AT&T customers surprised by 'unlimited data' limit

[Omaha Steve]

http://apnews.excite.com/article/20120213/D9SSF5B00.html

By PETER SVENSSON

NEW YORK (AP) - Mike Trang likes to use his iPhone 4 as a GPS device, helping him get around in his job. Now and then, his younger cousins get ahold of it, and play some YouTube videos and games.

But in the past few weeks, there has been none of that, because AT&T Inc. (T) put a virtual wheel clamp on his phone. Web pages wouldn't load and maps wouldn't render. Forget about YouTube videos - Trang's data speeds were reduced to dial-up levels.

"It basically makes my phone useless," said Trang, an Orange County, Calif. property manager.

The reason: AT&T considers Trang to be among the top 5 percent of the heaviest cellular data users in his area. Under a new policy, AT&T has started cutting their data speeds as part of an attempt to manage data usage on its network.

FULL story at link.

[Scuba]

1. In the old days, this used to be called "fraud". How about a class-action lawsuit. Oh, wait.

[Blue_Tires]

24. +1000

[Fly by night]

38. I am the lead plaintiff in a forthcoming class action lawsuit against AT&T for their billing fraud.

If you can document that you have been billed fraudulently by AT&T for services you didn't want or continued to be billed for services you cancelled, email me at tracevu@gmail with your story and I'll let you know how to get involved.

This is obviously an uphill battle but one well worth fighting.

PS: I have had AT&T service for over 30 years and have nevert signed an arbitration agreement with them.

[elleng]

63. Very interesting. Let us know how it goes.

[xtraxritical]

48. There's nothing new about "bait and switch".

I think it is still referred to as "bait and switch". Cellular companies have been notorious, for discounting their first year contracts and then at the start of the second year really jacking-up the rates. Credit card companies are notorious also. Hopefully the new Consumer Fraud Protection Agency can get a handle on these usurious practices.

[DCKit]

2. Anyone surprised by this?

Didn't think so.

[Gman]

3. Yep, I got one too

I'll be talking with an attorney if they cut my data speed. I'm unlimited data too.

It ain't my fault and they shouldn't take it out in the grandfathered unlimited data people just because they screwed up the T-Mobile deal.

Of course we're going to be in the top 5%. We have unlimited data.

[rbixby]

18. The shitty part is the arbitration agreement

you can't take them to court, you can only arbitrate with them.

[LuvNewcastle]

4. AT&T sucks.

They're too expensive and their service is sub-standard. I don't know why anyone uses them for cell phone service.

[Omaha Steve]

6. My service uses AT&T

I'm headed out the door to work. If somebody would clean up this post I would appreciate it.

I have less trouble than my friends on other services. I would recommend Consumer Cellular to anyone. No contract. Can change plans at anytime with no penalty. So on the 25th of the month you see you will be over your plan, just call and switch.

https://www.consumercellular.com/Info/Plans

Plan
Name Monthly
Fee Included
Minutes Additional

Anywhere Casual $10.00 0 25¢/minute

Anywhere 100 $15.00 100 25¢/minute

Anywhere 300 $20.00 300 25¢/minute

Anywhere 700 $30.00 700 25¢/minute

Anywhere 1200 $40.00 1200 25¢/minute

Anywhere 1800 $50.00 1800 25¢/minute

Anywhere 2400 $60.00 2400 10¢/minute

Message and web plans: https://www.consumercellular.com/Info/Services

Plan Name Messages Data (Web) Monthly Fee

Connect! Lite 100 10MB (check the web 1-2 times per day) $2.50

Connect! Ready 500 50MB (check the web 5-6 times per day) $5.00

Connect! Active 1,000 100MB (check the web 10-12 times per day) $10.00

Connect! Complete 2,500 250MB (check the web 25-30 times per day) $20.00

Connect! Max 5,000 500MB (check the web 51-59 times per day) $30.00


Change your plan. With Consumer Cellular, you can change your plan at any time—no hassles, no penalties, no ifs-ands-or-buts or surprises. Plus, our automated Usage Alerts help you avoid unnecessary overage charges. It’s your plan, so it should always fit your needs and pocketbook. That’s our policy.

