ATT throttles unlimited account when data usage is only 1.5Gb : !! Fight Back !!

[Yomijust]

Why is it that Throttling is the latest fad amongst all the carriers? Something does not sit right. Where is the competition amongst the big 4 telecoms? Just my random thoughts. I'm sure they did not agree to all throttle within months of each other and all of this is coincidental.

[abunchofwords]

The throttling is definitely getting ridiculous.  I got notified of the above 5% at 1.9GB with just a few days left in the billing cycle.  What's the point of unlimited if they are going to cut us down before we even hit 2BG?

[dwill05]

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Yomijust wrote:
Why is it that Throttling is the latest fad amongst all the carriers? Something does not sit right. Where is the competition amongst the big 4 telecoms? Just my random thoughts. I'm sure they did not agree to all throttle within months of each other and all of this is coincidental.

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It's like any other business.  They are in it to make money for their shareholders.  By getting people off the unlimited data plan and limiting data use they can charge you if you go over.  One company tries it, and the other companies look at it, see that it works (regardless of the number of postings, people aren't leaving AT&T in droves over it), and do it themselves.  Same way with dropping unlimited data plans.  If you want an example outside the cell phone industry, look at the airlines and baggage fees and other nickle and diming.  One company started it, people grumbled over it, but still kept flying, the other airlines looked at it and decided they could make money that way, and now almost all of them charge for baggage.

[Myrtlemaye]

Is it off-topic and inappropriate to speculate there might be government regulatory consequences if the carriers continue with these anti-competitive and anti-consumer behaviors? Only if the public demands it, of course, and only if the FCC Board isn't in the pockets of said carriers.

[jkuet21226]

I just find it interesting that AT&T chooses to throttle unlimited users (seems to usually be around 2GB) but doesn't throttle the subs who are on the 3GB tiered plan.  If this was really about bandwith, shouldn't AT&T be concerned when any user approaches a set threshold and throttle if necessary?  Of course, why would AT&T want to throttle anyone on a tiered plan?  They want them to get to overage charges as soon as possible in their billing cycle.  This creates additional revenue for AT&T.  Unlimited users will never create additional revenue based on their usage.  This has never been about bandwith and never will be.  AT&T is outright lying to it's customers and the public.

[wingrider01 ACE - Geek]

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jkuet21226 wrote:

I just find it interesting that AT&T chooses to throttle unlimited users (seems to usually be around 2GB) but doesn't throttle the subs who are on the 3GB tiered plan.  If this was really about bandwith, shouldn't AT&T be concerned when any user approaches a set threshold and throttle if necessary?  Of course, why would AT&T want to throttle anyone on a tiered plan?  They want them to get to overage charges as soon as possible in their billing cycle.  This creates additional revenue for AT&T.  Unlimited users will never create additional revenue based on their usage.  This has never been about bandwith and never will be.  AT&T is outright lying to it's customers and the public.

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How about for the simple, logical reason thsat those people are PAYING for a base amout of data usage that is SET AT 3GB? This is the most logical reason, look at it, if oyu payed for 10 gallons of gas for your car you expect to be able to utilze the whole 10 gallons and ot just be allowed to use 8 gallons.

The PAY for 3GB, the PAY for each additional GB that they go over.

No none of the carriers that throttle their "unlimited: users are lying to their customers, they are enforcing the policies that the end user put their agreement to by electronic signature or physical siganture right below the statement "I ahve read and understood the policies in this agreement"

[seajohn]

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wingrider01 wrote:

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No none of the carriers that throttle their "unlimited: users are lying to their customers, they are enforcing the policies that the end user put their agreement to by electronic signature or physical siganture right below the statement "I ahve read and understood the policies in this agreement"

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Did it say anywhere in the agreement that AT&T reserved the right to limit data speeds if excessive data was used? 

[Per Guidelines: Keep it Relevant and Appropriate]

 In the existing agreement that a customer signs for 3GB at $30/month, is there anything that says all of that data will be provided at 3G speeds?  If not, what is to prevent AT&T in a couple of years from providing the first 2GB at 3g speeds, and then dropping the last GB down to Edge speeds? 

