"Unlimited" data tariffs - a big con?
Discussion
I was grubbing round various carriers' sites the other day, looking for a 3G dongle on an unlimited data tariff that didn't have a frankly dishonest "fair use" clause stuck to it. Guess what? None of them do.
O2, for example, say "Unlimited data! Ta-DA! (except we don't actually mean anything like unlimited at all. You are expected to use on average less than 5GB per month)"
Now, I might be being a bit soft, but that to me sounds like a 60GB/year tariff.
O2, for example, say "Unlimited data! Ta-DA! (except we don't actually mean anything like unlimited at all. You are expected to use on average less than 5GB per month)"
Now, I might be being a bit soft, but that to me sounds like a 60GB/year tariff.
When T-Mobile launched the G1 Android handset 18 months ago, I got genuine free unlimited 3G data as part of my package. It really is unlimited, I've taken the proverbial with it over the last year and a half, including tethering my phone to the laptop to use as a 3G dongle.
Worth seeing if that's an option for you? I don't know whether T-Mob still offer unlimited; I certainly don't plan on changing my package as to lose that would be a shame!
Worth seeing if that's an option for you? I don't know whether T-Mob still offer unlimited; I certainly don't plan on changing my package as to lose that would be a shame!
Funk said:
When T-Mobile launched the G1 Android handset 18 months ago, I got genuine free unlimited 3G data as part of my package. It really is unlimited, I've taken the proverbial with it over the last year and a half, including tethering my phone to the laptop to use as a 3G dongle.
Worth seeing if that's an option for you? I don't know whether T-Mob still offer unlimited; I certainly don't plan on changing my package as to lose that would be a shame!
Nope, they're as much a pack of robbing sWorth seeing if that's an option for you? I don't know whether T-Mob still offer unlimited; I certainly don't plan on changing my package as to lose that would be a shame!
ts as anyone:T-Mobile said:
Pay monthly plans which include internet on your phone
If you choose a Pay Monthly plan which includes internet on your phone, you’ll need internet coverage, check it at t-mobile.co.uk/streetcheck. Remember that you can only use internet on your phone in the UK and you can’t use your phone as a modem or use internet on your phone for peer to peer file sharing, instant messaging or making internet phone calls. *Internet on your phone comes with a fair use policy of 1GB a month. We’ll monitor how much you send and receive each calendar month so that we can protect our network for all our customers. If you use more than your fair use policy amount, we won’t charge you any more, but we may restrict how you can use your booster, depending on how often you go over your amount and by how much. If you remove your booster and then use internet on your phone you’ll automatically be charged our daily rate, see t-mobile.co.uk.
Pay monthly plans which include internet on your phone on an Android phone
You'll need internet coverage, check it at t-mobile.co.uk/streetcheck. Remember that you can only use your internet on your phone Booster in the UK and you can't use your phone as a modem or use web'n'walk Plus for peer to peer file sharing, or making internet phone calls. *Internet on your phone comes with a fair use policy of 3GB a month. We'll monitor how much you send and receive each calendar month so that we can protect our network for all our internet on your customers. If you use more than your fair use policy amount, we won't charge you any more, but we may restrict how you can use your plan, depending on how often you go over your amount and by how much. As your phone is always connected to the internet, if you remove your internet on your phone Plus Booster from your account you'll automatically be charged up to £1 every day. That £1 a day rate has its own fair use policy and other legal stuff, which you can see here: t-mobile.co.uk/services/uk/fairuse/#fup5.
Internet on your phone booster (including flexible booster)
To choose the unlimited internet on your phone booster, text WEB to 879, call 150 from your mobile, visit one of our stores or go to www.t-mobile.co.uk. The booster costs £5 a month and the cost will be added to your next bill and then every bill each month until you ask us to remove it . We’ll send you a text to let you know when your booster is ready to use and you can ask us to remove your booster, simply call 150 from your mobile. You’ll need internet coverage, check it at t-mobile.co.uk/streetcheck. Remember that you can only use internet on your phone in the UK and you can’t use your phone as a modem or use internet on your phone for peer to peer file sharing, instant messaging or making internet phone calls. * This booster comes with a fair use policy of 1GB a month. We’ll monitor how much you send and receive each calendar month so that we can protect our network for all our customers. If you use more than your fair use policy amount, we won’t charge you any more, but we may restrict how you can use your booster, depending on how often you go over your amount and by how much. If you remove your booster and then use internet on your phone you’ll automatically be charged our daily rate, see t-mobile.co.uk.
