Sad Day For Me

[quigsis]

Today is the first day I have heard about this...first on the news this am...then I got an email and (2) text messages informing me that I was in the top 5%.  Which I find totally unbelievable since I do NOT stream movies or video's on my phone.  I checked my datea usage.... 2.9GB....higher than the 2GB plan but below the 4 & 5GB plans and certainly not double or triple digits.  I can on ly feel that AT&T is targeting grandfathered unlimited users. 

Why am I sad?  I have had my AT&T account for something like 15 years.  I have defended AT&T when people jump complain about them.   I have been happy with the service and phones...for the most part.  We have 3 lines on our family plan.   For the first time ever I am considering changing carriers when possible.  One of the lines has the contract up...he has no desire to upgrade his phone right now.  Mine will be up next month.  Although I normally upgrade my phone as soon as I can I will probably wait this time....the third line will be up later this year.  I will use the time between now and then to decide what carrier I will change to and if this is still taking place I will change at that time.  It makes me sad as we've been with AT&T for a long time but I feel that this is targeting the long time loyal customers and I can't support a company that does not value their loyal customers. 

There are so many other ways that the end result that they are looking for can be achieved...it isn't worth going into it.  I am one customer among millions.  In the long run my business doesn't really matter to AT&T.  What matters to me is getting the best service and the data lags do not make me feel that I am getting good service. 

Sad sad day.

[wingrider01 ACE - Geek]

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pucs wrote:

wingrider01 wrote:

not quite sure how you are assuming they are "forced" to defend the carrier, with the exception of a few official att personnel everything is their own opinion, just like you have your own opinion. Bottom line - 103 Million wirless customers, the lowest churn rate in the industry seems to point that the carrier is doing something corectly no matter what you think.

Don;t asume they did not go through the entire gambit of charting and determining what the fall out would be, corproatation of this size do not do anything without planning down the the last detail, the ROI was to the postive for this, sory to disappoint you but any successful company is run by "number crunchers" especially if they answer to a board of directors and stock holders. The grave yard is littered with the bones of companies that did not take this simple fact into account. Contrary to popular believe - successful companies are not run by people that do not know what they are doing. At the end of the day they will still be in the top 3 providers

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thank you for pointing out the low churn rate AT&T has enjoyed prior to this Throttling debacle. I appreciate you pointing out that the best way to get the message to AT&T that the way they are doing their throttling is wrong is to go to another carrier.  It appears that you are under the impression that because AT&T has a board of directors and stock holders that they can do no wrong when it comes to how they run their business.... The grave yard is littered with the bones of companies that took this arrogant approach to their customers.... successful companies are not run by people that ignore their customers.......

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probably won;t see a blip in the churn rate for this, look around and see what the industry is doing - the days of the unlimited data plan have gone the way of the dodo bird - verizon dropped it, t-mobile caps theirs, sprint has even just changed their secondary carrier to lock unlimited usage - Virgin mobile (sounds like a toe in the ater for the rest of them), now look at broadband - they are caping also, one boradband provider will suspend your account have consequtive overages.

Please don;t make assumptions on my impressions - you would be 100 percent wrong 100 percent of the time, assumptions are bad(tm). The number quoted is not past tense as you assume... The only thing that was done wrong here is the plan was allowed to contiune, it should have been dropped when it was canceled.

[Dellman87]

It's probably the truth in the words that AT&T won't bring back unlimited data.  That is why I bought my CLEAR hotspot.  Even people who have AT&T are going out and buying hotspots b/c they want true unlimited data speeds. My friend had to give me his Verizon LTE phone b/c they don't throttle him unless the tower is congested.

Honestly you will see AT&T continue to lose customers and get poor ratings at this rate.  Good for them - take something good and destroy it.

[mikewho]

I can see the need to throttle at some point but it seems they throttle way too soon.

[Dellman87]

Or at least throttle ONLY on congested towers at a reasonable speed like 1MBPS, not 0.10mbps...

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mikewho wrote:
I can see the need to throttle at some point but it seems they throttle way too soon.

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[mikewho]

Yeah that wouldn't be bad. The way they throttle now is kind of anti consumer.

[Karmastorm]

For four years I have had a contract on  four iphones with unlimited data usage and international dialing features.

 By intentionally restricting data speed on my account, ATT is breaking the contract. ATT does not reduce the charges when three out of four of my phones have low data usage.

ATT has knowingly oversold its available bandwidth. If ATT really cares to "help avoid network congestion and improve reliability" they can stop overselling their product.

All of the fine print in the world, coupled with lobbyist with buckets of cash and armies of lawyers do not change the fact that ATT is stealing from their customers by selling the same bandwidth over and over and then blaming the customer for using the product.

The monopoly on iphone carriers is over.

Change your policy or lose my account which averages $7000 per year. 

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Like other wireless companies, AT&T is taking steps to manage exploding demand for mobile data. We're responding on many levels, including investing billions in our wireless network this year and working to acquire more network capacity.

