R35k bill from my ISP - advice please

[Chamkey]

I'm with @PsyentisT. I know that in South Africa, we all try to aim for the freebies but at the end of the day, you've used their service for 6 years without fault. That in itself has to be some kind of record. I used to be with Mweb, Afrihost and now Rain. There was never a time where within a year I wouldn't have something breaking on me. I would pay that just for the amazing service they've given you for so long without even realizing it.

 

[Byakugan]

Pay your bills.

 

[Nerd101]

Unfortunately you are liable - That is just how it works. However - you should be able to have an arrangement of sorts - You should not be liable for the FULL amount

 

[Nerd101]

What ISP is this by the way?

 

[thePridge]

i see it as his ISP school fees not a moral dilemma

as a business owner, you own your company's mistakes you fix them and move on, you cant go doy u haven't paid the service for 3 yrs now cough up because my staff are idiots

how do you give someone free internet for 3 years and not notice it
fuck they need to fire all there staff IMO

Just because you could try make a case of "they should have this or should have that" does not mean one should.

Bottom line, if services were used, money is due. Trying to get off without paying a cent is trying to screw the provider over (again.. if the services were used and not the stuff I stated previously). The provider has even NOT charged for the full term and offered to give a payment plan option.

 

[thePridge]

Unfortunately you are liable - That is just how it works. However - you should be able to have an arrangement of sorts - You should not be liable for the FULL amount

Read up. OP stated that they aren't billing him for the entire period and have mentioned a payment plan option.

 

[Ballbreaker]

I wouldn't like to have to pay extra on top of my monthly payment, what if he can only budget for his current isp monthly package.

and cant afford to say pay a extra 500pm back because of their mistake

I don't think its as simple as pay back da money

He beilieved it was being deducted per month, so what if he scored 35 months of free net or whatever

this paying extra conflicts with his current finances

They can't expect him to now compensate and pay on top, of his monthy bill

 

[Nerd101]

Read up. OP stated that they aren't billing him for the entire period and have mentioned a payment plan option.

My bad- Missed that

 

[Nerd101]

I wouldn't like to have to pay extra on top of my monthly payment, what if he can only budget for his current isp monthly package.

and cant afford to say pay a extra 500pm back because of their mistake

I don't think its as simple as pay back da money

He beilieved it was being deducted per month, so what if he scored 35 months of free net or whatever

this paying extra conflicts with his current finances

They can't expect him to now compensate and pay on top, of his monthy bill

The responsibility is on the user/customer to ensure that the account is up to date. This is a norm and I am willing to bet this is on the ISP Ts&Cs as well

 

[Qui_Illustrati]

The responsibility is on the user/customer to ensure that the account is up to date. This is a norm and I am willing to bet this is on the ISP Ts&Cs as well

Sure - except going on the info shared - there was no traceable account which meant no notification of non/late payment etc.
Not unheard of it happening - bizarre it's taken them all these years to NOT pick it up along the way

 

[DW_za]

I would just pay, dealing with small'ish companies they can be very hard up to get that cash out of you.

Had a similar issue where I wasn't billed for gas and water via the pre-paid meter service my complex uses, I mailed them once a month asking them to please sort out the billing, I didn't just leave it.

Long story short, 7 months later they fixed the billing (after me sending like 7-10 mails) and I had to back pay them like R10 000. Just wasn't worth the fight. Yes it was their issue, yes I told them about it every month and best part of all its "pre-paid" but I still just paid as the way I saw it I used it, so I just forked it out.

Luckily in my instance I was aware so I put away what I guess the consumption would be every month.

 

[Phence]

So this is one of them "moral dilemmas"

Question... Did you use the service during the time they didn't bill you?
IMO if you did, then pay as fair is fair even though there was a billing mistake.

If they billed you for a service you didn't have or had requested cancellation on and then stopped using then go ahead and tell em to sod off.

This, everyone makes mistakes and they're being very reasonable it sounds like.