If you choose a Pay Monthly plan which includes internet on your phone, you’ll need internet coverage, check it at t-mobile.co.uk/streetcheck. Remember that you can only use internet on your phone in the UK and you can’t use your phone as a modem or use internet on your phone for peer to peer file sharing, instant messaging or making internet phone calls. *Internet on your phone comes with a fair use policy of 1GB a month. We’ll monitor how much you send and receive each calendar month so that we can protect our network for all our customers. If you use more than your fair use policy amount, we won’t charge you any more, but we may restrict how you can use your booster, depending on how often you go over your amount and by how much. If you remove your booster and then use internet on your phone you’ll automatically be charged our daily rate, see t-mobile.co.uk.
Pay monthly plans which include internet on your phone on an Android phone
You'll need internet coverage, check it at t-mobile.co.uk/streetcheck. Remember that you can only use your internet on your phone Booster in the UK and you can't use your phone as a modem or use web'n'walk Plus for peer to peer file sharing, or making internet phone calls. *Internet on your phone comes with a fair use policy of 3GB a month. We'll monitor how much you send and receive each calendar month so that we can protect our network for all our internet on your customers. If you use more than your fair use policy amount, we won't charge you any more, but we may restrict how you can use your plan, depending on how often you go over your amount and by how much. As your phone is always connected to the internet, if you remove your internet on your phone Plus Booster from your account you'll automatically be charged up to £1 every day. That £1 a day rate has its own fair use policy and other legal stuff, which you can see here: t-mobile.co.uk/services/uk/fairuse/#fup5.
Internet on your phone booster (including flexible booster)
To choose the unlimited internet on your phone booster, text WEB to 879, call 150 from your mobile, visit one of our stores or go to www.t-mobile.co.uk. The booster costs £5 a month and the cost will be added to your next bill and then every bill each month until you ask us to remove it . We’ll send you a text to let you know when your booster is ready to use and you can ask us to remove your booster, simply call 150 from your mobile. You’ll need internet coverage, check it at t-mobile.co.uk/streetcheck. Remember that you can only use internet on your phone in the UK and you can’t use your phone as a modem or use internet on your phone for peer to peer file sharing, instant messaging or making internet phone calls. * This booster comes with a fair use policy of 1GB a month. We’ll monitor how much you send and receive each calendar month so that we can protect our network for all our customers. If you use more than your fair use policy amount, we won’t charge you any more, but we may restrict how you can use your booster, depending on how often you go over your amount and by how much. If you remove your booster and then use internet on your phone you’ll automatically be charged our daily rate, see t-mobile.co.uk.
It sounds like the Great Broadband Con where you are promised '..up to20mb Unlimited BROADBAND!!..' and actually get 4mb if you're lucky with a 40gb 'cap'. The problem is that FUPs are deliberately woolly in many cases, and it's almost impossible to know how much data you've used at any given point.
The issue is the now-creaking architecture of the 3G network (which the operators paid billions to the Government to use!) as demand has increased and the capacity has to be shared around.
We really do seem to have a 3rd-world communications infrastructure in the UK, lagging miles behind other countries when it comes to speed and cost.
The issue is the now-creaking architecture of the 3G network (which the operators paid billions to the Government to use!) as demand has increased and the capacity has to be shared around.
We really do seem to have a 3rd-world communications infrastructure in the UK, lagging miles behind other countries when it comes to speed and cost.
that cant be right though Soov...
if i started a buisness advertising a scheme called "free Lamborghini"
and in the terms and conditions specified you needed to pay me £100,000 and didnt actually get a lamborghini at the end of it, i'd done under trade descriptions act...
why is that any different?
if i started a buisness advertising a scheme called "free Lamborghini"
and in the terms and conditions specified you needed to pay me £100,000 and didnt actually get a lamborghini at the end of it, i'd done under trade descriptions act...
why is that any different?
