Watch out for time-windows

Like many other internet users I pay my subscriptions through the ISP electronic system regularly and promptly on the day I receive the renewal notice six days prior to its effective date. Because of my overseas travel, there were times when I even paid well in advance.

I hold a "pay per use" agreement with a leading ISP that entitles me to 31 days' connection for a stipulated tariff as well as a number of hours that I may also top up for an additional charge.

In meticulous terms, this means that, excluding the top-up charges, in any calendar year I should be paying for 11.77 subscriptions.

When I paid my last bill for the supposedly statutory 31 days' charge, I realised that my account was being credited with effect from the day of my payment thus forfeiting six days use each time I pay my dues.

When, at that juncture, I consulted other users they told me that the same method was adopted with them even when they top-up their cellular phone with a new card.

All this is happening when other utilities providers in Europe, as well as in Malta, are giving percentage discounts to encourage users to pay bills within a reasonable time. And people like us are being penalised for effecting advanced payments!

Instead of just cursing darkness I tried to light up a candle which alas turned out to be a candle in the wind as when I aired my legitimate grievance with my ISP.

As a solution I was told I should pay my dues exactly on the same date they fall, not a day later as my line will be disconnected. I was not offered a remedial reimbursement for the extra money I had paid and they tried to console me by a technical explanation on how their time-window works.

When I offered a logical solution for them to open the window when the respective account is due, I was told their system does not comply with the required specifications. A typical example of two weights and two measures.

All this means that the people must pay the retributions in breach to the legal agreement which in this case amount to 14.6 annual payments instead of the contractual 11.78. Based on a contracted fee of, say, Lm10 for 31 days, we are being overcharged Lm28.30 each calendar year. A hike of 24.04 per cent extra revenue to the service providers!

I appeal to the responsible governmental institution to investigate this blatant irregularity failing which we will assume that this, as well as the cellular phone companies' rip off, has got the blessing of the government which we elected to protect us from the likes of these fat cats.