AT&T to throttle unlimited data plan users...

[jamileh]

AT&T's Acceptable Use Policy is available on www.corp.att.com. Here is a link directly to the page: http://www.corp.att.com/aup/

You may choose to subscribe to receive automatic notifications if and when the Acceptable Use Policy is updated: http://www.corp.att.com/aup/subscribe.html

[blahze9]

I am the user throttled at 2.3 GB. I got my data usage by dialing *data#. Is there a better way?

[wingrider01 ACE - Geek]

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tken wrote:

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wingrider01 wrote:

No - covered by the Fair Use policy

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Link us to this mysterious policy you speak of.

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Never mind I see Jamileh answered you query, thanks

[Jasonisjason]

This is an outrage! I just got the text and email today saying I was a 5%er. I don't tether. I use Netflix and Skype and everything else my phone is meant to do to keep me connected! I have an unlimited plan. If they have a problem, maybe they should upgrade their systems instead of taking the millions in bonuses every year. I pay good money for this service! I signed up for supposedly the fastest network. How can it be the fastest if I'm getting a cap on mine???

[davidusr]

How much data have you used Jason? Dial *3282#, you'll get a free text telling you how much you used.

[Wild Banchi ACE - Professor]

If I had to take a guess at how much data usage Jasonisjason has used for this month, I would say about 6GB would put him in the top 5%.

[davidusr]

Just curious. One guy says he was throttled at 2.3,another at 4.5.

[tken]

Was throttled at 4.5 a week ago and just passed 5gb of data.  Even though you only have 100kbs the LTE offsets the slowness of 3g..

Q: According to the text my Next Bill Cycle is 11/27/2011.  Does the throttle lift on this day or the day after?

[scottymnyc]

I just got an email threatening to throttle me after only 2.1 gb of use! 

{word filter evasion} you ATT, that is ridiculous!

I will be blogging and posting about this everywhere and it will cost you business!

[Wild Banchi ACE - Professor]

___________________________________________________________________
tken wrote:
Q: According to the text my Next Bill Cycle is 11/27/2011.  Does the throttle lift on this day or the day after?
___________________________________________________________________

I would say that your next billing cycle begins on the 27th. Worst case scenario, it could be the 28th, but waiting an extra day isn't unbearably bad.

[wingrider01 ACE - Geek]

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scottymnyc wrote:

I just got an email threatening to throttle me after only 2.1 gb of use! 

{word filter evasion} you ATT, that is ridiculous!

I will be blogging and posting about this everywhere and it will cost you business!

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No it won;t the plan is no longer avaialable so that makes it a moot point.

What are you using to determine your usage? The OLAM data useage screen? You did see the disclaimer that the totals ther are 5 to 7 days behidn right?

[wingrider01 ACE - Geek]

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davidusr wrote:
Just curious. One guy says he was throttled at 2.3,another at 4.5.

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If they are using OLAM to determine the uages that have no accurate idea what they are being thottled at since the data usage there is no up to the minute - it has a disclaimer on it.

I consistantly average 3GB a month with some spikes over it, have not recieved a "warning text" yet

[davidusr]

I agree with you Wingrider... They must be getting their usage info from the OLAM. I average 3-4 gig myself, I and haven't heard a word from AT&T.

[tken]

Lets not assume we're getting usage from the OLAM.  I'm using 3g watchdog for my skyrocket and so far seems accurate.  The lag time for the OLAM to show my current usage is about 5 days as you've said but I'll check it further when my punishment is lifted.

[bbalexz]

I just receive the top 5% msg too, then i dial *3282# to see what's my useage is: 2.06gb WT F is going on??

here's a screen shot to my txt

[wingrider01 ACE - Geek]

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tken wrote:

Lets not assume we're getting usage from the OLAM.  I'm using 3g watchdog for my skyrocket and so far seems accurate.  The lag time for the OLAM to show my current usage is about 5 days as you've said but I'll check it further when my punishment is lifted.

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what revision level and version (free or paid) are you using?  Reading all the reviews on the product and some of them are questioning the accuracy of the product.

Have My Data manager in use here, will have to load up this one on another phone and some some comparision testing, be a good experiment

[scottymnyc]

Uh, yes it will cost them business because many people, myslef included will stop doing business with companies that use this kind of shady, opaque tactic. There is no way I trust ATT to be honest in any way about this now. I personally think its enough to get me out of my early termination fee, and at the very least it could cost them quite a bit trying to go after me (and many other customers who feel similarly) for it.

Not only do I have what ATT says I used as far as data goes, I have my internal meter on my iphone. ATT claims I used 2.1 gb since my last billing cycle began on Oct 28, but the phone itslef has me only using a tiny bit more than that starting 2 weekes earlier, so I beleive ATT is being shady and unscrupulous in many ways.

