Eircom now charging if you exceed your download allowance?

DeepBlue

Just after reading the Eircom apparently upgrading to 8mb? thread when I notice the following:

aerocell wrote: »

It will be up to 8Mb
Basically you will have a 10gig cap on the 1Mb line and on the 3Mb line will be capped at 30gig.
You will be charged for every gig over this, 2euro per gig I think*
Basically you will get the highest speed up to 8Mb that you line can handle.

*My empahisis.

Whoa, when did this happen? Or when is it due to come into effect? I'm surprised it's not bigger news.

Also have eircom now added upload to your download cap? i.e. if your cap is 30 GB does that include your download and upload stats?

dougie-lampkin

http://broadbandsupport.eircom.net/SRVS/CGI-BIN/WEBCGI.EXE/&/?St=70&E=0000000000226450729&K=1742&SXI=14&case=7240&branch=4

* eircom reserves the right to apply a charge of 1 cent (inc. VAT) per Megabyte for downloads in excess of specified limits of the broadband package you are using. For details on download limits for each broadband package, click here or here.

So €10 per gig over your cap. I've yet to stray above the limit, but by the wording of that disclaimer I don't think they charge the extra unless you regularly abuse the limit. If you go over by a couple hundred MB one month once off, I'd doubt they'll charge you the extra few € like...I haven't heard from anyone who's been charged extra so far...They've always had this disclaimer stuck into the user agreement, maybe now they're just starting to crack down on it or something?

For the 30GB cap at least, it only includes download stats. Above your graph on the dslstats check it shows download and upload amounts separately

corny

Every single month of the 4 years i've had their broadband i've gone over the allowance. If they ever enforce this i won't pay and more to the point i'll leave them just as quick. I think they'll find at least half of their customers will do the same thing. We're not with them for their competitive prices thats for sure.

bluemachaveli

corny wrote: »

Every single month of the 4 years i've had their broadband i've gone over the allowance. If they ever enforce this i won't pay and more to the point i'll leave them just as quick. I think they'll find at least half of their customers will do the same thing. We're not with them for their competitive prices thats for sure.

Could not agree more. I am on the 24MB package with a 75GB cap. I'm currently sitting on 175GB. Never been under the cap and never heard a word about it from them.

DeepBlue

corny wrote: »

We're not with them for their competitive prices thats for sure.

Amen to that!!

This is what they're rolling out - http://www.nextgenerationbroadband.ie/

From my cursory reading of it you're no longer paying for speed but usage. Your usage is calculated according to your download and upload stats so if you use your broadband for torrenting your cap has effectively halved. For every GB you go over it's gonna cost you 2 euro up to a max of 49.99 euro.

yomamasflavour

corny wrote: »

Every single month of the 4 years i've had their broadband i've gone over the allowance. If they ever enforce this i won't pay and more to the point i'll leave them just as quick. I think they'll find at least half of their customers will do the same thing. We're not with them for their competitive prices thats for sure.

I'd imagine most people with Eircom aren't there because of the competitive pricing or high speeds.

They're with them because there's no other option in their area (Like me:().

amacachi

As I said in the other thread if they try and charge for it they'll be at least losing one customer. Also, good luck to them trying to charge me €400 for last month alone. :pac:

Grim_Wreeper

yeah if this hits, I'm screwed.

Only hope is that if they still don't bother, I mean in my current contract they already say that they'll charge you if you go over. 4 years over the limit at this stage and no charge. There'll be chaos if they decide to make it stick.

Voodu Child

+1 if this comes to fruition i'll be moving to a different provider. Also, i'll be hammering my broadband 24/7 in the weeks before it comes into place :pac:

AARRRRGH

yomamasflavour wrote: »

I'd imagine most people with Eircom aren't there because of the competitive pricing or high speeds.

They're with them because there's no other option in their area (Like me:().

If you can get Eircom DSL, you can get DSL from others.

_Whimsical_

Anyone else finding that they cant log onto the usage meter ?

I'm putting in my ph. no. and account no. correctly but it's saying that they're invalid.

bluemachaveli

chilly wrote: »

Anyone else finding that they cant log onto the usage meter ?

I'm putting in my ph. no. and account no. correctly but it's saying that they're invalid.

Mines working fine. Just logged in.

bluemachaveli

DeepBlue wrote: »

Amen to that!!

