iBurst responds to pricing issues

“The range of subscription packages introduced are new packages, and not price changes on the old packages. Being a new product range, they are intended mainly for new customers. However, we are allowing current subscribers to migrate from the old packages to new, should they choose to do so,” iBurst said.
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biggest load of crap ever
 
I just feel sorry for all the average Joe's who sign up with IBurst and don't really know what they are getting themselves into, especially in regards to the R49 offer they so highly publicise.
 
intended for new users my arse... I'm giving iburst 1 more month and then going to the devil I know :(
 
However, we are allowing current subscribers to migrate from the old packages to new, should they choose to do so
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Thanks iBurst, I'm sure your consumers are ecstatic that you gave them permission to decide what to do with their money. Anything else?
 
Sounds like Vodacom and their specials, that are only intended for new subscribers. Current subscribers should pay and STFU.
 
What gets me the most is that users simply weren't informed -- other than by pages buried deep on the iBurst website, or the media. That means that if you exceed your cap, you wouldn't even know you're now being charged on a pay-per-use basis. And when you do find the opt-out option, hidden away on the website, you are required to acknowledge that you owe what you've racked up so far.

Paying to "downgrade" from a package that got updated automatically, and for free, is also unacceptable. "I didn't hear anyone complain when they got upgraded," was Alan Knott-Craig Jr's response to me. No, people don't complain when they get free stuff. But they do complain if they have to pay to give it back.

And the excuse that they're different packages also doesn't wash. 3Gig for R449 (new), 3.5Gig for R599 (existing), 5G for R599 (new)... how does that make sense as a product range of separate products?

The whole thing smacks of either incompetence or underhandedness.

Thanks for the mention, by the way :-)
 
I seem to recall that the cellular companies does the same thing; migrate to higher package, its free, but migrate to lower one, you pay
 
I enjoyed how they made use of the advertising opportunity granted by this article.

The broadband provider also said that its pay-per-use is a standard opt-out on all packages. Here iBurst does not throttle or discontinue an account after the monthly cap is reached but charges customers 95c per MB for out-of-bundle usage.

“Pay-per-use eliminates the restrictions placed on subscribers by throttling and capping once their data quotas have been exhausted. They are simply billed for any additional data used rounded off to the next megabyte,” said iBurst.

“Subscribers also have the option of topping up their bandwidth with Bandwidth Booster once reaching their cap. Subscribers can easily opt-out of the Pay-per-use option when purchasing iBurst, or later by contacting the call centre. The opt out is implemented immediately.”
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who.is.michael said:
Ethical, efficient, responsible and iBurst should never be used in the same sentence...
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Neither should words like 'reliable, value for money, honest, dependable, good service, prompt service, helpdesk' - the list is endless.

The fact that they have the audacity to state that they will 'allow' existing users the ability to move to the new products is a clear indication of the arrogance of the company.

To them, you are just a number to be milked as much as possible.

Ivo, did AKC really say that to you and if so, do you have proof? I am currently collating a dosier of information on how badly clients (new and old) are being treated by this soory excuse for a service provider and would appreciate any and all correspondence that can be quantified and included in my submission to the press and other consumer watchdogs and agencies.

iBurst need to be taken to task, and the time is now to do so.
 
When asked why only customers moving to lower tariff packages are charged this fee, iBurst said that “it wouldn't be fair to charge subscribers who are ultimately choosing to pay higher subscriptions a migration fee.”
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In other words, I'll gladly take more from my customer, but if they want to give me less, they have to pay for it.

They try and justify these fees because of the "potential loss of income" by going to a cheaper package. Well, how about canceling the service altogether, isn't that seen as a "potential loss of income"? Using this ridiculous argument they will pretty soon start charging you if you want to cancel as well. :mad:
 
You mean they still have subscribers? Why? How? Who?

What the f.................
 
i make a point of talking to people and warning them against iburst and this, just yesterday i told a guy at work about it,he wasn't happy to hear this to put it mildly.
 
astrauss said:
I seem to recall that the cellular companies does the same thing; migrate to higher package, its free, but migrate to lower one, you pay
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it's not the same thing. If Vodacom says decides that it is changing its Talk100 package to a Talk200 package, there would be the same outcry if those already on Talk100 had to pay to move to a Talk200.

If you choose to move, a migration fee can be understandable (in the absence of competition). However if the company itself decides to change the products it offers, it should move you free of charge to whatever they have changed the package to.
 
All I know is I am NOT renewing my contract with these guys when it expires in 3 months time.

How does these migrations affect one when you are on a contract? I cant see these guys allowing you migrate down on a contract.

Looks like the iBurst modem will be gathering dust, since nobody would want to buy it to connect to these sharks.
 
Why ?
The contracts are for the same hardware, so if you are getting a 1gig account or a 5 gig account you are paying the same rental on you hardware. There is no reason that they wouldn't let you downgrade.
Its not like a cellphone where sometimes you get a free phone and sometimes you pay in.
 
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