TerribleTalk:

eXDee:

TerribleTalk: Our free broadband services may seem crazy but it's designed for those that simply can't afford the internet, and live on dial up speeds the best way around it was making the resource free. We're working on raising the free data cap to something more reasonable but these things take time.

If someone can't afford the net, how do they pay the massive $249 sign up fee? And the sudden spike to $85 the moment they go over 10gb, i assume with very little to no warning?
Additionally the column says "12 month term" with "Sign up fee $149" then the small print says: "*1 signup is $249.00 wthout a 24 month contract and $149.00 with a 24 month contract, Termination fee on open term is $99.00 *signup cost may differ on free plan." So according to the small print, if you sign up on a 12 month contract (which is obviously not a 24 month contract), you actually have to pay $249. If you want the lower sign up fee of $149, you have to sign for 24 months, contradictory to the data in the column.

IMO this is trying to draw people in with advertising that its "free" then trying to catch them out with high fees all over the place, especially in the fact that it's contradictory and confusing.

We don't have 24 month contracts (that would be madness) 
We actually cut people off at the free cap then contact them if they'd like to "run over' we aren't in the business of scamming people! We maintain a high level of contact with all our customers to ensure they don't experience bill shock.

Due to how NZ telecoms work, we sometimes have a higher sign up fee in remote parts of NZ, when we lowered the cost their are certain parts of the country that cost more. this is to reflect that. The difference at sign up only be $10. Most provider do this, the difference is they have more fine print than we do. 

eXDee:

TerribleTalk:

eXDee:

TerribleTalk: Our free broadband services may seem crazy but it's designed for those that simply can't afford the internet, and live on dial up speeds the best way around it was making the resource free. We're working on raising the free data cap to something more reasonable but these things take time.

If someone can't afford the net, how do they pay the massive $249 sign up fee? And the sudden spike to $85 the moment they go over 10gb, i assume with very little to no warning?
Additionally the column says "12 month term" with "Sign up fee $149" then the small print says: "*1 signup is $249.00 wthout a 24 month contract and $149.00 with a 24 month contract, Termination fee on open term is $99.00 *signup cost may differ on free plan." So according to the small print, if you sign up on a 12 month contract (which is obviously not a 24 month contract), you actually have to pay $249. If you want the lower sign up fee of $149, you have to sign for 24 months, contradictory to the data in the column.

IMO this is trying to draw people in with advertising that its "free" then trying to catch them out with high fees all over the place, especially in the fact that it's contradictory and confusing.

We don't have 24 month contracts (that would be madness) 
We actually cut people off at the free cap then contact them if they'd like to "run over' we aren't in the business of scamming people! We maintain a high level of contact with all our customers to ensure they don't experience bill shock.

Due to how NZ telecoms work, we sometimes have a higher sign up fee in remote parts of NZ, when we lowered the cost their are certain parts of the country that cost more. this is to reflect that. The difference at sign up only be $10. Most provider do this, the difference is they have more fine print than we do. 

Right, that clarifies some things. If theres no 24 month contracts, that should be removed from your small print then? It's just all this confusion comes across as misleading. Also is it $249 or $149?
Also if it cuts off at the free cap you should market this when advertising the free data - no surprises/bill shock etc. Otherwise people assume it's there to catch people out.

NonprayingMantis: hope your CEO has lots of money, because with that sort of business model you are going to be haemorrhaging cash constantly, and nobody in their right mind is going to invest.

It's easy to say you are a social benefit company who donates its profits to charity when you aren't making any profits!


Having said that, good luck.   I give you 6 months.

TerribleTalk:

NonprayingMantis: hope your CEO has lots of money, because with that sort of business model you are going to be haemorrhaging cash constantly, and nobody in their right mind is going to invest.

It's easy to say you are a social benefit company who donates its profits to charity when you aren't making any profits!


Having said that, good luck.   I give you 6 months.

1. Giving away broadband is sustainable and profitable if done correctly. (which we believe we've cracked) I good business to look at whom half did it was flip, they gave away the broadband part but still charged for the phoneline. Our only difference is we give away the whole thing, sounds mad but does actually work. 


2. We only donate the profits from our Residential services the business accounts do not donate their account balance. this is where we make our profits to pay our staff (like myself) improve our services and create we products. 

3. This business has been operating since 2012, we were spun out of an existing company in April, to allow for stronger growth. 

  

TerribleTalk:It isn't I suggest you empty your cache.

We maintain a level of support with each customer that starts with a phone call before they've even got the service so they know all the ins and outs. This is where the Free data limits are explained. We can either kill the service at the free cap or let it run over this choice is the customers.  It's a different approach we even have a direct contact to our CEO if the call centre doesn't cut it for you. (which is displayed on our contact pages, and sign up page) To allow you to get some ear time with the guy at the top air your views get better service levels, understand our plans and everything else right from the top of the food chain! 

How many companies offer this level of service? We haven't got all the basics covered but reading your feedback we can fill in the blanks and provide more information where required.

eXDee:
Also where did the name Terrible come from, i can't think why anyone would want to use a negative word to describe their company?

coffeebaron: What does "sign up cost may differ on free plan" mean?

Also if you hit your 10GB and opt for no more, does your VoIP phone still work? Is your VoIP traffic zero rated, or does it use your data allowance?

eXDee:

TerribleTalk:It isn't I suggest you empty your cache.

We maintain a level of support with each customer that starts with a phone call before they've even got the service so they know all the ins and outs. This is where the Free data limits are explained. We can either kill the service at the free cap or let it run over this choice is the customers.  It's a different approach we even have a direct contact to our CEO if the call centre doesn't cut it for you. (which is displayed on our contact pages, and sign up page) To allow you to get some ear time with the guy at the top air your views get better service levels, understand our plans and everything else right from the top of the food chain! 

How many companies offer this level of service? We haven't got all the basics covered but reading your feedback we can fill in the blanks and provide more information where required.

Right, didn't realise it had been fixed.

Also the comment on making it clear was a marketing suggestion - the fact that there is no bill shock for people is a very important thing to put forward. If you tell someone that theres no strings/hidden costs, they sit up and listen more. It would have certainly helped a lot of people in this thread.

Also where did the name Terrible come from, i can't think why anyone would want to use a negative word to describe their company?

NonprayingMantis:Hell Pizza?

eXDee:

NonprayingMantis:Hell Pizza?

Hell at least has a certain branding/theme to it though. Its intentionally controversial. And it's largely only offensive to a certain group of people.

Whereas the word terrible doesn't really have anything to go with it.