Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
FTC Sues AT&T Over 'Misleading' Unlimited Data Throttling Practices [Updated]
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
I understand all that. But my point is that I, as an unlimited data user, have no more impact on network performance than the tiered data user next to me doing the same activities. ATT's problem isn't a data issue, it's a bandwidth issue.
IMO what they should do is move to a tiered speed model, rather than tiered data. Much like the wired Internet companies. Most people do not need access to wireless data at 40Mbit/s.
Yes! I was a Cingular then AT&T customer before the iPhone was launched. I never went over 2GB's a month, not once. From Oct 2011 while in San Francisco for work for 6 months, to Feb 2012, my speeds were so slow they were unusable. I had spoken with AT&T 1-2x a month about it. One c.s. rep spoke off-cue when I asked how long this will continue, she said [paraphrasing] "this program will end when more customers move to tiered plans." I asked what that means, and she went back to the same rhetoric.
Eventually, I was left with no recourse other than to cancel my service at an AT&T store on Market. I'll never go back. Sleazy company, shady practices (let's not get into who they support politically).
Let me tell you about AT&T...
My wife and I enjoy extended road trips. Our travels take us through many different states. And, therefore, we get to experience areas where AT&T's coverage is less than robust. In fact, in some areas, AT&T is actually using other carrier's infrastructure. But most people never know it, because their phone continues to show them connected to AT&T.
Two years ago, while traveling and streaming music (Pandora) via my iPhone to our vehicle's audio system, I got a nastigram text message and email from AT&T. The messages explained that we were using too much off-network data. It said the limit on off-network data is 25mb (that's right megabyte, not gigabyte) a month. But, as a "courtesy", AT&T was allowing me to use 10 times that (250mb of off-network data) before notifying me. The message went on to explain that if I continued to use off-network data and hit 400mb within a single billing period, my ability to use ANY further off-network data would be turned off until the end of the billing period.
WTF?!?! I have an UNLIMITED data plan!
The message also said that AT&T had sent an update to my iPhone to show me when I was in an off-network area. And, sure enough, when I'm not in AT&T's coverage area, my iPhone now shows "Off Network" instead of "AT&T" in the upper left corner.
Here is the galling part of all of this... Unless you bump up against AT&T's 25mb limit for off-network data (well, 10 times that before they notify you), your iPhone will show that you are on AT&T's network even when you are on ANOTHER CARRIER'S INFRASTRUCTURE! So, it is IMPOSSIBLE for you to know when you are using "off-network" data until such time as you've actually use "too much".
What a load of hogwash. I proves just how lame AT&T's network is in some areas of the country. And AT&T is so concerned about hiding that lack of coverage that it continues to show "AT&T" on your phone even when you aren't on AT&T's network.
Here's the worst part... On average (over a year), I use LESS than 500mb per month of iPhone data. In many months I barely use 200mb. So, I'm certainly not a data hog. I have an UNLIMITED plan and I average less than 500mb per month. You'd think AT&T would shut the hell up and be grateful that I'm not using an average of 5GB per month!
I'm sick of AT&T! Which is why I plan to switch to Verizon on my next mobile phone purchase. Screw AT&T!
Mark
My wife and I enjoy extended road trips. Our travels take us through many different states. And, therefore, we get to experience areas where AT&T's coverage is less than robust. In fact, in some areas, AT&T is actually using other carrier's infrastructure. But most people never know it, because their phone continues to show them connected to AT&T.
Two years ago, while traveling and streaming music (Pandora) via my iPhone to our vehicle's audio system, I got a nastigram text message and email from AT&T. The messages explained that we were using too much off-network data. It said the limit on off-network data is 25mb (that's right megabyte, not gigabyte) a month. But, as a "courtesy", AT&T was allowing me to use 10 times that (250mb of off-network data) before notifying me. The message went on to explain that if I continued to use off-network data and hit 400mb within a single billing period, my ability to use ANY further off-network data would be turned off until the end of the billing period.
