Rant about trying to upgrade to get more data allowance

Forums › Spark New Zealand (including Skinny and BigPipe) › Rant about trying to upgrade to get more data allowance

nix

147 posts

Master Geek

#61537 18-May-2010 16:56

My family are big internet users. Every month we use every last byte of data on our Telecom Total Home package data plan. If we go over we pay $20 extra a MB.

We are struggling to stay within our 40GB so we thought we'd upgrade to the business plan and get 60GB. Also, I do have a business and I have a Telecom mobile and a TStick for mobile data. Simple really - pay extra money and get some extra GB. But no. Telecom have just informed me that we have 154 days owing on our contract and will have to pay $199 to break that contract and move to a business line.

So we have to pay extra money ... to give them extra money ... of course at $20 per GB that $199 is probably paid back well before the 154 days is up. But that's not really the point is it?

quickymart

13944 posts

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#331472 18-May-2010 17:15

nix: My family are big internet users. Every month we use every last byte of data on our Telecom Total Home package data plan. If we go over we pay $20 extra a MB....

Huh?

nix

147 posts

Master Geek

#331476 18-May-2010 17:17

Whoops $20 extra a GB ...

gehenna

8502 posts

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#331483 18-May-2010 17:21

I've got no real sympathy....the details of your contract are all there in print for you to read any time you choose. It might be a different story to upgrade your consumer plan data cap, but switching from consumer to business plan really is a whole other issue that requires one account to be closed and another opened. Seems fairly standard to me.

Which is also why I opt for non-fixed term contracts where possible, even if they cost a little more in the beginning it's better than being stung if you need to change halfway through.

nix

147 posts

Master Geek

#331498 18-May-2010 17:45

The trouble is that 40GB is the top of the range plan. To get more you pay an astounding $20 per GB.

gehenna

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#331504 18-May-2010 17:51

Other ISP's offer far greater data caps than that. Perhaps it's time to move ISP completely.

k1wi

484 posts

Ultimate Geek

#331506 18-May-2010 17:54

Have you considered big time? Depending on what you use your connection for it's probably ideal for your family if you're going over 40GBs a month... Plus it's cheaper to boot.

k1wi

heavenlywild

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#331530 18-May-2010 18:54

gehenna: Other ISP's offer far greater data caps than that. Perhaps it's time to move ISP completely.

Yes I think what your current ISP is offering is obviously not compatible with your requirements. Look at other options as the ISP won't budge on pricing.

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old3eyes

9119 posts

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#331532 18-May-2010 18:57

You could switch to a business plan and get 60Gig..

Regards,

Old3eyes

nix

147 posts

Master Geek

#331534 18-May-2010 19:07

@k1w1 we did try Bigtime and found that our line speed was cut in half. I have some print screens that show what happened then. We couldn't watch a streamed YouTube without it buffering. Our speed was so bad tha downloads would time out and it was all a huge mess.

@gehenna that might be the only option

@old3eyes that's what we actually want to do - switch to a business plan and get a 60GB plan. Re-read my first post ...

NonprayingMantis

6434 posts

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#331537 18-May-2010 19:11

old3eyes: You could switch to a business plan and get 60Gig..

did you read the OP? that is what he was tyring to do.

because he is on a contract with total home, and the bus plans are not available on that to change to the business plans he wouldhave to pay a break fee (which seems ridiculous. he wants to spend more money.)
(
It could be something to do with recouping the cost of the modem and free connection, since you get a new one with the business plans, and possibly need a new connection)

gehenna: Other ISP's offer far greater data caps than that. Perhaps it's time to move ISP completely.

heavenlywild: Yes I think what your current ISP is offering is obviously not compatible with your requirements. Look at other options as the ISP won't budge on pricing.

same for you guys. reading the OP might help. moving ISPs will still mean a contract break fee - which is what he wants to avoid.

here is a useful tip for the OP:

you can make one free plan change every month as long as you only use consumer plans. when you do this your usage meter gets reset. you pay for the plan pro-rata, but you get the full amount of usage for the month, regardless of how long in the month you have the plan for.
What you can do therefore is use Pro (the 40GB plan) until you get close to your cap, then switch to the 20GB plan (I forget the name) and use that 20GB. or maybe switch to BigTime - whichever you prefer.
next month do the opposite. lather rinse repeat.