Watch out, they DO cap!

T

thewanted_

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 12, 2003
Messages
272
Reaction score
0
Location
.
Hi,

Well, I knew it was too good to be true. I've been downloading like a mad-man for the past 3 months or so. Good speeds 90% of the time etc.

On Monday morning I wake up to a disconnected connection so I promptly reconnect. Then I notice my downloads that were previously going at 25k/sec+ are now sitting at a steady 14.7K-15K/sec. That's right, they've capped me. How do I know this? Well, I borrowed my friend's 256kbit account and tested it on my PC (exact same configuration, just a difference account) and I get full speed. As soon as I revert back to my account, 128kbit speeds.

I phoned those idiots last night, they say I must provide them with screenshots as proof. Funny how I pay THEM and I must do the leg-work?

I cannot wait for this contract to expire.

Sentech.....die.
 
So when does it get reset? The 1st of next month?

Oh I forgot to add that yesterday, some retard from Sentech emailed me asking for personal details but the email is riddled with spelling mistakes. I have no intention of replying.

But, I'm tempted to email back and state that they'll get their info when I get my 256kbit back, and if they're intending on emailing out their customer's info again :D
 
dude, i wont wait for the contract to expire to move on, I'd cancel immediately... wait... I DID cancel immediately... you can too, you as the consumer have the power. you have BUYING power and people like them leech on people like you.
 
It's a soft cap. As far as I know they have people who sit down and look at the top bandwidth users on the network, and if you come on top for a couple months you get a warning.
I have never heard of them throttling a connection cause you download to much.

Why would 15 K /sec be a capped speed?
Why don't you use a bandwidth monitor so you can check you usage. And well if you are over the 20 gig a month, there is nothing you can do. Hell if you were on iBurst you have been kicked off the network already.
 
DFantom said:
It's stated on their website they cap...whats the big deal?
Click to expand...

Exactly... no big deal. And it's a soft cap which is kinda cool, so you can actually go over. 20GBs is way better than 3GB. Just get a bandwidth monitor and keep tabs on how much you use, it's not hard (unless that IS p0rn they're downloading, in which it must be really hard... <snigger> :D )
 
Last edited:
UtterNutter said:
20GBs is way better than 3GB.
Click to expand...
512k package you get 40Gb, which is even better ;)

UtterNutter said:
(unless that IS p0rn they're downloading, in which it must be really hard... <snigger> :D )
Click to expand...
You had to use porn and hard in the same sentance didn't you :D
 
Crash said:
It's a soft cap. As far as I know they have people who sit down and look at the top bandwidth users on the network, and if you come on top for a couple months you get a warning.
I have never heard of them throttling a connection cause you download to much.

Why would 15 K /sec be a capped speed?
Why don't you use a bandwidth monitor so you can check you usage. And well if you are over the 20 gig a month, there is nothing you can do. Hell if you were on iBurst you have been kicked off the network already.
Click to expand...

I'm definitely over 20GB (according to DUMeter).

If you refer to this link (http://www.sentech.co.za/index.php?module=ContentExpress&func=display&ceid=150&meid=-1) Winston Smith explicitly states that I can "send and receive as much data as you like according to your package, for no extra charge" so this soft-cap story is horsesh!t.

But nobody answered my question, does my account get reset to "normal" on 1st July?
 
thewanted_ said:
But nobody answered my question, does my account get reset to "normal" on 1st July?
Click to expand...

Judging by what the helpdesk person said to me when I got the "please cut down" phone call, I think they measure from a date somewhere in the middle of the month. He said something along the lines of "You've used 20 odd GB last month and 20 odd GB this month so far..." when I actually did 42 and 40 for the 2 months in question. So it could be they look at periods from like the 15th to the 15th.... or maybe it's a completely arbitrary period they use...?

I've just sent an email to the helpdesk support asking the question, will report back as soon as I get a reply. :D
 
Its not a cap. I've had a few connections where Ive been connected as a 128kbit user. Check your IP. If its 66.18.xxx.xxx then you're connecting as a 128 user. Hense the 15K downloading.

To resolve, disconnected and reconnect
 
Email from Sentech

Good xxxxx

Thank you for your mail.

The service your are on is a shared service. The bandwidth
is contended in the pool that you are divided into. The
speeds you receive will vary between the maximum and
minimum.

The soft cap does not mean the end of your service.

Regards
Matthew
Support


On Wed, 29 Jun 2005 23:22:43 +0200
"xxxxx xxxxx" <[email protected]> wrote:
>Your product is explicitly advertised as a "no-cap"
>service. While I understand that you have an AUP, its
>illegal to state "no-cap" and then to tell customers that
>there is actually a soft-cap in place once they've hit a
>certain threshold.
>
>I find it very difficult to believe that I get 15K/sec all
>the time even though you say my throughput is dependant on
>how my pool utilises the available bandwidth. Its a little
>too coincidental for me.
>
>Back to my original question, when can I expect to receive
>the speeds I am paying for?
>
>Regards
>- xxxxx
>
>On Wed, 29 Jun 2005 23:04:59 +0200
> "Support account" <[email protected]> wrote:
>>Dear xxxxx
>>
>>The soft cap for 128 is 10GB, 256 - 20GB, 512 - 30GB. If
>>you exceed your soft cap, our technicians will contact
>>you.
>>The throughput is only managed, so your bandwidth you
>>received is totally dependant of the pool you are divided
>>into and how that pool utilize the bandwidth.
>>
>>Regards
>>Kallie
>>Sentech Support
>>
>>On Wed, 29 Jun 2005 16:16:13 +0200
>> "xxxxx xxxxx" <[email protected]> wrote:
>>>From what I've heard, I believe I have been soft-capped.
>>>
>>>When does this "soft-cap" expire?
>>>
>>>Regards
>>>- xxxxx
>>>
>>>On Tue, 28 Jun 2005 22:16:55 +0200
>>> "Support account" <[email protected]> wrote:
>>>>Dear xxxxx
>>>>
>>>>Thank you for your mail. As discussed per phone
>earlier,
>>>>please send screenshots as proof of your situation.
>>>>
>>>>Regards
>>>>Kallie
>>>>Sentech Support
>>>>
>>>>On Tue, 28 Jun 2005 19:22:37 +0200
>>>> "xxxxx xxxxx" <[email protected]> wrote:
>>>>>Good day,
>>>>>
>>>>>I would like a reason as to why my 256kbit account has
>>>>>been
>>>>>capped to 128kbit. I have used my friend's 256kbit
>>>>account
>>>>>on my PC and it downloads at full speed. As soon as I
>>>>>revert back to my account, I get 15K/sec max.
>>>>>
>>>>>I'm paying R750 for a service that everyone else gets
>>>for
>>>>>R499.
>>>>>
>>>>>Regards
>>>>>- xxxxx
Click to expand...

UtterNutter, looks like we're wasting our time. Those are very doctored responses.

P.S. Read from the bottom, upwards (obviously)
 
Last edited:
Just got a reply email - from Matthew as well. Sorry I can't post it here, it's in my Outlook at home.

Anyways, he says that they measure bandwidth usage per calendar month i.e. from the 1st to the last day. In other words, if your'e sitting on a puny 3GB used (heh heh heh to iBursters) and it's the 28th of the month, then it's time to download some!!!!

:D
 
Last edited:
No why couldn't Matthew just have told me that, instead of the horsesh!t he subjected me to?

Thanks UtterNutter :) I'll report back tomorrow with good/bad news.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X