WTF?!?! I have an UNLIMITED data plan!
The message also said that AT&T had sent an update to my iPhone to show me when I was in an off-network area. And, sure enough, when I'm not in AT&T's coverage area, my iPhone now shows "Off Network" instead of "AT&T" in the upper left corner.
Here is the galling part of all of this... Unless you bump up against AT&T's 25mb limit for off-network data (well, 10 times that before they notify you), your iPhone will show that you are on AT&T's network even when you are on ANOTHER CARRIER'S INFRASTRUCTURE! So, it is IMPOSSIBLE for you to know when you are using "off-network" data until such time as you've actually use "too much".
What a load of hogwash. I proves just how lame AT&T's network is in some areas of the country. And AT&T is so concerned about hiding that lack of coverage that it continues to show "AT&T" on your phone even when you aren't on AT&T's network.
Here's the worst part... On average (over a year), I use LESS than 500mb per month of iPhone data. In many months I barely use 200mb. So, I'm certainly not a data hog. I have an UNLIMITED plan and I average less than 500mb per month. You'd think AT&T would shut the hell up and be grateful that I'm not using an average of 5GB per month!
I'm sick of AT&T! Which is why I plan to switch to Verizon on my next mobile phone purchase. Screw AT&T!
Mark
Yeah, I know. I probably shouldn't have thrown NEXT in there like I did. It was more because I personally (solo line, no family plan) don't think NEXT works for me. I just wanted to find an opportunity to trash it in my post
In terms of upgrades, I realize a new 2-year upgrade with a $40 upgrade fee is likely to be an option (in addition to NEXT), and then after that decision would come data packages.
I just dropped my unlimited plan on my wife's and my iPhone last week. The new promotion is SO much better and without a contract. I was able to get 40gb of shared data, unlimited minutes and text, unlimited international text, tethering back, all for $25 more than I was paying for two 5GB limited unlimited plans. If I wanted 30GB the price would have been the same.
With the NextSM plan, we brought our own devices over, so our monthly device fee is only $15/mth instead of $40. Next year, I can buy the new iPhones 6s with the monthly payment plan that splits up the payments over 20 months. The year after that, if you don't pay off the phone at the one year anniversary date when you want the iPhone 7, you have to turn in the phone, or pay the remaining 8 months and keep it. I will pay it off. That will let me flip it on eBay for much more than the remaining 8 payments. They add no price to the phone and are doing a 0% finance for the phone. That is a good deal. If you choose a subsidized 2 year contract, your monthly device fee is $40. Over two years, this does not make it worth it. The Next plan to fund the phone cost is a better choice.
I also just added my new iPad Air2 to my shared 40GB plan for $10 a month fee without any setup fee. My prior VZW iPad's got dinged $35 each time I added them to my VZW data account. I am going to cancel my iPad Mini 2, iPad Mini 1, and JetPack 18GB plan on VZW because of this new setup and save a nice large combined sum.
AT&T and VZW perform about the same in the Phoenix area now and when I travel back to San Jose to my work's office. AT&T actually has better tiers of speed, with the ability to drop from LTE to HSPDA (4g) to 3G then to 2G. This degrades nicely. VZW has a steep switch from LTE to 3G then to 1x.
This was motivated after going on a trip earlier this month where I accidentally hit my 5GB limit for the first time in 7 years. They throttled me down to .75Mbps. It ruined my ability to be productive. I was QUITE pissed. I called and complained and threatened switching ultimately getting $275 refunded. After cooling down and talking to a colleague, he showed me this new promotion and after doing all the math, it really is a much better deal.
