Excess bandwidth over Christmas

[T_M_D]

Hope every one had a lovely Christmas.

Help! It said on IDNet web site that bandwidth used between Christmas and New Year will not be counted in download limits, but I have just recieved an email stating that I will be charged £31 for exceeding my limit between December 1 and December 27 - I only did one big download from boxing day - please tell me this is just the system 'churning' out notifications and that the problem will be rectified?

Tina

[Rik]

Hi Tina

The system couldn't be modified completely to take account of the free bandwidth, but that must have been one big download to generate the warning.

[T_M_D]

Hi Tina

The system couldn't be modified completely to take account of the free bandwidth, but that must have been one big download to generate the warning.

Hi Rik - yes it was - 21.GB (torrent). I have never done it before, but I happened upon a Norweigian web site that had a 7.5 hour documentary featuring a train journey between Bergen and Oslo and it had a link to download the file so I did. Sorry, have I committed a faux pas and taken too much advantage of the Christmas freebie?

[sobranie]

I've had a warning too and have emailed IDNet to query it. Anyone else receiving same should really email IDNet just in case they do get charged I suppose.

[Rik]

Sorry, have I committed a faux pas and taken too much advantage of the Christmas freebie?

It's a freebie, Tina, but obviously IDNet will review how it's been used, and that will determine whether they repeat the exercise.

[talos]

I've had one too, but the daily usage feed is listing the excess as free download, so I wont worry just yet. 

[FoxtrotEcho]

Thing is, they have said it was free and implied it was off meter for that period, and now they say different. As an average customer I can only ponder which of the two statements are to be taken seriously.

At first I felt it was a very sweet gesture, now I sense a sour taste. What else could happen? I dare not use what is left as they are closed and no definitive statement can be obtained.

It's turned out pretty shabby, and I hope they never repeat this or anything remotely like it.

[Rik]

I think you're being unfair, FE. If you look at the daily RSS feed, or your customer portal, then you will see the bandwidth is marked as free. In the time available, however, it was not possible to re-write the code which generates the warning emails.

Of course, if sufficient people set about downloading the entire web, the chances are that the experiment won't be repeated.

[T_M_D]

It's a freebie, Tina, but obviously IDNet will review how it's been used, and that will determine whether they repeat the exercise.

Won't do it again.

[Rik]

I doubt you're the heaviest downloader, Tina.

[T_M_D]

It's turned out pretty shabby, and I hope they never repeat this or anything remotely like it.

Crikey, what have I started! Steady on FE! It was a genuine freebie, I reacted too quickly to the email and should not have posted here. I regret doing it now as it wasn't meant to have a go at IDNet! Tina.

[FoxtrotEcho]

I think you're being unfair, FE. If you look at the daily RSS feed, or your customer portal, then you will see the bandwidth is marked as free. In the time available, however, it was not possible to re-write the code which generates the warning emails.

Of course, if sufficient people set about downloading the entire web, the chances are that the experiment won't be repeated.

If it was known that the code could not be corrected as you suggest, then it leaves the question as to why that was not conveyed in the original offer.

I'm less trying to be unfair and more trying to cope with having something "given" then taken back, then being bewildered by no chance of true clarification, all of which was entirely predictable given any kind of advance audit. I'd admit to confused.

Broadband really has now become yet another household utility, and this debacle has all the hallmarks to bear that out.

[Gary]

Sadly some will always really abuse a gift like this, not you Tina, but I fear IDnet will find some have really taken the mick so to speak.

[john]

Looking at my usage stats my downloads between the 26th-27th have been between 1-2Gb but the breakdown between peak and off-peak are all zero which I assume indicates they are free. Having been told that they are free, I've no doubts whatever that they will be.

It's been really nice not having to worry about a download allowance but I've not felt I've been excessive. Maybe I should make more use of the BBC iPlayer while I can though.

[Gary]

If it was known that the code could not be corrected as you suggest, then it leaves the question as to why that was not conveyed in the original offer.

