So I immediately downloaded it - two days into a new billing period - without checking file size.
It nudged 7GB! And my monthly plan is 8GB. I'd already used some of it, and when I connected next day two emails from Bigpong arrived: (1) I'd used 80% of my plan; (2) I'd used 100% of my plan, and access would be 'shaped' (slowed) to 64KB/s for the remainder of my current billing period (25 days!).
I spent THREE HOURS on the phone to Bigpong trying to work out a solution, after discovering that the connection with my credit union timed out before the log-in was completed. NO internet banking for a month...
realised how dependent we are on our internet connection! Finally agreed to pay an extra $15 to upgrade to bigger plan for the month... only to be told (after paying) that although it's a new plan the 'shaped' (slowed) access would remain. Stung again!
Friend arrived for a visit next day. With steam still issuing from my ears, I relayed my woes - and my opinion of Bigpong.
"Ah!" says he, "Did you know that if you ask for it, all consultants have the power to waive the 'shaping' penalty up to three times a year for each customer. [Should that be 'victim'?] But you have to ask! They won't volunteer it."
When I picked up my jaw, I immediately phoned back, and asked for the waiver. The lad on t'other end checked that I was not a serial offender (only used more than the then-4GB limit on first month of plan, several years ago), and waived the shaping immediately.
Was back to normal Mobile Broadband speed within an hour! The moral of the story: Always ask if the call centre person can fix your problem before paying for an upgraded plan.