[johninsj ACE - Wizard]

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seajohn wrote:

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wingrider01 wrote:

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No none of the carriers that throttle their "unlimited: users are lying to their customers, they are enforcing the policies that the end user put their agreement to by electronic signature or physical siganture right below the statement "I ahve read and understood the policies in this agreement"

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Did it say anywhere in the agreement that AT&T reserved the right to limit data speeds if excessive data was used? 

[Per Guidelines: Keep it Relevant and Appropriate]

 In the existing agreement that a customer signs for 3GB at $30/month, is there anything that says all of that data will be provided at 3G speeds?  If not, what is to prevent AT&T in a couple of years from providing the first 2GB at 3g speeds, and then dropping the last GB down to Edge speeds? 

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Yes, it does say AT&T will not cut you off, or charge you more, no matter how much you use. It does not say what speed you will get.

[jkuet21226]

Then why is my upload speed not throttled to 2G speed?  Shouldn't AT&T be concerned about me hogging bandwidth on the upstream side?  If you still believe this is about bandwidth, you are very disillusioned.  A 3 GB user can just as easily use as much or more data than I do.  They just pay for it.  It is about the money.  I am a turnip and they can't squeeze more out of me.  The only way to do so is to make my service so unbearable that I will go to a tiered plan.

Yes they are lying.  The e-mail that I got from Sheila at AT&T headquarters said they are taking "immediate measures to help address network congestion." If network congestion is such a problem, why should I be throttled at 2 GB of data when the 3GB tiered customer will use more data then I will.  Aren't they causing more congestion problems because they will have used more data in the billing cycle than me?  Does AT&T have some magical network for the tiered users that is never congested? 

I would like AT&T to answer one question.  If an unlimited data customer and a tiered data customer both use the same amount of data, why is one subject to throttling and one is not? For what purpose?

[dwill05]

No one from AT&T is going to come here and answer why they are doing it. There is only speculation. Regardless of why, they seem to be doing it and are getting away with it. Even if they came out and said why, it wouldn't change anything.

[Pissedtxn]

I recently had a problem with my Iphone being slow when accessing the internet. Further investigation led me to a CNET article stating that AT&T would begin throttling the data speed for users with over 2gb usage per month that are on their unlimited data plan. I switched from Verizon 4 yrs ago in order to get an iphone. I travel all over the country and know that VZWs network is more reliable and has better coverage. This is a business practice thats full of deception. There is a reason why I am on a Grandfathered data plan. ITS BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN A LOYAL CUSTOMER!!!! I am amazed at the corporate practices that exist in this country. It seems like the only way to be successful is to screw people. Well the only thing I can do is move back to VZW. I guess Ill spend my 300 dollars a month with them.

[Subject edited to reflect move to similar thread]

[wingrider01 ACE - Geek]

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Pissedtxn wrote:

I recently had a problem with my Iphone being slow when accessing the internet. Further investigation led me to a CNET article stating that AT&T would begin throttling the data speed for users with over 2gb usage per month that are on their unlimited data plan. I switched from Verizon 4 yrs ago in order to get an iphone. I travel all over the country and know that VZWs network is more reliable and has better coverage. This is a business practice thats full of deception. There is a reason why I am on a Grandfathered data plan. ITS BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN A LOYAL CUSTOMER!!!! I am amazed at the corporate practices that exist in this country. It seems like the only way to be successful is to screw people. Well the only thing I can do is move back to VZW. I guess Ill spend my 300 dollars a month with them.

[Subject edited to reflect move to similar thread]

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Move back to verizon? You do realize verizon does not have the unlimited data plan any more right They are tiered only and their costs if higher then ATT's. Since it appears you are willing to pay for a tiered plan with verizon, why not just switch to the tiered plan here and still end up saving money?

This is NOt a busines practice that is "filled with deception", this is abasic issue where the majority of end users did not read what they were agreeing to

[seajohn]

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wingrider01 wrote:

 why not just switch to the tiered plan here and still end up saving money?

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For the same reason that a man will leave a woman who cheats on him.

[Myrtlemaye]

You really don't think Verizon is any better than AT&T, do you? (By better, I don't mean the quality of service, but better in their respect for customers.) I was with Verizon for years. They were as unprincipaled as it gets.

