 | | I jailbroke my iPhone To keep old 2gb plan (cheaper than 3gb) when I need to tether. Been switching back and forth between 2gb and 4gb with tethering for a long time but now that's over. | |
|
 mech1164I'll Be Back
join:2001-11-19
Lodi, NJ
 ·Optimum Online
| Murky? H3ll yes they want it murky. That way they can't be held to account and can be totally arbitrary when i comes to forcing people to a new tier. Typical corp speak here. Thankfully I never bit to get an iPhone on ATT. I saw the shenanigans Cingular(nee ATT) did to the Blue customers to get them to change phones and service. We just haven't seen this in awhile. Looks like they are back to their old tricks. | |
|
 ptrowskiGot Helix?Premium
join:2005-03-14
Putnam, CT
kudos:4 | I got the message at 5.1 GB I live in NE CT and drive to NW RI every day. I used 5.1 GB last month on my unlimited plan and got the notice. I was told to get three strikes then get throttled.
I did submit my complaint to the FTC and the FCC. | |
|
 | | | Re: I got the message at 5.1 GB That won't help. They only respond to illegal tricks, not unethical. Their TOS has always had in contract that using lot of data can get you throttled ever since they still had unlimited plans.
Besides I don't think they are even unfair or unethical. It's different of they throttled u after 2gb, but u complain about them throttling after 5gb? Ur short $20 to them. And u use more resources for less cutting other users and slowing down network for a lot of people who must pay more. | |
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| | ptrowskiGot Helix?Premium
join:2005-03-14
Putnam, CT
kudos:4 | Re: I got the message at 5.1 GB It may do nothing, but the more attention it gets I am ok with it. And whether it's 2 or 10 or 20 GB I should not be throttled. I give them money every month and have been an iPhone customer for 4 years. Prove to me some congestion, it's BS. | |
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| |  IPPlanManHoly Cable Modem Batman
join:2000-09-20
Washington, DC
kudos:1 | They respond to unfair and deceptive business practices, which this is:
Selling an "unlimited" data service that is effectively throttled to unusable speeds is deceptive marketing.
This is well within the FTC/FCC's purview. | |
|
| | | | | Re: I got the message at 5.1 GB not if this is unlimited access (v unlimited usage) | |
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| | | | IPPlanManHoly Cable Modem Batman
join:2000-09-20
Washington, DC
kudos:1 | Re: I got the message at 5.1 GB Unlimited Data "Access"?
What are you talking about?
You're some kind of confused here..... | |
|
| | | | | | | Re: I got the message at 5.1 GB No, he is following the letter of the law, which is exactly what AT&T's fleet of lawyers has them doing. You cannot apply common sense to US laws. | |
|
| | | | | Reviews:
 ·Air Advantage
 ·HughesNet Satell..
| said by IPPlanMan:Unlimited Data "Access"?
What are you talking about?
You're some kind of confused here.....
he means that the unlimited part is referring to accessing the network 24/7. not that you get unlimited data.
there is a difference. | |
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| | | | | | IPPlanManHoly Cable Modem Batman
join:2000-09-20
Washington, DC
kudos:1 | Re: I got the message at 5.1 GB What's the point of the difference?
The phone turns on and registers a 3G/4G signal?
Is that the "access" he's talking about?
Or is he talking about "usable" access?
As the video shows, the phone isn't usable for the primary purpose for which it was sold.
I thought it was called an unlimited data plan....
--
"We're going to start at one end of (Fallujah), and we're not going to stop until we get to the other. If there's anybody left when that happens, we're going to turn around and we're going to go back and finish it."
Lt. Col. Pete Newell: 1st Inf. US Army | |
|
| | | | | | | | That won't hold up in court when att throttles you to .1 mbps, making your phone's internet unusable. | |
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| | | | | | | IPPlanManHoly Cable Modem Batman
join:2000-09-20
Washington, DC
kudos:1 | Re: I got the message at 5.1 GB said by sonicmerlin:That won't hold up in court when att throttles you to .1 mbps, making your phone's internet unusable.
Damn right. | |
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| | | |  Oh_NoTrogglus normalus
join:2011-05-21
Chicago, IL | unlimited access and usage are the same thing.
If you can use it then you have no access.
If you have no access you cant use it.