As mentioned on a previous bill, we're also taking additional, more immediate steps to help address network congestion and improve reliability. One of these steps involves a change for some customers who use extraordinarily large amounts of data in a single billing period - about 12 times more data than the average smartphone user.

For the current billing cycle, your data usage indicates you could be affected by this change. Here's how it works:

Smartphone customers with unlimited data plans may experience reduced speeds once their usage in a billing cycle reaches the level that puts them among the top 5 percent of heaviest data users. These customers can still use unlimited data and their speeds will be restored with the start of the next billing cycle.

We're writing because you are in the top 5 percent of heaviest data users for this billing cycle. Because we recognize that data usage can change from month to month, you will not see reduced speeds this billing cycle.

Beginning with your next billing cycle, we'll send you a text message if you are approaching the top 5 percent of heaviest data users. We'll also send you a second text message if you cross into the top 5 percent of heaviest users, at which point you may see reduced speeds for the rest of the month.

Customers have several ways to manage extremely high data usage.

Wi-Fi offers great speeds and doesn't add to your wireless data usage. Consider using Wi-Fi when possible for applications that use the highest amounts of data, such as streaming video apps, remote web camera apps, large data-file transfers (like video) and some online gaming.

You may also consider switching to a tiered data plan if speed is more important to you than having an unlimited data plan. Customers on tiered plans can pay for more data if they need it, and will not see reduced speeds.

To estimate how much data different activities use, and find out more about Wi-Fi or tiered data plans, visit https://www.att.com/dataplans or call Customer Care at 800-331-0500.

[jamileh]

Updating thread to restore visibility. 

[Tilidie]

Last month I was throttled at 2.2 gigs of usage. 

This month... a whole new low!!!!!!!!! 1.7 yep you heard that correctly, at this rate I will load up yahoo on the first day of my billing cycle and BAM! throttled.

<post edited - discussion of legal actions is not permitted per the community guidelines> 

[4sskyrocket]

Wow! We cut back so the top 5 percent drops. How low will AT&T go to drag us long time customers into the dirt....;(.

[Dellman87]

I love how this says "unlimited" data...

Btw, When I am 10 days left into my data plan, I'm going to download so hardcore and "raise the bar".

[spd2demun ACE - Master]

From the vids I saw (removed), it sounds like TS/CC is totally unaware of throttling unlimited plans?

[raisingthethrot…]

This is the results of you throttling me!  I actually had to travel for work and use my phone like normal in January.  Then back to using my 'unlimited' plan in February.  I'll post it as soon as they refresh it.

Edit:

I also like how no 'AT&T employee' have responded to the article yozhbk posted.

http://www.bgr.com/2012/02/23/throttling-unlimited-data-plans-is-pointless-study-finds/#utm_source=f...

[Per Guidelines: Keep it Relevant and Appropriate]

[Dellman87]

Here is mine. I even extended all the months I could for you guys.

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[LTRwithFitChaser]

Interesting follow-up article and video from ZDNet yesterday about AT&T's Throttling. I know I cannot post the article here per the forum's guidelines, but you can search for the article on Google.  The original article from ZDNet a couple weeks ago by ZDNet’s own James Kendrick called AT&T’s data throttling “the great rip off”.  Yesterday’s follow-up article is about how to take AT&T to court if you’re throttled. I am very pleased to see that the media is continuing to write about this almost daily. I just looked at AT&T's main Facebook page which has almost 2 million members and no matter what AT&T posts, the comments are all negative and about throttling. AT&T customers and employees alike are upset about AT&T throttling and the especially the motive for it.

Thank you!   

[raisingthethrot…]

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LTRwithFitChaser wrote:

Interesting follow-up article and video from ZDNet yesterday about AT&T's Throttling. I know I cannot post the article here per the forum's guidelines, but you can search for the article on Google.  The original article from ZDNet a couple weeks ago by ZDNet’s own James Kendrick called AT&T’s data throttling “the great rip off”.  Yesterday’s follow-up article is about how to take AT&T to court if you’re throttled. I am very pleased to see that the media is continuing to write about this almost daily. I just looked at AT&T's main Facebook page which has almost 2 million members and no matter what AT&T posts, the comments are all negative and about throttling. AT&T customers and employees alike are upset about AT&T throttling and the especially the motive for it.

Thank you!   

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Just googled the "the great rip off" and it's the first article there called "flight the power" gives you the where, what, and how to 'fight the power'.

[sgeffre]

Just got off the phone with AT&T because they put me on a "restricted download speed" due to the fact I had "data usage among the top 5% of users." When I asked them how much data I used, they said "2GB". 

This is the top 5%?

If you look at their wireless plans (http://bit.ly/yLWXCQ), you'll see that their $30 plan, which is the same amount I pay for the "Unlimited" plan, allows for 3GB of data.

AT&T has gone in the toilet as far as their customer service goes, and now their "Unlimited" plan is basically worse than a "limited" plan at the same price.