I'm not accusing any of them of anything illegal or fraudulent. I'm sure they both have top-notch legal departments putting all kinds of escape hatches and careful words in the fine print. The bottom line is that customers feel abused and have low levels of satisfaction. That means they won't think twice about switching. Being locked into a contract is all they've really got. There's no percentage in loyalty. 

Real competition will happen when all devices are agnostic. I would be willing to pay full price for my phone if it would work on all carriers and I could move on my own whim on a month-to-month basis. 

[wingrider01 ACE - Geek]

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seajohn wrote:

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wingrider01 wrote:

 why not just switch to the tiered plan here and still end up saving money?

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For the same reason that a man will leave a woman who cheats on him.

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if you are unhappy about the changes, go for it, jst make sure you understand their terms and policies, if saving money is not that important to you then etf out and head over to verizon, remebr the old adage - the grass is not always greener, take a hard look at the differences between the vendors - such as buyers remorse time line, activation and upgrade costs, etc. do the due diligence

[wingrider01 ACE - Geek]

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Myrtlemaye wrote:

You really don't think Verizon is any better than AT&T, do you? (By better, I don't mean the quality of service, but better in their respect for customers.) I was with Verizon for years. They were as unprincipaled as it gets.

I'm not accusing any of them of anything illegal or fraudulent. I'm sure they both have top-notch legal departments putting all kinds of escape hatches and careful words in the fine print. The bottom line is that customers feel abused and have low levels of satisfaction. That means they won't think twice about switching. Being locked into a contract is all they've really got. There's no percentage in loyalty. 

Real competition will happen when all devices are agnostic. I would be willing to pay full price for my phone if it would work on all carriers and I could move on my own whim on a month-to-month basis. 

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whiel it si a good idea, I doubt that many people in the US would be willing to drop 650.00 for a device then pay month to month charges for it.

As far as "top-notch legal departments" - any large company that does not have one and does not build in safety nets deserves to go out of business. sorry but the bottom line is the customer does not sit down and read / understand what they are signing, the simple signatue of the contract gives them hefty discounts on the phones - instead of 650.00 for that shiney new iphone they get to pay 199.00 - a total savings of 450.00 of up front out of pocket expenses - that is what they see, not the terms of service, fair use policy, acceptable use policy that they sign on the dotted line under "I understand and agree to these terms" verbage. when they are suprised by the enforcement of the policys they feel abused and yell about low levels of satisfaction.

There is a precentage in loyalty for every company, just the one the end user always feels they deserve - special treatment that is goes against documented company policy is the one they feel they are entitled to.

[Myrtlemaye]

Who reads the agreement?

[johninsj ACE - Wizard]

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Myrtlemaye wrote:

Real competition will happen when all devices are agnostic. I would be willing to pay full price for my phone if it would work on all carriers and I could move on my own whim on a month-to-month basis. 

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If that were true, then Nokia would be the top selling phone in the US. They are not partly because they never got carriers to subsidize their phones. The "month to month move" myth ended with number portability. After all, you CAN pay full price, and get a monthly contract today. With any phone. You can switch between tMobile, ATT, and any of those regional guys that resell AT&T or TMo towers (Metro PCS?) 

People would rather just get a new phone every two years at $100, $50, or $200 and then get a new one after a couple years. Especially since, when you add it all up, all the carriers charge about the same for the full bundle of services.

[johninsj ACE - Wizard]

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seajohn wrote:

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wingrider01 wrote:

 why not just switch to the tiered plan here and still end up saving money?

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For the same reason that a man will leave a woman who cheats on him.

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No one cheated on you. You're gonna cut off your nose to spite your face? It's just service. Use whatever works.

[wingrider01 ACE - Geek]

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Myrtlemaye wrote:

Who reads the agreement?

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I would honestly answer that but cannot respond in any terms that the forum moderators would not edit the response.

[marie.chavez]

Exactly.  Stong armed is what it is.  I wonder how Apple feels about developing a super smart phone only to have their premier carrier tell their unlimited users that they only have 2G of unlimited data are regular speeds.  After that you'll be slowed down.  Can you believe I was told to PURCHASE A DIFFERENT PLAN!!  Exactly!  They want to strong arm us into using less data.  I will continue to use my phone as I always have.  Hopefully Apple will utilize a new carrier for their phones. 

