Can a Verizon phone rep mess up my PDANet?

[DaBrookMan]

I was sold on my Android by the Costco Verizon rep on the PDANet tethering feature, primarily. He even installed PDANet and told me how to use it. It always worked great. Almost a year later, I try to use it on another computer and have some trouble so I call Verizon. Immediately, the woman says, "You don't have tethering in your contract, sir" assuming this was typical sales over service, I explained that I did, as the Verizon rep sold the phone to me based on that feature. She insisted, and gave me some pricing and I hung up on her. Ever since then, even on my regular computer where I haven't had any issues, the speed is a lot slower and the connection drops all the time. I've re-installed and still have the same issues.
Could she have done something to effect my PDANet connection? Or is it just coincidence?

 

[0siri2]

Could she have done something to effect my PDANet connection?

Yes.

Or is it just coincidence?

No, you alerted her, and then your 'trouble'

 

[namoroman]

Actually, no that's not correct. I work at a VZW call center. I have access to lots of systems, billing, the switch, turning features on and off, etc. Nowhere do I have access to "throttle" your data. My friends in higher tech tiers do not have that access either.

If you had told me I may have been obligated to inform me that you did not have a tethering feature on your plan, but changing your data speeds (if it was possible) would constitute what they call an immediate termination offense. If I change a feature or really anything on a customer's account without disclosing it to them I can be fired on the spot.

I can't really say what happened to your speeds though.

 

[0siri2]

Actually, no that's not correct. I work at a VZW call center. I have access to lots of systems, billing, the switch, turning features on and off, etc. Nowhere do I have access to "throttle" your data. My friends in higher tech tiers do not have that access either.

Yeah, right. So explain why the OP didn't have any probs for a year, but did get throttled right after he alerted Verizon?
There is no such thing as coincidence.
Throttling individual users' connection speeds is a standard arm-twisting method to sell expensive dataplans. The telcos apply it all over the world. For instance when users try to use VoIP. The Telcos apply the illegal socalled 'deep packet inspection' technology to determine whether you are using your phone for tethering or VoIP. As soon as their systems detect that, they automatically throttle. Telcos don't make money when you connect via VoIP. They do when you connect via their mobile phone systems like GPRS, 3G, 4G, EDGE, etc. and you have a(n expensive) dataplan. So they can do it, and they do do it. They're trying by hook or by crook to get you to sign up for an expensive dataplan. And Verizon would be an exception? Come on, I wouldn't even be surprised if Verizon invented it!

 

[lunatic59]

It's just a coincidence.

I don't believe and of the US carriers had data tethering policies a year ago, although that would be just about when they were established. So, you probably don't have a tethering plan per se, even though you can tether. Most US carriers now require an additional specific data tethering plan and are within the terms of the user agreement to add it to your plan if they determine that you are tethering without one. Unless you are a huge data consumer, most carriers turn the other way if users periodically tether without a plan. And, if they do add one, they are required to notify you.

 

[namoroman]

I'm not trying to argue here or blindly defend my company. I know Verizon has many faults. I'm simply stating what I know to be true. Maybe that rep is unscrupulous and did something to his account, and maybe didn't get caught I don't know. But all I'm saying is we don't have a data throttling switch or anything like that.

Again, not looking to fight or defend VZW.

 

[namoroman]

It's just a coincidence.

I don't believe and of the US carriers had data tethering policies a year ago, although that would be just about when they were established. So, you probably don't have a tethering plan per se, even though you can tether. Most US carriers now require an additional specific data tethering plan and are within the terms of the user agreement to add it to your plan if they determine that you are tethering without one. Unless you are a huge data consumer, most carriers turn the other way if users periodically tether without a plan. And, if they do add one, they are required to notify you.

Yes, definitely required to notify. I have had many customers tell me they have rooted their phone. I have done it myself. I don't tell them not to. My supervisor doesn't want me to tell them not to either.

 

[lunatic59]

I'm not trying to argue here or blindly defend my company. I know Verizon has many faults. I'm simply stating what I know to be true. Maybe that rep is unscrupulous and did something to his account, and maybe didn't get caught I don't know. But all I'm saying is we don't have a data throttling switch or anything like that.

Again, not looking to fight or defend VZW.

I would wonder what the incentive would be for a rep to throttle a data plan.