This is what they're rolling out - http://www.nextgenerationbroadband.ie/

From my cursory reading of it you're no longer paying for speed but usage. Your usage is calculated according to your download and upload stats so if you use your broadband for torrenting your cap has effectively halved. For every GB you go over it's gonna cost you 2 euro up to a max of 49.99 euro.

Just reading the FAQ on the support website.

Am I charged excess usage on my NGB Advanced Product?

No, there is Unlimited usage on NGB Advanced. However, there is a fair usage policy which is applied to this product. For more information please refer to standard broadband terms and conditions.

Suits me fine. 1:1 contention with no cap.

DeepBlue

chilly wrote: »

Anyone else finding that they cant log onto the usage meter ?

I'm putting in my ph. no. and account no. correctly but it's saying that they're invalid.

If your phone number is 01-1234567 make sure you enter the '-' as well.
In other words don't just enter 011234567. If you don't enter the '-' it will tell you your entry is invalid.

Edit: I'm assuming you mean the current stat's checker at http://broadbandsupport.eircom.net/

If you meant the Next Generation Broadband usage meter then I'm not sure. I can't use it 'cos it's f***ing Windows only :rolleyes:.

DeepBlue

bluemachaveli wrote: »

Suits me fine. 1:1 contention with no cap.

Isn't "Fair Usage" just a cap with another name?

The Volt

This is all ComReg again. They took away Eircom's free mobile minutes offer and still seem to want to tear the company down with all these restrictions they place on them. They justify this by pointing at Eircom's market share but what's even worse is the fact that they allow other companies to basically slander the company at the same time (that Vodafone ad that was like 'show Eircom the door' etc).

_Whimsical_

DeepBlue wrote: »

If your phone number is 01-1234567 make sure you enter the '-' as well.
In other words don't just enter 011234567. If you don't enter the '-' it will tell you your entry is invalid.

Edit: I'm assuming you mean the current stat's checker at http://broadbandsupport.eircom.net/

If you meant the Next Generation Broadband usage meter then I'm not sure. I can't use it 'cos it's f***ing Windows only :rolleyes:.

Thank you!:)
I had been trying to use the Next Generation Broadband yoke! That mustn't work yet.

The link you gave me works fine though. I'm at 59% for this months. Oh relief.

It says my cap is only 40GB on the 7mb package. I thought it was 50!

p2p2p

bluemachaveli wrote: »

Just reading the FAQ on the support website.

Am I charged excess usage on my NGB Advanced Product?

No, there is Unlimited usage on NGB Advanced. However, there is a fair usage policy which is applied to this product. For more information please refer to standard broadband terms and conditions.

Suits me fine. 1:1 contention with no cap.

This is very slyly worded.
The FAQ's refer to the new, lets call it NGB, for arguments sake.

But it is referring to their top package only in this instance though.
People will read "advanced" in this context and assume they are referring to the new system (advanced broadband or as they call it Next Generation Broadband) and not their recently made up package names.
Very sly indeed.

Pangea

Is this going to be mandatory ?
Im not fully understanding this, How will they go about this , I have 3mb line now and pay 25 a month now , Can we choose what mb speed we buy .

p2p2p

If your area is due for the "Upgrade" then it would be mandatory, yes.
Although it is worded to sound like they're doing you a favour.

yomamasflavour

AARRRRGH wrote: »

If you can get Eircom DSL, you can get DSL from others.

I don't see what difference it would make.

If cable / fibre aren't in the area, and if you're not on an upgraded exchange, then you can only get resold Eircom dsl.

i.e current options are

Eicom (up to) 7Mb = 39.80
Smart (up to) 7Mb = 46.50
Magnet (up to) 8Mb = 65.50

As far as I can see Eircom would be the only reasonable option. Right?

AARRRRGH

yomamasflavour wrote: »

I don't see what difference it would make.

If cable / fibre aren't in the area, and if you're not on an upgraded exchange, then you can only get resold Eircom dsl.

i.e current options are

Eicom (up to) 7Mb = 39.80
Smart (up to) 7Mb = 46.50
Magnet (up to) 8Mb = 65.50

As far as I can see Eircom would be the only reasonable option. Right?

http://www.mulley.net/2006/02/09/broadband-choices-in-ireland/

Probably a bit out of date, but google is a good start.

BaldiePablo

p2p2p wrote: »

This is very slyly worded.
The FAQ's refer to the new, lets call it NGB, for arguments sake.