With the NextSM plan, we brought our own devices over, so our monthly device fee is only $15/mth instead of $40. Next year, I can buy the new iPhones 6s with the monthly payment plan that splits up the payments over 20 months. The year after that, if you don't pay off the phone at the one year anniversary date when you want the iPhone 7, you have to turn in the phone, or pay the remaining 8 months and keep it. I will pay it off. That will let me flip it on eBay for much more than the remaining 8 payments. They add no price to the phone and are doing a 0% finance for the phone. That is a good deal. If you choose a subsidized 2 year contract, your monthly device fee is $40. Over two years, this does not make it worth it. The Next plan to fund the phone cost is a better choice.
I also just added my new iPad Air2 to my shared 40GB plan for $10 a month fee without any setup fee. My prior VZW iPad's got dinged $35 each time I added them to my VZW data account. I am going to cancel my iPad Mini 2, iPad Mini 1, and JetPack 18GB plan on VZW because of this new setup and save a nice large combined sum.
AT&T and VZW perform about the same in the Phoenix area now and when I travel back to San Jose to my work's office. AT&T actually has better tiers of speed, with the ability to drop from LTE to HSPDA (4g) to 3G then to 2G. This degrades nicely. VZW has a steep switch from LTE to 3G then to 1x.
This was motivated after going on a trip earlier this month where I accidentally hit my 5GB limit for the first time in 7 years. They throttled me down to .75Mbps. It ruined my ability to be productive. I was QUITE pissed. I called and complained and threatened switching ultimately getting $275 refunded. After cooling down and talking to a colleague, he showed me this new promotion and after doing all the math, it really is a much better deal.
Where I live, I get around 18 Mbps with LTE on my iPhone. When AT&T throttles my data, that speed goes down to 0.25. That means they throttle my speed by 98.7%. At 0.25 Mbps you can no longer watch videos or stream audio. You can barely load a web page or send an email, each of which takes about a minute. What happens is that your data connection is to the point of useless.
The throttling that AT&T does is beyond crippling and over aggressive.
Excellent!
Excellent move for the consumers.
Now for two more issues:
1. RICO style "price-fixing" of how the consumer is billed at both ends by ALL cell plans, by ALL the companies in the USA - not the common practice in most of the world, "developed or not"! If I get calls on my land line (of any sort) and get billed for the minutes, even ten years ago there would've been an investigation to end the billing method. Yet, now, still no action from any consumer protection agency. FBI or DA's (who love to be in the news) do not want to make any move on this front!
Simply put, I do not have to be billed for calls made to me!
2. DMCA enforced on us by all the big boys still has us dancing to unlock "our" phones, even though from 2014 the law states otherwise. So, how can ATT lock an Apple SIM to itself!?
Excellent move for the consumers.
Now for two more issues:
1. RICO style "price-fixing" of how the consumer is billed at both ends by ALL cell plans, by ALL the companies in the USA - not the common practice in most of the world, "developed or not"! If I get calls on my land line (of any sort) and get billed for the minutes, even ten years ago there would've been an investigation to end the billing method. Yet, now, still no action from any consumer protection agency. FBI or DA's (who love to be in the news) do not want to make any move on this front!
Simply put, I do not have to be billed for calls made to me!
2. DMCA enforced on us by all the big boys still has us dancing to unlock "our" phones, even though from 2014 the law states otherwise. So, how can ATT lock an Apple SIM to itself!?
Right, which is why it's really a behavior change they're looking to achieve in the hopes an unlimited user will curb their usage as to not be throttled.
Word of warning, be very very careful with the 30GB is cheaper statement. It's significantly cheaper if you dont go on their monthly device upgrade plan. Otherwise it's just as, if not more expensive than unlimited + whatever you pay for the rest of your family plan.
Baffling?
AT&T really does not know their customers...3% are only affected???
Really - I'm one of only 3%. I should feel privileged????
I'll like to see my orginal iPhone contract with AT&T to view the unlimited part of my agreement...
AT&T really does not know their customers...3% are only affected???
Really - I'm one of only 3%. I should feel privileged????
