Beware data promotion fine print
The mobile operators are all running aggressively priced mobile data promotions, offering subscribers significant discounts on broadband data bundles. However, you would be well advised to read the fine print to safeguard yourself against bill shock after the promotional contract period ends.
The promotional data contracts are typically sold on a 24-month contract, where the price may revert back to the prevailing data rate after the contract period expires.
This means that users may pay more than double the promotional in-contract price.
8ta
8ta is continuing to run its popular 10GB for R199 mobile broadband promotion, and according to the company’s helpdesk, the price will remain R199 per month until a consumer cancels the contract.
However, when Telkom was asked for official comment, it said that after the promotional contract expires, subscribers will revert to the standard Internet 5 pricing and the contract will run on a month to month basis. The standard price for 8ta’s 10GB data bundle is R1,200 per month – 1,000% higher than the promotional rate.
Telkom added that subscribers will have the option to migrate to the other Internet plans. “Alternatively, they may convert to existing hybrid plans or pre-paid,” Telkom said.
8ta 10GB for R199 promotion
Cell C
Cell C said that their promotional pricing is only valid for the duration of the contract signed. Once the contract expires, standard tariffs will apply.
“However, customers can continue to look forward to competitive promotions that we will run from time to time,” Cell C said.
Cell C’s promotional data subscribers will therefore be well advised to cancel their promotional contract in time to avoid the higher data prices, and sign up for another promotion at the time.
Cell C data promotion
MTN
MTN’s communications department did not respond to questions about its data promotions, but the company’s help-desk informed MyBroadband that the promotional price will continue on a month-to-month basis after the contract period expires.
This means that MTN subscribers who signed a 24-month contract on a promotional data deal will continue to pay the promotional price until they cancel the service.
However, MTN would not officially comment on this issue, which sheds some doubt over whether the promotional pricing will continue as promised by MTN’s help-desk agent.
MTN data promotions
Vodacom
Vodacom is running various mobile data promotions, but according to the terms and conditions, you should only expect to pay these promotional rates during the contract period.
In Vodacom’s terms and conditions for its data promotions the company explains that “after the initial 24-months contract period, the contract will continue on a month-to-month basis during which the price will revert to the prevailing 24-month contract tariff for the relevant bundle size”.
What this means is that after your contract period expires you will pay R349 per month on a 2GB data contract instead of the R149 per month which you signed up for during the promotional period.
Good news is that Vodacom is planning to offer the promotional price indefinitely to subscribers. “We are currently investigating the possibility of allowing customers who sign up for our contract data promotions to retain the promotional pricing for as long as they retain the contract,” Vodacom said.
Vodacom data deals
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