You may be losing out on mobile data

[Easter Bunny]

you know what? these guys are talking out of their arses. i just spent the last few minutes thinking about it as per jannie's request, amd i have come to this realisation:

you have a data bundle, you don't use it all this month. next month you have to use your new bundle before you get to that old bundle. how can they tell us that we are in the wrong? how can they tell us that this is the only way it can be done? i think everyone is forgetting the fact that their free minutes rollover system isn't up to s***. last month's minutes get used before this month's.

they've obviously realised that data has become more important than voice and therefor devised a clever scheme to maximise profits. well done vodacom, you've figured out a way to screw over your customers and blame them for it.

 

[jannievanzyl]

If this is contract related, then surely the contract is just to supply a minimum data amount per month that the customer bought. If some of the data comes from a previous data bundle, why should this be a legal issue. Service provider is holding up their end of the contract by supplying the amount of data that the customer bought and paid for. What am I missing?

No, you're right. The contract is to supply a fresh bundle every month and this we (have to) do. And if it stopped there, no-one would have an issue, it seems. Like some of the other operators do. They don't do any carry-over of any kind.

What is extra here is that VC made a call to allow a sub to continue eating from the previous month's bundle if he used up this month's bundle.

The problem here is actually the wording "roll-over up to 60 days". It confuses everyone as it's not that at all. But how do you put "Once you've used your data bundle and you have data left from the previous month, you can use that allocation." in simple words?

 

[jannievanzyl]

you know what? these guys are talking out of their arses. i just spent the last few minutes thinking about it as per jannie's request, amd i have come to this realisation:

you have a data bundle, you don't use it all this month. next month you have to use your new bundle before you get to that old bundle. how can they tell us that we are in the wrong? how can they tell us that this is the only way it can be done? i think everyone is forgetting the fact that their free minutes rollover system isn't up to s***. last month's minutes get used before this month's.

they've obviously realised that data has become more important than voice and therefor devised a clever scheme to maximise profits. well done vodacom, you've figured out a way to screw over your customers and blame them for it.

Again, think about it. If you did FIFO, you basically turn the product into an indefinite data bundle.

Add this to your thought-experiment: You sign a 24-month data contract and must get 1GB per month for the next 2 years. You use 500MB in Jan (the first month) and then don't use any data for 3 months (for whatever reason, maybe you went on holiday in Alaska). How and when must Feb and March's data be allocated to you? When you come back in April, do you first use the 500MB from Jan or do you use April's 1GB?

If we do FIFO, we basically say that all 24-month contracts endure until the data's been used. Even if it takes 10 years.

 

[dougatthewoods]

The problem here is actually the wording "roll-over up to 60 days". It confuses everyone as it's not that at all. But how do you put "Once you've used your data bundle and you have data left from the previous month, you can use that allocation." in simple words?

That is how you say it in simple words. So why not use simple wording like that? Wouldn't it be optimal (read: in the long run very profitable) to keep your consumers happy and un-confused?

 

[jannievanzyl]

That's a horrible reason. Data isn't like some physical product that ages and hence devalues over time. The old data is just as good as the new. Your new data can be added as usual (getting what you paid for), but the system can be made to use the oldest data first. Nobody is going to jump up and down if they paid R99 for data that they can't use immediately because the system is prioritising using "older" data. There is no difference to the consumer! Other than carry-over data actually being useful if you don't use your full allocation.

If you could store data.

 

[jannievanzyl]

That is how you say it in simple words. So why not use simple wording like that? Wouldn't it be optimal (read: in the long run very profitable) to keep your consumers happy and un-confused?

The best way to keep everyone unconfused is to make a bundle last exactly 30 days. This whole thing of giving access to data that was not used in the provious contract period (while done as a value add) seems to confuse the crappola out of everyone.

 

[dougatthewoods]

Again, think about it. If you did FIFO, you basically turn the product into an indefinite data bundle.