But it is referring to their top package only in this instance though.
People will read "advanced" in this context and assume they are referring to the new system (advanced broadband or as they call it Next Generation Broadband) and not their recently made up package names.
Very sly indeed.

Had a read of this ... it's related to the NGB Advanced package which is sold as unlimited. The question / answer is simply stating that there is no excess usage charges on the NGB Advanced package. Obviously there is excess usage charges on the other two because it says there is on the site ....

BaldiePablo

Pangea wrote: »

Is this going to be mandatory ?
Im not fully understanding this, How will they go about this , I have 3mb line now and pay 25 a month now , Can we choose what mb speed we buy .

It looks like all the NGB products are 'up to' 8Mb so you will be given the highest speed your line can attain up to a speed of 8Mb .... these products are usage based (10GB, 30GB & Unlimited) so you would be moved to the price equivalent NGB product ... which would be the 30GB I assume .....

p2p2p

BaldiePablo wrote: »

Had a read of this ... it's related to the NGB Advanced package which is sold as unlimited. The question / answer is simply stating that there is no excess usage charges on the NGB Advanced package. Obviously there is excess usage charges on the other two because it says there is on the site ....

That's what I said.
The FAQ's all relate to gereric NGB questions but the important one of "Am I charged excess usage on my NGB Advanced Product?" THEN refers to their TOP package which is obviously a sly way of compiling them.
Otherwise it would say "Am I charged excess usage on my NGB Product?", to keep to the generic nature of the other questions.


Generic
Generic
Generic
Will I be charged extra [refer to top package here]
Generic
Generic
Throw in a stupid question to pad and hide slyness "What is a Gigabite" ffs
Generic
Generic

Eh, how is that not sly?

Voodu Child

If you are migrated to NGB during a month, the usage is counted from the date you are migrated to NGB until the end of the calendar month.

So would I be right in thinking that if they switch me to the NGB tomorrow (as that article says), I have a download allowance of 30GB from tomorrow until the end of March?(Wed) .

I'll be doing some fierce downloading for the next couple of days if thats the case, make up for this poxy useage charge :pac:

Altreab

I found the following at the Eircom site here It seems the Fair Usage is 250 Gigs now. Usage is downloaded AND uploaded.


"The products are differentiated based on usage, the usage allowances are as follows:

* Next Generation Broadband Basic - 10Gb
* Next Generation Broadband Regular - 30Gb
* Next Generation Broadband Advanced - Unlimited*
* Business Lite Next Generation - 10Gb
* Business Lite Plus Next Generation - 30Gb

*Unlimited usage subject to a fair usage policy of 250GB. For more information, please visit www.eircom.net/ngb"

paul150

*Unlimited usage subject to a fair usage policy of 250GB* on the advanced package is the same as UPC offer and is higher than smarts which aint too bad imo

Board Senseless

And on the 24Mb package it's 75GBs?

Varik

what way do the upgrades work, i am on the 7mb will that become the Next Generation Broadband Advanced automatically?

never mind i found my answer.


there is a maximum charge for going over your downloads of €49.99 it under the NGB product section on their site in usage allowance explained.

Cabaal

Voltwad wrote: »

This is all ComReg again. They took away Eircom's free mobile minutes offer and still seem to want to tear the company down with all these restrictions they place on them.

Comreg were very much in the right for their ruling on Eircom's plans, Eircom's plan was anti-competitive as they also own Meteor.

They justify this by pointing at Eircom's market share but what's even worse is the fact that they allow other companies to basically slander the company at the same time (that Vodafone ad that was like 'show Eircom the door' etc).

Eircom has had a monopolyin this country for years and you seem very quick to forget that, this monopoly has meant that ADSL rollout in Ireland has been **** slow and that a high percentage of PSTN lines within Ireland cann't support ADSL because Eircom failed to invest money in them,

Intead eircom choose to beat a dead horse that was dialup and ISDN for years longer then they should have instead of pushing ADSL like providers in other countrys were doing.

In relation to your frankly laughable comments about other companies slandering eircom....I'm sorry but have you seen the most recent Eircom advert?, you can hardly try and defend eircom when they do the same to other companys. Its all poking fun and is certainly not slander :rolleyes:

In relation to eircom charging for going over the cap given that people continue to speculate on this I honestly don't think they'll be happy untill eircom do.

jor el

I'd really like to know how eircom can call this Next Generation Broadband. It's 8Mbps ADSL, which isn't current gen, it isn't even previous gen, it's the one before that again.