The bottom line? We always keep our rates low and never make you sign a contract! We don't stop at affordable. We go beyond to give all our customers—seniors, families, and individuals—their choice of the best cell phone plans available.

Maybe that's why we’re rated the #1 no contract cell phone service in the country.

[onehandle]

9. Credo Mobile has been working on getting the iPhone for some time.

They are on the Sprint network, which is the third largest, but still have 'unlimited' data.

I'm hoping now that Sprint is a carrier, Credo can make it happen by June for iPhone 5.

I was on 'Working Assets' years ago and hope to return.

[JDPriestly]

33. We have Credo. It works really well for me, but my husband sometimes doesn't get

a connection for some strange reason. He calls. His phone rings. Then either he or the other party cannot hear. He has tried getting a different phone.

Still, most of the time Credo works well.

[beac]

66. I've been with Credo for almost 3 years.

Reception the same as any other carrier I've had in the past and GREAT customer service (as was Working Assets when we still had a landline phone.)

[primavera]

67. That would make me very happy

I've wanted to support Credo for years, but as an all Mac household, I've been reluctant to give up the synching ease one gets with the iPhone and, since Credo hasn't carried the iPhone, well...

[proud2BlibKansan]

19. AT&T is the union carrier, Steve.

Plus union members get a discount. So does my employer. So I get 15% off my bill.

[joanbarnes]

35. First hand experience.They are more interested in drumming out union

employees than updating infrastructure...look at the churn at U-verse, and its poor performance....

[Omaha Steve]

61. Yes, Consumer Cellular piggy backs on AT&T equipment

Consumer has no infrastructure. So union workers at AT&T get work from me. The customer service is Consumer people in the State of Oregon. They have won awards for the treatment of the employees and customers.

There was a time when AT&T Cellular accepted hassle free card check to organize it's shops.

Verizon has some union labor, but treats them like crap.

Consumer Cellular was just recognized as one of the top 100 best green companies in Oregon.

[proud2BlibKansan]

62. Thanks for the clarification

[markpkessinger]

64. Even 500 MB is really a low limit if you watch any significant amount of video n/t

[rbixby]

22. Granted, I'm not going to say that I think AT&T is great, but...

everywhere I've gone in the world I've been able to use my phone, as well as just about everywhere in the States. I guess that's the main reason my company sticks with AT&T, is that their coverage seems to be everywhere we go.

[onehandle]

25. Same here. I've been with all three major carriers and they all suck one way or another.

But AT&T has better reach and the best 3G speeds.

That being said, now that our grandfathered plans are not so grandfathered any more, I will be looking at all carriers for our iPhone 5s.

[Johnson20]

27. Ditto here and thats an important thing for us in fly-over country. n/t

[RobinA]

55. I Use Them

because they are the only cell phone service I can get in my house. I'm also a grandfatehred unlimited plan person. I've never gotten a warning, but I swear it's slowed down sometimes. Like Saturday when I was using (or trying to use) GPS on Long Island. Maybe it's always slow there.

[ejbr]

5. And do they reduce the fee of those who are the bottom 5% of users? n/t

[wildeyed]

7. My grandfathered unlimited plan is why I stay with AT&T.

If they render my smart phone useless with this type of BS, I will simply switch to another carrier. God knows I am not hanging around for their other services.

[onehandle]

8. Eliminating my ties with AT&T. Now that there is no advantage to them, our iPhone 5 purchases...

...can be with any of the carriers.

We're out of contract. Let the dealing begin.

[Sedona]

10. Verizon better not get any ideas like this

I'm grandfathefed in with unlimted data, and been their customer since the mid 90's, when they were Cellular One back in the day

[onehandle]

11. Carriers watch each carefully and parrot the same actions.

AT&T is getting a tiny bit of bad press over this. If they get away with it, expect the same on Verizon.

