Has anyone been charged for going over 5 gigs on vodafone 3G internet

Thorbar

Hey lads, Just started the vodafone 3G trial and I'm wondering if anyone has any experience with getting charged for going over the limit of 5 gigs?

Do they give any warning or cut you off?

How accurate are they at measuring how much bandwidth you've used?

Anyone think its likely they'll be either raising the limit or offering a more expensive package with a higher limit?

Degag

Thorbar wrote: »

Hey lads, Just started the vodafone 3G trial and I'm wondering if anyone has any experience with getting charged for going over the limit of 5 gigs?

Do they give any warning or cut you off?

How accurate are they at measuring how much bandwidth you've used?

Anyone think its likely they'll be either raising the limit or offering a more expensive package with a higher limit?

Hey Thorbar, i've just posted in another thread with this problem, i too have just gotten broadband through vodafone and am after running up 7.6 gigs, which by my admittidly poor mathematics would equate to an extra 52 quid a month, i'm also waiting for other peoples thoughts and experiences.

what_car

Thorbar wrote: »

Hey lads, Just started the vodafone 3G trial and I'm wondering if anyone has any experience with getting charged for going over the limit of 5 gigs?

Do they give any warning or cut you off?

How accurate are they at measuring how much bandwidth you've used?

Anyone think its likely they'll be either raising the limit or offering a more expensive package with a higher limit?

i have heard of people getting disconnected and sent huge bills.. it was previously posted on here i believe , a while back..

JohnMcMahon

A friend of mine broke the Vodafone cap and got a three digit bill as a result.

conjamuk

i got charged 500 euro for going over the limit

far2gud

Jaysus thats a stinger, would not pay it mind you!

smellslikeshoes

Bard wrote: »

Tackle69:

Considering it's charged at 12c per megabyte over the 5GB limit (mind you, correct me if I'm wrong there...), 2.6Gb extra would equate to roughly 2,600Mb x 12c which equates to a charge of €312 on top of your normal monthly payment.

Ouch!

You were right up till recently but they have changed their pricing for going over the cap recently to 2c per meg. AFAIK Vodafone will charge you for going over limit and they will do it without warning, it will just be on your next bill. 02 are the only one of the three 3G companies that don't immediately charge.

Creamy Goodness

far2gud wrote: »

Jaysus thats a stinger, would not pay it mind you!

why not, you are aware of the charges before you sign the contract.

YOU HAVE TO PAY IT.

i hate people thinking they can cheat "the system".

if you don't like it, then don't sign up.

this is not pointed at the OP btw, who is on a trial

smellslikeshoes

Gotta agree with Cremo on this one its not Vodafones fault that you have went over your limit.

godskitchen

Yes they now charge 2c per Mb over the cap, i got a letter the other day explaining it..............but it doesnt effect me as I am on the Unlimited plan

DaBreno

godskitchen wrote: »

Yes they now charge 2c per Mb over the cap, i got a letter the other day explaining it..............but it doesnt effect me as I am on the Unlimited plan

Same here. I cant remember the last time I was Under the cap, never been charged. All hail early adopters!

chikuu

Bard wrote: »

Tackle69:

Considering it's charged at 12c per megabyte over the 5GB limit (mind you, correct me if I'm wrong there...), 2.6Gb extra would equate to roughly 2,600Mb x 12c which equates to a charge of €312 on top of your normal monthly payment.

Ouch!

I never went over the limit... but I got a letter about 3 weeks ago saying that people who went over the limit in the last months will be credited if they bring the issue with customer services (so they say)

Also just to say, if you go over the 5GB quota, u are charged 2c per MB used now. Its used to be 12c but it is now 2c.

Don't forget the price plan is not included if u go roaming.

godskitchen

DaBreno wrote: »

Same here. I cant remember the last time I was Under the cap, never been charged. All hail early adopters!

I dont even bother to add all the data on the bill to be honest, if they tell me to calm down then I will. After the almost 18 months its been now, I dont think they have too much of a issue with me. Just out of interest DaBreno how much are you paying per month? And have you upgraded your card yet?

smellslikeshoes

DaBreno wrote: »

Same here. I cant remember the last time I was Under the cap, never been charged. All hail early adopters!

Yea gotta agree very happy to be on the unlimited package Though I wish they had the usb modem at the start instead of this pretty much useless card.

Firetrap

It's a ludicrously low cap though. Maybe they're not raising it cos they're afraid they'll get flooded with customers and the system will become oversubscribed like it has with 3?

smellslikeshoes

Firetrap wrote: »

It's a ludicrously low cap though. Maybe they're not raising it cos they're afraid they'll get flooded with customers and the system will become oversubscribed like it has with 3?