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scottymnyc wrote:

I just got an email threatening to throttle me after only 2.1 gb of use! 

{word filter evasion} you ATT, that is ridiculous!

I will be blogging and posting about this everywhere and it will cost you business!

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No it won;t the plan is no longer avaialable so that makes it a moot point.

What are you using to determine your usage? The OLAM data useage screen? You did see the disclaimer that the totals ther are 5 to 7 days behidn right?

[scottymnyc]

Also, I  dont actually believe that disclaimer  about delays in data reporting, but think that it is there to obfuscate any accuracy in what you are doing. If there is a 5 to 7 day delay then for the first 5 to 7 days of ones billing cylce, it should read zero, right? Why dont you check that?

I dont stream radio or any lengthy video.

[Per Guidelines:  Keep it Relevant and Appropriate]

[wingrider01 ACE - Geek]

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scottymnyc wrote:

Also, I  dont actually believe that disclaimer  about delays in data reporting, but think that it is there to obfuscate any accuracy in what you are doing. If there is a 5 to 7 day delay then for the first 5 to 7 days of ones billing cylce, it should read zero, right? Why dont you check that?

in.

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that is your right to believe or not beleive what you want. 

why should I check it? I consistantly averge 3GB a month in data usage each across multiple smarthones with a few peaks to 4GB and have never recieved a "warning" Besides if it wsa 100 percent realtime like you claim it wold be physicall impossible to see it as zero, it woulld reset to zero at 12:00:00 at 12:00:03 a data charge could come thrugh, so how to you propose to correctly and accurately check it?

No you don;t smell one, you see it is covered already in their policy if you take the time to actually read it.

[brianm523]

So, how do we as affected unlimited users fight back? I've already filed a complaint with the FTC for deceptive business practices. Acceptable Use Policy or not, slowing my phone down to an unusable speed is Unaccapetable, not Acceptable. I'm 7 days in my billing cycle and got the 5% text. So for 23 more days will my phone be useless and thrown back to flip phone days where all I can do is call and text?

[scottymnyc]

Just for those doubting us that we are being threatened to be throttled at these data usage points, here is an excerpt of an email I received from att.
Thank you for contacting AT&T about your wireless service......
My name is Michael and I am more than happy to assist you today with your inquiry regarding data speed reductions.
We apologize about any inconvenience.  You are correct it is right around 2 GB?s that we will throttle data speeds dopwnwards.  To have a threshold higher than the 2 GB?s will put unnecessary stress on network bandwidth thus affecting an untold amount of subscribers.

That is quite unreasonable and a real smack in the face for sticking with them as a customer. Just because they claim they have the right to do this and keep us locked in a contract does not mean they can actually get away with it.

[brianm523]

"To have a threshold higher than the 2 GB's will put unnecessary stress on network bandwidth...yadda yadda yadda." They should add in "unless you pay us for every GB you go over then it's okay and there is no unnecessary stress except in your bank account, but ours will be fine."

[wingrider01 ACE - Geek]

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scottymnyc wrote:
Just for those doubting us that we are being threatened to be throttled at these data usage points, here is an excerpt of an email I received from att.
Thank you for contacting AT&T about your wireless service......
My name is Michael and I am more than happy to assist you today with your inquiry regarding data speed reductions.
We apologize about any inconvenience.  You are correct it is right around 2 GB?s that we will throttle data speeds dopwnwards.  To have a threshold higher than the 2 GB?s will put unnecessary stress on network bandwidth thus affecting an untold amount of subscribers.

That is quite unreasonable and a real smack in the face for sticking with them as a customer. Just because they claim they have the right to do this and keep us locked in a contract does not mean they can actually get away with it.

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they are not slowing your phone down, they are slowing down the amount of data that is transfered by their network services, perfectly within their rights as owners of the infrastructure

[wingrider01 ACE - Geek]

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scottymnyc wrote:
Just for those doubting us that we are being threatened to be throttled at these data usage points, here is an excerpt of an email I received from att.
Thank you for contacting AT&T about your wireless service......
My name is Michael and I am more than happy to assist you today with your inquiry regarding data speed reductions.
We apologize about any inconvenience.  You are correct it is right around 2 GB?s that we will throttle data speeds dopwnwards.  To have a threshold higher than the 2 GB?s will put unnecessary stress on network bandwidth thus affecting an untold amount of subscribers.

That is quite unreasonable and a real smack in the face for sticking with them as a customer. Just because they claim they have the right to do this and keep us locked in a contract does not mean they can actually get away with it.

