does 1 GB more than his cap in 1 hour but person B does 1 GB over his cap in 15 days?
 
Thanks for exploring this issue, a clear and definitive answer would be appreciated.

Please peruse the issue with vigour and inform us on the progress.

Good luck

M

If your service has been suspended or if you have been charged for excessive usage by iBurst (doubtful - maybe a strongly worded email at best) would you please post as the lodging of a complaint with the ASASA would be appropriate.

Verizon got burned badly in the States a while back...


New York, NY (Oct 23, 2007) – Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that Verizon Wireless has agreed to halt the deceptive marketing of its internet usage plans and reimburse $1 million to customers for wrongful account termination nationwide.

The settlement follows a nine-month investigation into the marketing of NationalAccess and BroadbandAccess plans for wireless access to the internet for laptop computer users. Attorney General’s investigation found that Verizon Wireless prominently marketed these plans as “’Unlimited,” without disclosing that common usages such as downloading movies or playing games online were prohibited. The company also cut off heavy internet users for exceeding an undisclosed cap of usage per month. As a result, customers misled by the company’s claims, enrolled in its Unlimited plans, only to have their accounts abruptly terminated for excessive use, leaving them without internet services and unable to obtain refunds...

...Since April of 2007, Verizon Wireless has voluntarily ceased cutting off customers based on their data usage and no longer prohibits common internet uses.

http://www.oag.state.ny.us/press/2007/oct/oct23a_07.html

And another...

http://mybroadband.co.za/blogs/2008/04/09/questions-to-my-isp-on-throttling/
 
Last edited:
I think it's perfectly acceptable for them to cut ppl off for using that amount of bandwidth. After all it congests the network for other users that has actually paid for the amount of gigs they are using.
 
Jhbgirl said:
I think it's perfectly acceptable for them to cut ppl off for using that amount of bandwidth. After all it congests the network for other users that has actually paid for the amount of gigs they are using.
Click to expand...

Fine, its acceptable - but they need to at least tell you the amount.

Personally, I'd keep the email where they refuse to tell you the amount, if they do one day charge you, refuse to pay because they wouldn't tell you. If it goes to court, they wouldn't be able to do anything.
 
Jhbgirl said:
I think it's perfectly acceptable for them to cut ppl off for using that amount of bandwidth. After all it congests the network for other users that has actually paid for the amount of gigs they are using.
Click to expand...

If someone pays for a Pro package with the understanding that "he can continue to surf at a throttled speed" and only needs a booster to attain "full speed" then it becomes contentious what exactly is EXCESSIVE USAGE.

They shouldn't blame the user if the connection suddenly speeds up or
if the user actually uses the connection overnight even at 64kbps = 345MB
per night (12 hrs) = 1GB in 3 nights.

The mere fact that they shaped the connection means that they are allowing other forms
of transfer - they are already excluding P2P traffic.
 
Iburst are the dogiest of the providers... wouldnt touch them with Mugabes computer.
 
Jhbgirl said:
I think it's perfectly acceptable for them to cut ppl off for using that amount of bandwidth. After all it congests the network for other users that has actually paid for the amount of gigs they are using.
Click to expand...

Agreed - ONLY if you don’t throttle or shape the users' connection, market it as uncapped with provisions and inform consumers in advance of what the acceptable usage policy (AUP) is.

If you advertise and then provide a throttled uncapped service - to attract consumers, and once signed-up (contract) you terminate (or threaten to terminate) their access without disclosing what the AUP restrictions are, it will cause dissatisfaction. This type of behaviour surely could not be considered as an acceptable and or ethical business practice?

In the short term; I would however be in favour of restricting only P2P and similar high bandwidth usage applications (excluding business applications like share trading, etc.) during office hours. After 10 PM and on weekends no restrictions should be enforced within the users' paid-up bandwidth usage limitations (CAP).

One should note that the congestion on the network is not only due to inadequate security protocols and the so called “excessive” use (normal use - in most parts of the world), but the lack of adequate infrastructure / bandwidth (and failover infrastructure) in relation to the amount of users and this should be the primary concern. As you are paying exorbitant fees, it would be reasonable to expect that the infrastructure should be of a higher standard and be able to cope with the volume of traffic. When one looks at the amount of towers available in comparison to the amount of users in any of the iBurst transmission areas, it becomes quite clear why P2P applications and other high bandwidth applications are restricted and why the lower usage packages are being punted (other reasons excluded).