Maybe, but could you blame them for not wanting to do a three on it? I haven't seen any up to date figures for mobile broadband but I would think that three haven't much more customers than Vodafone, The difference is Vodafone actually know how to run a network.

Degag

smellslikeshoes wrote: »

Yea gotta agree very happy to be on the unlimited package Though I wish they had the usb modem at the start instead of this pretty much useless card.

How can i get the unlimited package? When i signed up for the broadband, it only gave me one option, that being the 5gb €30 a month offer.

smellslikeshoes

Tackle69 wrote: »

How can i get the unlimited package? When i signed up for the broadband, it only gave me one option, that being the 5gb €30 a month offer.

You can't, They stopped offering the unlimited package almost a year ago so only early adopters like myself and a few others on this thread have it. It cost just under 50 euro a month so its not like its that much better value than the current package, just don't have to worry about cap.

Also when it came out first they didn't have the usb modem so if you wanted to use on a desktop computer you would have to buy a separate specialized router to connect it. Also means that Ive an obsolete card that can't be used on modern laptops.

mdwexford

Hi, i signed up to Vodafone about 9 months ago and am currently paying 48.99 a month yet i got a letter in the post now saying about the 5gb cap thing, surely im on the same unlimited usage as you guys no??

Also my usage for the past 9 months has been between 15gb to 25gb a month.....

smellslikeshoes

mdwexford wrote: »

Hi, i signed up to Vodafone about 9 months ago and am currently paying 48.99 a month yet i got a letter in the post now saying about the 5gb cap thing, surely im on the same unlimited usage as you guys no??

Also my usage for the past 9 months has been between 15gb to 25gb a month.....

Yep thats the unlimited package. I think they just sent out that letter to everyone regardless of what package you have, don't take any notice of it.

DaBreno

godskitchen wrote: »

I dont even bother to add all the data on the bill to be honest, if they tell me to calm down then I will. After the almost 18 months its been now, I dont think they have too much of a issue with me. Just out of interest DaBreno how much are you paying per month? And have you upgraded your card yet?

Around the 50 yo-yo mark and Im on an 18 month contract. Havent upgraded the card yet. Im still on the 3.6 Mb modem, but after a few calls to vodafone they told me that they have no plans to upgrade my local tower (West Galway) to HSDPA this year so I might as well stick with what I have. Service is slow as it is, so it will be a long time i think before I ever see a download at 3.6 never mind 7.2.

godskitchen

mdwexford, it seems they sent that letter to everyone, dont worry about it.

seraphimvc

used vodafone 3G BB for trial period too,i was nearly shocked to death when i checked my traffic the last time!i used the line very carefully so that i make sure it wont exceed the limit in one month time,but it happened!!5 GB after 1 week!i knew it was impossible to happen so that i immediately cancelled the service:mad:

using a proper broadband now,20GB traffic limit per month,crazily watching videos,download stuffs,used about 2Gb after one week.a joke to vodafone!!

mdwexford

Thanks for the replies, letter is in the bin

towel401

Cremo wrote: »

why not, you are aware of the charges before you sign the contract.

YOU HAVE TO PAY IT.

i hate people thinking they can cheat "the system".

if you don't like it, then don't sign up.

this is not pointed at the OP btw, who is on a trial

I got out of it before. with esat bt when they sent me a bill for around 2300. but that was because they had never sent me a bill after 2 years of service. I obviously wasn't going to call them up asking can I please have the bill. that would be stupid

FarSide

They never actually sent me a bill, just a snotty letter back in April about exceeding the cap. I couldn't be arsed getting into an argument with them about it, so just throttled back a bit for a couple of months. Admittedly I was getting a bit enthusiastic for the few months previously and my peak was around 27gigs for one month - quite where that all went I still don't know.:D
I've been on the Unlimited deal of €49.95 since September 06 and if another letter arrives about the cap I will argue about it, after reading other Unlimited users' opinions here. A letter arrived recently about the reduction in cap-exceeded charges to 2c/MB, but as said, that went out to everybody regardless.

workaccount

What is this vodafone unlimited service. I remember I only had mine a week and our account manager rang us up and said we needed to change the SIM's. She brought new ones up but there still sitting here. We never put them in.

FarSide

workaccount wrote: »

What is this vodafone unlimited service. I remember I only had mine a week and our account manager rang us up and said we needed to change the SIM's. She brought new ones up but there still sitting here. We never put them in.

