Level of speed reduction? : 256Kb/s across all traffic types

That's only if you've reached the usage allowance on your account.

The only speed limits on Extra and Extra fibre are between 8pm and 10pm and they are set at 2Mb for some traffic.

Ah, OK, must have been half asleep as I was thinking it was reduction for particular types of use - on repeat viewing (and for Jim, it was the middle link of the three shown)


So, I misunderstood the circumstances, but my original comment still stands - it's not a reduction BY 256 kbps (implied by the text "Level of speed reduction?") but TO 256 kbps.

Therefore my "Perhaps that needs to be explained with different wording?" still stands.

How about "Level of speed reduction?" being replaced by "Overall data speed set to:" and then, "across all traffic types" will be superfluous - can see you mean it to be overall data, but someone might interpret it as 256 kbps per traffic type!

(I'm assuming it's 256 kbps for both upstream and downstream)


Thanks again to both for clarifying - my mistake/ misunderstanding.

In reply to a post by ultra:

Therefore my "Perhaps that needs to be explained with different wording?" still stands.

How about "Level of speed reduction?" being replaced by "Overall data speed set to:" and then, "across all traffic types" will be superfluous - can see you mean it to be overall data, but someone might interpret it as 256 kbps per traffic type!

Where does that wording occur please? All I've found after a couple of minutes is

If you do hit the usage limit you've set your speed will be rate limited to 256kb/s until your next billing date. You can change this by increasing your maximum extra monthly spend or removing your Manage My Usage limit.

which is FAQ (4) in "What happens if I go over my monthly usage allowance?".

In reply to a post by ultra:

Where does that wording occur please? All I've found after a couple of minutes is

If you do hit the usage limit you've set your speed will be rate limited to 256kb/s until your next billing date.

Amazingly, the search box on the Plusnet site works! If you go to http://www.plus.net/support/broadband/speed_guide/br... and expand one of the products you will see it. It would have been really handy if ultra had actually posted the URL(s).

Edited by kasg (Thu 01-Nov-12 08:26:39)

I used the search box and the page I gave was the first relevant one, (i.e.not business), .

From your link, I see it now. It could do with rewording, as he says. Also the line below needs something like "or you relax your spending limit".

Um, I mentioned Extra and Fibre Extra, and in my post yesterday night said it was the centre URL of the ones listed (though I didn't have Chris Purvey's name to hand to go back to exactly who had posted the three links). I guess Chris Parr had followed the correct link, and in truth, I had really meant to include a mention of "speed_guide/broadband_experience.shtml" so it was clearer.

Anyway, sorry for confusion, guys.

In reply to a post by RobertoS:

Also the line below needs something like "or you relax your spending limit".

Ha ! I'd suggest "or you stump up some extra cash" (but of course there'd need to be a "*" and a "* By the way, we'll take the fiver, even if you only use 100 MB of the extra 5 GB you paid for, and no, there are no refunds or carry overs to the next month!")

Shame, really, that the charge is so steep and the granularity so big. Metronet (admittedly before PlusNet took over) charged a flat rate minimum, then a per MB fee, with an upper maximum fee above which any further data use was not going to increase the cost.

I know it could work out as high as 100+ quid in a month if you were on some business account, but for a home user, I think it was around 35-40 quid a month (not that far from the initial 500 kbps service back in 2001, at least if you were daft enough to use BT Broadband back then).

Considering the amazing value for money that Plusnet offers, if people wish to object to the excess usage charge they aren't forced to join.

I suggest their throughput provision is closely budgeted, and therefore quite sensibly excess usage is strongly discouraged in the pricing mechanism. Other ISPs have different product structures - generally more expensive except on LLU. That's fine by me.

I'm sure you cannot disagree. Or if you do, then you have some other agenda. I've already agreed with you that the wording on one page is poor, and pointed out this second instance there.

And if people want it, unlimited is available on Plusnet via John Lewis, albeit only on ADSL2+ currently.

In reply to a post by RobertoS:

Considering the amazing value for money that Plusnet offers, if people wish to object to the excess usage charge they aren't forced to join.

My point was that the excess usage charge, while it may be reasonable (if one gets to use the full 5 GB), is less reasonable than a per MB charge (or, as could be done) rolling unused allowance into following months until it gets used, would be far more reasonable and for many customers, appear far better value for money. I don't think it worthwhile or value for money to allow PN to deduct a fiver for me going over by 10 MB (and watch what I use to avoid hitting the limit) but if someone didn't know (a) they get no refund of any part of their five quid, if they used say 5-10% and (b) the remaining 'allowance' is completely lost on next billing and is not carried forward, then I'd expect them to feel pretty angry, and even feel 'ripped off' whatever the description says about the facility.

Personally I have set the limit to 0 so I won't pay any excess, as I am aware of the consequences and unwilling to gift PN a few quid if I just happened to go 'over'.

In reply to a post by RobertoS:

I suggest their throughput provision is closely budgeted, and therefore quite sensibly excess usage is strongly discouraged in the pricing mechanism. ...snip...

I don't remember the exact cost of the 80 GB/month account but it definitely seemed worth my while to switch to the 60 GB account. As for being 'closely budgeted' I would not be so sure. I plan to switch to the Fibre Extra, when FTTC is available, and note the allowance has been increased to 250 GB, while the cost is less than double that of the ADSL 2+ Extra account.

I appreciate that part of the cost is rental of the connection from Openreach but suspect the 250 GB allowance is more generous and on a per GB cost, perhaps not charged the same as for someone on a 10 Mbps connection and limited to 60 GB/month.

In reply to a post by RobertoS:

I'm sure you cannot disagree. Or if you do, then you have some other agenda. I've already agreed with you ...

Today's earlier comment doesn't come down to whether we agree on wording, but on value for money, and a warning that the 'excess usage' fee of a fiver (or possibly more) has a nasty 'gotcha' for those who are unaware, and assume 'fair treatment'.

I remember a lot of discussion about this when the five pound fee came into being (while it was not applied to all account types, with some of the legacy accounts having lower costs, AFAICR). I was also (though did not state it) comparing PN's current approach (which I would like them to change, obviously) to that of Clara, where their FAQ page (I will find the web page after I am back from town) says that a 10 pound fee (possibly +VAT) is charged for 10 GB but unused allowance is carried forward (and if it hadn't been, I'd be saying their approach wasn't one I liked).

Here we go... from FAQ link
"Q: How can I top up if I reach my usage limit?

A: The portal at https://customer.clara.net allows you to see your usage and purchase a 10GB topup for £10 if necessary. Unused parts of any topups purchased will be rolled over into the following month."

I see it only rolls forward one month, but at least if one has paid for 10 GB one gets chance to use it...