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Question of the Day: How do you normally pay for purchases in stores?
You may be losing out on mobile data
- Thread starter rpm
- Start date
Peder
Hobbit
so just because other people kill people i can do it too? is that what vodacom is saying?
kripstoe
Expert Member
Yes... industry practice is to maximise profits.
I don't understnd why we are even discussing this - if we paid for data it should be there month after month if not used! Plain & simple available until we do use it.!
We wouldn't accept the local filling station siphoning off any unused petrol from our cars come month end, just as we wouldn't allow the grocer to empty our fridges - so WTF ? Why are we discussing how they do it as if we are okay with it in any form or manner!?
We wouldn't accept the local filling station siphoning off any unused petrol from our cars come month end, just as we wouldn't allow the grocer to empty our fridges - so WTF ? Why are we discussing how they do it as if we are okay with it in any form or manner!?
everyone knows how the anc operates. They should be regulating these companies through ikaka but that isn't happening. Companies like vodacom are leading our beloved government by the nose
jannievanzyl
Telecoms expert
Both the petrol in your tank and the stuff in your fridge are physical products you take home after purchase and store while you consume it.
How do you suggest it should be done with data?
Hint: Before you post your answer, first patent it as you'll be an instant billionaire.
Equally, when I pay for a data bundle electronically (not using physical tender) there should be a 60 day expiry date on my money instead of the money just sitting in Vodacom's bank account unused and accumulating interest, additionally Vodacom should be forced to convert the most recently acquired money into physical tender before electronic money previously acquired.
jannievanzyl
Telecoms expert
This makes no sense whatsoever
K
kingrob
Guest
This makes no sense whatsoever
Just as data bundles that rolls over for a second month.
It mysteriously goes into hibernation mode and uses up the new month's data first, and only get used when the new data bundle is used up.
The same problem exists for voice data.
Like drinking half a bottle of wine, then opening a new one, finishing that, and then returning to the opened one.
Yes, this has never made sense in the real world, but somehow it makes perfect sense for Vodacom.
K
kingrob
Guest
Apparently Chinese maths only covers two chapters in the Vodacom maths book.
This makes no sense whatsoever
Precisely but it is based on Vodacom illogic so it must be valid.
Much like E=mc[SUP]2[/SUP] where mass can be converted into energy and visa versa without being destroyed or magically ceasing to exist, a similar equation should apply to data bundles such that unused data can be directly converted back into the money used to purchase the data bundle and that neither ceases to exist as is currently the case with data bundles and the dark magic that Vodacom uses on consumers.
Stefanmuller
Expert Member
I think a expiry of data allows them a way to recognise their revenue and liability. Just like shopping vouchers that expire.
Unlike selling you physical items like petrol or groceries, they receive your money in exchange for a liability to provide you with future service/product that you can use at some future date that is uncertain (in terms of timing, not value). By putting an expiry date on said liability thay have a time frame to recognise and plan the liability and "stock up" in order to meet the liability.
Unlike selling you physical items like petrol or groceries, they receive your money in exchange for a liability to provide you with future service/product that you can use at some future date that is uncertain (in terms of timing, not value). By putting an expiry date on said liability thay have a time frame to recognise and plan the liability and "stock up" in order to meet the liability.
SaiyanZ
Executive Member
People are not asking for unlimited expiry dates. The expiry date will still be up to 2 months max.
I don't see why there should be an expiry date on data bundles: data is like potential energy waiting to be harnessed by the consumer, the network operators have decided to measure out specific quantities of data and lock the data up in data bundles (mini vaults) of different sizes. The network operators control access to the data contained in data bundles and take money from consumers in exchange for the data contained in the data bundles but the network operators maintain ownership of the data bundles. The money taken by network operators from consumers of data, does not cease to exist after 30 or 60 days and the data still exists (akin to potential energy locked in a data bundle) but the network operators come like thieves at night and repossess the data contained in data bundles after 30 or 60 days even though payment has been made in full by the consumer.
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elf_lord_ZC5
Honorary Master
That about sums it up nicely ...
I don't understand the legacy systems limitation argument. If you lot can track data to ensure that the correct amount is subtracted from a user's account at the correct time to ensure that the new bundle is used first and the carry-over second, then conversely you can track it to ensure that it is used first instead, surely? You guys must be tracking and monitoring this already, and systems must already be in place to ensure that one bundle is used in preference of another.
Let me ask you a simple question - if your billing system worked like this, would you or would you not expect a backlash from consumers? IOW if I lost my credit every second month without it ever contributing towards my final balance? That would be despicable and unfair. Yes, I know this is a strawman argument is the billing system doesn't work this way, but it does highlight the silliness of the current data balance system...
Let me ask you a simple question - if your billing system worked like this, would you or would you not expect a backlash from consumers? IOW if I lost my credit every second month without it ever contributing towards my final balance? That would be despicable and unfair. Yes, I know this is a strawman argument is the billing system doesn't work this way, but it does highlight the silliness of the current data balance system...
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.
Or drop your data prices like CellC did and people will not need bundles. I have a minimum amount of data on my contract and just go OOB cause there is no shark.