Add this to your thought-experiment: You sign a 24-month data contract and must get 1GB per month for the next 2 years. You use 500MB in Jan (the first month) and then don't use any data for 3 months (for whatever reason, maybe you went on holiday in Alaska). How and when must Feb and March's data be allocated to you? When you come back in April, do you first use the 500MB from Jan or do you use April's 1GB?

If we do FIFO, we basically say that all 24-month contracts endure until the data's been used. Even if it takes 10 years.

Nobody is saying they want their data available indefinitely, they just want unused data to rollover for 1 month and for the old data to be used first. That is not unreasonable and would be a reasonable person's interpretation of the wording. A 24-month contract would only last 24 months (or 25 if there was some sort of provision in the contract).

The best way to keep everyone unconfused is to make a bundle last exactly 30 days. This whole thing of giving access to data that was not used in the provious contract period (while done as a value add) seems to confuse the crappola out of everyone.

People on the network(s) where the data lasts for 30 days are happy because the data is cheap. If it was more expensive then maybe they would prefer a rollover policy.

I'm on Vodacom, with BIS - which never hits anything close to 3G speeds, probably not even EDGE speeds - it so congested compared to when there were fewer Blackberry users. I'm not happy, but only 5 months to go. I'll probably go black and never come back.

 

[milomak]

Well imagine data is placed in 2 banks: A and B.

This month’s data is in Bank A, last month’s in B. At the end of each month, they all move down one and whatever is in B is lost. However usage in each month starts from whatever is left in B. Vodacom will have provided it’s contractual obligation to the client in this instance. In that the data is there to be utilised.

Surely this isn’t difficult for a system to do?

 

[zamicro]

This used to be one of my pet peeves until me and Vodacom reached an agreement just like evilstebunny;

Myself and Vodacom have a gentlemen's agreement, I've agreed not to use their mobile data in any way whatsover in exchange for them not to try & screw me over in any way whatsover.

Problem fixed.

 

[zamicro]

No, you're right. The contract is to supply a fresh bundle every month and this we (have to) do. And if it stopped there, no-one would have an issue, it seems. Like some of the other operators do. They don't do any carry-over of any kind.

What is extra here is that VC made a call to allow a sub to continue eating from the previous month's bundle if he used up this month's bundle.

The problem here is actually the wording "roll-over up to 60 days". It confuses everyone as it's not that at all. But how do you put "Once you've used your data bundle and you have data left from the previous month, you can use that allocation." in simple words?

So are you saying you are selling something different than what your ad says? NCC seems like the right place for this complaint then.

Again, think about it. If you did FIFO, you basically turn the product into an indefinite data bundle.

Add this to your thought-experiment: You sign a 24-month data contract and must get 1GB per month for the next 2 years. You use 500MB in Jan (the first month) and then don't use any data for 3 months (for whatever reason, maybe you went on holiday in Alaska). How and when must Feb and March's data be allocated to you? When you come back in April, do you first use the 500MB from Jan or do you use April's 1GB?

If we do FIFO, we basically say that all 24-month contracts endure until the data's been used. Even if it takes 10 years.

Jannie, I always thought you were more bright than this drivel. Hope this table helps:

FIFO:
Month--------New Allocation--------Balance--------Usage-------To Roll Over--------Expiring this month--------Expiring next month
Jan-----------1GB----------------------1GB-------------500MB-------500MB--------------0MB----------------------------500MB
Feb-----------1GB----------------------1.5GB----------0MB----------1GB------------------500MB------------------------1GB
Mar-----------1GB----------------------2GB-------------0MB----------1GB------------------1Gb----------------------------1GB
Apr------------1GB----------------------2GB-------------xxxMB--------xxxMB---------------xxxMB-------------------------xxxMB

As easy as that. And the customer still gets what the are contracted to get. And you have happier customers.

Let me know if I have to explain the rules better, but I know you already understands this and are just spinning us along.

 

[j4ck455]

The best way to keep everyone unconfused is to make a bundle last exactly 30 days. This whole thing of giving access to data that was not used in the provious contract period (while done as a value add) seems to confuse the crappola out of everyone.