[Per Guidelines: Keep it Relevant and Appropriate]

[Dellman87]

Welcome to the club buddy.  People are fighting against AT&T. Something will budge eventually.

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sgeffre wrote:

Just got off the phone with AT&T because they put me on a "restricted download speed" due to the fact I had "data usage among the top 5% of users." When I asked them how much data I used, they said "2GB". 

This is the top 5%?

If you look at their wireless plans (http://bit.ly/yLWXCQ), you'll see that their $30 plan, which is the same amount I pay for the "Unlimited" plan, allows for 3GB of data.

AT&T has gone in the toilet as far as their customer service goes, and now their "Unlimited" plan is basically worse than a "limited" plan at the same price.

[Per Guidelines: Keep it Relevant and Appropriate]

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[4sskyrocket]

There is only 17 million AT&T unlimited users. Some here say we don't matter
to AT&T. Sure looks that way.

[Dellman87]

I honestly don't think anything we say on here will actually make a difference to AT&T...

[jimh220]

Is AT&T actually committing "breach of contract" to those with unlimited data plans?

[Per Guidelines:  Keep it Relevant and Appropriate].

[Felixderkater]

It seems that, for some mysterious reason, my throttling has been lifted.

My speeds are back above 2Mbps, as of checks this morning and afternoon in two different cities.  Is this a fluke, or have others noticed this as well?

{post merged}

[Dodgerfan1988_t…]

I just had my data completely removed from my "unlimited" data plan. I noticed my phone was all of a sudden unable to do anything but call out or receive calls. Yes, I checked the phone to make sure it wasn't acting up and decided to call AT&T after an hour or so. I get a throttling specialist on the phone and she tells me that in my market (SF Bay Area) unlimited customers get throttled at 2gb and get a special conservation code placed on their account when they reach 4gb. At this point ur data is cutoff. I had to ask her several times to repeat this bc it sounded so crazy. I am still don't believe her that they actually cut me off but my phone has no data right now so{word filter evasion}? I am hoping that she was a typical clueless rep and my phone will start getting data again but who knows what AT&T is up to. Has anyone heard this? She was acting like this has been told to us back in Oct. but I have never had any AT&T rep state an actual number where throttling occurs let alone the fact they can cut ur data off.

[Felixderkater]

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Dodgerfan1988_throttled wrote:
I just had my data completely removed from my "unlimited" data plan. I noticed my phone was all of a sudden unable to do anything but call out or receive calls. Yes, I checked the phone to make sure it wasn't acting up and decided to call AT&T after an hour or so. I get a throttling specialist on the phone and she tells me that in my market (SF Bay Area) unlimited customers get throttled at 2gb and get a special conservation code placed on their account when they reach 4gb. At this point ur data is cutoff. I had to ask her several times to repeat this bc it sounded so crazy. I am still don't believe her that they actually cut me off but my phone has no data right now so {word filter evasion}? I am hoping that she was a typical clueless rep and my phone will start getting data again but who knows what AT&T is up to. Has anyone heard this? She was acting like this has been told to us back in Oct. but I have never had any AT&T rep state an actual number where throttling occurs let alone the fact they can cut ur data off.

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Maybe they are experimenting with different techniques in different locations...  Yesterday, it seemed I was confined to EDGE, even though my whole operating area is covered in 3G and "4G".  Cycling the phone did not restore 3G data, but it was functioning side-by-side on my wife's phone, which is on a corporate plan.

[Dodgerfan1988_t…]

Could be that they are experimenting. Today was the absolute first time I have heard an AT&T rep state a hard number on when throttling occurs. My wife's iPhone has not been receiving data speeds which you would recognize as normal. She's a low data tiered user so im not sure if shed recognize it but as I have been using her phone tonight I have noticed its loading pages as if it were being throttled. Strange.

[mikewho]

I've read reports that they are starting to throttle speeds during phone calls. Isn't talkn and surfn at the same time one of their selling points?

[wingrider01 ACE - Geek]

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mikewho wrote:
I've read reports that they are starting to throttle speeds during phone calls. Isn't talkn and surfn at the same time one of their selling points?

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Have absolutely no idea what you are talking about - what exactly are they throttling? The voice or the data that is being used while you are talking and what exactly does it have to do - if they throttle data they throttle it at any time,

Being able to use voice and data is a GSM feature, if you utilize CDMA, you data tranmission stops 100 percent when yo gert a voice call, it might pick up where it was left off when you end your call, but the chances of that working is slim.

[4sskyrocket]

The other selling point is fastest 3G download speeds. For every one but unlimited customers.

[wingrider01 ACE - Geek]

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4sskyrocket wrote:
The other selling point is fastest 3G download speeds. For every one but unlimited customers.

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but not guaranteed to be there 100 percent of the time, no carrier does that not even cricket

[cesierra]

They changed their throttle policy today.  Throttle begins at 3GB  (5GB for LTE devices). Now we are talking.