Broadband Account Types Removed

Forums › Vodafone New Zealand (including Vodafone, WxC, Farmside) › Broadband Account Types Removed

jasonbrice

100 posts

Master Geek

#21559 30-Apr-2008 15:47

Hi,

I have just found that Vodafone has halved the amount of data allocated to my connection because the have removed the account type that I have been on for the last two or three years. I used to be on 20Gb during peak hours, plus 20Gb for off-peak. Now I have limit of 20Gb in total, regardless of time of day, and have been subject to a fair use policy which they reduce your speed if you download more than 2Gb in one day.

I have made three calls to them, and I am still waiting for a manager to get back to me.

I think this is a very poor level of service.

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VFNZPaulBrislen

970 posts

Ultimate Geek

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Vodafone

#127321 30-Apr-2008 15:50

Hi Jason,

I believe you're on Broadband 3, is that right?

Ihug changed the plan some time ago - several months I believe.

There is quite a thread on it here on Geekzone I seem to recall...

Cheers

Paul

Paul Brislen
Head of Corporate Communications
Vodafone

http://forum.vodafone.co.nz

jasonbrice

100 posts

Master Geek

#127323 30-Apr-2008 15:53

Hi,

I was on a very old plan called Broadband Medium. My account only changed this month, as of April 21.

Can you direct me to the older thread?

Thanks,
JB

VFNZPaulBrislen

970 posts

Ultimate Geek

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Vodafone

#127324 30-Apr-2008 15:58

This is the thread I'm thinking about. Hope that answers your questions.

Cheers

Paul

Paul Brislen
Head of Corporate Communications
Vodafone

http://forum.vodafone.co.nz

bazzer

3392 posts

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#127329 30-Apr-2008 16:15

I agree, it's pretty poor. Here's what vodafone help has to say about it:

"Question
I've noticed that Vodafone have launched new broadband plans. I'm on an older broadband plan, what will happen to my plan now?

Answer
You'll stay on your existing plan unless you decide to sign up for one of our new plans."

But now they've added...

"On March 1st 2008, we are working with some customers to move them from our old broadband plans to our current broadband 1-7 plans. We are doing this to ensure that all our existing customers are on the very best plan they can be with us. For more information, on this click here

You can upgrade your plan at any time using My Vodafone - your new plan should be activated within 1 - 2 working days."

Follow the link and it says, amongst other things:
"While customers on these old plans may not be able to get exactly what they have today - we've tried to ensure that all customers affected by these changes are changing to plans that offer everything they have today for the same or better monthly price."

Sounds like you got a raw deal. I found that as the speeds have increased, prices have generally stayed the same but data allowance decreased. When I changed to the 3.5M plan, I got a bit less data I think but faster top speed (although my line never really reached that speed anyway).

Doesn't seem right that they can just kick you off that plan because it doesn't suit them. And their excuse that they "wanted to make sure all our existing customers were getting the best possible deal and plan that we can offer them" is ridiculous.

jasonbrice

100 posts

Master Geek

#127330 30-Apr-2008 16:21

Hey Bazzer,

Thanks for the sympathy. I think Vodafone probably don't realize that high-use accounts can be thought of in a strategic sense... we're more likely to promote the fact that they're a good service provider. Grrrrr.

Does VF offer POP access only accounts? They're not listed on the website.

Thanks,
JB

bazzer

3392 posts

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#127331 30-Apr-2008 16:26

They don't seem to advertise it (well I couln't find it), but they offer Get 3 which is a dialup account with 3 hours included. This gets you up to 5 free email addresses. I believe it costs $4.95/month.

Is this what you meant?

It's perfect if you want to rid yourself of them and keep your email addresses. I was loyal for over 10 years but in the end, they just weren't offering value in my opinion. Or if you know someone with a broadband plan (includes 10 free emails) you could just transfer your email addresses to their account to look after them for you, that's what I did.

manhinli

2483 posts

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#127332 30-Apr-2008 16:31

bazzer: They don't seem to advertise it (well I couln't find it), but they offer Get 3 which is a dialup account with 3 hours included. This gets you up to 5 free email addresses. I believe it costs $4.95/month.

