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Letter from AT&T: my goodness, you use a lot of data!

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vincenz said:
I find I have a hard time using more than a gb a month. How do people use so much data?
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I don't come close to even 1 GB each month, but I'm still glad that I kept my unlimited data plan.
 
Applejuiced said:
Post it up if you can.
You gotta be the first person we ever heard of getting something like that.
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I'll try to post it soon. I thought that when I originally posted this that others would soon be responding with, "I got the same letter". Maybe it's just me. :)
With usage ranging from 2.1gb to 3.6gb per month, I don't really think of myself as a data abuser, but what do I know? I'm just a caveman. :D

Jkazmeyer said:
Wow, some of you guys are getting rude. I got a similar letter from AT&T 2 days ago, but it said I was consistently using more then 20 gb of data monthly. I've already tossed it out, so I can't post a copy, but it was worded exactly the same. All of you that call my usage abuse of my expensive unlimited data plans (I pay unlimited data on 2 iPhone 4's and an iPad) are wrong. How is it different if I stream a movie directly to my tv from my iPad, or I tether it to my MacBook pro. I don't see a difference. If you choose to pay three times to watch a movie on netflix, that's up to you. I already pay AT&T & netflix for the content and the data. Should I now pay more to get more bandwidth into my home that I don't need. Should I also pay direct tv or comcast to watch the same content? No thank you. AT&T gives me unlimited data at a cost that they set. I'm happy to pay them for it. I was happy to pay apple a premium on my iPad for built in 3G. If AT&T was losing money, they would do more to get us off unlimited plans. They have already stopped new users from getting them, and I'm sure they eventually will go away for the rest of us. Until then, I shall enjoy my unlimited data, and use it however I see fit.
Sorry about the rant, but I didn't like the hostility.
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Well said. While companies can legally take away something in the fine print (which I can't read even with my new Varilux lenses) that they purported to provide during the sale, it seems a bit, I dunno, underhanded, sneaky perhaps? Seinfeld said it nicely:

"Agent: Sir, if you had read the rental agreement--

Jerry: Did you see the size of that document? It's like the Declaration of
Independence, who's gonna read that?" :)
 
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Bawstun said:
You pretty much summed it up. It's 'unlimited' with fine-print stating that there are softcaps that if you consistently go over every month, AT&T reserves the right to change or remove you from that plan (but allowing you out of your contract). Just because you didn't read or know that at the time you signed your contract doesn't mean it isn't valid. It's just rules and regulations they impose.
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There are no soft caps on the iPhone unlimited data plan... not even in the fine print. I've read every single line of my contract, fine print included.
It's simply not there.

This whole topic has been discussed many times yet people still don't get it.

The 5GB soft cap is on unlimited tethering data plans using a USB dongle.

AT&T can choose to rewrite the terms of the contract of which I have the option to agree to or be released from said contract free of charge.
But they cannot simply boot me for using too much data.
Their own TOS does not provide them that out.
 
rjohnstone said:
There are no soft caps on the iPhone unlimited data plan... not even in the fine print. I've read every single line of my contract, fine print included.
It's simply not there.

This whole topic has been discussed many times yet people still don't get it.

The 5GB soft cap is on unlimited tethering data plans using a USB dongle.

AT&T can choose to rewrite the terms of the contract of which I have the option to agree to or be released from said contract free of charge.
But they cannot simply boot me for using too much data.
Their own TOS does not provide them that out.
Click to expand...


Thanks for having the patience to read that through, I sure didn't. I'm into AT&T for a nice chunk of change each month, I'm sure they will be happy to keep me, even using as much data as I do. I think they sent the letters to some people, just to let us know, that they know, we use lots of data.
 
I use about 80MBs of data a month. I have wifi in the places I spend the most time at, and 3G is very limited in my area. Plus, I don't do much with it when I am using 3G. I usually get it while I'm driving, at a doctor appt, etc., so there's no reason to stream Netflix/Pandora. I mostly use it for email, surfing the web, etc.

I keep the unlimited plan because it gives me peace of mind. I don't have to worry about paying extra if I go over the allotted amount. I wouldn't be surprised if AT&T eventually got rid of it with the next iPhone, though.

As for my opinion on your data usage, I'm a believer in the thought that you should get what you pay for. You're paying for unlimited data, so why not use as much as you want?
 
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BeyondtheTech said:
If they're bitching so much, they should allow me to get the hell out of a data plan altogether.

Seriously.

I just picked up a Clear iSpot 4G last week for $20 on their holiday sale, and not only am I able to FaceTime and download large files anywhere without jailbreaking, I'm able to split out the signal to my entire family in the car simultaneously.

And it's 4G and it's unlimited usage for $25 a month, no contract.

No affiliation to company, product, or service. Just a damn happy customer.
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Its 4G only. No 4G, no work. It should have both...wait they do offer that for $55 a month and 240 for the device.
 
Small White Car said:
Ha ha.

I love it. The passive-aggressive mother approach.

I also love the "hotspot" suggestion. As if I spend all day sitting at Starbucks. I use my Wifi when I can because it's way faster, but I've never found AT&T hotspots to be any help whatsoever.
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+1

I've never used a AT&T wifi hotspot because I have not seen one.
 
I'm sure I'll get one and if I do I'll reply telling them the device uses a lot of data with video streaming etc and to expect more of it until verizon gets the iphone and the mass exodus off the att network will most certainly ease up the broadband :p
 
Ughhh AT&T...I have no sympathy for AT&T. Don't forget that we pay for these services, so use your data as much as you want. Those who think that your 2gb cap is a good deal, I have bridges to no where to sell you.
 
vincenz said:
I find I have a hard time using more than a gb a month. How do people use so much data?
Click to expand...

This is a good question as I use my phone mostly as a "Phone" and in a pinch for email. It should be noted that I have an iPad as well with the unlimited data option, but I only find myself using the 3g on it a handful of times each month as WiFi is just about everywhere and so so so much faster.
 
makefunnyfaces said:
I use about 80GBs of data a month. I have wifi in the places I spend the most time at, and 3G is very limited in my area. Plus, I don't do much with it when I am using 3G. I usually get it while I'm driving, at a doctor appt, etc., so there's no reason to stream Netflix/Pandora. I mostly use it for email, surfing the web, etc.

I keep the unlimited plan because it gives me peace of mind. I don't have to worry about paying extra if I go over the allotted amount. I wouldn't be surprised if AT&T eventually got rid of it with the next iPhone, though.

As for my opinion on your data usage, I'm a believer in the thought that you should get what you pay for. You're paying for unlimited data, so why not use as much as you want?
Click to expand...

I seriously doubt you use 80gb with just email, web browsing, etc. I am a heavy user and using WIFI at home, I haven't even gotten near 1gb myself yet.
 
Doc750 said:
I'm going to laugh when the next letter says they're canceling your plan.
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I'm going to laugh when OP gets to keep his phone w/o an ETF if he's got the iPhone 3G or 4.

I had unlimited but when I realized that with the amount of wifi I have available (both home, school and work) allows me to utilize less than 200 Mb/month I just couldn't help but realize the savings.

But if my usage ramps up then i'll just have to whip out my iPhone Classic and do the unlimited data hack.
 
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So far no letter yet, I average about 26~35 gigs a month for about the last two years. My data usage keeps climbing though as I use MiWi more & more.
 
That loophole that is supposedly closing soon.... ya, it's been around since June 24. Everybody at AT&T knows about it. It's the easiest fix in the world I imagine. They haven't fixed it. It won't be fixed anytime soon. It probably will never be blocked. End of story.
 
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