AT&T striping me of my Unlimited Data due to supposed 'Tethering'

[joeatt711]

I just got an email from AT&T stating that

"Our records show you tether your device but aren't subscribed to the corresponding plan. If you called us in the past few days to subscribe to one of the required DataPro 5GB for Smartphone plans described below, you may disregard this letter. If not, then to bring your account up to date, we have automatically enrolled you into one of the following of our DataPro 5GB for Smartphone plans, and you'll soon see this change reflected on an upcoming bill statement"

I, however, have never tethered my device and only use apps such as RDP Lite (remote desktop) and Remote Monitoring Services for my home which require alot of continuous data streaming. I believe that AT&T has violated the terms of my contract but I'm not sure how to handle this. When I called customer support they transferred me to a 'special department' who told me 'Sorry, your data plan will change on your next billing cycle" over and over again after I repeatedly tried to explain to her that I have not been tethering my device and that I only use those apps on my phone.

I've been a satisfied AT&T customer for a long time but this is unacceptable treatment. I recently read an article that the AT&T CEO is losing sleep that they offered the unlimited data plan in the first place... thats NOT my problem. I signed a contract and AT&T should honor it. On top of this they said if I want to cancel to switch to Sprint for unlimited data they will charge me Early Terminate Fee!! I rely on my RDP application for business, please advise on what I can do to resolve this issue.

[Mundty]

If you never used Tethering, it seems your only options would be to take them to court or get out of the contract penalty free.  The offical policy is supposed to be beyond 3GB a month, unlimited data users are throttled until the next billing cycle.  If what you're saying is true, I'd switch to Sprint or someone else that offers unlimited data.  I'll be doing the same if they try to force me out of my unlimited plan, like what Verizon is doing now to their customers.  Personally, I'd say legal options are not worth the cost or headache.  Vote with your wallet and leave if they aren't honoring your contract and you haven't broken any rules.

[chrisjbritt]

Have you called customer service to discuss?

[priviley]

Call Customer Service... ask for an account manager.

[xx86]

I too got a letter about tethering and I have unlimited. I have a iphone 4 with IOS 6.1.3 not jailbroken and just used it for Netflix while out of town and I get a text first about I went over 3GB by just whatching Netfilx when I thought I had unlimited. Then I call and they said it was tethered to my car which I listen to Pandora. So riddle me this my car does the same thing as my Bluetooth earpiece that was purchased from Apple and now they say this is tethering. So why do they sell Bluetooth speakers if your not allowed to use them? These are the same as Bluetooth earpiece your supposed to use to make driving safer right. Bluetooth is Bluetooth So in California you can't use a iPhone with a Bluetooth earpiece cause that is tethering by ATT logic.

[sandblaster]

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xx86 wrote:

I too got a letter about tethering and I have unlimited. I have a iphone 4 with IOS 6.1.3 not jailbroken and just used it for Netflix while out of town and I get a text first about I went over 3GB by just whatching Netfilx when I thought I had unlimited. Then I call and they said it was tethered to my car which I listen to Pandora. So riddle me this my car does the same thing as my Bluetooth earpiece that was purchased from Apple and now they say this is tethering. So why do they sell Bluetooth speakers if your not allowed to use them? These are the same as Bluetooth earpiece your supposed to use to make driving safer right. Bluetooth is Bluetooth So in California you can't use a iPhone with a Bluetooth earpiece cause that is tethering by ATT logic.

.

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Don't give up.  Perhaps you got a CS rep who does not understand what tethering is but playing the output of your phone over your car stereo via Bluetooth is not tethering. 

The reason for the text telling you you've gone over 3GB is that is when throttling will kick in for users still on the unlimited data plan. 

[emoore254x]

Go to an AT&T corporate store and don't leave until they show you the exact evidence of you tethering. The way they can tell is by your packet reading. They NEVER pin this on people that haven't tethered. They can prove it, you have no legal ability to sue.

{keep it courteous}

[wingrider01 ACE - Geek]

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emoore254x wrote:
Go to an AT&T corporate store and don't leave until they show you the exact evidence of you tethering. The way they can tell is by your packet reading. They NEVER pin this on people that haven't tethered. [removed insult to the op]. They can prove it, you have no legal ability to sue.

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Not going to happen, the local store does not have the ability to do what you are stating - packet sniffers are not part of a normal brick and mortar outlet, it would take a 2nd level NOC center personnel to do that.