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Top five percent of AT&T smartphone usage and Bandwidth throttling
- Thread starter boredandlonely
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I had put in a complaint with the FCC in December when I first got throttled. Probably about 7-10 days after that I got a call from AT&T about it and the rep asked if there was anything they could help with. I told them to take the throttling off my unlimited plan. She said they can't do that and even she received the same warning about her plan. I had put something in my complaint about not being informed about this new throttling policy and she stated that there was an insert about it on my bill some time ago. I replied with something like "Who the heck reads everything on their bill?" She went on about how it's our responsibility to read our statement and that their "coverage subject to change" clause in the contract allows for these types of adjustments. So I said there's nothing else to discuss and hung up.
Are you still within the original 2 year commitment, or a renewed 2 year? If so, it's still a classic bait & switch. The customer has a reasonable expectation of UNLIMITED DATA when they buy an "unlimited data plan".
Why am I not getting MY call from #ATTfail or the FCC? I wonder if I can re-complain. Technically, they re-throttle me each month... Again, at the very least, they waste my time, I waste their time.
Who knows? Maybe all our complaints are the reason the throttling STOPPED at 2gb, instead of going even lower.
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Just got the message.
27 of 31 days.
Used 2071.04MB of Unlimited
Location: Brooklyn, NY
I refuse to believe that 2GB of use puts me into the 5% usage in a crowded place like NY.
27 of 31 days.
Used 2071.04MB of Unlimited
Location: Brooklyn, NY
I refuse to believe that 2GB of use puts me into the 5% usage in a crowded place like NY.
If anything, being a crowded place makes it even easier for you to be among the top 5%.
At AT&T's scale, 5% is a HUGE number.
I enjoyed how they ADMITTED that customers need to use more data nowadays when they just recently raised price and (slightly) raised limits on the ripoff tiered plans.
If AT&T places an artificial limit on transfer rates, and applies that to an unlimited plan, it's no longer unlimited. They put a limitation on it - speed.
Anyway, I'll leave that to the lawyers. I'm sure there will be lawsuits.
What I don't understand is why AT&T is surprising people. Nobody knows when they're in that magical 5% because the goalposts move daily.
I also don't understand how they can charge $30 for 3GB, yet take that same $30 paid by grandfathered unlimited plan holders and throttle them before they reach 3GB. Corporations are fascinating - no single person would ever come up with that, but put a group of suits together in a conference room and it's stunning how many idiotic and irrational policies are born.
Anyway, I'll leave that to the lawyers. I'm sure there will be lawsuits.
What I don't understand is why AT&T is surprising people. Nobody knows when they're in that magical 5% because the goalposts move daily.
I also don't understand how they can charge $30 for 3GB, yet take that same $30 paid by grandfathered unlimited plan holders and throttle them before they reach 3GB. Corporations are fascinating - no single person would ever come up with that, but put a group of suits together in a conference room and it's stunning how many idiotic and irrational policies are born.
I highly doubt there will be lawsuits. People may threaten, but I hope nobody is stupid enough to bring it to court... if they do, then they deserve to pay the huge bill for AT&T's defense lawyers.
The contract could have originally stated 'Unlimited data and free unicorn rides daily,' but it also stated that AT&T has the right to change said contract as needed so long as they give you ample notice and a chance to terminate the contract (without an ETF) if you chose to do so.
They announced the throttling change back in JULY of 2011 and said it would not go into effect until October 1st.
It was overly clear, based on their available numbers, that some people would be throttled at (or likely under) the 2GB mark, but rather than do something about it at the time, you waited 6 months, finally realized that the change to the contract was to their benefit, not yours (big surprise there), and are complaining and expecting a change now.... long after you had the chance to do something about it.
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The rippling effects of this don't just stop with the end-users. It will impact other organizations as well. I am sure that Netflix will lose subscribers and Apple can't be too happy when they observe fewer app & music downloads. It might also impact new iPhone sales. Why upgrade to a 4S when your carrier speeds are throttled back to edge network quality? And is AT&T taking notice?
The rippling effects of this don't just stop with the end-users. It will impact other organizations as well. I am sure that Netflix will lose subscribers and Apple can't be too happy when they observe fewer app & music downloads. It might also impact new iPhone sales. Why upgrade to a 4S when your carrier speeds are throttled back to edge network quality? And is AT&T taking notice?
In that case, let me know the next time you want to lease a car. For the first 2 years, you can do anything you want with it, but after that I'm going to take it away from you, give you a broken unicycle, and still charge you for the full payments on your "Automobile Lease". But I'll tell you about the unicycle part AFTER we make the deal.
It's BS. They know it. We know it. They only get away with it when people don't say anything.
So what if they let me out of an ETF? They should be paying ME for canceling my plan, or modifying it to become UNUSABLE. You know why they still call it the "Unlimited" plan, even though it's clearly NOT? They are trying desperately to CON people who aren't aware of what is happening with their existing unlimited plans. Their are AFRAID of losing customers. That gives us weight when we complain.