Get 3 is a grandfathered plan and Vodafone only sells one dial up plan.

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bazzer

3392 posts

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#127335 30-Apr-2008 16:42

manhinli:
bazzer: They don't seem to advertise it (well I couln't find it), but they offer Get 3 which is a dialup account with 3 hours included. This gets you up to 5 free email addresses. I believe it costs $4.95/month.

Get 3 is a grandfathered plan and Vodafone only sells one dial up plan.

Except that a number of times that I rang up and said I wanted to cancel my plan and asked if they had a email only plan, they offered me Get 3. This was as recently as a fortnight ago. So, you may be right but that's not the impression the multiple CSRs I talked to gave me.

jasonbrice

100 posts

Master Geek

#127354 30-Apr-2008 18:23

Hrmmm... I'm not looking forward to this. I think the Get3 plan would suit me down to the ground, unless Vodafone can come up with some adequate compromise.

jasonbrice

100 posts

Master Geek

#127532 1-May-2008 12:08

Well, this is odd... my account is back to as it was before the 25th.

When I spoke to Vodafone originally, one of the CSRs said that I had changed my account on that date, but then revised it saying that a team leader in marketing had changed it.

I am showing my 20Gb limit for off-peak and 20Gb for on-peak.

I have had no formal response from Vodafone saying they are switching me back, so I hope this isn't a temporary aberration.

If there is a VF angel out there somewhere, then thanks!

Jason

jasonbrice

100 posts

Master Geek

#128039 2-May-2008 21:04

Okay, another update... on Thursday, when I got home, I found that some VF CSRs had been calling on my old cell number, not the one I provided them when I originally complained. They told me they were giving back my old account, with 20GB peak, and 20Gb off-peak. Cool. And they'd also *upgraded* my maximum dl to 7.6 Mbps. Even cooler!

But I am now subject to the 2Gb/day fair use policy. Which means I can download the files I want at lightning speed one day, but sucking mud up a hose the next. I don't want to come across as a total complainer, but I can't see what practical use their policy is... it's not as if they're going to get hammered on the 1st of the month through to the 15th when everyone's plans run out... all the users have different anniversary dates.

Paul, can you explain why this policy was instituted?

Many thanks,
Jason

manhinli

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#128041 2-May-2008 21:06

Just as a question: how much do you pay each month for the old plan?

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jasonbrice

100 posts

Master Geek

#128099 3-May-2008 00:31

$69.95, which includes a $10 discount for IHUG tolls.

It's not *that* cheap compared to plans offered by Slingshot, but at the time I got it, it was the best value for money for my purposes, and as I have said, I have been with them for donkey's years.

In 1996, I think I paid $39.95 for unlimited dial-up from ES Net - a Dunedin based company, which was a bargain compared to the service I had previously via the Christchurch based Plains Communicats (PlaNET). A lot of my contacts still have my @es.co.nz address.

IHUG bought out ES Net in 1997, when the Woods brother were still involved in the company. Also, I was one of their first users for satellite internet (I now work in the GPS industry, more satellites...), which when they phased it out, was *faster* than the ADSL plans available.

Old school, friends. That's how I roll. :-)

paradoxsm

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#128104 3-May-2008 00:46

PlaNET, yikes! I was using them when Mosaic was the king. I also was a very early adopter of starnet back in the early days. And remember ihug digital TV?, I still have the net/tv combo card, I wonder if it works with DVB-S (freeview)

jasonbrice

100 posts

Master Geek

#128105 3-May-2008 02:46

I never used the TV service... was it available down here in Christchurch?

Impressed by PlaNET, huh?

Well, I had one of the very first student email accounts issued by the Computer Services Centre at Canterbury. I was an Arts student, and they couldn't figure out why I'd need/want one, so I had to get a signed letter from my Department Head. I can't remember what news client I used, but I do remember that PINE was the email client.

I spent most of the year posting on Usenet. Didn't do my studies any help at the time, but it's paid off since. ;-)

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