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Data throttling

I

got a kick out of the paragraph of the above article where it stated that att expected most of their customers will be upset and angry , so att amended comtracts to their advantage ahead of the changes "forbidding" customers from forming class action suits.. Mamma sticks it to customers again where we "agree to let em stick it to us and cant do a dayam thimg about it"

Sure, we can cancel contracts and line atts purse with phat ETF's.. They would win first, with a little $$ from a former customer (more$ if they decide to sue the cust for outstanding etf not paid). But they also win by "censoring out" customers that would add to neg publicity.

What I dont get is "why does att customer account page say VALUED CUSTOMER SINCE: (date)" when they dont really value the customer..

"...You Caint Soo Me
Becawse I SAID so!..."
toomuchmarg.png
 
As all powerful as Ma Bell is she wasn't able to change that part of the contract in the middle of the contract term. If they added it then the customers became subject to it the next time they renewed their contract not in the middle of the term.
 
True new service updates , may be rolled out to new customers or changes can go in effect for existimg customers at renewal, but ATT can and have made changes midstream and roll out the amendments to existing customers within several "billing cycles" after "proper customer notifications"

Click Here for ATT Contract Amendment FAQ
 
That is a big change for them to make. It limits customers rights sounds like something that if you disagreed with you may have been able to get out of the contract without the ETF at the time at least. I'm not a lawyer so I could easily be wrong I work in insurance and we can't change someone's policy without their request during the term of the policy unless there is proof of misrepresentation of a material fact at the time the policy was written.
 
Yeahha said:
That is a big change for them to make. It limits customers rights sounds like something that if you disagreed with you may have been able to get out of the contract without the ETF at the time at least. I'm not a lawyer so I could easily be wrong I work in insurance and we can't change someone's policy without their request during the term of the policy unless there is proof of misrepresentation of a material fact at the time the policy was written.
Click to expand...

Actually thats what the term clause says toward the bottom of the page in that link. It states that if ATT does make amendments to a customer contract, amd if the customer does not agree to the changes, the customer can be released from contract and etf (under certain conditions).

ATT dotted their "i"'s and crossed both "t"'s anticipating every scenario possible with the freedom to make further changes at their discretion to accomodate any situation as it arise.
 
It's all typically set up to favor the business. It's legal yes, is it moral? It's my opinion that it's not, even though some people see no problem with their practices.

My last experience with a contract (non mobile contract) dispute happened the last time I purchased a car from a Saturn dealership. They tried to "spot finance" me. To give you an idea, it's where they claim you're approved for a certain APR rate but then a few days later call you back and claim that there was a problem with the finance rate they quoted you and that you'll have to sign a new contract for __% higher. I had a few friends with legal backgrounds look over my contract. In very small print on the back, it did indicate that the dealership reserves the right to nullify the contract if they deem it necessary. They called me for about 4 weeks straight and finally I told them that I have a signed contract from them, but that if they want to change the terms of the contract that they signed, that they could just return my trade-in and I can return their new car (that had a nice 400 miles on it BTW). They insisted that my trade-in had already been sold and after more discussion, they finally decided to accept the terms of the contract that they had signed.

One of the lengthy discussions I had with the dealership was as follows, I told the man over the phone "Well, I understand your predicament, and in all honesty I was reviewing my finances with regards to this car and the rate you offered me initially, it's unacceptable. I'm going to have to ask that you drop my current APR rate down to 2% (I was quoted 2.9% or something initially)". I could tell the guy on the other phone was growing impatient with me, but if you think about it, what would a dealership do if you signed a contract and a few days later you insisted that they drop the finance rate? Sure you generally have a "cooling off" period in some states, but for the most part, the dealer would laugh in your face if you insist they drop your APR.

I'm not sure why we're so conditioned to believe that AT&T/Verizon/Sprint et al. should be allowed to facilitate the contract and then update the contract to their benefit. Personally, what I'd like to see happen is a large portion of AT&T's customers (20-25%) find an attorney, draft up their OWN terms and contract, and present it to AT&T. If AT&T doesn't agree to the contract, then they lose 20-25% of their business.

Of course this won't happen because it's hard enough to get people to agree to anything and even mentioning the word "Union" makes people think "Unions Bad TV man on Fox sez so!". So, we're all at the mercy of these large companies that are slowly gaming the system to their benefit. I'm not sure a Corporatocracy is what our founders envisioned when they fought to gain their freedom from British rule.
 
EarlyMon said:
No matter how little data gets used, there will always be someone in the unlucky 5%, you're right.
Click to expand...

