The_Unbeliever
Honorary Master
Hi there
Just want to put a rave in regarding Axxess's prepaid option.
Last week I bought an R70 voucher at an Engen petrol station. This move by Axxess made it easier for me to obtain an ADSL account without slogging through web pages or having a credit card at the ready. Just pop in at your nearest Engen branch, drop down some moola, pick up your voucher and pop out again, simple as that.
Although the attendants in the shops didn't understand what I was asking for, I had to show them a leaflet from Axxess detailing their new prepaid bandwidth option before they understood what I wanted.
People who want to avoid using their credit card for online purchases will benefit from this.
The voucher looks like a standard cellphone recharge voucher. Displayed on the voucher is the package you bought (eg Axxess 1Gb ADSL), the method of payment, and your ADSL username and password.
There also is an helpdesk number on the voucher, in case assistance is required.
Bandwidth Usage Tracking
To view your bandwidth usage and statistics, you can point your browser to http://engen.adsl.co.za and login with your prepaid adsl username and password to access your control panel. (Screenshot of login screen)
I have taken a screenshot of the traffic usage page here
You also have the option to topup your account via direct deposit, credit card and the such after hours. No debit cards can be used at this stage, but if your bank supports it, and you can use Internet banking, then you can pay them this way. Or you can just run down to the closest Engen and get another prepaid voucher.
Banking details is here, remember to put in your username or account number as your reference. After paying in the required amounts, you can then email the proof of payment to payments at adsl dot co dot za, and topup will be done immediately.
Security and Warnings
Axxess have the option to send an email or SMS to you (free of charge) to inform you when one of the following happens :
On Network Faults [N/A] Receive SMS [X] Receive E-mail
Approaching ADSL Cap [X] Receive SMS [X] Receive E-mail
Exceeded ADSL Cap [X] Receive SMS [X] Receive E-mail
You also have the ability to "lock" your account to your ADSL line, meaning that in the event that somebody'll manage to snaffle your ADSL login credentials, said credentials will be useless to the thief.
Screenshot of services
Note - The password is numerical at present, but they are in the process of implementing changes to enable you to use alphanumerical passwords as well.
General impressions
Before I bought the voucher, I contacted Axxess regarding this prepaid product of theirs, and the one lady (thanks Jo-Anne!) responded promptly and efficiently, with the required information. Kudos goes to their helpdesk staff for being efficient.
General considerations
At this moment this prepaid voucher should work on any Telkom adsl line, from 384k up to 4Mb. The only requirement is that you replace the username/password credentials currently in use with the username/password credentials on the voucher and away you go.
For users who uses PPPoE dialup connections (or Smoothwall/IPCop) this will be really easy, but for users whose routers/modems initiates the connection, this will mean that they have to log into the modem/router's setup and add the new username/password credentials in order to connect.
Suggestions
I'm a bit cautious of having an ADSL prepaid voucher printed out at the shop, especially when the opportunity to score an ADSL username/password is excellent (when an dishonest employee could simply write down the login credentials and SMS it to his friends for abuse). I don't know how this can be improved or prevented, but the possibility for abuse is there.
One suggestion is to watch the cashier prints the voucher out and take it immediately from him, thus giving him no time to write things down, and to change the password at the first opportunity. Also, should the cashier try to hand you a "preprinted" voucher (one that was printed a long while before) to you, don't accept it, but insists on one fresh from the printer. (Hint : At the bottom of the voucher should be the date and time of purchase, do check if it matches the current time closely, if not, insists on a fresh one).
Also, do follow best practices with prepaid ADSL accounts as with any ADSL account to prevent bandwidth theft.
Expiry
According to Axxess's site here, the maximum period for any voucher, before expiry, is three years.
Awesome - so you can use it as a gift voucher as well. Thanks for Idol who supplied this information.
MIscellaneous
All Axxess PP vouchers use fiber for international connectivity via SAIX.
[highlight]NOTE :
Several people have already contacted me to tell me that my login details are visible on the slip - the slip's only as an example, and is not mine, it is provided by axxess themselves on their login page to show you what to type in.[/highlight]
Just want to put a rave in regarding Axxess's prepaid option.
