On Tue, 2004-03-02 at 09:06, Gordon Campbell wrote: > >At the very least, the customer should be offered the _option_ of > >whether to pay extra, or have their access speed limited (or even > >cut off) - with the default being no extra charges. > > I'm actually a bit surprised to see this comment, since BigPond actually DO > offer this option, on both Cable and ADSL.
I'm aware of that. I should have been clearer there, and instead said: --- At the very least, shaping or cut-offs should be the default mode on all low end plans, and the customer should be offered the _option_ of whether to pay extra, or have their access speed limited or disabled. --- elsewhere, I did say: --- So - I'll credit BigPond with some effort here, but it's only a band-aid on the fundamental problem - they don't provide 'flat rate' or shaped plans on the low end, where uninformed and inexperienced users are likely to sign up. --- The problem, you see, is that the "unlimited" plans are presented as the top end of the price bracket, and described as for "Intensive, super-fast access". The real problem with uncapped usage is at the low end, where people are probably new to byte-charged broadband services, aren't likely to realise what things really add up to, and don't realise they need to watch their usage meter closely. Craig Ringer
