ISP change fee

[kongwane]

Hello everyone

I'm seeking your opinions on a matter concerning my ISP. Currently, I have a fiber connection via Mitsol and use Afrihost as my ISP. I'm no longer under contract with Afrihost, now month to month and considering a switch to Mitsol's in-house ISP, Resinet, due to their more cost-effective plan.

Here's the catch: Afrihost didnt charge installation or equipment fee when the line was installed over a year ago.. However, when exploring Resinet, they informed me of a R750 ISP change/reconnection fee. Notably, they waive this fee if I commit to a 12-month contract.

My question is this: Is it fair for ISPs to impose such fees when the infrastructure is in place, and the contract with the current provider is month-to-month, especially when I'm no longer under contract with Afrihost? I'd love to hear your thoughts on this matter. Have any of you encountered similar situations? What's your stance on these practices, especially the 12-month contract waiver?

Thanks

 

[CrypticZA]

Hello everyone

I'm seeking your opinions on a matter concerning my ISP. Currently, I have a fiber connection via Mitsol and use Afrihost as my ISP. I'm no longer under contract with Afrihost, now month to month and considering a switch to Mitsol's in-house ISP, Resinet, due to their more cost-effective plan.

Here's the catch: Afrihost didnt charge installation or equipment fee when the line was installed over a year ago.. However, when exploring Resinet, they informed me of a R750 ISP change/reconnection fee. Notably, they waive this fee if I commit to a 12-month contract.

My question is this: Is it fair for ISPs to impose such fees when the infrastructure is in place, and the contract with the current provider is month-to-month, especially when I'm no longer under contract with Afrihost? I'd love to hear your thoughts on this matter. Have any of you encountered similar situations? What's your stance on these practices, especially the 12-month contract waiver?

Thanks

Most fibre providers charge 2 fee's
1) an installation fee whereby the install onto the premises happens
2) an activation fee.

This is the activation fee they referring to. The fibre provider charges them a fee to change ISP's so like an admin fee, by signing for 12 months they will recover that fee and also avoid people hopping from ISP to ISP causing them to accumulate excessive extra fees.

Totally stupid imo and another way fibre providers are milking consumers but the ISP is just passing that fee onto you, they can't cover all the fee's and make little to no profits at the end of the day

 

[kongwane]

Most fibre providers charge 2 fee's
1) an installation fee whereby the install onto the premises happens
2) an activation fee.

This is the activation fee they referring to. The fibre provider charges them a fee to change ISP's so like an admin fee, by signing for 12 months they will recover that fee and also avoid people hopping from ISP to ISP causing them to accumulate excessive extra fees.

Totally stupid imo and another way fibre providers are milking consumers but the ISP is just passing that fee onto you, they can't cover all the fee's and make little to no profits at the end of the day

Hi CrypticZA, Thanks for your reply. If i was changing to another Fiber provider, I would maybe just maybe understand. However The Fibre provider in this case will still be the same people, in just switching from Afrihost to Mitsols own inhouse ISP

 

[CrypticZA]

Hi CrypticZA, Thanks for your reply. If i was changing to another Fiber provider, I would maybe just maybe understand. However The Fibre provider in this case will still be the same people, in just switching from Afrihost to Mitsols own inhouse ISP

You basically paying someone at the fibre provider to transfer the line from who is managing the line on their system it's a scam but hey thats most fibre providers for you

 

[Charly]

Bad value? Perhaps. Scam? No.

That activation fee is part of how Openserve recovers the cost invested into installing your fibre. Wouldn't be fair if the first ISP has to pay and then the rest benefit at no cost.

 

[HartsockZA]

Hi CrypticZA, Thanks for your reply. If i was changing to another Fiber provider, I would maybe just maybe understand. However The Fibre provider in this case will still be the same people, in just switching from Afrihost to Mitsols own inhouse ISP

In-house or not, you'll be still moving the line. ISP charges, admin fees, etc. not really bs cause there are loads of people that have abused the free system (this was free at a stage) but now there are clauses (clawback) however in this case Afrihost is the one nailing you so I'd ask @Afrigirl @AfriGuy if they can't have it waivered since you were with them over the 12 month period so that cost should have been absorbed. Unless the FNO is direct charging you for this, not entirely sure

 

[Afrigirl]

In-house or not, you'll be still moving the line. ISP charges, admin fees, etc. not really bs cause there are loads of people that have abused the free system (this was free at a stage) but now there are clauses (clawback) however in this case Afrihost is the one nailing you so I'd ask @Afrigirl @AfriGuy if they can't have it waivered since you were with them over the 12 month period so that cost should have been absorbed. Unless the FNO is direct charging you for this, not entirely sure

Hi.

Resinet is charging them directly for activation of the service with the FNO

 

[kongwane]

Bad value? Perhaps. Scam? No.

That activation fee is part of how Openserve recovers the cost invested into installing your fibre. Wouldn't be fair if the first ISP has to pay and then the rest benefit at no cost.

Thanks for that but issue here is that one party benefits over another. Openserve is not involved here at all. Mitsol is the fibre provider and im not switching to or from them. I'm remaining with them just switching ISP's. Afrihost arranged the "free installation" I've been with them for18 months. Its Resinet who wants to charge me to switch to them.

Hi.

Resinet is charging them directly for activation of the service with the FNO

correct

 

[HartsockZA]

Thanks for that but issue here is that one party benefits over another. Openserve is not involved here at all. Mitsol is the fibre provider and im not switching to or from them. I'm remaining with them just switching ISP's. Afrihost arranged the "free installation" I've been with them for18 months. Its Resinet who wants to charge me to switch to them.

correct

Well then IMO Afrihost the ball is in your court since the client says he's been with you guys for over 12 months so he's/she is asking why the clawback on your network if he's moving ISP

 

[kongwane]

Guys let me clear this up. Afrihost is not trying to clawback anything from me. Its the ISP who I'm concidering moving to who wants to charge me an activation fee yet their infrastructure is already installed in my home and they are the FNO+ISP in 1

 

[HartsockZA]

Guys let me clear this up. Afrihost is not trying to clawback anything from me. Its the ISP who I'm concidering moving to who wants to charge me an activation fee yet their infrastructure is already installed in my home and they are the FNO+ISP in 1

Ah well that clears it up then, nope you gotta pay for it. New line or sign the contract for 12 months. ain't gonna get around that one sadly

 

[kongwane]

Ah well that clears it up then, nope you gotta pay for it. New line or sign the contract for 12 months. ain't gonna get around that one sadly

yup sadly realizing that. Just feels like in getting robbed since the ISP im switching is literally the exact same comapny thats the fibre provider, and all their cables and stuff is in my house already. I even confirmed with their againt that their wont be any physical work done or technician sent out. Just a matter of activating a new line.

 

[warwickw]

FNO charges the activation fee, and all ISPs pay it regardless of whether in-house ISP or not, as the FNO can't be seen as giving their in-house ISP a benefit and alienating other ISPs, otherwise, they wouldn't attract other ISPs to sell on their network.

If a client commits to a longer term then they get free activation, if they don't then you have to pay the activation fee.

 

[Jewels1990]

Guys let me clear this up. Afrihost is not trying to clawback anything from me. Its the ISP who I'm concidering moving to who wants to charge me an activation fee yet their infrastructure is already installed in my home and they are the FNO+ISP in 1

Good Day, There is a activation fee applicable even if the fiber is already installed, you are switching over to a new ISP so that ISP gets invoiced for an activation fee and then they obviously invoice the customer. But only some ISP's do that. Some also depends on the contract period if you commit to for example 12months there is no fees but if it is month to month you will most likely be charged a fee.