CHOOSING AN INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDER
With so many Internet
Service Providers (ISPs) around offering so many options, it’s hard to
decide which will best suit your needs. Consider what you want to use the Internet
for, estimate how many hours you want to be online, think about the kinds of
information and multimedia you want to download. If you already have the Internet,
check your actual usage on recent bills. Shop around and explain to sellers
what you want and how much you can afford to pay. Beware of any ‘unlimited’ plans
and before you sign up to any agreement, read the contract thoroughly. Make
sure you understand:
- connection or installation costs
- restrictions on use for different times of the day
- any limits on downloads
- rates and charges for excessive use
- any speed reduction if the download limit is reached
- what fees are charged for early exit before the contract expires.
If
you are concerned about the charges or the amount of the bill, contact the
company providing the service immediately. They are obligated to:
- have a financial hardship policy available on request
- have credit control tools in place and available to help customers
to manage expenditure
- provide access to current information on the unbilled amounts
on the account
- follow credit management processes before default listing a customer
as a bad debtor.
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