 

[valiente]

I wouldn't like to have to pay extra on top of my monthly payment, what if he can only budget for his current isp monthly package.

and cant afford to say pay a extra 500pm back because of their mistake

I don't think its as simple as pay back da money

He beilieved it was being deducted per month, so what if he scored 35 months of free net or whatever

this paying extra conflicts with his current finances

They can't expect him to now compensate and pay on top, of his monthy bill

Where are they asking him to pay extra?

He should have the 70k in that account that had built up over the last 6 years.

He was budgeting for the monthly cost, paid it into an account that the ISP was meant to debit from.

They made a mistake by not billing, but still provided the service.

Now they giving a 50% discount, so pay half and take the other half for a holiday!

Sent from my SM-F926B using Tapatalk

 

[valiente]

On a side note, due to Covid our Pay Day got moved to the last day of the Month (Used to be the 25th)

The amount of complaints I had to hear from people was astonishing!

So most people mentioned that it was due to them having their debit orders on the 25th, so I asked why not have the debit order on the 1st?
That way if you get paid ANY time during the month, you know your debit orders will only go off after the fact.

Most answered with, otherwise I will spend the money and won't be able to pay the debit order... (salary on the 25th and pay day on the 1st) How can one be so frivolous that in 6 days you overspend and can't pay what you have committed to??


Same scenario as this, albeit on a much larger scale of 6 years...

Sent from my SM-F926B using Tapatalk

 

[Switch]

On a side note, due to Covid our Pay Day got moved to the last day of the Month (Used to be the 25th)

The amount of complaints I had to hear from people was astonishing!

So most people mentioned that it was due to them having their debit orders on the 25th, so I asked why not have the debit order on the 1st?
That way if you get paid ANY time during the month, you know your debit orders will only go off after the fact.

Most answered with, otherwise I will spend the money and won't be able to pay the debit order... (salary on the 25th and pay day on the 1st) How can one be so frivolous that in 6 days you overspend and can't pay what you have committed to??


Same scenario as this, albeit on a much larger scale of 6 years...

Sent from my SM-F926B using Tapatalk

If you look at the data on the number of people with credit card debt over 30 days, financial planning is not a strong point for many.

 

[SoF_ZA]

@Qui_Illustrati - I would advise that you get solid proof from them that a contract was signed and agreed to. Regardless of the situation - I do not pay for incomitance. Please do give us the ending to the story when it comes.

I was in a similar position. I requested a physical line to be installed by Octotel when it was rolled out at my new house (through coolideas at the time). They did so. At the time I advised that I would only start using the line 6-12 months later (renovations). They were ok with this. 13 months later I called up to have data piped through.

They advised that I owed them for 13 months of line rental even though no data was used (they pay Octotel). I advised them that they never advised me of this(true). So, some back and forth later, I got my line activated and did not pay any back dated line rental.

 

[KTM300]

I would suggest to them that when the price comes down for your line speed they leave your fee at the higher price....and you basically repay them the difference between the two....They then retain you as a customer and your budgeted expense stays the same...

 

[bythecantloads]

If you look at the data on the number of people with credit card debt over 30 days, financial planning is not a strong point for many.

It something that is lacking from our schooling system, is to teach people (kids) how to be financially sustainable and responsible from an early age.

 

[Qui_Illustrati]

It something that is lacking from our schooling system, is to teach people (kids) how to be financially sustainable and responsible from an early age.

Exactly. It's a circular argument as well. One would think it's a parents responsibility as well - but parents don't have the understanding to teach or pass on. But you're absolutely right - the education system absolutely needs to adjust their curriculum to include financial literacy.

 

[Switch]

Exactly. It's a circular argument as well. One would think it's a parents responsibility as well - but parents don't have the understanding to teach or pass on. But you're absolutely right - the education system absolutely needs to adjust their curriculum to include financial literacy.

This should fall under that life orientation subject, which should include how to navigate, pay, and claim sars tax and uif, and other things.

 

[Qui_Illustrati]

This should fall under that life orientation subject, which should include how to navigate, pay, and claim sars tax and uif, and other things.

Life orientation is a dedicated subject at schools these days? Way before my time - so didn't know that.
Savings, Investments, compound interest, depreciation etc should also be added IMO.