This has been my thought exactly. Without ATT providing a "bill statement" for top 5 usage, like they provide bill statement details for everything else, then a customer is being kept in the dark and have no way possible to track data usage so to avoid being throttled when this top 5 changes constantly .

For all we know, att could be rippimg its unlimited customers off and they know no class action suit will stand since theyve included that clause in a customer contract.

Thus customers are subject to "hidden contract terms"
 
The one regulation we do need - DON'T write the disclaimers in the contract in 4-6 point type! You need a magnifying glass to read the contract. I think that's why some people don't read them - they can't on the spot before signing.

If no one will tell you what the top data usage is, they can then use any amount for throttling.

TMO is now throttling data while roaming - but we had an advance notice in the TMO blog and in the bills. It spells out exactly what you will get. This is the web site. Rumors will show up at least a couple of months in advance:
Unofficial T-Mobile News, Videos, Articles and more

People are howling about it. It doesn't start till April, but the advance notice set off the MY DATA crowd. Depending on who roams where, this could affect MNVOs and possibly Sprint for coverage eventually.

TMO does have wifi calling, so I can turn off network and use wifi. Especially if I have no bars.
 
I just want to make phone calls and use the net.

Looking back on my landline and my ISP agreements, and projecting how long carrier agreements will get if put in 12 point type, well - is it just me, or is that agreement size an indicator of something being horribly broken?
 
Learn Precis writing and leave out all the whereases and wherefores. If the customer can read a line about data usage, they will question it and that might be more satisfactory that having a whizzed off customer.

Or you can have a dumb terminal in a store where the customer can zoom in on the contract before signing.
 
Aymen! ANY time theres that oh so tiny print (and a whole lot of it), its a good indication it has some doubletalk within to the benefit of the contractor. I feel this way, if they have nothimg to "hide" then just print it normalsized font like the basic portion of the contract.
 
Does AT&T spell out exactly who makes up the pool of people that the top 5% who are throttled are taken from? It would be incredibly unfair if they include dumbphone users in that pool. Do they say it's the top 5% of smartphone users? Just a thought.
 
AntimonyER said:
Does AT&T spell out exactly who makes up the pool of people that the top 5% who are throttled are taken from? It would be incredibly unfair if they include dumbphone users in that pool. Do they say it's the top 5% of smartphone users? Just a thought.
Click to expand...

Only.targeting customers with the grandfathered Unlimited Data plan. Their way of forcing us into the 2GB tiered without "saying" they did.
 
From whats being repported lately, any time an unlimited data member reach 2GB, no matter where they live.....they get the throttled message... To be honest, I doubt tjeres really a "top 5" as att says...its a 2GB cap...
 
Rico ANDROID said:
Only.targeting customers with the grandfathered Unlimited Data plan. Their way of forcing us into the 2GB tiered without "saying" they did.
Click to expand...

I'm sorry I guess I wasn't clear what I was trying to say. Is the pool of people that those people who are being throttled are compared to smartphone users? Or is AT&T using a population which includes dumbphones, which would drastically reduce the data usage required to hit the top 5%
 
AntimonyER said:
I'm sorry I guess I wasn't clear what I was trying to say. Is the pool of people that those people who are being throttled are compared to smartphone users? Or is AT&T using a population which includes dumbphones, which would drastically reduce the data usage required to hit the top 5%
Click to expand...

Good question, but im certain its smartphone-unlimited data plan (grandfathered) thats the target. Iphone, winmo, android amd any other smartphone data package users.

Arent "dumbphone" data plans a different service or paxkage altogether? I hate the dumbphone phrase...all phones are smarter than ME
 
Well that shows the top 5% must be consuming more than 2GB. It looks like tiered data does nothing for VZW in regards to this but you need to remember if you are verizon that 3 GB on a unlimited plan gets you $30 but on tiered plans it gets you $40.

The biggest issue I see with the survey you posted is the other info they have posted as well. If you take a look at this Blog Archive Translated: New AT&T Smartphone Plan Rate Hikes the same website claimed a month ago that the average data use is per month for both companies in the survey was at or less than 600 or so MB a month. I am not sure if it would be wise to make judgements on a site that contradicts itself.
 
if they are only throttling the top 5% of data hogs...

then why is everyone that is on unlimited data.. getting throttled at 2GB?????
there seems to be a very big disconnect from what is said and what is being done
 
dan330 said:
if they are only throttling the top 5% of data hogs...

then why is everyone that is on unlimited data.. getting throttled at 2GB?????
there seems to be a very big disconnect from what is said and what is being done
Click to expand...

Because att think either we are too dumb to see that they rolled all unlimited data customers into t he 2GB tier plan without our consent....or they outright dont give a dayam what a customer think at this point.
 
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