Fundamental problems with CDBs [Contract Data Bundles] & what you want changed

ic said:
Will try to get 155 to set a [data] limit, although having read what Edinetz posted [not that I understand all of it], I somehow doubt that a [data] limit will work on a 4U contract, but definitely worth a try - I definitely don't want to end up paying R2.00/MB again like I have in this billing period :o [which is really Telkodemonopolies' fault for taking away my ADSL - although the Grim Poisonous Ivyness Creeper should be blamed the most for her [mis]Managed Liberalisation of SA's telecoms].
Click to expand...

Let me know how it goes.
 
Softlock

Can anyone explain this...

I signed up for a 4U zero contract with a 500mb bolt on bundle.. Feb was my first month and with 10 days to go it was obvious that I would need a further bundle to get me through the month. So I e-mailed customer care and asked for a futher 250mb bundle to be added and continued to work away. Within (just) 24 hours I got an e-mail response from customer care saying that they were unable to add the bundle until I provided my ID, Contract type, method of payment and account number. Fair enough I responded with this detail and continued to work away until I get a message saying that I have exceed my limit? and been softlocked?... and I loose my connection. Fine, so I am expecting the new bundle to be added so I am cool. But no... I get an e-mail from customer care saying that as I have exceeded my limit they are unable to add the bundle until the next month... so I am now using MTN

What is with this? I pay by credit card and my available credit is way in excess of any amount I may run up with Vodacom so why a limit? Customer care are unable to explain any of the logic (if there is any)... is this not Vodacom just making it unusually difficult for their customers?
 
max out of bundle

Hi,
each time i ask the vodacom call centre they say "call limit" .. what i want is to say the block a MAX of say R50 for out-of-bundle on my 3G contract so that when i've used up my data it will only bill to a MAX of R50 and no more - how do I set this up, and if not, why not???
 
is it possible establish max of umts using WRT54G3G ?

I have max 2 gb at month, is it possible to set a restriction at the WRT54G3G? That i can't get over the 2 gb the month?

Thank you very much

Stekke27
 
ic said:
As we are all painfully aware, data usage for Contract Data Bundles [CDBs] is not monitored in realtime, i.e. the 3+ hours delay for data usage to update, which also means that any data usage SMS notifications for CDBs are also hopelessly out-of-date after 3+ hours.

@v3g, is there a ballpark ETA for when realtime data usage monitoring & notifications will be available for CDBs?
Click to expand...

Months, rather than weeks away.

Just out of interest, how do the other networks do it? MTN, Cell-C?
 
ic said:
Don't know about the other networks - even ADSL ISP accounts require a disconnect before data usage updates, but Vodacom's fuzzy-logic pre-paid data reservation system [although not entirely realtime], does work very nicely - I don't know about everyone else, but I certainly would be happy with the fuzzy-logic for PPDB data usage being applied to CDBs as well...
Click to expand...

Makes two of us.....

Akash, you're all networks? How do they do data monitoring and alerts? What can we learn from them?
 
ic said:
Ok, but when you're using Virgin Mobile which doesn't have data bundles, and charges a flat rate of R0.50/MB, is data usage monitoring done in realtime, or does one have to disconnect to force a data usage update, and how long does it take to update, same question applies to MTN.

PS: @v3g, many moons ago, when I was still using iBurst, iBurst was infamous for not having accurate data usage - I doubt much has changed, although it's probably best for more recent iBurst customers to comment.
Click to expand...

Yep, both the other networks I have used [Virgin and MTN] use the same type of reservation system as Vodacom's PPDB --> only after disconnecting can you force the update on your account. The update normally occurs immediately after you disconnect, but the USSD commands can sometimes take 2 or 3 attempts to give you correct figures depending on network circumstances at the time.
 
Capping Vodacom

After receiving a numerous of surprise bills i have decided to put a cap on my Vodacom data card (meaning if i had to surpass my 1 gig threshold then tough crap).

Vodacom customer care informed me that this can be done, however i must not rely on it as the facility has difficulty in recognising/reading the amount of data that i have downloaded :confused: (however they still recognise the amount of data downloaded for billing purposes :sick: still :confused:).

Have any of you a) placed a limit on your data card? and b) has the service been reliable and satisfactory?
 
Jett i recommend the following, Its fool proof, and this way u get no surprizes.

If you've got a spare cellphone or whotnot :>>

Do this.

Get youself any Simcard, one of those R5 or R10 Simcards at Checkers or Shoprite.

Put R200 on your Simcard, call them and activate a 500mb bundle. or 1gig or 2gig,

500mb bundle is R189
1gig is R289
2gig is R389

Then before the next month, just put another R300 voucher on so that next month they can deduct for the next 1gig Bundle etc.

Basically then u get the 1gig bundle, and if u do go out of bundle it can only chow on the remaining MOney left on the simcard. No surpize Bills :>>>>

I use my cellphone as a modem, So buy one of those cheapie Cellphones to use as a Normal phone to make calls etc.. Or use one of your older phones if u got some spare :>>>
 
ic said:
You do realise that that does not make any sense?
Click to expand...

I have a "Data Bolt ON" on contract with a Data SIM (WRT Router) and a seperate PPDB (In notebook).

What I was trying to say was that I was using my PPDB at the time yet the usage reported from 31050 (Contract), would still increase.
 
ic said:
I received the following SMS earlier whilst connected:Does this mean that realtime data usage monitoring is in place for Contract Data Bundles? - note that I received this whilst connected, i.e. I did not have to disconnect for my data usage to update and then wait the usual 3+ hours.
Click to expand...

No, data usage is still delayed.

You don't need to disconnect to get updated (but late) usage info. We force an update every so often (need to check the time period, but it's quite short). By disconnecting you'll also trigger an update.
 
ic said:
I received the following SMS earlier whilst connected:Does this mean that realtime data usage monitoring is in place for Contract Data Bundles? - note that I received this whilst connected, i.e. I did not have to disconnect for my data usage to update and then wait the usual 3+ hours.
Click to expand...

I normally receive a sms when I have used 50% of my package. Then again on 85% and then when it is depleted. You don't have to log on to receive it. As soon as I open my Dashboard the sms ring and I can read it before I connect.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X