I'll like to see my orginal iPhone contract with AT&T to view the unlimited part of my agreement...
i've been throttled because i managed to go over 5 GB (somehow 25.5??) but i never received a text message or anything about it. I've since had download speeds for the last 2-3 weeks of around 25k/sec. pretty awesome. pretty sure i signed up for "unlimited LTE" which means "unlimited LTE" not "unlimited 2g" I wish this country would start demanding that companies just say what they ****ing mean, not say whatever the **** they want and then put in fine ******** print "except not really" -- it's such ********. say "unlimited data" if you mean "unlimited data but not all unlimited LTE"
----------
NYC here, i get the exact same numbers. it's ********.
----------
NYC here, i get the exact same numbers. it's ********.
Glad to see the customers in the US get their voices heard. I'm in Canada, but always read about complaints about this issue. My plan is 6gb per month, and if I go over, I pay $10 per GB, I think thats a fair price, and love the fact that the actual speed is not affected. Hope AT&T has to do the same thing.
Slower than 2G speeds. Unacceptable especially when it's permanent for the month, not just in congested areas or at peak times. It's always.
And seriously, I don't stream ANY video and hit 5GB in the first 15 days. I will watch a YouTube clip here and there, but the vast majority of my use is browsing the web/Instagram and sending email - don't even have a Netflix or other video service subscription.
Now my phone is nearly useless until next month. Even at 4am in the middle of nowhere.
This is analogy is not correct and misses the point. The point is not the breadsticks (breadsticks = data), but how fast you get the breadsticks (service = bandwidth). So, in your analogy, the restaurant would give you the normal amount of breadsticks. However, the server would be instructed to take an extra 5 minutes each time you asked for more breadsticks. After 5 times of asking for more breadsticks, it would take the server 30 minutes to deliver the breadsticks to your table.
If you were that customer, you would be pissed because the restaurant is intentionally giving you poor customer service, simply because you are asking for what they said they would give you.
Can we get a sauce to dip the breadsticks in at least? I'm getting hungry now.
I've maybe once been notified by text message.
The throttling always happens around 5GB for me.
Finally, it's about darn time AT&T was sued over this. I've been an unlimited data plan customer since the iPhone 3G came out and have been paying $30 a month since then for my data plan. When I'm not traveling, I only use about 1 GB a month because I'm always near wi-fi, but one or two months a year (when I'm on the road a lot), I use around 3-4 GB and AT&T has been crippling my data speed to the point that my device is unusable. It's infuriating and I'm SO HAPPY to see the FTC seeing them for this bullying and unfair practice!
Thank goodness for consumer protection.
Now, the only thing that sucks is that I doubt end users will receive fair compenation for this unfair practice. We should be given a credit or a check for at least half of the time we've been paying extra money to AT&T, but in reality, some lawyers will make millions and we'll probably get a $10 check to spend on a cheap lunch.
Time will tell, but I'm interested to see how this one will turn out.
Bryan
Thank goodness for consumer protection.
Now, the only thing that sucks is that I doubt end users will receive fair compenation for this unfair practice. We should be given a credit or a check for at least half of the time we've been paying extra money to AT&T, but in reality, some lawyers will make millions and we'll probably get a $10 check to spend on a cheap lunch.
Time will tell, but I'm interested to see how this one will turn out.
Bryan
Why not? That's what they advertised, and that's what we paid to do. It's simple really: They lied to us, and until now, nobody has been able to do anything about it.
I was notified by text ONE time probably over a year ago that I was over the limit and will be throttled. After that, I have never received a text about being close to 5GB even when I am, but I do get throttled almost every month.
I hate to say this. And please someone challenge what I have to say. Could AT&T argue the fact that they do provide "unlimited data". And that slowing down the speed after 5GB has no relation to "unlimited data". I'm sure we could all use 10GB or 20 GB on our unlimited data plans. They haven't stopped that. They have just slowed down the rate of speed on our data.
I'm just hoping they raise the ceiling to maybe 50GB or highest data tier.
Yeah it's as if those with 100GB data tiers don't put any strain on the network.