[marie.chavez]

I was told to switch to the 3G plan.  NICE!  also, as high users "comply" then the amount of data required to land you in the top 5% decreases.  Strong Arming is right!  I wonder if Apple is aware of this.  Why develope a super cool smart phone with lots of bells and whistles if you can't use 3G to access them.   Or better yet, I'll just use my computer so I can use wifi and forget about data plans.  THANKFUL I did not buy ipdad with a data plan option, it would be useless. 

[marie.chavez]

TELL YOU FRIENDS NOT TO PURCHASE THE APPLE IPAD WITH DATA FEATURE.  You'll be forced into wifi anyway by AT&T so why spend the money.  Next they'll tell 3G users that they will be slowed if they reach the top 5% of 3G users??? Where does it end?

[Yomijust]

The real solution available is competition. In any market for services where there are only a handful of major providers, the consumer always loses. Unethical practices and collusion will occurs e.g the Sotheby's / Christies example. The only recourse for the common man is to push for further deregulation and a breakup of these giants.

[jkuet21226]

They aren't strong arming you into using less data.  There is nothing further from the truth.  They want you to use as much data as that little piece of glass and metal can use.  They just want to be able to charge you $10 for every GB you go over your alloted amount.  $30/month for 10 GB of data ($30/month unlimited) or $100/month for 10 GB of data ($30/month for 3GB tiered plus $70 for 7 GB over).  I know that is a lot of data but I think we all get the point.  We can all do simple math.

[aristizzle]

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marie.chavez wrote:

I was told to switch to the 3G plan.  NICE!  also, as high users "comply" then the amount of data required to land you in the top 5% decreases.  Strong Arming is right!  I wonder if Apple is aware of this.  Why develope a super cool smart phone with lots of bells and whistles if you can't use 3G to access them.   Or better yet, I'll just use my computer so I can use wifi and forget about data plans.  THANKFUL I did not buy ipdad with a data plan option, it would be useless. 

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Of course Apple is aware of it. The phone does have plenty of uses, but with the large demand for data nowadays, carriers have to find a way to manage the increasing demand. When the iphone was first created i'm sure AT&T didnt think that years down the line users would be gobbling up 20, 30, 40 even 80 GB. That is taking advantage of the network, the phone isnt a home internet connection. I don't even use that much data on my home cable internet rofl. You can still use the phone and its functionalities, wifi allows you to use as much as you want, as fast as you want. The apps work just as fine on wifi, and most apps even recommend you use them on wifi. If your throttled and speed is such an importance to you then switch to a tiered data plan. You can simply pay for the data you need, if you don't need it then it can wait. If you choose not to swtich then you can remain on your unlimited data plan and still have unlimited data, it just wont be at full speed.

[renopeace]

In Europe they are already offering packages for $60, unlimited texting, calling and internet. Should be a great plan for AT&T as well.

Especially since they are making a awful lot of money thanks to data usage on the smartphones like the iPhone.

[wingrider01 ACE - Geek]

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Yomijust wrote:
The real solution available is competition. In any market for services where there are only a handful of major providers, the consumer always loses. Unethical practices and collusion will occurs e.g the Sotheby's / Christies example. The only recourse for the common man is to push for further deregulation and a breakup of these giants.

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A handful of carriers? Gues you have huge hands then

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_wireless_communications_service_providers

there are a top 8 but after that it gets close to 100. What are you looking for 1,000? maybe 10,000?

[Yomijust]

Please take the time to digest the content of Wikipedia and not just post a link. There is a difference of 17M users between T-Mobile (#4) and Trac-Phone wireless. I reiterate my point "a handful and they should be broken up".

[wingrider01 ACE - Geek]

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Yomijust wrote:
Please take the time to digest the content of Wikipedia and not just post a link. There is a difference of 17M users between T-Mobile (#4) and Trac-Phone wireless. I reiterate my point "a handful and they should be broken up".

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there are 8 top carriers, there are hundreds of regional vendors, what exlse do you want, break up the top 3 or just random shotgun it

Not sure what you are discounting the pay as you go vendors, they are just as valid as t-mobile, or virgin mobile (sprint)