If you have access you can use it. | |
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| | | | Okay Mr. att, why don't they offer unlimited usage on nights and weekends like they do.with voice? i'd love to hear your justification. | |
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| | | elray
join:2000-12-16
Santa Monica, CA Reviews:
 ·SONIC.NET
·RoadRunner Cable
| Re: I got the message at 5.1 GB said by sonicmerlin:Okay Mr. att, why don't they offer unlimited usage on nights and weekends like they do.with voice? i'd love to hear your justification.
Because the rest of us have a right to use the network on nights and weekends without contention from data hogs. | |
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| | | fiberguyMy views are my own.Premium
join:2005-05-20
kudos:3 | said by sonicmerlin:Okay Mr. att, why don't they offer unlimited usage on nights and weekends like they do.with voice? i'd love to hear your justification.
Because the way voice is used versus data is not the same thing.
The unlimited n&w came out of the fact that during the day the business world (who paid the majority of the voice minutes used) were/are busy flooding the cellular network with use. After 6 or 7pm at night the network calms down and congestion, which per minute billing helps with, is no longer an issue.
That's not going to be necessarily true with data.
The comparisons that are used around these parts all the time rarely ever make sense.. things/issues have to be taken on their own merit. | |
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|  baineschile2600 ways to livePremium
join:2008-05-10
Sterling Heights, MI
·Comcast
 ·magicjack.com
| said by ptrowski:I live in NE CT and drive to NW RI every day. I used 5.1 GB last month on my unlimited plan and got the notice. I was told to get three strikes then get throttled.
I did submit my complaint to the FTC and the FCC.
Can you scan it, and post it on here? | |
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| | ptrowskiGot Helix?Premium
join:2005-03-14
Putnam, CT
kudos:4 | Re: I got the message at 5.1 GB The complaints? I uses the online links provided by IPPlan Man. I did receive confirmation emails but not the actual transcript I wrote. | |
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| Oh_NoTrogglus normalus
join:2011-05-21
Chicago, IL | Submit to the BBB also.
They will respond, you can get some really stupid answers from them through there. | |
|
IPPlanManHoly Cable Modem Batman
join:2000-09-20
Washington, DC
kudos:1
2 edits | How to Complain to the FCC/FTC For the FTC:
»www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/
For "unlimited" data plan customers, AT&T has provided no proof of the accuracy of its internal bandwidth meters, and thus there is no consumer-transparent basis under which this "top 5%" throttling practice is determined and implemented. The FTC needs to investigate this as it is a deceptive business practice in which a plan is marketed as "unlimited" but is throttled to the point of useless (as the video shows) with no clearly defined criteria based on users who can travel frequently from region to region.
The idea of a "market" being based on your "address" is an unfair business practice. When someone travels from NYC to LA, etc. there's no way to label them a top 5% user based on a specific region as AT&T appears to be doing. How can AT&T even claim this? Does the so-called congestion travel with a customer?
Aside from there being no proof of congestion in the first place, there's no way to know if AT&T is really doing the "top 5%"... make AT&T prove it.
AT&T is deceptively marketing an "unlimited" data plan which is throttled to effectively useless speeds based on video evidence. You can point the FTC to this YouTube video:
»www.youtube.com/watch?v=XW5aEQzTcW0
This complaint also applies to the tiered data offerings: that's another reason to ensure that these usage meters are accurate. Who's checking this? No one I'll bet... Why would they?
All the more reason for the FTC to make AT&T come clean on this.
As for the FCC:
»www.fcc.gov/complaints
Select "Wireless Telephone"
Select "Deceptive or unlawful advertising or marketing by a communications company (does NOT include Telemarketing)"
You will fill out "Form 2000A - Deceptive or Unlawful Advertising and Promotion Complaint"
The complaint has the same basis as above. AT&T is deceptively marketing an "unlimited" data plan which is throttled to useless speeds based on video evidence. You can point the FCC to the YouTube video above.
You can submit this form to the FCC online or on paper.
Very simple to do.
Ptrowkski did it...
--
"We're going to start at one end of (Fallujah), and we're not going to stop until we get to the other. If there's anybody left when that happens, we're going to turn around and we're going to go back and finish it."
Lt. Col. Pete Newell: 1st Inf. US Army | |
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| |
| | IPPlanManHoly Cable Modem Batman
join:2000-09-20
Washington, DC
kudos:1 | Re: How to Complain to the FCC/FTC Exactly....
