Overcharged by Slingshot for months - warning to existing customers

Forums › 2degrees (including Slingshot, Orcon, Flip, Stuff Fibre, MyRepublic, 2talk and Vocus) › Overcharged by Slingshot for months - warning to existing customers

dusty42

117 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 28

#154199 20-Oct-2014 21:44

Wow,

What an awful company.

Slingshot reduced the price for dsl broadband months ago, but charge existing customers the previous price and will not reduce it unless the customer asks.

The contact center tonight confirmed it is their policy to try and keep customers paying the old rates for the same service. They hope you won't notice the price drop and will keep autopaying an extra $10-20/month.

This seems like a scam to overcharge existing customers. They have been skimming an extra $15 a month out of us for at least 3 months - our plan is no longer offered by the company, but they charge us for it!

Decided the best thing to do is make a formal complaint and take it to the Telecom Ombudsmen.

How many thousand people are they ripping off?

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zespri

424 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 94

Lifetime subscriber

#1159210 21-Oct-2014 13:18

Rappelle: Had the same problem. Didn't realise they had dropped their price. A notification would have been nice, and I think that's where they've gone wrong. Called to request fibre, told the price for adsl would be $75 now - would have been nice to know that a couple months back.. But hey. I was signed up for the $90 plan, I can understand that they would need your permission to switch plan? It's like if they increase the price of a plan - you still keep the same price you're on until you request to change plan.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the $90 dollar plan includes VoIP phone line and $75 one does not. You still will come 4$/month cheaper if you add $11 to $75 for VoIP, though.

Edit: Sorry, did not read the whole thread before replying. To add something, here, have the link to iTalk: https://www.slingshot.co.nz/italk/overview

Btw, I personally do not see a huge issue with Slingshot in the situation described. If you want to get better deals you would be checking prices and services of internet providers regularly anyway (not just Slingshot) so you would be aware of a price drop. If you don't care that much to check, well then you keep paying the amount you have agreed to pay for the service you subscribed for - there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.

mattwnz

20515 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 4795

#1159324 21-Oct-2014 16:24

timmmay:
dusty42: Decided the best thing to do is make a formal complaint and take it to the Telecom Ombudsmen.

Playing devils advocate, you got what you paid for, how do you think the ombudsman will help? They probably didn't reduce the price of your package for new customers, they probably created a new package which is available to both new and existing customers. While a bit sneaky I suspect it's legal. TelstraClear did the same thing in the past.

Snap! on the other hand gives existing customers upgrades as their packages change.

As far as I am aware, there isn't a Telecom Ombudsmen. There is the TDR, but that is a private voluntry organisation, which only some telcos belong to. All they do is try to work out a resolution between the customer and the telco. Based on my experience, it just involves getting the problem raised to a higher level in the telco.

It is common for providers to create new plans and grandfather old ones, and the customer remains on the old plans. I suspect it is easier to do this. Customers therefore do have to be proactive in making sure they are on the best plan.

NZCrusader

646 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 230

#1160207 22-Oct-2014 18:09

dusty42:
Demeter:
dusty42: From the chortling of the more cynical posters that efficient pricing shouldn't be extended to customers as of course - think about how dumb you sound. Internet is critical infrastructure. Over charging is inefficient. Consumers being overcharged in a malfunctioning marketplace is why NZ has thrown heaps of money and effort at the electricity market.

Duh...

You came here with a rant, expected support and didn't get it. Now you're simply being rude and lashing out at everybody who replied to your post because they see things differently from you. Since you got what you wanted, I really think this thread has run its course now.

No, I'm disagreeing with some people who disagreed with me. Disagreement is fine, you don't need to rush in and close down a thread cause you think someone might be being wrong on the internet.

I've got what I wanted - a warning to other users, an apology from Slingshot with offer of refund.

Try calming down, you're being rude.

Summary of this thread.

1) That moment when you are unable to grasp basic concepts.

2) That moment when you have your answer, but carry on anyway.

3) That moment when your view is out of touch with the rest of the crowd and you don't realise it...

4) That moment when you revive a thread which has already run its course.

5) That moment when you are being a hypocrite and you don't realise it...

/endofthread

Nothing to see here people. Move along. Close thread etc etc..

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