Last week I bought an R70 voucher at an Engen petrol station. This move by Axxess made it easier for me to obtain an ADSL account without slogging through web pages or having a credit card at the ready. Just pop in at your nearest Engen branch, drop down some moola, pick up your voucher and pop out again, simple as that.
Although the attendants in the shops didn't understand what I was asking for, I had to show them a leaflet from Axxess detailing their new prepaid bandwidth option before they understood what I wanted.
People who want to avoid using their credit card for online purchases will benefit from this.
The voucher looks like a standard cellphone recharge voucher. Displayed on the voucher is the package you bought (eg Axxess 1Gb ADSL), the method of payment, and your ADSL username and password.
There also is an helpdesk number on the voucher, in case assistance is required.
Bandwidth Usage Tracking
To view your bandwidth usage and statistics, you can point your browser to http://engen.adsl.co.za and login with your prepaid adsl username and password to access your control panel. (Screenshot of login screen)
I have taken a screenshot of the traffic usage page here
You also have the option to topup your account via direct deposit, credit card and the such after hours. No debit cards can be used at this stage, but if your bank supports it, and you can use Internet banking, then you can pay them this way. Or you can just run down to the closest Engen and get another prepaid voucher.
Banking details is here, remember to put in your username or account number as your reference. After paying in the required amounts, you can then email the proof of payment to payments at adsl dot co dot za, and topup will be done immediately.
Security and Warnings
Axxess have the option to send an email or SMS to you (free of charge) to inform you when one of the following happens :
On Network Faults [N/A] Receive SMS [X] Receive E-mail
Approaching ADSL Cap [X] Receive SMS [X] Receive E-mail
Exceeded ADSL Cap [X] Receive SMS [X] Receive E-mail
You also have the ability to "lock" your account to your ADSL line, meaning that in the event that somebody'll manage to snaffle your ADSL login credentials, said credentials will be useless to the thief.
Screenshot of services
Note - The password is numerical at present, but they are in the process of implementing changes to enable you to use alphanumerical passwords as well.
General impressions
Before I bought the voucher, I contacted Axxess regarding this prepaid product of theirs, and the one lady (thanks Jo-Anne!) responded promptly and efficiently, with the required information. Kudos goes to their helpdesk staff for being efficient.
General considerations
At this moment this prepaid voucher should work on any Telkom adsl line, from 384k up to 4Mb. The only requirement is that you replace the username/password credentials currently in use with the username/password credentials on the voucher and away you go.
For users who uses PPPoE dialup connections (or Smoothwall/IPCop) this will be really easy, but for users whose routers/modems initiates the connection, this will mean that they have to log into the modem/router's setup and add the new username/password credentials in order to connect.
Suggestions
I'm a bit cautious of having an ADSL prepaid voucher printed out at the shop, especially when the opportunity to score an ADSL username/password is excellent (when an dishonest employee could simply write down the login credentials and SMS it to his friends for abuse). I don't know how this can be improved or prevented, but the possibility for abuse is there.
One suggestion is to watch the cashier prints the voucher out and take it immediately from him, thus giving him no time to write things down, and to change the password at the first opportunity. Also, should the cashier try to hand you a "preprinted" voucher (one that was printed a long while before) to you, don't accept it, but insists on one fresh from the printer. (Hint : At the bottom of the voucher should be the date and time of purchase, do check if it matches the current time closely, if not, insists on a fresh one).
Also, do follow best practices with prepaid ADSL accounts as with any ADSL account to prevent bandwidth theft.
Expiry
According to Axxess's site here, the maximum period for any voucher, before expiry, is three years.
Awesome - so you can use it as a gift voucher as well. Thanks for Idol who supplied this information.
MIscellaneous
All Axxess PP vouchers use fiber for international connectivity via SAIX.
[highlight]NOTE :
Several people have already contacted me to tell me that my login details are visible on the slip - the slip's only as an example, and is not mine, it is provided by axxess themselves on their login page to show you what to type in.[/highlight]
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This way there is no need to pay any ISP on a monthly base for internet access. The only monthly fee will be your ADSL line rental. You can also use the voucher system to supplement your existing ISP broadband account.