I'm less trying to be unfair and more trying to cope with having something "given" then taken back, then being bewildered by no chance of true clarification, all of which was entirely predictable given any kind of advance audit. I'd admit to confused.

Broadband really has now become yet another household utility, and this debacle has all the hallmarks to bear that out.

I dont see the issue here, its been stated that it was free between certain dates, the portal shows this, and the emails are part of a system that could not be modified at the last minute, that's not a debacle, that's the nature of a last minute decision to give to its customers free broadband, and you have the choice choice to check your usage for yourself.

[T_M_D]

I have just checked my broadband usage under my login details on IDNet and indeed it is showing as free so my apologies again for jumping onto the forum with it. This is a very generous offer from IDNet - I bet no other provider on the planet has done it  

[Gary]

I have just checked my broadband usage under my login details on IDNet and indeed it is showing as free so my apologies again for jumping onto the forum with it. This is a very generous offer from IDNet - I bet no other provider on the planet has done it 

AAISP did  but we are amongst the very few as you say

[Rik]

If it was known that the code could not be corrected as you suggest, then it leaves the question as to why that was not conveyed in the original offer.

I'm less trying to be unfair and more trying to cope with having something "given" then taken back, then being bewildered by no chance of true clarification, all of which was entirely predictable given any kind of advance audit. I'd admit to confused.

Broadband really has now become yet another household utility, and this debacle has all the hallmarks to bear that out.

Frankly, I find your language unduly emotive. It's not a debacle, just check the RSS feed or your portal and see what is happening there. Nothing has been taken back, what was given is still being given. Perhaps it was an oversight not to mention that warning emails would still be sent, but that all it was, no malice there, none intended.

Just to clarify, I have confirmation from IDNet that my understanding is correct. Ignore warning emails and look at your portal or RSS feed. As long as that's marked free, and mine certainly is, then you don't have a problem.

[T_M_D]

this debacle has all the hallmarks to bear that out.

Chill FE! 

[FoxtrotEcho]

Crikey, what have I started! Steady on FE! It was a genuine freebie, I reacted too quickly to the email and should not have posted here. I regret doing it now as it wasn't meant to have a go at IDNet! Tina.

You have not started anything, you're absolutely fine, you just read what we all read and took it on face value, like we all did I'd imagine.

As things stand there "may" be a catch, who could know otherwise?

It's good that you allowed something like this to come to the surface; there is no way things get fixed if they are not known to be broken. If you had not said anything I surely would have.

I simply watched some live podcast as decent quality video instead of just grabbing the audio a day later as I normally do. Last night I went to bed thinking how wonderful that all was and how I wished it could be like that all the time. This morning is a bit different. I wish I'd never watched it.

[Rik]

Just read my post at reply #17, FE.

There is no catch, there is no conspiracy, you are getting free bandwidth.

[Glenn]

This is no the front page of the IDNet website.

Free bandwidth over Christmas

Date: 21 December 2009 | Author: IDNet

A little Christmas present for all our customers - bandwidth used between Christmas Day and New Year's Day, inclusive, will be completely free! Yes, we mean it, it will not be included in your monthly download allowance for that period. Enjoy!

[T_M_D]

You have not started anything, you're absolutely fine, you just read what we all read and took it on face value, like we all did I'd imagine.

As things stand there "may" be a catch, who could know otherwise?

It's good that you allowed something like this to come to the surface; there is no way things get fixed if they are not known to be broken. If you had not said anything I surely would have.

I simply watched some live podcast as decent quality video instead of just grabbing the audio a day later as I normally do. Last night I went to bed thinking how wonderful that all was and how I wished it could be like that all the time. This morning is a bit different. I wish I'd never watched it.

Ian, I do not share your views, I think you have totally over reacted to my post. IDNet are very good indeed - having come from O2 Access I can make a good comparison. I should have checked my usage on IDNet's web site and not posted it on here, but I didn't expect a response such as yours and I reacted too quickly to the email. Tina.

[Ray]

Thanks, Rik, couldn't have put it better myself, I can't see that there should any problem.

[Gary]

As said by Rik, my feed says FREE so it is, that simple