Once ample and inexpensive (local and international) bandwidth becomes available, all restrictions should be lifted, (including abandoning the use of proxy servers). Hopefully at this time iBurst’s network infrastructures will be upgraded and improved to adequately cope with the expected increase in traffic.

ISP’s should not be allowed to restrict common internet activities or for that matter any internet activities, excluding assisting users in breaking the laws of the country by providing internet access.


*<RANT>
We have grown accustomed to substandard services, since most ISP charges exorbitant prices while delivering substandard services – the Vodacom’s and Telkom’s of the world won’t exist in their current (bloated) form should consumers start claiming what they are rightfully entitled to. With this said, we unfortunately live in a current *(unrealistic optimist) societal mindset; that rewards psychopathic behaviour of corporates and individuals, with shareholders and COO's insisting on higher returns without acknowledging their responsibility to the consumer.
(Ain’t consumerism great?)
</RANT>
 
Last edited:
who.is.michael said:
Agreed - ONLY if you don’t throttle or shape the users’ connection.

.
Click to expand...

Yes, and they are offering a THROTTLED SHAPED UNCAPPED service
for Pro users. On top of that they want the user to self-police himself,
eg "Oh no I've reached my cap. I know I could set up my download manager
to download this 300MB file over 12 hours at 64kbps but since that's
cheating iBurst, I rather won't. I'll buy a booster and use the 64k throttle to
logon at iBurst and purchase the extra bandwidth."

In a way iBurst want you to use that UNCAPPED 64K throttled bit which
you pay extra for to be able to buy boosters. :)
 
Last edited:
kudos on getting that much info out of them, I'm also very interested in their usage policy...

I have +- 4 in-house and quite a few site linux distro's running for test purposes and need to setup and update additional distros to ensure app. compatability etc so I regularly download the CD and DVD iso's when i'm capped onto the 64k connection.

I've found myself wondering more than once when I can expect a slap for using the connection i'm paying for...

Please keep on them!
 
dodgy company for sure. no one i know will ever be recommend this shyte of a company if they talk to me.

EDIT: there is a theoretical maximum you can do on iburst (excluding the hub if it is still available). I've worked out the number before. Of course this does not take into account issues like their bandwidth monitor going walk abouts. but they should be willing to put a minimum. in fact the fact that under their excessive usage policy there is no set traffic amount, would also lead me to believe they would see their arses in a court of law.
 
Last edited:
milomak said:
dodgy company for sure. no one i know will ever be recommend this shyte of a company if they talk to me.

EDIT: there is a theoretical maximum you can do on iburst (excluding the hub if it is still available). I've worked out the number before. Of course this does not take into account issues like their bandwidth monitor going walk abouts. but they should be willing to put a minimum. in fact the fact that under their excessive usage policy there is no set traffic amount, would also lead me to believe they would see their arses in a court of law.
Click to expand...

Yes, They would. A link above shows Verizons problems. Let me post another for you as well.
Verizon
Comcast
Both companies are doing exactly what iBurst are doing. Both have seen their arse for their troubles.

I should make it clear that I have no problem with the service iBurst currently offer. I also accept that there probably has to be some sort of excessive usage policy. If i know what it is, I will do my level best to stay within those bounds. I'm happy with the speed and stability of my iBurst connection.
I just want to know what my limitations are.
 
Only iburst would come up with bs like this:

"We are not allowed to disclose the maximum amount of data that can be used when you are on a 64kbps throttled speed" <---what the hell is this crap, another top state secret,,,, becoming more like eishkom by the day.:sick:

So expect when they need cash they will screw all those who exceed whatever amount above the cap they deem fit at the time.:rolleyes:
 
if a company says i have exceed fair usage, it surely has to inform me of what this fair usage amount is. I would implore each iBurst user on mybroadband to send an email asking this question. And state very clearly on that email if they do not inform you of this usage amount, that they cannot decide to charge you for usage over some arbitrary amount they decide on without informing you.
 
Same here. Sent yesterday at about 10:00. Still waiting for a reply. :mad: I think I should call Henry as the helpdesk is obviously too incompetent to even answer. :rolleyes:
 
Quoting my reply from the Helpdesk...

Dear xxxxxxxx

Thank you for contacting our iBurst helpdesk. My name is Kagiso and I will be handling your request.

This request has been escalated to my Manger for further assistance.

I got feedback from him stating that we are waiting for the answer from our Network Department.

We will provide you with feedback once we get an exact amount of usage referred to as an “Excessive use of data”.

Kind Regards
Click to expand...

I guess all we can do now is wait. It looks like not even the managers know what's going on in their own company. :rolleyes:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X