Slingshot Redirects to Overdue Account Page when browsing

Forums › 2degrees (including Slingshot, Orcon, Flip, Stuff Fibre, MyRepublic, 2talk and Vocus) › Slingshot Redirects to Overdue Account Page when browsing

gnfb

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#111147 25-Oct-2012 16:27

I was working away today and suddenly I'm redirected to a Overdue Account Page by slingshot.
Ok so firstly yes the account was overdue by slingshot requirements.
But I cant quiteput my finger on what upsets me about it I mean ...It just doesnt feel right. Its like getting a letter through the mail sayiing 'HIV TEST RESULTS" on the outside of the envelope Its not cricket!!
I mean we all know that like the Power and the internet they are the two bills we have to pay as they have the power to turn you off.
I dont know it not very tasteful!! LOL They wouldnt bedoing it if there was competition thats for sure
Oh well

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#706355 25-Oct-2012 16:28

So you have an overdue account but you don't like getting redirected to a page advising this?

khull

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#706357 25-Oct-2012 16:30

I'm pretty sure this is written into the ToS

mattwnz

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#706361 25-Oct-2012 16:34

gnfb1234: I mean we all know that like the Power and the internet they are the two bills we have to pay as they have the power to turn you off.
I dont know it not very tasteful!! LOL They wouldnt bedoing it if there was competition thats for sure
Oh well

So you are complaining because they cut you off for having an overdue account, and they are informing you of this when you try to browse the internet?

There is also a huge amount of competition now in the ISP market.

freitasm

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#706365 25-Oct-2012 16:40

You say there is competition. Move then. But don't complain if the new ISP cuts the service without warning - Slingshot is being nice in comparison.

insane

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#706366 25-Oct-2012 16:41

Ahh the old wall garden is awesome, surprised more ISPs don't do it.

I guess this thread just proves it's effectiveness.

Sucks if you have a genuine billing dispute :)

mattwnz

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#706372 25-Oct-2012 16:53

freitasm: You say there is competition. Move then. But don't complain if the new ISP cuts the service without warning - Slingshot is being nice in comparison.

I think they were implying that there isn't any competition.

freitasm

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#706377 25-Oct-2012 16:55

But there is. Plenty.

Sharesies

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Slingshot

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Slingshot

#706378 25-Oct-2012 16:55

gnfb1234: I was working away today and suddenly I'm redirected to a Overdue Account Page by slingshot.
Ok so firstly yes the account was overdue by slingshot requirements.
But I cant quiteput my finger on what upsets me about it I mean ...It just doesnt feel right. Its like getting a letter through the mail sayiing 'HIV TEST RESULTS" on the outside of the envelope Its not cricket!!
I mean we all know that like the Power and the internet they are the two bills we have to pay as they have the power to turn you off.
I dont know it not very tasteful!! LOL They wouldnt bedoing it if there was competition thats for sure
Oh well

Hi,

This is a new form of overdue notice we have implemented today - if it isn't working correctly please let me know via private message with your account number, as its new I apologise if this is the case.

We felt that this would be an effective way to advise customers of their account status in order to prevent blocking or disconnecting happening. Also, as it is new we would be very open to feedback and suggestions - again, probably best if you PM these to me so.

Thanks,
Ben

www.slingshot.co.nz

www.twitter.com/SlingshotNZ

https://www.facebook.com/SlingshotNZ

skewt

750 posts

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#706505 25-Oct-2012 20:34

I remember ihug used to do this a few years ago

Don't know of anyone else doing it these days other than Slingshot

NonprayingMantis

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#706508 25-Oct-2012 20:42

Sounds like a good feature to me.

My suggestion is you pay your bill rather than trying to consume services you haven't paid for. Seems pretty simple and straightforward to me.

DravidDavid

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#706573 25-Oct-2012 22:37

I was going to type a big post about how Slingshot is going out of their way to develop a service that lets you know that you have not paid them yet...But it came across a little rude.

I have credit card details in my account. I get the bill via email the day after my billing date and have 10 days to review it. I think that is more than enough time to check and pay. But it comes out of my credit card automatically, so I don't have to worry!
I can see how it would feel intrusive seeing that pop up on your screen all the time...But Slingshot are one of the cheapest on the market. I think because of that, they attract customers that can't pay for those services more often than not. This makes an aggressive way to notify customers a requirement to keep money flowing in.

That is my theory anyway.

mattwnz

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#706593 25-Oct-2012 23:53

DravidDavid:But Slingshot are one of the cheapest on the market. I think because of that, they attract customers that can't pay for those services more often than not. This makes an aggressive way to notify customers a requirement to keep money flowing in.

That is my theory anyway.

If you decide to provide a service that caters to the lower end of the market, you are going to get a lot of people who don't pay their bills on time. So I can see why they have done it. I recall that I was with a free ISP years ago on dial up that did something similar when you had used you free hours, may have been slingshots predecessor.
The only problem I see is if you then resell that service, or provide free wifi to your customers, eg in a cafe shop or motel. Then all their customers would probably also get that message, which doesn't look good for the company.

NonprayingMantis

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#706597 26-Oct-2012 00:06

mattwnz:
DravidDavid:But Slingshot are one of the cheapest on the market. I think because of that, they attract customers that can't pay for those services more often than not. This makes an aggressive way to notify customers a requirement to keep money flowing in.

That is my theory anyway.

If you decide to provide a service that caters to the lower end of the market, you are going to get a lot of people who don't pay their bills on time. So I can see why they have done it. I recall that I was with a free ISP years ago on dial up that did something similar when you had used you free hours, may have been slingshots predecessor.
The only problem I see is if you then resell that service, or provide free wifi to your customers, eg in a cafe shop or motel. Then all their customers would probably also get that message, which doesn't look good for the company.

This is a problem why exactly? If anything it is a benefit since it encourages the cafe or moel to pay their bills on time. They don't like it when their customers don't pay, so why would they expect slingshot to be any different.

mattwnz

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#706605 26-Oct-2012 00:38

NonprayingMantis:This is a problem why exactly? If anything it is a benefit since it encourages the cafe or moel to pay their bills on time. They don't like it when their customers don't pay, so why would they expect slingshot to be any different.

It's a problem if they get it wrong, and make a billing error, and then that message is displayed . I hate latepayers too, and wouldn't have any problems with that sort of message if I hadn't paid my bill, but companies can also make errors. Also some people may not pay their bills on time due to unforseen circumstances or they are overseas at the time I have seen it all myself. Just like I have had my internet provider make billing mistakes.

farcus

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#706617 26-Oct-2012 03:26

Slingshot:

This is a new form of overdue notice we have implemented today - if it isn't working correctly please let me know via private message with your account number, as its new I apologise if this is the case.

We felt that this would be an effective way to advise customers of their account status in order to prevent blocking or disconnecting happening. Also, as it is new we would be very open to feedback and suggestions - again, probably best if you PM these to me so.

Thanks,
Ben

how overdue does a customers account have to be before they will receive this notification?
Or does it depend on the customers payment history?

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