For the first six months or so of the service anyone who signed up was given an 'unlimited' package with ostensibly no data cap. I presume this was to encourage people to sign up and spread the word - a tactic which worked brilliantly. After a bit of querying around it seemed to be that in Vodafone's useage of English, 'unlimited' didn't actually mean UNLIMITED (the way normal people would use the word), but really meant there was a 'soft' cap of 5GB/month.
After the first few months, new users were signed up to a different contract which avoided the use of the word 'unlimited' entirely.
Of course, there is a catch - with the speed increases that have happened recently and will happen again shortly, first adopters will need to upgrade their data cards to make full use of these new services and that will most likely involve signing a new non-unlimited contract.

smellslikeshoes

FarSide wrote: »

For the first six months or so of the service anyone who signed up was given an 'unlimited' package with ostensibly no data cap. I presume this was to encourage people to sign up and spread the word - a tactic which worked brilliantly. After a bit of querying around it seemed to be that in Vodafone's useage of English, 'unlimited' didn't actually mean UNLIMITED (the way normal people would use the word), but really meant there was a 'soft' cap of 5GB/month.

That 5GB a month soft cap as you call it was just a rumor that went around boards.ie. It is unlimited with an acceptable usage policy, If it was really a 5Gb cap I would have been sent letters a long time ago because I have honestly never been under 10GB in a month and some months getting closer to 40GB. And not to mention if the 5GB soft cap was true, the unlimited customers would be paying way more than people on the newer contract with a clear cap of 5GB.

When I got it just after the launch I pushed a few sales agents over the phone on the issue, because at the time there was barely any information on it even on boards. The answer I got was as long as you're not having an effect on other people you shouldn't really have to worry about any cap. Which i would think to mean if you're constantly downloading during peak times and putting strain on the equipment in your area.

edit-Just want to make it clear that I am talking about the Unlimited package and not the current 5GB a month package.

Stokolan

Lads any of you having Issues with your Vodafone BB today?? I'm on the unlimited you were talking about above. I've been using about 10 - 15 gig a month. I went to connect today and getting various errors. One was saying "sim network reject" but I popped the sim card into my phone and it allows me to make calls, but the Data end wouldn't connect!

I got no letter that I am aware of, so was just wondering if its a general problem? I'm in the Waterford area.

chikuu

Stokolan wrote: »

Lads any of you having Issues with your Vodafone BB today?? I'm on the unlimited you were talking about above. I've been using about 10 - 15 gig a month. I went to connect today and getting various errors. One was saying "sim network reject" but I popped the sim card into my phone and it allows me to make calls, but the Data end wouldn't connect!

I got no letter that I am aware of, so was just wondering if its a general problem? I'm in the Waterford area.

ya I am in the waterford area too. I live near dungarvan. I tried to connect last friday and it would not connect. Just got "Failed to connect".

On saturday, it connected and I got a GPRS signal so slow it was, I am always used to HSPDA, the highest.

I went to waterford city on sunday nite, and tried it, and it worked on HSPDA.

I say there is something wrong in the waterford county area.

Stokolan

Ah right cheers for the reply. I might ring them tomorrow and see.. Not too pushed tho its only a spare connection I use while at work.

jhegarty

mdwexford wrote: »

Thanks for the replies, letter is in the bin

It can join my one.... can't imagine having to use less than 5gb...

FarSide

smellslikeshoes wrote: »

That 5GB a month soft cap as you call it was just a rumor that went around boards.ie. It is unlimited with an acceptable usage policy, If it was really a 5Gb cap I would have been sent letters a long time ago because I have honestly never been under 10GB in a month and some months getting closer to 40GB. And not to mention if the 5GB soft cap was true, the unlimited customers would be paying way more than people on the newer contract with a clear cap of 5GB.

When I got it just after the launch I pushed a few sales agents over the phone on the issue, because at the time there was barely any information on it even on boards. The answer I got was as long as you're not having an effect on other people you shouldn't really have to worry about any cap. Which i would think to mean if you're constantly downloading during peak times and putting strain on the equipment in your area.

edit-Just want to make it clear that I am talking about the Unlimited package and not the current 5GB a month package.

Well, that just illustrates the lack of consistency from Vodafone over the 'Unlimited' useage. I take it then, you didn't get a snotty letter referring you to the Fair Useage Policy and threatening (in a veiled way) to cut you off?

smellslikeshoes

FarSide wrote: »

Well, that just illustrates the lack of consistency from Vodafone over the 'Unlimited' useage. I take it then, you didn't get a snotty letter referring you to the Fair Useage Policy and threatening (in a veiled way) to cut you off?

No never been contacted by them, Though that might might have something to do with where I use it and when I use it. I live in a very rural area and only ever download when its not peak times. I think its ridiculous that companies are allowed to use the word unlimited even though there is limits, just because they call it something other than a limit.

