AT&T Kills The $30 Unlimited Data Plan → File an FTC Complaint for AT&T changing the terms

»www.FTCComplaintAssistan ··· ?Lang=en

The FTC needs to hear about this... The complaint wizard is pretty simple.

We were led to believe that there would be an unlimited data plan for the iPad, which people started receiving one month ago.

This is absurd.

Sounds like false advertisement. They advertise unlimited and now they are changing it.

Exactly.

This definitely falls within the realm of the FTC.
»www.ftc.gov/ogc/stat1.shtm

Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. §§ 41-58, as amended)
Under this Act, the Commission is empowered, among other things, to (a) prevent unfair methods of competition, and unfair or deceptive acts or practices in or affecting commerce; (b) seek monetary redress and other relief for conduct injurious to consumers; (c) prescribe trade regulation rules defining with specificity acts or practices that are unfair or deceptive, and establishing requirements designed to prevent such acts or practices; (d) conduct investigations relating to the organization, business, practices, and management of entities engaged in commerce; and (e) make reports and legislative recommendations to Congress.

"Cease and Desist" this AT&T....

This is incorrect. Anyone who signed up for the iPad unlimited data plan (or iPhone for that matter) still has it and does not have to change. No one is forcing them to not have an unlimited data plan. So there's no basis for a complaint. AT&T is changing the plan for new customers, and allowing existing customers the choice of switching to the new plan or staying with the old one.

I see what you are saying now, but this is a big, big stretch of a complaint. What it says is "you can cancel anytime". It does NOT say "you can deactivate and reactivate at any time." That is your interpretation. That's not what it says.

The new $25 2GB plan with $10/GB increments above that is also a no-contract plan for the iPad.

But hey, go for it. Let's see that hope and change government work for you.

It's not a stretch at all....

Would people spend over 600 dollars (including a 130 dollar premium over the wi-fi version) on a 3G enabled device only to have the 3G service active for one month and then cancel it, with the intent to never enable it ever again?

If AT&T and Apple wanted to sell a 2GB plan with the iPad 3G, then they should have been forthcoming and done that from the outset when the pre-orders were placed.... and the outset means barely a month after the devices ship to consumers.

Think they would have sold as many iPad 3G devices with a 2GB capped data plan? Not a chance in hell.

Here's what Apple says on their website:
»www.apple.com/ipad/3g/

No-contract 3G service.
AT&T 3G Data Plans for iPad
Data per month Price per month
250MB $14.99
Unlimited $29.99

One month is based on 30 consecutive days, and starts at the date and time of your purchase.

In the United States, 3G service is available through a breakthrough deal with AT&T. You choose the amount of data per month you want to buy — 250MB or unlimited. If you choose the 250MB plan, you’ll receive onscreen messages as you get close to your monthly data limit so you can decide whether to turn off 3G or upgrade to the unlimited plan. Best of all, there’s no long-term contract. So if you have a business trip or vacation approaching, just sign up for the month you’ll be traveling and cancel when you get back. You don’t need to visit a store to get 3G service. You can sign up, check your data usage, manage your account, or cancel your service — all from your iPad.

OK that's more of a smoking gun. Good find.

They'll probably fall back on their TOS which has language that they can change the plan at any time. So legally they're OK.

Thanks!

Sounds to me like Apple got screwed by AT&T on the data plans just like we did. I emailed Steve Jobs to ask how something like this could happen to them and us.

I'm sure that this change will significantly affect the number of iPads sold.... and that's going to get his attention for sure.

LOL you can be sure this change was jointly agreed to/negotiated by Apple with AT&T beforehand. You won't be telling Steve Jobs anything he doesn't know and understand.

And as you recall, he said nothing about it on the D8 stage... This announcement came the day after....

You can bet he would have been called out for the "change"...