If I recall correctly, when the major US carriers were eliminating unlimited data plans, some when the way of data caps and others went the way of throttling. AT&T has a cap, which if reached incurs additional charges for the rest of the billing cycle. Verizon chose throttling so if you exceed your monthly allowance, you get throttled back until the next billing cycle. It could be that the OP reached his limit and was indeed throttled, but not for tethering.

EDIT: I moved this thread to the Android Lounge. I think this type of discussion is more suited here.

 

[Yeahha]

Vzw has started throttling high unlimited data users (2GB+) you may have just crossed the threshold and got throttled for that

 

[metsfan31]

Just to let you know, I too work in a VZW call center, VZW does not throttle data if you go over the cap, just charges overage rates of $10/gb. As a CSR, I do not have the capability to cut a customer's speeds whatsoever. Not trying to devend the company either, just backing up another employee with the truth.

 

[sohguanh]

Ok maybe call center personnel does not have that option to toggle but the same could not be said for those infrastructure engineers. These group of engineers can access to more than what call center ppl can do. They are the ones doing OS,database upgrades,archiving etc. They have access to the server logs and many many other things.

Just to say although I'm not in US but in my country, I guess the operating model are similar. Call center, infrastructure engineers,software engineers etc.

 

[namoroman]

Ok maybe call center personnel does not have that option to toggle but the same could not be said for those infrastructure engineers. These group of engineers can access to more than what call center ppl can do. They are the ones doing OS,database upgrades,archiving etc. They have access to the server logs and many many other things.

Just to say although I'm not in US but in my country, I guess the operating model are similar. Call center, infrastructure engineers,software engineers etc.

If network engineers do things like that, we (CSR's) aren't telling them to. And its not revealed to my level or three levels above me.

 

[sohguanh]

If network engineers do things like that, we (CSR's) aren't telling them to. And its not revealed to my level or three levels above me.

Then it will depend on your organization chart. Is your three levels above also the same head for the network/software engineers ?

Those software CSR used to toggle options are provided most likely from these group of engineers department isn't it ? So to CSR, toggle means turn on but it may go through a few hops before the action is executed in the back-end.

 

[adaaaam]

Unless you are a huge data consumer, most carriers turn the other way if users periodically tether without a plan.

Where did you learn that? I've always understood from the reading I've done that any amount of tethering cuts into carriers potential income, because customers would not have any reason to subscribe to it as a feature. So just because a carrier doesnt send you a warning for a small amount of unauthorized tethering does not mean they condone it, it probably means the amount of data tethered was not large enough to trigger an alert / investigation.

 

[Yeahha]

Just to let you know, I too work in a VZW call center, VZW does not throttle data if you go over the cap, just charges overage rates of $10/gb.

If you are on a grandfathered unlimited data plan they can't charge you for using extra GB instead they throttle your data

 

[DaBrookMan]

If you are on a grandfathered unlimited data plan they can't charge you for using extra GB instead they throttle your data

Well, "throttling" appears to be what's happening. In fact, I'm noticing - at great inconvenience - that even if I have five bars 3G (as I always do at home) there are times I can't even get online on my phone! I power on/power off, use my task-killer... What's the point of an unlimited data plan if they can pull crap like this? How can they even get away with it? I agreed to pay for something and now they're screwing me without even telling me? And I don't want to call Verizon - no offense to the Verizon guy here who seems fairly decent - but I always get different info from different reps, often very young-sounding, and I NEVER get service, they just push add-ons.
I'm probably gonna be looking at other services when my contract expires in a year.

 

[Yeahha]

They started throttling in Feb of this year you received an alert about it. If they deem your use of the network is excessive and cripples other people's connection they reserve the right to throttle your data at times of high network congestion, it should be better when the network isnt congested if it is still poor then you need to contact vzw

 

[sevenstars]

Vzw has started throttling high unlimited data users (2GB+) you may have just crossed the threshold and got throttled for that

I use more than 2GB every month (typically 4-6GB), and I've never been throttled and I'm not using a dethrottling script. Of course, YMMV, everyone has a different experience with Verizon other than the almost-universal "wall-of-stupidity" you run into when calling customer service.

 

[Yeahha]

I use more than 2GB every month (typically 4-6GB), and I've never been throttled and I'm not using a dethrottling script. Of course, YMMV, everyone has a different experience with Verizon other than the almost-universal "wall-of-stupidity" you run into when calling customer service.

Network Optimization

If you have a 4G phone you are not subject to throttling (yet )