It's deceptive marketing by AT&T to say that the device has an "unlimited" data plan when it's effectively rendered unusable for the tasks for which the device was purchased by AT&T's throttling practice. | |
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| | | | Why tolerate throttling during nights and weekends when they provide unlimited voice? | |
|
 dib22
join:2002-01-27
Kansas City, MO
kudos:2 | erm... If you are on the unlimited plan, the only logical thing to do is use all the data you can (throttled or not) in hopes of shrinking the top 5% the next billing cycle.
Did they think that through? | |
|
| | Haven't seen 2 Gbs yet I work for them. I've never seen 2 GBs throttled but have seen a little over 4. I'm in the department that answers calls for the "slower speeds".
I think its bull crap and wish people would just speak with their wallet but I've never had a cancellation threat follow through on it for this reason.
I also did the calls for the tethering notices and the migration to 4 GB tethering plan instead of unlimited. Only once did a person I spoke to follow through with cancelling and he had no ETF so that is most likely why. | |
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| IPPlanManHoly Cable Modem Batman
join:2000-09-20
Washington, DC
kudos:1 | Re: Haven't seen 2 Gbs yet I'm sure that people will be answering with their wallet, especially if Sprint keeps Unlimited going forward with LTE.
I think you guys might be hearing from the FTC/FCC about this too.... | |
|
| nonymousPremium
join:2003-09-08
Glendale, AZ Reviews:
·Callcentric
| said by corinthos:I work for them. I've never seen 2 GBs throttled but have seen a little over 4. I'm in the department that answers calls for the "slower speeds".
I think its bull crap and wish people would just speak with their wallet but I've never had a cancellation threat follow through on it for this reason.
I also did the calls for the tethering notices and the migration to 4 GB tethering plan instead of unlimited. Only once did a person I spoke to follow through with cancelling and he had no ETF so that is most likely why.
There is no place to go. Plus well pay a ETF fee because ATT is the one not living up to its bargain.
ATT would love them to cancel. Get the fee and push off the customer on another company. Or get them back later on a capped not unlimited service. Cancellation is what ATT wants not the customer pushing for what is unlimited data. | |
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|  VanPremium
join:2009-07-08
New Orleans, LA | said by corinthos:I work for them. I've never seen 2 GBs throttled but have seen a little over 4. I'm in the department that answers calls for the "slower speeds".
I think its bull crap and wish people would just speak with their wallet but I've never had a cancellation threat follow through on it for this reason.
I also did the calls for the tethering notices and the migration to 4 GB tethering plan instead of unlimited. Only once did a person I spoke to follow through with cancelling and he had no ETF so that is most likely why.
Many here have said they would LOVE to speak with their wallet but don't have a wallet with several hundred dollars so they can get out of their AT&T plan due to the criminal ETF forced upon them by AT&T...yes, I said "forced" even with the person having to sign the contract.
I recently spent $300 to switch out of AT&T due to them giving me a "Top 5%" text when I used 2.3 GB's that month. Yes, 2.3 freakin GB's....and that puts me in the Top 5%?
Does AT&T actually expect a single intelligent person to believe that crap? Hundreds on here and just about every other Tech forum/blog report the same thing.....AT&T is simply sending it to whoever uses above their idiotic, laughable limit (or many I should say) to get them off their plans and onto one in which AT&T will profit more | |
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| | amungusPremium
join:2004-11-26
America Reviews:
·AT&T DSL Service
| Re: Haven't seen 2 Gbs yet I think 2.3GB is "normal" for a month. For me, that happens with basic browsing, and a few hours of streaming music per day. This should not be "abnormal" or "top 5%" level use - this should be considered BASELINE for what they offer, which is why I think the 2GB plan is crap. | |
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| |
rradina
join:2000-08-08
Chesterfield, MO | ...where network capacity or spectrum is insufficient... This comment by Mr. Siegel is very interesting. The questions begging answers are how to they define sufficient and where are the areas that don't meet that definition? | |
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| IPPlanManHoly Cable Modem Batman
join:2000-09-20
Washington, DC
kudos:1
1 edit | Re: ...where network capacity or spectrum is insufficient... What's more interesting is that the "spectrum" is sufficient to support a full 3 GB of usage by a tiered plan customer paying $30 per month, but throttles an "unlimited" plan customer paying the same $30 per month before reaching 3 GB of data use without transparency of data or necessity...
Again AT&T, prove the congestion exists.
When the feds come calling, there won't be any squirming or word games AT&T.... You can bet on it.
--
"We're going to start at one end of (Fallujah), and we're not going to stop until we get to the other. If there's anybody left when that happens, we're going to turn around and we're going to go back and finish it."
