Start Option Considerations - Rate-Oriented SA Types

To understand the following discussion, you should be familiar with the following concepts:

• SA types that use rates have one or more valid rate schedules. Only these rate schedules may be defined on service agreements of a given type.
• One of a SA type's rate schedules may be designated as the "default" rate. The system assigns the "default" rate to new service agreements when a CSR doesn't choose a start option.
• Start options may be used by customer service reps when a service is started for a customer. A start option causes the customer's new service agreement to be populated with a specific rate and contract terms (e.g., contract riders, contract values). The use of start options is not allowed if the service's SA type does not require a start option. The use of start options is required if the service's SA type requires a start option.

Whether or not a SA Type has start options is dependent on the following factors:

• If a SA Type has only one valid rate and the rate doesn't use customer-specific contract terms (e.g., contract riders, contract values), the SA Type does not need any start options. Why? Because the system default's the SA type's default rate on new service agreement when no start option is used at start time.
• If a SA Type has only one valid rate, but under unusual circumstances, it uses customer-specific contract terms, you'll want an option for every situation (both the standard one and the unusual ones).
• If a SA Type has a single rate with a variety of contract terms (which, by definition, are different for each customer), then you'd want a start option for each permissible combination of contract terms. You'd also want to turn on the SA type's Start Option Required switch to make your CSR's pick one of the start options when service is started (rather than let the system use the SA type's default rate).
• If a SA type has multiple valid rates and a variety of contract terms (a combination of the previous two points), you'd need a start option for each permissible combination. You'd also want to turn on the SA type's Start Option Required switch to make your CSR's pick one of the start options when service is started (rather than let the system use the SA type's default rate).