Funk said:
Soovy said:
They can call it whatever "name" they want.
Just read the contract and it sets out what you get.
The "name" of the tariff means nowt.
Surely it could be construed as misleading?Just read the contract and it sets out what you get.
The "name" of the tariff means nowt.
There is a clause in the agreement which says that anything other than what's in the written contract is of no effect. So the name of the product means nothing.
I guess it depends what you really want to use it for.
I've had similar broadband and mobile data contracts for years. I'm pretty sure there are some months when I use over the "fair usage limits", but have never had a peep out of my provider(s).
I would guess they only take drastic action with you if you (a) take the piss (e.g. run a large throughput web site off the thing, or perhaps forgo your TV tuner to constantly watch absolutely everything direct from the web 24x7) or (b) suddenly get a mass of users on their service meaning they need to share it out better (in which case you'd expect everyone to be hit and for them to lose custom as quickly as they gained it).
Do you really, really need absolutely true to the letter unlimited use? If so, perhaps you need to investigate business services?
I've had similar broadband and mobile data contracts for years. I'm pretty sure there are some months when I use over the "fair usage limits", but have never had a peep out of my provider(s).
I would guess they only take drastic action with you if you (a) take the piss (e.g. run a large throughput web site off the thing, or perhaps forgo your TV tuner to constantly watch absolutely everything direct from the web 24x7) or (b) suddenly get a mass of users on their service meaning they need to share it out better (in which case you'd expect everyone to be hit and for them to lose custom as quickly as they gained it).
Do you really, really need absolutely true to the letter unlimited use? If so, perhaps you need to investigate business services?
Murph7355 said:
Do you really, really need absolutely true to the letter unlimited use? If so, perhaps you need to investigate business services?
It's the principle of the "unlimited" description which is a complete lie.A restaurant cannot advertise "Unlimited" drinks and then stop you after your third, I see no reason why ISPs should be allowed to.
This may have been mentioned already but have a friend who is on Talk-Talk (terrible provider it seems) who was told by the sales gimp that it was unlimited but when the paperwork came through it said 40GB limit. When he phoned to complain they said it was 40GB to stop people taking the 'P' but if you went over it they wouldn't charge - go figure!
Ok the Terms of Use on the T-Mobile "Unlimited" internet is correct but note that unlike the rest they charge you NOTHING for going over this limit.
I too have a phone with unlimited internet on T-Mobile, connected to a laptop, and within 2 days of my months usage I get a text message telling me I am over my limit. The only thing this does is remove my ability to download files between 6am and Midnight. My use of the internet for web-browsing, including the use of things such as You-Tube, is unaffected.
Whilst they COULD cut you off for consistently going over this limit I have been doing this since got my contract a year and 9 Months ago and based on 3GB every two days.
3GB x 30Days in month = 90GB Per Month
I have never been warned about being cut off or been charged more. Bassicly all I have ever gotten is the automatic text message warning me that I am now over my limit.
The reason I use so much is BBC iPlayer, Internet Radio and You Tube :-)
I too have a phone with unlimited internet on T-Mobile, connected to a laptop, and within 2 days of my months usage I get a text message telling me I am over my limit. The only thing this does is remove my ability to download files between 6am and Midnight. My use of the internet for web-browsing, including the use of things such as You-Tube, is unaffected.
Whilst they COULD cut you off for consistently going over this limit I have been doing this since got my contract a year and 9 Months ago and based on 3GB every two days.
3GB x 30Days in month = 90GB Per Month
I have never been warned about being cut off or been charged more. Bassicly all I have ever gotten is the automatic text message warning me that I am now over my limit.
The reason I use so much is BBC iPlayer, Internet Radio and You Tube :-)
M3CHA-MONK3Y said:
As far as ISP go, i'm sure I remember hearing that there are only two genuine 'unlimited' broadband companies.
Sky and Virgin.
Obviously you have to have their top package, but they are apparently 'unlimited'.
Virgin throttle, hard. A mate of mine discovered this. As I say, so far I've not had a single issue with Sky.. I think Be are also genuinely unlimited.Sky and Virgin.
Obviously you have to have their top package, but they are apparently 'unlimited'.
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