Lt. Col. Pete Newell: 1st Inf. US Army | |
|
| | How innovative (in restrictions) the US is... while other less "forward technology" countries put their money into infrastructure instead of legislation and lawyers. Why "provide a telecommunication service" when you can be a "fee collector" instead?!?!? I mean, you didn't expect a phone company to actually have to spend money expanding communication service, did you?
So what do other countries do? They build out, then hold contests to award "infrastructure testers" (err, heavy users) just to show off what they can provide, even to villages. The winner? He managed 419GB a week to win the prize.
»thenextweb.com/mobile/2012/02/06···-holiday | |
|
Reviews:
 ·Verizon FiOS
·voip.ms
·PHONE POWER
·Time Warner Cable
| They have no 4G offload--YET Regardless of what spin they put on it, ATT is just getting LTE off the ground and they have boucoup users on their 3g infrastructure (not that LTE is 4g), up to HSPA+. So they have to control usage until they get LTE rolled out AND they can start moving iphone people to LTE, or push droid mutants w/ LTE to do offload also. In every industry they always start w/ unlimited to get you hooked at then dial it back. I think that is is absolutely criminal to do that though, and the term "unlimited" is thrown around like "no new taxes" which means absolutely as much as it does coming out of a politicians mouth--zero. Then people magically appear upset.
AT&T WANTs to churn these guys, and they know that a vast majority are too lazy or time crunched to terminate or change their habits, so they just turn up the heat slowly and boom. You are boiled.
1. They offer a 3GB plan while slapping some unlimited on the wrist 3GB (which is smart). Companies often are willing to churn the top 5% because they may use 40%+ of the network capacity. If they can keep the bad PR down, it makes 100% business sense to do this.
2. They throttle it so low its unusable. Again smart but stupid. Interestingly my wifes "unlimited" now "limited" virgin mobile aka Sprint only gets 0.12Mbit ON A GOOD DAY, which is about the same as this throttling. And let me tell you it's unusable unless you want text and email, which is all she really does. They could reduce it in steps (which is smarter), however they want to move folks to monetize $5/mo. Now this is partially Apples fault for killing the cellcos with their expensive iphones, so they have to make up for the lower entry cost but higher carrier cost (iphone vs droid). Go check out Apples balance sheet and ask who really is to blame. We fault the carrier, but they are NOT 100% to blame.
3. There are vast amounts of MVNOs out there today. People complain, however you can break your contract and still make out in a few months if you switch to an MVNO--say redpocket. Now if you are on a family plan, then you have a problem FOR now. Companies will come up w/ buckets this year.
4. Start thinking differently. I know streaming is easy--push a button, and we SHOULD be able too, but it will be a few years until the carriers catch up so use something like RMC to catch the broadcasts and then download it to your phone. I spend no more than 5 minutes a week doing this.
5. It will get better. Give them a chance to catch up and deploy LTE. Sprints network is in bad shape, and AT&T has made great strides (network wise). I still give them s**t about customer service. Tmobile has a rockin HSPA+ deployed in metro areas. But if you MUST have an iphone then pay up. BTW iphones kill Verizon just the same. Its sort of amusing that the carriers have a master for the first time in their existence  | |
|
| | | Re: They have no 4G offload--YET The carriers have 40% margins and no congestion o nights and weekends. this is all their fault. | |
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| |
| | I call bullshit on that response I got throttled this month, 18 days into the cycle, at around 2.1 gig.
I live in the DC Metro area, there is no way in hell that 2 gig would be in the top 5% for an area that has LTE (I get between 30 to 50mbps.. only reason I am keeping ATT for now, the service works well.. when it works) and the size of the DC Metro area (to include the areas in VA and MD).
I have figured out a way around the throttling though, apparently messing with the APN's works for some, but not for others (did for me).
What I suspect is that ATT has an automated process in place that has gone all batshit crazy, and is now throttling people automatically based on the 5% rule, but not waiting on the cycle to complete, and automatically moving on to the next 5% of people who would be in a lower bandwidth usage pattern then the previous top 5%.. Kinda like the throttling version of Thermal Runaway.. | |
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|  joakoPremium
join:2000-09-07
/dev/null
kudos:5
·Comcast
| Re: I call bullshit on that response First time I got a 5% notice at 6GB, 2nd time I got the 5% notice at 4GB... see where this is going.
I also don't know how I am using so much more data. I used to use around 2-3GB and recently it seems way higher for no reason.