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What was said after you made the deal? The deal plainly stated they can 'change the terms as they saw fit' before you signed.
But fine, to continue on your silly car comparison, I would have received the letter telling me I'd be getting a unicycle in a few months if I didn't return the car and I'd *gasp* return the car and move my business to another dealership.
I certainly wouldn't wait 6 months, let them swap me with the broken unicycle, continue to pay, and THEN begin to complain.
For all of you people who say ATT says that they can change their contract at any time. You are only half right. A contract that says you can change the contract at any time is not a valid contract. Once they make a change the contract is in flux and a new negotiation is going on. You have every right to make a change at that time just as they do. Both or neither of you can accept the new contract and any contract then is null and void.
The reason that big companies find it so easy to take advantage of the little guy is because so many people are completely ignorant of contract law, and how contracts work and let themselfs be pushed to an outcome they do not want.
Thats why I want people to stand up for their rights, I have fired ATT so It doesnt bother me personaly, but to see everyone elkse just take it, and worst to see the most ignorant of you tow ATTs line it just makes me sad.
And before the next comment from a person who doesnt understand contracts, fine, live the way you want, take all the abuse from big companies you want. I will not take it, I will stand on my rights and I will live the way I want.
The few pro ATT people here are obviously ATT employees doing what they can to mitigate any damages caused by this or other threads on here.
The reason that big companies find it so easy to take advantage of the little guy is because so many people are completely ignorant of contract law, and how contracts work and let themselfs be pushed to an outcome they do not want.
Thats why I want people to stand up for their rights, I have fired ATT so It doesnt bother me personaly, but to see everyone elkse just take it, and worst to see the most ignorant of you tow ATTs line it just makes me sad.
And before the next comment from a person who doesnt understand contracts, fine, live the way you want, take all the abuse from big companies you want. I will not take it, I will stand on my rights and I will live the way I want.
The few pro ATT people here are obviously ATT employees doing what they can to mitigate any damages caused by this or other threads on here.
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Yes, it does stop with them. It's a VERY small fraction of the overall users who are being throttled, not the masses as you make it seem.
AT&T doesn't have to take notice, they were more than happy to let all Unlimited Data customers walk to Sprint last July.
Those that are effected may drop Netflix, Pandora, and so on... but, as smartphone sales increase, there are more than enough others to make up the few losses. Most will simply learn to use less data, use WiFi more often, switch to a different carrier, or get a tiered plan where they won't be throttled.
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Is Cyks an employee of AT&T?
Is Cyks an employee of AT&T?
I have no problem with the additional 6 months if I believe I have a valid argument, and I don't like being forced to agree to a new ripoff-from-the-start tiered plan.
The point I was ACTUALLY trying to make is that this would be on the local news consumer advocate segment if this was any other type of service or product, like a car lease. But people think #ATTfail is some magical 'thing' that they can't fight. I mean, how do you walk in to an #ATTfail store and complain to the employees that you have been conned. You CAN'T. They just tell you to go home and call Customer Service because they don't have the ability to help you.
But rather, they just change THEIR end, and WE get frakked. Again, not even getting into unlimited throttling being fair or not, they have no excuse to keep calling it "unlimited". It's the reasonable expectation argument again. They need to admit the BS and start calling it "Edge, with a bit of 3G".
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I fully agree with you Chakraj.
I fully agree with you Chakraj.
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So Cyks, how long have you been employed with AT&T?
So Cyks, how long have you been employed with AT&T?
Exactly. If people don't like the new terms, they have full right to leave AT&T.... which would effect AT&T far more than empty threats and complaining - while staying with them and continuing to hand your money over to them.
I certainly wouldn't call myself AT&T. I'm just smart enough to save my energy complaining about something they have the legal right to do and take my money elsewhere.
Nope, and if you read any of the countless other throttling threads, you'd know that. I'm against the throttling just as much as most of you since they're simply using it to gouge more money out of their paying customers. But, rather than stay with them and complain, I moved my smartphone plan elsewhere. Of course, I'm still enjoying having a non-smartphone plan with them which, out of fun and curiosity, I've used over 50GB in a recent month.
Who's forcing you? You had the right to walk away.
Both Sides
I see both sides of this argument . . .
I am an unlimited user, and get throttled every month (Pandora is my culprit). However, even with throttling Pandora still works. It skips every couple of hours but no big deal. Has anyone else had this same experience?
Thanks!
I see both sides of this argument . . .
I am an unlimited user, and get throttled every month (Pandora is my culprit). However, even with throttling Pandora still works. It skips every couple of hours but no big deal. Has anyone else had this same experience?
Thanks!
NO SPRINT IS AS SLOW AS A THROTTLED AT&T iPHONE...sheesh...and some of us prefer GSM phones....as much as I loathe to say this I want T-Mobile to get the next iPhone
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