I have a better suggestion, change the validity period for data bundles from 30 days to 180 days and get rid of the concept of months where data bundles are concerned. I believe that would be closer to what the CPA requires.

 

[Hamster]

The best way to keep everyone unconfused is to make a bundle last exactly 30 days. This whole thing of giving access to data that was not used in the provious contract period (while done as a value add) seems to confuse the crappola out of everyone.

Aaaaah, everything seems better with a smiley face

 

[jikajoe1]

lol just because it isn't unique to VC does not mean it is right ,duh!

 

[kingrob]

So tired of waiting for affordable data bundles from Vodacom , but know it will never happen.

Gonna get myself a plain ol' Nokia and just take smartphones & expensive data bundles out of my life.

 

[Viva]

No, you're right. The contract is to supply a fresh bundle every month and this we (have to) do. And if it stopped there, no-one would have an issue, it seems. Like some of the other operators do. They don't do any carry-over of any kind.

What is extra here is that VC made a call to allow a sub to continue eating from the previous month's bundle if he used up this month's bundle.

The problem here is actually the wording "roll-over up to 60 days". It confuses everyone as it's not that at all. But how do you put "Once you've used your data bundle and you have data left from the previous month, you can use that allocation." in simple words?

By stating the implication of that implementation outright in your advertisements and the contract: "Data roll over every second month".

But obviously you are not going to do that, as it makes explicit how worthless this "added value" is.

The best way to keep everyone unconfused is to make a bundle last exactly 30 days. This whole thing of giving access to data that was not used in the provious contract period (while done as a value add) seems to confuse the crappola out of everyone.

No - your implementation confuses the hell out of everyone. A different implementation where data roll over for one month, and rolled over data gets used first, would not confuse anyone, I believe.

Also, if you are going to blame the contract for your current implementation, amend it as per above suggestion.

It seems incredibly petty of a major service provider like Vodacom to choose a rollover implementation which is a) confusing and b) makes the customer feel like they are being screwed over, only to save a small amount of data. It is unthinkable to me that you are defending this, Jannie, as the issue is clearly not technical or legal. Admit it: it is financial.

 

[bwana]

The best way to keep everyone unconfused is to make a bundle last exactly 30 days. This whole thing of giving access to data that was not used in the provious contract period (while done as a value add) seems to confuse the crappola out of everyone.

Why not let the consumer decide if they would prefer to consume the old [-]milk[/-] data first or not?

 

[K3NS31]

I'm not sure but I seem to recall Cell C specifically saying they don't do this when I was checking their website recently.
Glad I switched...

 

[noxibox]

One can only point and laugh at the ridiculous contortions company representatives go through trying to justify ripping off the customer. It's quite pathetic really.

Also, if you are going to blame the contract for your current implementation, amend it as per above suggestion.

It seems incredibly petty of a major service provider like Vodacom to choose a rollover implementation which is a) confusing and b) makes the customer feel like they are being screwed over, only to save a small amount of data. It is unthinkable to me that you are defending this, Jannie, as the issue is clearly not technical or legal. Admit it: it is financial.

Not feel like. You are being screwed over. What's worse they try to pretend they're not screwing you with a load of corporate doublespeak.

 

[isie]

Corect me if im wrong on airtime/free minutes (depending on what contracts you on) you use the 'old' airtime gets used first and then your new airtime after that - and ater a set amount of time (3-6 months depending) it expires.
On Data this wont work as Jannie due to the legacy system also said its confusing for the consumer?
:wtf:

Reallly ?

Im not rude all the time here but WTF is wrong with you Mr VZ, cool props you at least reponded (better then MTN) but seriosly expect us to beleive this nonsence.

 

[rph72]

Myself and Vodacom have a gentlemen's agreement, I've agreed not to use their mobile data in any way whatsover in exchange for them not to try & screw me over in any way whatsover.

Problem fixed.

Same here. Haven't used the Vodacom APN in ages. A CellC hotspot device & 8ta WiFi at home works for me.