iBurst gets tough on caps

[Ekhaatvensters]

I'll counter you with the bit on this page: http://www.iburst.co.za/default.aspx?link=products_packages



I am well aware that any service provider will try means to manage their network when its general speed starts to decrease. However all I am saying is that they should expect me to throw up a fuss when they try and cut me off for usuage they have never before declared as being against their policy. If they don't say don't do this, then they should not hope I will not do x, y and z.

I see they added that at the top of the page, well they should have left it how it was, with just the part I quoted. At least a bit better.

They really should just declare an amount that you can go over the cap then, but if they have to make that public it could be worse for the network, exactly what they are trying to stop.

Still, a better idea than cutting users off. It would be interesting if they could make the soft cap only come into effect say half way through the month. Then you would be forced to buy an adaquate package, and if that doesn't work for any user then I'm sure they'd be happy to let them off their network regardless of any contract.

 

[Abe]

Still, a better idea than cutting users off. It would be interesting if they could make the soft cap only come into effect say half way through the month. Then you would be forced to buy an adaquate package, and if that doesn't work for any user then I'm sure they'd be happy to let them off their network regardless of any contract.

Probably a better plan would be to allow only 5 days of 64K over cap usage, then you must buy another GB and after that, you can again go for 5 days of 64K. To me, their intention is to give people a way to get through to the next month so they should direct the package in that way.

 

[Ekhaatvensters]

To me, their intention is to give people a way to get through to the next month so they should direct the package in that way.

Exactly what I though, not purely leeching and buying the smallest account available. I guess thats what irritates iBurst the most; their lowest paying subscribers are the most expensive for them to keep on the network. A generalisation btw, but most are using the 1G accounts.

Probably a better plan would be to allow only 5 days of 64K over cap usage, then you must buy another GB and after that, you can again go for 5 days of 64K.

An interesting idea, I'm sure if anything like this was implemented it would be shot down on MyADSL very quickly. Much more reasonable if they have made their intentions with the 64kb access clear though...

 

[milomak]

Heh well most people do a lot more than twice their usage seeing as no one stops them, you wouldn't have to find a way.

I'm sure people would still be irritated (at least leave Telkom as an ISP for sure) if they started hard capping again or even just implemented the 2X cap rule with hard capping.

TI hardcap at roughly 2x your download package on packages other than the 1GB. There was an outcry. I'm sure some people left. I'm happy to stick with them while the policy is in place. The policy is in place so if you go over and they haul you up for abuse, you can cry but I don't think you will find many a sympathetic ear.

The one thing that I strongly disagree with (and Abe is pushing the same arguement) is iBurst's intentions. I have stated time and time again that iBurst has known about the hub and the throttle speed. Their bandwidth monitor would include usage after my cap on both 64kbps and the hub. So they have had the info for ages. They have not acted in anyway before what we are talking about here.

They had the bandwidth reports yet they never chose to call up one person for at least a year. They never chose to send a single email talking about the hub usage and the throttle usage. Again I say to you that is tacit approval on their part of how subscribers use their network. So I am sorry but I cannot buy your stance that you believe iBurst didn't intend their network to be used how it is being used.

As I said in an earlier post, I suspect if you challenged them on a common law basis a judge would have to side with the consumer. And btw i am not an iBurst subscriber anymore so my comments are based on principle.

 

[Abe]

As I said in an earlier post, I suspect if you challenged them on a common law basis a judge would have to side with the consumer.

If that were the case then iBurst would probably just bump up the Pro pricing to R2K, create a new package called something like "Wiz" with some new terms and conditions and move everyone who they want across to the new package.

 

[milomak]

Abe you strike me as a simpleton. Firstly iBurst cannot afford to make their package more expensive than MTN or Vodacom. If you notice, in fact, iBurst has been trying to up their prices to equate to those two.

My reading of the situation is that they will fail because of that. iBurst's competitive advantage has always been cost effectiveness per MB. If its prices itself come close to those two it will lose out firstly on customer service.

The other advantage they have is throttle speed and the hub. If as you want, these go to a minumum or become non-existant, why would you stick with a provider with such a small national presence? When MTN or Vodacom will provide you greater mobility at possibly greater speed?

The game iBurst is playing is going towards extinction.

 

[Abe]

Abe you strike me as a simpleton. Firstly iBurst cannot afford to make their package more expensive than MTN or Vodacom. If you notice, in fact, iBurst has been trying to up their prices to equate to those two.

