Madasafish Questions/answers (merged threads)

Quentin

James_PN wrote: »

The thing that you will have to consider is that Sky are heavily subsidising their broadband offerings from the revenue they receive from their television services.

I doubt they'll continue running their broadband services at a loss forever...

Perhaps a little unfair towards a competitor.

They currently only allow their existing tv customers to take their broadband service. So all are aware its a bundling scheme.

Their pricing is transparent, and they cannot just impose any increases without allowing the customer out of the contract.

Any increase above 10% (ie any amount at all for the current free service, or 50p for the £5/month 40Gb plan, or £1 on the unlimited 16 Mb service) and the customer can cancel their account without penalty.

Other telco companies do this (notably not maaf!), and give customers a discount for taking eg. broadband and line rental, or mobile and broadband.

Compare that set up with maaf's introductory offer where we knew from the outset it was going to increase after month 6 AND after month 12!

teddyco

I am on my second contract with MAAF and have gone over my 5GB for the first time this month. Now I am downloading more from YouTube, itunes, and podcasts and it's taking it's toll on my download limit.

I am thinking about changing provider as my contract runs out in September.
Is there any chance that MAAF will increase their download limit for basic service?

I think increasing basic service to 10GB would be a better amount. 5GB is way too low for today's broadband users!

GaryS

The 5GB limit is definately too low, might be worth seeing if you can get your limit upped for being a loyal customer.

I am on the 20GB limit at a good deal, but I have been with the same isp on dial-up and now BB for nearly 10 years.

Saying that, I will still be looking to better the current price at renewal time.

Plusnet_company_representative

Hi Quentin,

I wouldn't have said I was being unfair. I would have called it more of a case of my being realistic! Sky are making a loss on the prices that they are charging for their broadband products. From my perspective, it's a land grab exercise. Entice a large number of customers with extremely low pricedd offers and then make changes to their terms and conditions and hope to keep the majoirty of their customers after making pricing changes. Could be in a year, could be in 3. Still, that's just an opinion, and I reckon I'm still allowed to have one of those

They have also been talking about their Picnic product which will allow non Sky TV customers to receive their broadband services. I've been looking around and initial expectations were that this was going to be released in February, but from what I ccan tell hasn't actually happened as of yet.

Plusnet_company_representative

teddyco wrote: »

I think increasing basic service to 10GB would be a better amount. 5GB is way too low for today's broadband users!

Depends really. We've got a number of PlusNet customers who are perfectly happy on our 1GB product, which suits a large number of people. Choosing Broadband packages is about decided what you want from your ISP. Some customers will base their requirements on price alone, others on levels of customer support, others on usage allowances.

However, having said that, we are constantly reviewing the Product line that we offer on both MAAF & PlusNet and we'll be certain to inform all of our customers of any pending changes that we look to make.

GaryS

James_PN,

I have been looking for BB for a family member who will have very low usage, we did consider the Plusnet 1GB but it seems a bit expensive at £9.99.

I assume that that is because it is on a monthly contract ?

Is this also available on a 12 month contract ?

Quentin

James_PN wrote: »

From my perspective, it's a land grab exercise. Entice a large number of customers with extremely low pricedd offers and then make changes to their terms and conditions and hope to keep the majoirty of their customers after making pricing changes. Could be in a year, could be in 3.

Of course prices can change.

But its no good posting on a moneysaving website that we should consider when taking up a competitors cheaper offer (which is currently £186 cheaper than yours in the first year, £252 cheaper in ensuing years) that they mightn't hold those prices. And their charges include twice your download allowance (40 GB, instead of the maaf 20GB).

Their ts + cs can't be changed without both sides acceptance, and they already provide for what should happen if they increase their price by more than 10% (customers can leave without penalty).

Plusnet_company_representative

Quentin,

I think you're completely misreading me.

I'm not telling anyone what they should and what they shouldn't sign up for. I'm offering a realistic opinion on what can happen. I'd expect everyone to be able to weigh up the facts and base their decision on the information available.

People aren't going to sign up for a product because "James said to"!

Regarding terms and conditions, they can change them, but have to give 30 days notice if the change is to the detriment of the customer. Whether that equates to being accepted by both sides is a different discussion entirely

Plusnet_company_representative

GaryS wrote: »

James_PN,

I have been looking for BB for a family member who will have very low usage, we did consider the Plusnet 1GB but it seems a bit expensive at £9.99.

Gary,

Are you aware that it costs an ISP selling broadband (the resold BT Wholesale Product) will be charged £7.01 excluding VAT before you even factor in any usage or overhead costs?

£9.99 is actually a pretty decent cost for a low end broadband product, based on what we're actually charged by our Wholesalers.

GaryS

James_PN wrote: »

Gary,

Are you aware that it costs an ISP selling broadband (rthe resolc BT Wholesale Product) will be charged £7.01 excluding VAT before you even factor in any usage or overhead costs?

£9.99 is actually a pretty decent cost for a low end broadband product, based on what we're actually charged by our Wholesalers.

James,

At present the family member uses nowhere near that cost a month on dial-up, so does not want to spend too much. I am just trying to persuade them that BB is faster etc, but being on a tight budget the cost is still too high.

The low usage / low cost BB option that they require probably does not exist.