Abuse of Chorus API's for unsolicited mail? What do you guys think?

Forums › New Zealand Broadband › Abuse of Chorus API's for unsolicited mail? What do you guys think?

nztim

618 posts

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#272134 10-Jun-2020 20:06

So I usually just throw junk mail like this in the rubbish but one thing caught my eye

Vodafone sent this out to me (after doing an obvious line check) knowing that I was on Fibre already (see pic)

So my question is, targeted at those of us like myself who are in the business of selling broadband does this in your opinion constitute misuse/abuse of Chorus API's / CCM

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#2502544 10-Jun-2020 20:17

IIRC Chorus used to provide an excel spreadsheet regularly with the install/connection status of every address on their fibre network for this exact purpose. If anything I'd say this is expected and encouraged use by most if not all LFC's.

snnet

896 posts

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#2502549 10-Jun-2020 20:30

Have had these from several ISPs myself, not that it's ever motivated me to go with them. I guess some ISPs think some people don't know their address is fibre-ready

nztim

618 posts

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#2502573 10-Jun-2020 21:30

lucky015:
If anything I'd say this is expected and encouraged use by most if not all LFC's.

Guess the LFC needs to meet its churn quota

nztim

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#2502574 10-Jun-2020 21:32

snnet: I guess some ISPs think some people don't know their address is fibre-ready

Fibre Ready vs Looking up, seeing you have an active connection, encourageing you to churn to them are totally different things IMHO

DarkShadow

1629 posts

Uber Geek

#2502597 10-Jun-2020 23:03

It's this file "ONT status at address"

https://sp.chorus.co.nz/report/ont-status-address

There's nothing suspicious about using it for marketing.

Lias

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#2502670 11-Jun-2020 06:50

Kind of weird that CSV being publicly accessible, but access to the API required to convert the unique ID back to actual addresses is locked away where the general public can't access it.

Information wants to be free. The Net interprets censorship as damage and routes around it.

chevrolux

4563 posts

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#2502683 11-Jun-2020 08:14

Considering the public Chorus address checker says the same thing, I don't see this as an issue.

antonknee

349 posts

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#2502796 11-Jun-2020 10:43

I don't see it as an issue either frankly. In fact I'd quite like to be contacted to be told I can save some money or get a better service.

As long as it doesn't go beyond this (ie I don't want multiple letters about it, or phone calls following up) then that's fine IMO.

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Linux

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#2502807 11-Jun-2020 11:09

No issue move along!

Intravix

95 posts

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#2503215 11-Jun-2020 19:53

As far as I know at least 2 or 3 of the LFCs (including Chorus) provide address data to RSPs with details on existing connections.

snnet

896 posts

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#2503228 11-Jun-2020 20:44

it's generally the same setup as power companies - they can access ICPs in network owners' databases if they want, to see which customer is with which power company

nztim

618 posts

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#2503240 11-Jun-2020 21:43

Intravix:

As far as I know at least 2 or 3 of the LFCs (including Chorus) provide address data to RSPs with details on existing connections.

Yup of course they do, we are an RSP and we can see it - That is not the point the point is how RSP uses that data

BarTender

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#2503242 11-Jun-2020 21:56

So any RSP can see the status of a line, they can't see which other RSP you are with other than "Other Provider"

Meh, it's outward marketing, and looking for the low hanging fruit of folks already on Fibre.

And who would sign up to Vodafone anyway?

and

nztim

618 posts

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#2503247 11-Jun-2020 22:14

BarTender:

So any RSP can see the status of a line, they can't see which other RSP you are with other than "Other Provider"

and the ASID for churning

dfnt

1177 posts

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#2503250 11-Jun-2020 22:29

nztim:

Vodafone sent this out to me

I got this letter today as well, I saw the Vodafone logo and put it straight into the shredder without opening it

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