Ihug apologises for releasing misleading information

By PETER GRIFFIN

Internet provider Ihug has bulk e-mailed its broadband DSL customers to correct an earlier notice that had some users scratching their heads.

Ihug contacted its Jet2000 customers to inform them that from November 1 it would be bumping up the price they would face for excess date traffic charges, from 6c per megabyte at peak times and 2c off-peak to a flat rate 10c per megabyte.

Ihug subscribers of the 128kb DSL service have a 10GB international data cap on their downloads, while unlimited national traffic is allowed.

Ihug brushed over the price hike, telling customers it still had one of the most competitive Jet Stream starter accounts on the market. But it went on to botch a comparison with Xtra's DSL offering, telling e-mail recipients that Xtra had a data cap of 5GB for both national and international traffic and charged 20c per megabyte for additional downloads.

Xtra has a data cap on international traffic only of 5GB and charges 10c per additional megabyte downloaded.

Ihug moved quickly to correct the message as internet users did some of their own comparing.

The error was blamed on a simple cut and paste mix up.

"We sincerely apologise for any misrepresentation of this competitor's account as it was purely accidental and in no way intended to mislead," Ihug director Tim Wood told his Jet2000 customers.

Still, a straight comparison shows still offers the better deal despite its price rise on additional data charges.

A number of internet providers resell Telecom's DSL services but claim the wholesale price they buy the service from Telecom at is so tight that little money is made from DSL subscriber bases.

How the two measure up for entry-level DSL:

Ihug monthly limit: 10GB international traffic only, unlimited national traffic, ISP monthly fee $34.95 (excludes fee payable to Telecom), excess data charged at 10c per megabyte for international traffic. National traffic is free.

Xtra monthly limit: 5GB for international traffic only, unlimited national traffic. ISP monthly fee $34.95 (excludes fee payable to Telecom), excess data charged at 10c per megabyte for international traffic. National traffic free.