I think it's time to submit another pointless complaint to Comreg and the ASAI again.

Once you are moved to the new structure, which will be based on usage rather than speed, I fully expect them to start charging for over use. Otherwise, what would be the point of changing it to a usage based pricing strategy.

DeepBlue

Cabaal wrote: »

In relation to eircom charging for going over the cap given that people continue to speculate on this I honestly don't think they'll be happy untill eircom do.

Newsflash. They are now charging for going over the cap.

Cabaal

DeepBlue wrote: »

Newsflash. They are now charging for going over the cap.

Fair enough, we seen people being billed yet though?

To be honest its in no way surprising, eircom have always reserved the right, they are in debt and they need to make more money as their fixed line revenue is in the hole at this stage.

Sponge Bob

jor el wrote: »

I'd really like to know how eircom can call this Next Generation Broadband. It's 8Mbps ADSL, which isn't current gen, it isn't even previous gen, it's the one before that again.

I think it's time to submit another pointless complaint to Comreg and the ASAI again.

It is an up to 8mbits product based and delivered to the customer on the G 992.3 standard that was approved in 2002 . The original G 992.1 standard was 7 down and one up and was approved in July 1999. The backhaul may be more modern but the final mile and customer equipment certainly ain't

There is nothing next generation about an adsl standard approved in 2002 especially when eircom also offer ADSL2+ products ( 12mbits and 24mbits) that date from a 2003 Standard.

Timeline page 2

http://www.broadband-forum.org/downloads/About_DSL.pdf

ASAI here we go.

DeepBlue

Cabaal wrote: »

Fair enough, we seen people being billed yet though?

No but previously it was buried in the small print of the terms and conditions afaik. Now it's front and centre.
Their new usage monitor (which only works in Windows!!) will prompt you on your usage if it's getting close to your limit and helpfully prompt you to upgrade!

If, after doing all that, they don't charge for going over the cap I'd be pretty amazed.

accensi0n

Sponge Bob wrote: »

It is an up to 8mbits product based and delivered to the customer on the G 992.3 standard that was approved in 2002 . The original G 992.1 standard was 7 down and one up and was approved in July 1999. The backhaul may be more modern but the final mile and customer equipment certainly ain't

On the DSL page of the web config for my eircom router it has the modulation as 'DMT'. Can I interpret that as the G992.1/G.dmt standard?

When an area is capable of a certain standard, can eircom choose to use an older standard? (i.e. Using G992.1/G.dmt even though the area is capable of G992.5/ADSL2+)

Cheers.

martinstatic

Too lazy to read this whole thread, but to get it straight; Am I going to start getting charged for going over the limit, yes, no, probably, not likely, same as before? I am on a standard 3mbps, 30GB connection.

If yes, or probably, then can you please direct me to the cheapest rope and chair store?

Sponge Bob

martinstatic wrote: »

Too lazy to read this whole thread, but to get it straight; Am I going to start getting charged for going over the limit, yes, no, probably, not likely, same as before? I am on a standard 3mbps, 30GB connection.

Yes. But only if you live inside the M50 at present and then only from April unless you download 30gb+ by the months end, starting this morning.

As you are more likely on a bundle here is how eircom do it.

1. Bundle = €50 a month.
2. Line rental component charged full rate €25.37.
3. Calls = €5 a month.

3Mbit charged at the balance which is €19.63. Eircom will then charge you €2 a GB for the next 16GB you use on top of the 30GB , this amounts to €32 but as eircom cap their own cap at €49.99 for Broadband they will only charge you a fraction of the 16th GB

The max bill in that case will be

€25.37+€5+€49.99 a month = €80.36 a month.

They may force you to upgrade to the Advanced package instead which comes with a higher cap.

There is word of an absolutely fixed bundle for €47 but you will have to pay to downgrade to 1mbit to get that absolutely fixed bundle.

To celebrate the price gouging eircom brought THIS in to launch the product.

DeepBlue

martinstatic wrote: »

Too lazy to read this whole thread, but to get it straight; Am I going to start getting charged for going over the limit, yes, no, probably, not likely, same as before? I am on a standard 3mbps, 30GB connection.

If you go over your 30 GB (download AND upload) then yes.

martinstatic wrote: »

If yes, or probably, then can you please direct me to the cheapest rope and chair store?