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So by your letter I should have recieved thottling messages a long time ago, funny haven;t seen any.

Clue - data services is NOT part of your contrect, it is a feature that is required by the use of a smartphone, a feature that can be changed at anytime by you without affecting anything in your contract, you can change it you can replace the smartphone with a qmd device and remove the data plan at any time during your contract or you can change your data plan at any time during the contract.

The don't have to "claim" the right to do it - they already have it

 The contract is for voice services in return for the large subsidy paid by the provider so you can pay a small amount for the phone.

[scottymnyc]

What are you trying to imply?

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So by your letter I should have recieved thottling messages a long time ago, funny haven;t seen any.

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[scottymnyc]

Thats what you say. However entering into an agreement for unlimited data and then having the definition of that change to the extent that it is not true in any way could easily be construed as deceptive business practices and false advertising and a breech of contract so that the other parts of the agreement become null and void. Not to mention the awful service and dropped calls could probably get me out of my 2 year agreement if I really wanted to press it. I've put up with all that and this throttling is the reward i get?

I understand the possible need to limit serious abuse of the bandwidth but my usage does not come even close to abusing the bandwidth. They are trying to bully their customers into abandoning the unlimited plan. I'm not just going to sit here and say oh well.

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wingrider01 wrote:

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 The contract is for voice services in return for the large subsidy paid by the provider so you can pay a small amount for the phone.

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[scottymnyc]

Yes, this is where their lies become quite transparent. They are more than happy to switch you to a plan where you can pay per use for all the data you can use. They obviously regret offering unlimited data and are trying to make it non existent.

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brianm523 wrote:
"To have a threshold higher than the 2 GB's will put unnecessary stress on network bandwidth...yadda yadda yadda." They should add in "unless you pay us for every GB you go over then it's okay and there is no unnecessary stress except in your bank account, but ours will be fine."

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[wingrider01 ACE - Geek]

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scottymnyc wrote:

Thats what you say. However entering into an agreement for unlimited data and then having the definition of that change to the extent that it is not true in any way could easily be construed as deceptive business practices and false advertising and a breech of contract so that the other parts of the agreement become null and void. Not to mention the awful service and dropped calls could probably get me out of my 2 year agreement if I really wanted to press it. I've put up with all that and this throttling is the reward i get?

I understand the possible need to limit serious abuse of the bandwidth but my usage does not come even close to abusing the bandwidth. They are trying to bully their customers into abandoning the unlimited plan. I'm not just going to sit here and say oh well.

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wingrider01 wrote:

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 The contract is for voice services in return for the large subsidy paid by the provider so you can pay a small amount for the phone.

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thing is - it was never changed, the fair use policy has been in place since the unlimited data plan was first issued.  Data is a feature requirement to be able to utilize a smartphone it is NOT a contract requirement, the only thing that is a contract requirement is voice plans. You could start with a smartphone that requires a data plan, 3 months into your two year agreement drop smartphone in the portapotty and destroy it, put a dumb phone on the number and remove the data plan without affecting the two year time span. If the data was a requirement of the contract you would have had to continue paying the data cost per contract - you don;t.  

You have 3 chocies

1. live with the enforcement of the fair use policy that has always been there

2. etf out and go to sprint (who by the way has the same exact fair use policy in it's terms)

3. change to one of the new data plans

they are not "bullying" anybody unless you define that as enforcing the terms of service you agreed to when

[wingrider01 ACE - Geek]

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scottymnyc wrote:

Yes, this is where their lies become quite transparent. They are more than happy to switch you to a plan where you can pay per use for all the data you can use. They obviously regret offering unlimited data and are trying to make it non existent.

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brianm523 wrote:
"To have a threshold higher than the 2 GB's will put unnecessary stress on network bandwidth...yadda yadda yadda." They should add in "unless you pay us for every GB you go over then it's okay and there is no unnecessary stress except in your bank account, but ours will be fine."

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There is only one of the to 3 top tiered carriers that are offering unlimited data anymore - that is Sprint and even they have a fair use policy that will allow them to throttle for overages. Verizon dropped their unlimited plan back when they got the Iphone, in fact both verizon and sprint altered a lot of their "enhanced" contract upgrade and renewal features when they got the iphone.

face it the day of the unlimited data is coming to an abrupt end, the companies that have the plans still have fair use policies in affect and throttling polices - even down to the lowly cricket Wireless

[cipherdiaz]

I found a work around to get HSPA+ speeds..but not LTE..but better than 100k. I won't post it here because they will probably shut it down. If someone can think of a way where I can diseminate this info without it being put out there for AT&T to shut it down, let me know. I have also filed an FTC complaint, as everyone else should.