[ejpoeta]

16. that is the whole point of supposed competition.

they don't really have much competition and at&t tried to swallow another competitor. This idea that if you don't like it you can just go somewhere else gets difficult. We have Verizon but just have plain jane phones and we got them on ebay. We are out of contract and have been looking around. Wanted to get in on Republic wireless but there are no slots right now.

[FedUp_Queer]

37. More than that...

The reason for competition is that you can actually change. With respect to AT&T, there is no real competition. The only other GSM provider is T-Mobile, which does not offer the iPhone. At best, only T-Mobile competes with AT&T because they are both the same protocol. Sprint and Verizon have the same protocol (CDMA), so there is competition there, somewhat. The bottom line is that if a person has AT&T (notwithstanding the fact that most phones are locked to a carrier), the only competition without having to buy a phone is T-Mobile. The same goes for Verizon and and Sprint.

[barbtries]

13. i feel the same way about t mobile,

i've been with them forever. i'm so glad the merger failed.

[harun]

56. Me too.

[LizW]

45. Same here

My first cell phone was with Cellular One, back when it was in a little laptop-size bag and plugged into the cigarette lighter. I've had the same cell number since 1992.

I stuck with them when everyone was running to AT&T to get an iPhone. They better not screw with my grandfathered plan.

[bvar22]

47. Same here.

Grandfathered Unlimited Plan,
though it was Alltel when we signed on.

If my UM175 (cell modem) goes out, and I have to buy a new one,
I believe I will be forced to sign a new contract and lose the Unlimited access.

[Joe Bacon]

12. AT&T is throttling the iPad, too.

Since January, they've throttled my iPad as well here in Los Angeles. Even going to their hotspots, they're throttling.

Sorely tempted to go over to T-Mobile!

[INdemo]

14. not to make this carrier vs this carrier but I have been with Sprint for over 10 year and have

not had a problem..In fact they have a ad about slow downs etc..My daughter was with ATT but after reading the fine print and unexpected charges she dropped them...

[ejpoeta]

20. sprint isn't very good in our area. coverage sucks here.

my husband had it for work and had to fight with work to get a verizon phone. He started putting in reimbursement for his personal phone since he was using it for work. LOL!

[proud2BlibKansan]

23. Sprint's World Headquarters is in my city

and the worst reception in town is in front of their offices. All over town, it's horrible. They complain they can't put up enough towers because neighborhoods don't want them. But AT&T phones work just fine here. Go figure.

Plus no one works at Sprint anymore. They got all kinds of tax abatements to build their world headquarters here and have a huge facility - they call it a campus. And it's empty now. The parking lot is deserted. I don't know anyone who works there anymore and it used to be the largest employer in the area. It's sad.

[INdemo]

44. The location certainly makes a difference

..but yet I cant believe that a carrier would slow down ones service..Both carriers are losing money on iPhones, selling at cost or less in hopes of gaining the data customer and so far has not worked...

[proud2BlibKansan]

21. And I dropped Sprint after over 10 years because of horrible reception.

Sprint phones don't work in our house. We complained and complained. Sprint finally said our neighbors were refusing any more cell towers in our neighborhood. Odd, since AT&T had just put up a new tower a few blocks away. So we went with AT&T and don't miss having to go outside to talk on the phone.

Bottom line is reception. That's more important to me than data packages, etc.

[sendero]

15. AT&T..

... has seen their last dollar from me. I could go on at length about why I don't like them but it boils down to poor service and distrust.

I'm so happy that the AT&T/T-Mobile merger was scuttled because T-Mobile isn't great but they are miles better than AT&T - and I did not want to have to find another carrier.

[proud2BlibKansan]

17. I'm supposedly grandfathered in

Watching my bill to see what that means. LOL

[soleft]

26. I didn't think they even had the unlimited plan anymore

[Johnson20]

28. They do, but only for folks who were grandfathered in.n/t

[Fuddnik]

29. I went with Straight Talk a couple of years ago.

$45 a month for unlimited everything. They use all the major networks. Some non-smart phones are on Verizon. Some smartphones are on AT&T and Sprint. I've used all three at different times, and the only problem I've had is with a Samsung Android (Galaxy Precedent) that won't get a signal in the bar I go to.