Probably Argos as I don't think ALDI or LIDL are doing specials at the moment. :pac:

Can I ask something please? I'm on a 7mb bundle in Limerick (which has been totally forgotten by Eircom) and not on NGB. If I go over the 50gb limit will I get charged? Whereas if I was in Dublin I'd be paying the same price and would have unlimited (fair usage blah blah blah) usage? Just curious as it seems a little well illegal?

martinstatic

Voodu Child wrote: »

+1 if this comes to fruition i'll be moving to a different provider.

I'll be moving to a different country...seriously, I can't physically afford the bill if it included all my downloads over my cap...my friend has been downloading 3x his limit for a while and never been overcharged, atm I'm just stepping over my limit...if this hits for sure, then not only will I tell them to go f themselves, I'll move country and come back when Ireland becomes a communist country...




...or when Eircom goes bankrupt.

They'll be making hundreds off each customer per month!

DeepBlue

martinstatic wrote: »

They'll be making hundreds off each customer per month!

Well no, they'll only be charging you 2 euro for each GB you go over your cap up to a maximum of only 50 euro.
So as most people's bills are bi-monthly your two month bill could contain up to a maximum of only 100 euro extra.
Edit: Wrong info. See below ↓ ↓

I love the way eircom use the word only in their blurb. It makes it sound like it's just a small extra.

Sponge Bob

DeepBlue wrote: »

So as most people's bills are bi-monthly your two month bill could contain up to a maximum of only 100 euro extra.

A maximum of 100 euros extra less 2 x the nominal cost of your package or the actual cost if not in a bundle.

You will only be affected if on a 3 or 1 mbit package or bundle. a 3mbit standalone is €30 a month so they can only hit you for €20 extra a month.

therokerroar

I've just typed in my phone number and details into the coverage map on the Eircom website, to see if I'm going to be automatically upgraded to this NGB and was greeted with a message saying that the area I live in won't be getting NGB at this stage.

So, what does that mean for me then? I can continue to not worry about being charged for excess download allowance etc?

Voodu Child

therokerroar wrote: »

I've just typed in my phone number and details into the coverage map on the Eircom website, to see if I'm going to be automatically upgraded to this NGB and was greeted with a message saying that the area I live in won't be getting NGB at this stage.

So, what does that mean for me then? I can continue to not worry about being charged for excess download allowance etc?

They have always had the ability in their t&c to charge for excess useage. So if they are going to start charging people who are now on their so-called NGD package, its possible they will also start to charge people who arent. Otherwise you'd have people complaining about the consistency of their charges.

The truth is that we will have to wait and see.

teddy b123

Easy solution people:

http://business.eircom.net/bundles/products/?package=8MbBundle
ONLY €67.99 a month

Includes:

• Up to 8Mb Always On Broadband
• Unlimited local & National Calls‡ {max of 2500 minutes (plenty for most people)
• 60 any network mobile minutes‡‡
• Line rental included
• Unlimited download allowance
• Free connection online
• Free WiFi access

All you need is a line that can support up to 8 mbit (or you can join me here to help pester them to let slower lines take the package)

The package is even better value than the "eircom talktime chatter & up to 7Mb broadband"

bealtine

teddy b123 wrote: »

Easy solution people:

ONLY €67.99 a month

only e67...what planet do you live on?

DeepBlue

bealtine wrote: »

only e67...what planet do you live on?

Planet Marketing*












*Where putting "only" in front of a price suddenly makes it seem reasonable and easily affordable.

teddy b123

well it is a good deal considering the other packages eircom offer :rolleyes:
the:
Eircom talktime chatter & up to 7Mb broadband
is €61.73
with 30 minutes for mobiles

Up to 8Mb Value Business 8Mb Bundle
is €67.99
with 60 minutes for mobiles

therokerroar

Voodu Child wrote: »

They have always had the ability in their t&c to charge for excess useage. So if they are going to start charging people who are now on their so-called NGD package, its possible they will also start to charge people who arent. Otherwise you'd have people complaining about the consistency of their charges.

The truth is that we will have to wait and see.

Aye, I know what you mean mate, it really is a matter of wait and see.

Sad thing for me though, is my line can only support 3mb at most, I get speeds of 2.5mb on a 3mb line, so upgrading to an 8mb for unlimited download allowance isn't feasible to me.

It's a pity Eircom don't do an offer like say charge an extra €10 or €20 a month for unlimited download allowance and make it avaliable to any package. I'd gladly pay it, even for just peace of mind.