What sort of amount did you download for them to send you a letter? I would think its more to do with how many people are using the cell and if any of them have complained, than going over any download limit.

anthony4335

Got the same letter, and it was used to start a fire. Have the "unlimited" service which at first I was carefull not to exceed the 5GB cap mentioned in the T&C, but over the last couple of months I have been going nuts and so has my housemate watching TV online, and downloading like mad, however I don't think I am surpassing 10GB but cannot be sure as it is in the router all the time and it does not log usage, past the current session. But I am waiting for a letter telling me that I am inviolation of the terms.

ArseBurger

far2gud wrote: »

Jaysus thats a stinger, would not pay it mind you!

Why not? If you hired a car and drove the tank dry would you expect the hire company to refill it gratis?

Patrickof

ArseBurger wrote: »

Why not? If you hired a car and drove the tank dry would you expect the hire company to refill it gratis?

It's not the same thing, there's no explicit cost to vodafone when you go over the 5Gb limit.

ArseBurger

Patrickof wrote: »

It's not the same thing, there's no explicit cost to vodafone when you go over the 5Gb limit.

Yes there are. The network will have been designed and dimensioned to particular parameters. They will have used Erlang formulae to define capacity and overbooking per sector per cell and this will have fed into their RF, Transmission, Core and Upstream design.

Do you think building a nationwide wireless network is free?

Patrickof

ArseBurger wrote: »

Yes there are. The network will have been designed and dimensioned to particular parameters. They will have used Erlang formulae to define capacity and overbooking per sector per cell and this will have fed into their RF, Transmission, Core and Upstream design.

Do you think building a nationwide wireless network is free?

No, and in fact I was involved in the design of such networks.

My point is that your analogy is not correct, the vodafone network costs the same to run whether there is traffic on it or not - a car hire company would have to give you fuel to keep going. Vodafone are not charged "by the bit" by their upstream providers.

The setup costs of the network are irrelevant in this case.

ArseBurger

Patrickof wrote: »

No, and in fact I was involved in the design of such networks.

My point is that your analogy is not correct, the vodafone network costs the same to run whether there is traffic on it or not - a car hire company would have to give you fuel to keep going. Vodafone are not charged "by the bit" by their upstream providers.

The setup costs of the network are irrelevant in this case.

If you were involved in the design of such networks you would know that what you are saying is untrue.

Or perhaps you are forgetting that the concept behind designing a network with certain capacity and dimensioning criteria is to generate revenue which is then offset against CAPEX and OPEX costs, thus creating the desired ARPU for the company. Offset this against company running costs (outside of Engineering CAPEX/OPEX), dividends, taxes etc... and you get your EBIDTA.

Or do you think Telco's operate a charity?

And upstreams do charge by the bit. You sign up for a CIR at a certain rate/Mb, which you commit to irrelevant of your usage and then pay above that for your burst.

Patrickof

ArseBurger wrote: »

If you were involved in the design of such networks you would know that what you are saying is untrue.

Or perhaps you are forgetting that the concept behind designing a network with certain capacity and dimensioning criteria is to generate revenue which is then offset against CAPEX and OPEX costs, thus creating the desired ARPU for the company. Offset this against company running costs (outside of Engineering CAPEX/OPEX), dividends, taxes etc... and you get your EBIDTA.

Or do you think Telco's operate a charity?

All I said was it's not comparable with car hire.

Let's drop it.

dlambirl

I'm new to mobile broadband and currently trying one out - i've got a 10Gb cap and i'm worried of going over the cap and getting hugely overcharged, anyway of keeping tabs on it or seeing how much i've used already?

Stokolan

Just been onto Vodafone as My connection has been Down for teh last 3 days I was told it was because I went over my cap! I asked them what I went over by, they told me I downloaded 8 gig and they have automated software to disconnect people that go over there cap. Hmm that interesting seen as I was on an unlimited package! Anyway Just thought Id pass that onto the rest of you on the unlimited pack.

Now think I'll go make a big fuss over it

smellslikeshoes

Stokolan wrote: »

Just been onto Vodafone as My connection has been Down for teh last 3 days I was told it was because I went over my cap! I asked them what I went over by, they told me I downloaded 8 gig and they have automated software to disconnect people that go over there cap. Hmm that interesting seen as I was on an unlimited package! Anyway Just thought Id pass that onto the rest of you on the unlimited pack.

Now think I'll go make a big fuss over it

Tear into them. Thats a stupid mistake for them to make.

Tech3

if there a way of checking how much you use so you dont go over the cap?