They're coming out with a dual core android shortly that operates on T-Mobile in the next few weeks.

To avoid the initial outlay for a new phone, new customers, who like their old phone can buy a Straight Talk SIM to swap out in their old phone for $45, and go with the $45 unlimited phone.

[ChromeFoundry]

30. AT&T's Unlimited Frustration Plans

First they dropped the unlimited wireless data plan offerings.
The they capped their DSL Users to 200 GB / month, with incremental overages of +$10/50GB.
Then they even capped their U-Verse users to 250GB / month with the same incremental overages.
- both as a way to steer their customers away from Netflix.
Then they faked the customer bandwidth utilization values on their "bandwidth usage meter" page and over charged customers.
Now they are throttling wireless users data plans.
What's next?

All of these moves are blamed on over utilization of their backbones capacity. What this tells me is that they are not upgrading their infrastructure to meet demand. The funny part of this is if the user in the article used all this bandwidth in short spirts of activity... that does not have any effect bandwidth of the other 700 hours in a month. This is a ploy by AT&T to get rid of all the grandfathered-in unlimited data plans. period. the end. If it wasn't they would utilize a peak/off-peak hour data plan... don't hold your breath on that.

AT&T is nothing but another group of corporate thieves. I dropped all of my services with them over this past year and I am never looking back.

[xtraxritical]

50. Consumer Fraud Protection Agency

One President Obama's outstanding accomplishments.

[RC]

31. AT&T doesn't want to spend the money to properly up-grade their system.

Google Internet is coming to Kansas City. Already the local cable company is advertising faster speeds and better service. AT&T, not so much.

[ChromeFoundry]

36. It's the ancient technology

they are using. They are still based on copper twisted pairs for the last mile. The cost and time it takes to replace one of the 100-pair bundles is a lot. U-Verse is still copper to the premises, not fiber like they would like for you to believe... it's only fiber from the central office to the junction. Cable can handle much more data, higher frequencies, and way more total bandwidth... and is less susceptible to emf interference... same goes for fiber optic. This is why you have to be within 9000 feet from a CO for DSL to give decent sync rates (yielding only 5Mbps downloads). U-Verse effectively moves the C.O. to the end of the street, offering less noise on the pair because it is over a shorter distance.

They claim that they need to buy T-Mobile because they don't have enough bandwidth... but if they got T-M's bandwidth, along with their own.. they still would not offer unlimited data plans for wireless users.

In other words, they are looking to make deep profits by selling you a mixed-bag of shit... but it's in a nice bag!

[joanbarnes]

32. Surprise! They've been doing this with DSL for years.

[Marthe48]

34. So no one can offer accurate voting machines with a paper trail, BUT

they can monitor individuals' phone use and put limits on their accounts? Odd how selective technology can be.

[Bozita]

39. +1

[IthinkThereforeIAM]

40. Tell your younger cousins to go play with a ball outside once in awhile...

... I have seen several friends allow their nieces and nephews to use their iPads and iPhones to entertain them, and they almost always go right for the most bandwidth intensive videos, cartoons, etc... You got what you asked for by letting them do as they want and not monitoring what they are doing with your device. Just because you have an, "unlimited plan", doesn't give license for abuse of privilege.

I am not making any excuses for AT&T, just pleading for common sense.

[ut oh]

53. So then what does 'unlimited' mean to you?

To me it means no limit to usage.... How is usage an abuse when it's supposed to be unlimited?

You're not pleading for common sense, because you completely ignore the definition of unlimited. AT&T left common sense when they claimed they could support unlimited usage, then lo and behold, had to start limiting their unlimited cusomters...

If the phone companies didn't want you using whatever bandwidth you wanted to, they should not call their plans 'unlimited'. That is common sense, not some re-interpretation of what 'unlimited' means...

I think you should take your common sense back to AT&T, because it appears broken.

[boppers]

58. Unlimited amounts of data.

The *speed* of that data delivery might vary.

