PSA: Check your Spark monthly bill - are you paying an avoidable "Ultra VDSL" surcharge?

Forums › Spark New Zealand › PSA: Check your Spark monthly bill - are you paying an avoidable "Ultra VDSL" surcharge?

bakery2k

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Topic # 216636 5-Jul-2017 23:57

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In the past, Spark charged $9.99 per month for "Ultra VDSL" on top of the price for ADSL. However, their current plans have ADSL and VDSL at the same price [1].

If you have changed to a current Spark VDSL plan (and are not on a fixed-term contract), you should be paying the current price (i.e. no $9.99 surcharge). Unfortunately it seems Spark may only stop charging the extra $9.99 if you contact them and ask.

This was the case for "kiwipearls" [2] and "Jase2985" [3]. Both of these Geekzone members were paying the $9.99 surcharge - when they spoke to Spark about it, they were able to get the surcharge removed from their bills and obtain a refund of the surcharges paid since November 2016.

I too have contacted Spark to get the $9.99 surcharge removed from my bill. Unfortunately I was not able to get previously-paid surcharges refunded, but at least I will not be paying the surcharge from now on.

Make sure you are not paying an avoidable "Ultra VDSL" surcharge either.

[1] https://www.spark.co.nz/shop/internet/plans-and-pricing/
[2] https://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=39&topicid=205529&page_no=2#1700617
[3] https://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=39&topicid=205529&page_no=2#1700809

sbiddle

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Reply # 1813518 6-Jul-2017 02:00

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IMHO Spark should not be automatically waiving this charge. If they decide to do so to invididuals is up to them.

At the time you entered into your VDSL2 agreement Spark entered into an agreement with Chorus to ay them $10 per month extra for VDSL2 which also included the provisionon of a master filter. The cost of this was amortised rather than being an up front one off fee.

Spark may still well be paying this fee to Chorus for your connection. Do you think it's fair that you're now not paying it to Spark?

BarTender

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Reply # 1813531 6-Jul-2017 07:22

sbiddle:

IMHO Spark should not be automatically waiving this charge. If they decide to do so to individuals is up to them.

At the time you entered into your VDSL2 agreement Spark entered into an agreement with Chorus to ay them $10 per month extra for VDSL2 which also included the provisioning of a master filter. The cost of this was amortised rather than being an up front one off fee.

Spark may still well be paying this fee to Chorus for your connection. Do you think it's fair that you're now not paying it to Spark?

(Fixed your shocking spelling too there @sbiddle)

I'm fairly sure the VDSL Master Filter install cost charged at a wholesale rate was $400 including GST when VDSL first launched, now for the Splitter install it's $200.

I share your disappointment that it's not mandatory as it make a vast improvement to your own line and not to the detriment of your neighbours.