You misunderstand me. But because you were so kind as to compliment me I will spell it out in little baby steps. Just to make sure you understand completely.

1) Person A challenges iBurst on your "common law basis"
2) iBurst gets a slap on the wrist from a Judge (highly unlikely, but lets say they do)
3) iBurst create a new package called "Wiz" with the relevent limitations / clauses etc at the same price of the current Pro package. Lets say for arguments sake with a 2 x limitation on bandwidth.
4) iBurst up the old Pro pricing to R2K and leave it as it.
5) iBurst send out a letter to all clients saying that they will be moved to the new package automatically unless they prefer to stay on the old one.
6) All of the people currently milking the system either stay on Pro or switch to something else.
7) All of the normal clients just let the switch occur.
8) iBurst market their new package.

So if you look at it carefully. iBurst would keep the clients they want at the same price and get rid of the clients they don't want.

 

[milomak]

9. iBurst go out of business because their packages are now not competitive.

Unless you would stay with iBurst even though there are better alternatives out there.

 

[Vrotappel]

Abe the fact that iBurst reconnected me after I took the matter up with them indicates that they know they were wrong.

It is their prerogative to change the nature of the service they provide but obviously they will have to deal with the fall out from it.

I for one will not stay with them if this happens. It is also my opinion that the average iBurst user has become used to their throttled uncapped account. Once a user gets hard capped by the 10th the 15th or whatever the date is of the month they will be upset. Now pi$$ing of 50% of your user base is not a good thing.

iBurst should really be thinking of upping the throttled service from 64k to at least 128k to stay competitive. Otherwise they will simply be a stop gap solution for people waiting for ADSL in their area.

 

[milomak]

And one the things that irks me about this whole debacle is what is inherrent in most South afircan companies. Lack of consumercentric thinking. Comapnies still treat us pretty much as cash cows. Hence it seems iBurst initial and only thought on the matter was let's just cut the buggers off.

What must have seemed to them a decision to cut off almost a non-existant percentage of their users has attracted attention which isn't exactly a big thumbs up for them.

 

[Abe]

Abe the fact that iBurst reconnected me after I took the matter up with them indicates that they know they were wrong.

I think in your case they didn't have a leg to stand on because I seem to remember you saying that clause 4.10 did not exist when you signed up.

 

[Abe]

9. iBurst go out of business because their packages are now not competitive.

I am not with iBurst and never have been. That said, Sentech went through a similar issue with their Classic range and did not close down.

 

[Ekhaatvensters]

I for one will not stay with them if this happens. It is also my opinion that the average iBurst user has become used to their throttled uncapped account. Once a user gets hard capped by the 10th the 15th or whatever the date is of the month they will be upset. Now pi$$ing of 50% of your user base is not a good thing.

I think you over estimate how many people use this to download a lot. Most people want the 1mb speeds rather than downloading as much as possible. When I get capped by say the 20th or so I don't end up using much more than 2-3GB on the 64kb service, mostly because I can't use the hub.

They haven't said anything about hardcapping when you use the 64kb service just yet...

 

[Abe]

And one the things that irks me about this whole debacle is what is inherrent in most South afircan companies. Lack of consumercentric thinking. Comapnies still treat us pretty much as cash cows. Hence it seems iBurst initial and only thought on the matter was let's just cut the buggers off.

I do agree that cutting people off without so much as an email, phone call or anything else is rather unprofessional. I don't believe that iBurst is a cash cow on their current technology. What I do see is them becoming a major player with WiMax as it is capable of speeds of 10MB/s (threoretically 70MB/s) and also allows a lot more people on a tower then iBurst's existing technology. Which is the reason for Vodacom's interest.

 

[Abe]

Most people want the 1mb speeds rather than downloading as much as possible. When I get capped by say the 20th or so I don't end up using much more than 2-3GB on the 64kb service, mostly because I can't use the hub.

I think the majority of users (95+%) are doing just that. Only going to about 2GB on a 1.5GB account in a month.

 

[50GigzPlus]

64 kbps

Up to yes, at the moment its varying between 3 and 30, that ticks me off, i am going to have to correct this right???:mad

 

[Abe]

It sounds like iBurst can't get anything right. I think that it is best for them to target the R50/50Meg clients and get out of the high usage market. Wait until WiMax for that and then put the high usage clients on WiMax. 3G is way better then iBurst in terms of performance.