People who sold "unlimited" 2400 bps modem plans did not guarantee a constant 2400 bps throughput, only an unlimited amount of *connection time*.

This has not changed in the last 30 years.... faster connections doesn't mean any one person gets to hog the whole pipe for themselves, all the time, any more than it did 30 years ago.

[bayareaboy]

41. Lenny Bruce said ...

if you think you want socialism, think about the phone company. How they deal with you and the BS you have to listen to. from them.

Every week I get a letter in the mail that tells me because I am such a good customer for my cellphone that AT&T will give a bundled rate for everything else. So I checked it out and guess what, I live in the east Bay Area and they don't have cable service to that location. Give me a break! These folks are jerks, all around.

[proud2BlibKansan]

42. On the other hand,

I'd love to have one of those phones and its service - that we had before the Bell breakup. My parents had a phone in their kitchen for over 30 years. It worked, and the service never went out. No reception problems ever.

When my grandmother died in the early 70s, her phone with a rotary dial still worked like a champ. She had that phone for at least 40 years.

After the Bell breakup we got cordless phones and cute phones of many different designs and colors. But none of them were as reliable as the phones we got from Ma Bell.

[Mojorabbit]

49. I have several antique landline phones from the 30s and 40s.

Built like brick houses. Keep them for emergencies when power goes out.

[Xtraneous]

65. They got that covered too...

with Verizon they have been getting rid of the copper lines where I live. You can still plug in an old fashion phone but the fiber hub runs on a battery that only lasts 7 hours when the power goes out. I insisted on keeping my landline on copper lines for this reason. But then during a service change they swapped it out and refused to rewire it. I asked the installer what I'd do if the power went out for more than 7 hours. He said I'd have to buy another battery. We've had a mild winter this year but the last two years we've had 2 day power outages each winter- and once went out for a week. Cell phones wouldn't work either.

[Mojorabbit]

69. Wow, that sucks

After we got hit by hurricane Charley, we were without power for ten days but our land line worked when everything else was out. It is a shame they are doing this.

[bigdgib]

43. Profit over service

So the telecoms don't build the necessary infrastructure to properly handle the traffic, because that would cut into massive profits which pay millions to the executives and stockholders. Instead they ding the heavy users. The inevitable result of monopolistic providers. Pathetic.

[Fearless]

46. Funny huh. Corporations are regulated too much right?

[Posteritatis]

51. Wait, wait, you mean to tell me a cell phone provider's lying through their teeth about policies?

Madness!

[Broderick]

52. The wife and I have experienced this

And it is absolutely no fun. My wife uses a mapping function to get around the city and it is basically disabled, for how long who knows. It is extremely disappointing.

We pay over 200 a month for texting and voice. It's an outrage.

[NYC Liberal]

54. There are people who claim "throttling" is not limiting data.

Yet the whole point of throttling to limit data usage by the heaviest users! Duh. Otherwise, why are they doing it?

[Bad_Ronald]

57. Unlimited limitations

Being an AT&T customer these days is like being in a dysfunctional relationship in which your significant other promises to love you unconditionally...but only under certain conditions. I think I need a new dictionary.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

59. According to online reviews, the same is true of Clear Internet's "unlimited" data

Customer after customer complains of being throttled down to dial-up speeds.

I have AT&T's lowest level data plan, and in nearly a year, I've never used it up. Of course, I save heavy-duty Internet use for places with wi-fi and do no more than occasional checking of e-mails or GPS usage when I'm lost (but only when I'm lost--otherwise, I depend on....maps!) and away from wi-fi.

[airplaneman]

60. AT&T has also tried to limit internet to 250G per month then a $10.00 per 50G extra.

Like the schemes that gave us $700.00 cellphone bills these are just extortion schemes.
I get high speed internet from Comcast and the above limit would be busted if I used my access for just 3 minutes a day. The link is a little dated but you get the idea here.

http://money.cnn.com/2011/05/03/technology/att_broadband_caps/index.htm

-Airplane

[Myrina]

68. Waaah

Get off the damn device and talk to people in real life.