AT&T Begins Warning High-Volume Data Users of Upcoming Throttling

[kavika411]

Alrighty, I just received my second AT&T data text warning. (See Post No. 55.) It has been 31 days since the first one I received. I received this today:

ATT Msg: Your data use is approaching the top 5% of users. Avoid reduced data speeds - use Wi-Fi where available. [and it gave me an AT&T site and phone number for further clarification]

Whereas I had used 11.6 gigs last time and was in the "top 10%," I am today at 8.4 gigs, and am "approaching the top 5% of users."

Am I complaining? No. Am I simply sharing information? Yes. Do I hope others who can help us figure out the AT&T algorithm and "rules" will post in this thread? Yes.

Will any of us benefit if this thread again devolves into a polarized, pseudo-intectual debate on whether AT&T can throttle? No.

Anyone else get a text today? Thanks.

 

[Nebrie]

I received a notice this week that I am *in* the top 5% and will be throttled next month. I had used 2.7GB of data at that point. That is ridiculously low.

 

[Vesian]

I received a notice this week that I am *in* the top 5% and will be throttled next month. I had used 2.7GB of data at that point. That is ridiculously low.

I have you beat! I just got the email stating that I am IN the top 5% having used only 2161.45 MB and may be throttled. WTF!?!?

 

[diamond.g]

Just for record, I have used ~2.8GB so far and have 13 days left in my billing cycle. No notice for me (yet).

 

[kdarling]

And now I begin to live in fear of Verizon with my average 9GB of usage per month.

Verizon's version of top 5% throttling applies only during the time period that a particular 3G cell is congested.

During that time, the top unlimited users will have their speed lowered so everyone on the cell can be accommodated.

When the congestion eases, the dynamic throttling stops.

If there's no congestion, then there's no (need for) throttling of anyone, no matter how much data they use.

Help me LTE. You're my only hope.

Yep, LTE is not affected by this.

 

[iMaconApple]

I use between 4/6.5 GB a month..no words from AT&T they must love me. pretty good 3G speeds 5MB down 3UP

 

[DiamondMac]

As always here, you have to love the people here who base their own experience on how everyone else should act. The utter stupidity in that process is so laughable and pathetic that I am not even sure where to begin.

I use between 8gb - 10gb a month. I have unlimited because I signed up for unlimited expecting such. Why I have to "explain" to people my use is a joke.

People keep using the words "fair" or "congestion" and yet I am still waiting to be shown a single fact that these data caps actually relieve congestion or that the data caps are actually a significant number in any sense.

But of course, several years ago....someone downloading 24/7 and using hundreds of GB's was an "abuser". Today, someone watching several Netflix movies on 3g is an abuser. Brilliant

 

[voonyx]

As always here, you have to love the people here who base their own experience on how everyone else should act. The utter stupidity in that process is so laughable and pathetic that I am not even sure where to begin.

I use between 8gb - 10gb a month. I have unlimited because I signed up for unlimited expecting such. Why I have to "explain" to people my use is a joke.

People keep using the words "fair" or "congestion" and yet I am still waiting to be shown a single fact that these data caps actually relieve congestion or that the data caps are actually a significant number in any sense.

But of course, several years ago....someone downloading 24/7 and using hundreds of GB's was an "abuser". Today, someone watching several Netflix movies on 3g is an abuser. Brilliant

Not sure you understand how it works.

 

[NoHo]

I'm going to laugh my ass off in the future when there are apps we can't even imagine yet and all media is digital and 2GB lasts you less than a week.

I wonder if the people who would rather save $5 a month than keep their unlimited plan will be kicking themselves in the ass when they have to pay more than the $5 they would have saved just to get a higher tier of data that will last them all month.

 

[vitzr]

It's a nice gesture on AT&T's part, to send advisories out in advance.

Apple knew in advance about Antennagate, but screwed us anyway.

Now we have been hit with Batterygate, another colossal problem that has Apple stymied.

By all outward signs their failure in these very basic areas is not confidence inspiring at all.

There's something fishy about Apples behavior.

 

[Tapdawg]

I have you beat! I just got the email stating that I am IN the top 5% having used only 2161.45 MB and may be throttled. WTF!?!?

I can beat that... I got the message last night and I've used 2051.8mb.... what the heck??? If AT&T starts throttling users when they are at 2GB I will really be extremely upset.

There's no way I can be in the top 5% with 2GB of usage.

 

[AidenShaw]

Vote with your wallets - free yourself from AT&T

I can beat that... I got the message last night and I've used 2051.8mb.... what the heck??? If AT&T starts throttling users when they are at 2GB I will really be extremely upset.

There's no way I can be in the top 5% with 2GB of usage.

Image

...and it really is cheeky that the message says "2051.8MB of unlimited" !

(It says that you're on a micro-cell - does m-cell usage count against your cap?)


By the way, I just cancelled my AT&T landline + DSL service over usage surcharges. After years of paying a premium for "business" DSL service at home, last month I got a $30 surcharge for going over the 150 GB/month limit. (The history at AT&T shows that I've been averaging 300 GB/month for the last year, but the last bill was the first one with the surcharge.)

Now on Comcast "Business Class" - 15 times faster than AT&T and truly unlimited. Full-featured voice line on Comcast is $20/month cheaper than AT&T - so dropped that as well.

AT&T isn't going to care unless this hurts them financially. Vote with your wallets - leave AT&T and make sure that you tell them why.

 

[Tapdawg]

...and it really is cheeky that the message says "2051.8MB of unlimited" !

(It says that you're on a micro-cell - does m-cell usage count against your cap?)


By the way, I just cancelled my AT&T landline + DSL service over usage surcharges. After years of paying a premium for "business" DSL service at home, last month I got a $30 surcharge for going over the 150 GB/month limit. (The history at AT&T shows that I've been averaging 300 GB/month for the last year, but the last bill was the first one with the surcharge.)

Now on Comcast "Business Class" - 15 times faster than AT&T and truly unlimited. Full-featured voice line on Comcast is $20/month cheaper than AT&T - so dropped that as well.

AT&T isn't going to care unless this hurts them financially. Vote with your wallets - leave AT&T and make sure that you tell them why.

Even though the Microcell connects through my wired Internet connection provided by Comcast the data is still charged as AT&T data. But while at home I'm on my wifi and only use the microcell for calls; I've found the microcell is slower for data then both my wifi AND also the regular signal/service I get at my home