--
PRescott7-2097 | |
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| IPPlanManHoly Cable Modem Batman
join:2000-09-20
Washington, DC
kudos:1 | Have you filed a complaint with the FTC/FCC?
(It's easy to do and info is in this thread) | |
|
| | This isn't about congestion! It's about money!
If it weren't, I could use my HSPA connection to my hearts delight in between 2am-6am at work because the pipes wouldn't be clogged. That's not the case. | |
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| |
| | | | Re: This isn't about congestion! What the devil are you talking about? stop making silly excuses for these carriers. one way or two way, the towers are sitting unused during off-peak hours. | |
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| | | Reviews:
·CenturyLink
·Verizon Wireless..
·Mediacom
| Re: This isn't about congestion! That isn't true these days. In the old days, it might have been. Today those towers are full of people trying to stream Hulu, Netflix, etc. during prime time and even during the classic "Off Peak" times. I'm the last one to make excuses for carriers - bandwidth costs them a penny or two per GB - they are absolutely bending all of us over and stuffing it pretty far. But the idea that all these towers are not being used...no. | |
|
axus
join:2001-06-18
Washington, DC Reviews:
·Verizon Online DSL
| Maybe they can pay an early termination fee They could cancel their unlimited data plans early with the customer, and pay the customer the standard ETF.
The problem is that AT&T is offering too much when re-negotiating it's contract with the customer. It's schizophrenic to want to retain customers at any cost, then try to cut those costs. | |
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| | | Re: Maybe they can pay an early termination fee Last month was my first month getting warned I was in the top 5% at 2040MB used (I ended up with 2.4GB used for the month). They said if I did it again this billing cycle, I'd be throttled.
I hit 1.540GB usage Monday and got a warning saying I'm approaching the top 5% for my billing cycle (25 days into my billing cycle).
I'm not throttled yet and as of today according to my usage meter, I've used 1.582GB.
Wonder when the throttle will hit for me... | |
|
| | 11GB here. Got my text last month at 11GB, guess the top 5% is a bit higher here in KC. | |
|
| | | Re: 11GB here. I've used 120 gb on Verizon lte once. All at night though so I wouldn't interfere with others' use of the network or cause congestion. | |
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| | | | Re: 11GB here. All my data usage is at night also, so its not like there is a lot of people on. | |
|
Reviews:
·RoadRunner Cable
| Why hasn't anyone billed this like voice minutes Time of day usage ?
- How many sites are 'hitting capacity' in the middle of the night ?
- How many sites are overloaded on a typical weekend ?
The old style of voice 6am-9pm 'bucket of minutes' and 'unlimited nights + weekends' style should be used. | |
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|  dvd536as Mr. Pink as they comePremium
join:2001-04-27
Phoenix, AZ
kudos:4 | Re: Why hasn't anyone billed this like voice minutes said by en103:Time of day usage ?
- How many sites are 'hitting capacity' in the middle of the night ?
- How many sites are overloaded on a typical weekend ?
The old style of voice 6am-9pm 'bucket of minutes' and 'unlimited nights + weekends' style should be used.
Because then those times would become the new "primetime"
--
2012 red envelopes: 02 actually deserved: 00 | |
|
| | ... It will be interesting to see how I fare in the coming months as I use over 2 GB's each month. I suppose if I get a throttling warning for such low use then they are simply telling me that they think they're network in the Chicagoland area is crap! Hah! | |
|
| | I am going to speak with their wallet On feb 24th I have a small claims case against AT&T for $10,000. I figure that's the cost of 1000 gigs of data. I have been spending $130 a month for years. To make it simple imagine going to an all-you-can-eat buffet, you sit down to enjoy your meal and after a little while the manager comes up and says "sir you've been eating more then everyone else in the restaurant, so here is a 2 inch plate and you can only go up to the buffet 1 time per hour. Enjoy". That would really piss off some people. That's what I feel like they are doing to me. I think it would be okay for them to say we don't want you as a customer anymore and cancel my service but that's not what is going on. It's been over a month since I filed my lawsuit and subpoena for the info on the top 5% and I haven't heard anything from them. My guess is that they won't even show up. More people should do what I am doing. It cost me about $85 and I will get to ask them for whatever info I want. It just seems a lot more productive then debating on comment pages. If anyone is interested in doing this. My number is 912-313-1234 and my email is matthewspacc@aol.com. Feel free to reach out and I would be happy to help.
Matt | |
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The reality is that both are doing very, very well. Billions and Billions.