AT&T data throttling

[Daniel75]

Just venting here, but AT&T is throttling (slowing down) my data speed because I am going over 3G (gigs) of data a month on my UNLIMITED DATA PLAN that I got back when I bought the iPhone 3G, almost 4 years ago. This really hacks me off!

They sent an email last month saying I had 2 options: use WiFi so as not to use up all my UNLIMITED DATA (oxymoron), or buy a tiered data plan like a 4G or 5G plan for an additional $10-$20 a month.

Does it ever stop with companies trying to screw you every chance they get? I got grandfathered in on the UNLIMITED PLAN and since I use the Internet and YouTube and email all the time on my phone, I'm being punished for it. They can't charge me more, but what they CAN do, is slow down my speeds to dial up AOL 1997 speeds to where I can't even pull up google maps on my phone or check my bank balance via the Safari browser.

[NannySlayer]

Same here. I received a text from AT&T last night..
"Your data usage has reached 3GB this month. Using more than 3GB in future billing cycles will result in reduced speeds. You can use Wi-Fi to help avoid reduced speeds. Visit att.com or call for more info"

I'm not happy because my phone is a heck of a lot slower than it normally is. For the price we have to pay for these dang phones on our unlimited plan (as you stated) this ain't right. But, I doubt anything will change.

[Daniel75]

Just FYI, I spoke with AT&T customer service and he said, "Well, technically you still have unlimited data, just like AT&T promised. They just never promised you what speed you'd get that data at ."

That being said, he did offer me options to change on my phone that somehow go around the data throttling....haven't tried them yet but in reality I shouldn't have to take these measures. The way he explained it is the bandwidth demand has exceeded the supply being regulated by the US Military/govt and so they only have so much to work with for the next 1-2 years, then they'll be alloted more bandwidth and it'll work itself out. Who knows.

[Smart]

So they throttle you down each month once you reach 3GB and then return it back to speed at the beginning of the next billing cycle?

I'm about to be grandfathered with my data plan but I rarely go over 3GB and was curious.

[Daniel75]

Same here. I received a text from AT&T last night..
"Your data usage has reached 3GB this month. Using more than 3GB in future billing cycles will result in reduced speeds. You can use Wi-Fi to help avoid reduced speeds. Visit att.com or call for more info"

I'm not happy because my phone is a heck of a lot slower than it normally is. For the price we have to pay for these dang phones on our unlimited plan (as you stated) this ain't right. But, I doubt anything will change.

Hey, funny because I too got the message last night. I wonder if they're sending this crap out to everyone at the same time. This is the biggest scam I've ever seen besides gas prices.

[BrianL]

They want to advertise it, just don't want anyone to use it. Same with Sprint Unlimited, and I would guess the other carriers as well. Sprint has threatened to cancel my contract if I use too much Roaming Data. Problem is I have a roaming tower less than a mile from the house with blazing speed, or a one bar 8 mile away Sprint tower. They only allow 300Mg per month Roaming. I can do that updating my apps. Oh well.

[crittergitter]

you should tell them you will pay the bill but you are going to throttle it back due to their usage....

technically you will pay them but you never said at what speed.....

[NannySlayer]

Hey, funny because I too got the message last night. I wonder if they're sending this crap out to everyone at the same time. This is the biggest scam I've ever seen besides gas prices.

I have the 4S and my husband has the 4. He was right next to me when I got the text and never got one... He uses his phone just as much as I do so I don't know..

[Daniel75]

So they throttle you down each month once you reach 3GB and then return it back to speed at the beginning of the next billing cycle?

I'm about to be grandfathered with my data plan but I rarely go over 3GB and was curious.

Precisely. I'm within 3-4 days of my cycle starting over and then I'm back to full speed. But if I went crazy and was on YouTube for like 2 days straight at the beginning of the cycle and used up 3 gigs, I'd have slower speeds for the next 28 days or so until the next cycle started. It's total BS.

[Daniel75]

you should tell them you will pay the bill but you are going to throttle it back due to their usage....

technically you will pay them but you never said at what speed.....

Now that's funny but we all know they'd say, "Ok, we'll we'll shut off your phone, can't say when we'll turn it back on for sure."

[Mattya1ic]

Another AT&T user just took them to small claims court and won. I recommend you do the same!
Do an internet search for the details!

[bdog14]

you should tell them you will pay the bill but you are going to throttle it back due to their usage....

technically you will pay them but you never said at what speed.....

LOL!

[Daniel75]

Funny how there's "only so much data to go around" yet I can certainly purchase more and not be data throttled for only $10-$20 more a month. Big sigh.....

[Daniel75]

Another AT&T user just took them to small claims court and won. I recommend you do the same!
Do an internet search for the details!

Someone at work told me that too but thought they were joking. Did they win?

[crittergitter]

Funny how there's "only so much data to go around" yet I can certainly purchase more and not be data throttled for only $10-$20 more a month. Big sigh.....

i bet if you don't use it they don't roll over like your unused minutes.....