Tutor
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2 Messages
Got a threatening letter regarding tethering and my unlimited data package for my iphone
I received a text message, an email, and now a letter from AT&T saying if I didn't stop using tethering on my iPhone, that my unlimited data plan would be removed and I would be signed up for a 4 gig limited + tethering plan.
1) Wouldn't I have to HAVE a tethering plan before I could tether??? HELLOOOoooOO!!! AT&T- pull your head out of your butt and get with the program here.
2) Is it legal for a cell phone company to change your plan without your consent?
3) If they do, I would imagine that would break the contract since that would not be the terms you signed the contract under.
4) Anybody else being threatened with this? Looks to me like AT&T just wants to get rid of all of us old-timers that still have unlimited plans. [Per Guidelines: Keep it Relevant and Appropriate].
Timberly
Contributor
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2 Messages
11 years ago
Ummm, tethering IS NOT hooking a device to a TV. Know how I know? Because I looked up the definition of tethering according to the AT&T website, it says: Tethering lets you use your smartphone as a wireless modem or Mobile Hotspot for your PC or Wi-Fi-capable device.
Since 95% of TVs are not Wi-Fi capable, that'd mean hotel TVs are not, in fact, a "PC or Wi-Fi-capable device".
Call them back and ask them to read to you THEIR definition of tethering and then how that applies at all to your particular case. I hate that their reps can just lie to you time and again until YOU find the actual way things work and remind them of that.
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Timberly
Contributor
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2 Messages
11 years ago
"same response, if it is not listed in the terms of service, fair use policy and authorized types of data usage it is not permitted."
Ummm.... a TOS is not an exhaustive listing of all things you're ALLOWED to use your phone for. I may want to use my iPhone 5 as a wireless doorbell that sends a signal to speakers in my living room, that's not listed in the TOS; if I accidentally mentioned that on the phone with an AT&T rep would they be in the right to change my service plan? Of course not, because by not explicitly forbidding it, AT&T left themselves open to it being used that way.
The TOS is a standard contract for BOTH sides that, just like ANY contract, only covers what it covers, nothing more. If you and I sign a contract for me to sell you wood for two years at a given price and then after a year I decide I don't like the houses you build from my wood (or, in the case of unlimited data: my wood is worth way more than what I had agreed to). By selling the wood to someone else,charging you more for the wood, or leaving our agreemnt unfulfilled in any way, I've broken the contract.
I'm not saying theirs isn't a smart financial decision, but something unlawful or unethical doesn't become legal and right just because it makes a business more money.
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wingrider01
Expert
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12.2K Messages
11 years ago
tethering was never allowed on the discontinued unlimited plan even when it was available as a feature, if you had the unlimited plan and wanted to tether you where required to purchase a secondard 5GB data plan that was only used when the device was tethered.
They really need to sunset this discontinued plan to get rid of it once and for all.
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dhmcdr
Voyager
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4 Messages
10 years ago
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aGuyWhoKnows
Former Employee
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78 Messages
10 years ago
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dhmcdr
Voyager
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4 Messages
10 years ago
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aGuyWhoKnows
Former Employee
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78 Messages
10 years ago
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aGuyWhoKnows
Former Employee
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78 Messages
10 years ago
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sandblaster
ACE - Expert
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64.7K Messages
10 years ago
Your use of bluetooth to stream your music, especially if you are listening to music that is being streamed itself (Pandora, etc) may very well be the culprit that is causing AT&T to flag your account for tethering.....however listening to music over a bluetooth headset is definitely not tethering. I remember seeing someone else report a similar incident when streaming their music over their car stero via bluetooth and they had a very difficult time convincing CS that wasn't tethering.
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Stoney1313
Contributor
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1 Message
10 years ago
Just got my threatening text, not too happy about it.
Sorry if this was mentioned in here already just got tired of reading all the crap that I felt a need to add my own crap to the list. But I read multiple times that some like to explain the definition of tethering, fine, but can someone explain the definition of unlimited? I cant find anywhere that says unlimited and having a limit mean the same thing.
To add to this I would like to say I was not teathering anything, I use my phone to stream video and watching it on my phone screen. The text sugested that I use wifi, good idea, however, I have att u-verse and let me tell you, what they call high speed internet is a joke. A cell tower where I am get 100 times better results that what I pay for in their internet.
That's enough for now, I'm busy.
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