Does ST really cancel your service for overuse of data??

[efparri]

The Terms and Conditions trump any advertisements. They are at the bottom of the same page. All carriers use unlimited in the forms that the phone can use without an auxiliary device attached. Carriers have tested various models of phones to see what normal usage is. If you fall outside of the norm, the presumption is unauthorized use. This is a condition of service.

Straight Talk will presume you are engaging in a prohibited use in violation of these Terms and Conditions if in Straight Talk’s sole opinion, you are placing an abnormally high number of calls, or repeatedly placing calls of unusually long duration, or if your talk, text or Mobile Web usage is harmful or disruptive to the Carrier’s network or services. If we determine, at our sole discretion, that you are using an unlimited service in violation of the Straight Talk Terms and Conditions of Service, or in any other manner that we deem to be unreasonable or excessive, then we may terminate individual calls, terminate or reduce the speed of data connection throughput, Mobile Web Access or terminate your service, decline to renew your service, or offer you a different service plan with no unlimited usage component. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Straight Talk reserves the right to deny service, deactivate or cancel existing service, terminate data connections and/or reduce data throughput speeds, to anyone for any reason at any time, in Straight Talk’s sole discretion.

[mustafu]

Coming from Virgin Mobile and being aware of the caveats with Straight Talk, I was initially uneasy about switching. But, I've only used 150 MB of cellular data according to the iPhone usage screen since I started using an iPhone on Mar 22. I came from a feature phone before that, so usage was negligible I suspect, my month had started days prior to getting the iPhone.

With moderate to heavy wifi usage, i feel it's entirely in the realm of possibility to stay under 500 MB even per month. I only watch YouTube over wifi, and the Slacker radio app allows station caching over wifi, so no 3G usage when that's running either most of the time.

I understand that everyone's usage is different, but with these prepaid plans, you will hit a wall somewhere, whether it's slow / throttled data, hidden caps, poor coverage, no byod, etc. ST was enticing enough for me to ditch my $25 Virgin plan even, and is IMO a great value in wireless, despite these unspoken caps.



Sent from my iPhone 3GS using Tapatalk

[Pabster]

The Terms and Conditions say in all uppercase and boldface. Where are the fine print and asterisks?

If you'd actually ordered a SIM from Straight Talk, you'd know that a "Terms Of Service" manual comes in a little folder with the SIM. It is indeed FINE PRINT and more than one sentence (or paragraph, for that matter) long. And yes, there ARE asterisks in said print. I don't have it in front of me right now but I do recall it quite clearly.

[efparri]

Isn't the entire folder printed with the same point size or are some passages in smaller type than others? What a logical person would do is to determine the conditions prior to purchasing the product or service. It is too late to find out that you have a three-legged horse after you have entered him into the Kentucky Derby.

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[boodles07]

The Terms and Conditions trump any advertisements. They are at the bottom of the same page. All carriers use unlimited in the forms that the phone can use without an auxiliary device attached. Carriers have tested various models of phones to see what normal usage is. If you fall outside of the norm, the presumption is unauthorized use. This is a condition of service.

After an abnormally large volume of calls on an unlimited calling plan? This is the kind of garbage wording I am talking about. It is unlimited, unlimited cannot have an abnormally large volume of calls, unlimited means without limits by definition!! These idiots that let them get away with this are to blame. I have no issues writing the FCC and whoever else I have to, this is ridiculous. The all you can eat buffet is $12.95 but if you eat too much we will kick you out...Come one, get a clue!!

[GTwannabe]

After an abnormally large volume of calls on an unlimited calling plan? This is the kind of garbage wording I am talking about. It is unlimited, unlimited cannot have an abnormally large volume of calls, unlimited means without limits by definition!! These idiots that let them get away with this are to blame. I have no issues writing the FCC and whoever else I have to, this is ridiculous. The all you can eat buffet is $12.95 but if you eat too much we will kick you out...Come one, get a clue!!

It's not volume of calls, it's duration. IE, you can make hundreds of calls per day without issue but might get kicked off for a single call that lasts 1000 minutes. Terms of service say voice access is only for humans having a conversation, not automated systems.

[CeluGeek]

It's not volume of calls, it's duration. IE, you can make hundreds of calls per day without issue but might get kicked off for a single call that lasts 1000 minutes. Terms of service say voice access is only for humans having a conversation, not automated systems.

Not so fast.

Straight Talk will presume you are engaging in a prohibited use in violation of these Terms and Conditions if in Straight Talk’s sole opinion, you are placing an abnormally high number of calls, or repeatedly placing calls of unusually long duration, or if your talk, text or Mobile Web usage is harmful or disruptive to the Carrier’s network or services. If we determine, at our sole discretion, that you are using an unlimited service in violation of the Straight Talk Terms and Conditions of Service, or in any other manner that we deem to be unreasonable or excessive, then we may terminate individual calls, data connections, Mobile Web Access or terminate your service, decline to renew your service, or offer you a different service plan with no unlimited usage component.

[juno2005]

Guys if you are not happy with Straight talk why don't you just leave and give your business to another company that deserves it?

[Gossamer69]

i don't get the complaining either.

<$45 a month if you buy the 6 month card.

Allows you to use whatever phone you wish to bring.

Has 'unlimited data'. I'd bet money that people that routinely use 2gb a month or more are not bothered with. Those that use 2gb in a day or two probably are.

This isn't meant to be your everywhere internet access and it says so in the T&C.

Why people take a good deal and try to ruin it by attitude is beyond me.

Data, voice and texting is unlimited. There are no restrictions set forth by this company. However if they deem you to be an excessive user(by their standards) they'll drop you and they say that in their terms and conditions.

However they deem excessive use is up to them. I'm sure there's some table that they've created that defines what's normal and what's excessive.

[efparri]

Most of the major carriers have similar wording in Terms and Conditions on uses of unlimted voice services. This usually applies to nights and weekends because most postpaid customers do not get unlimited daytime minutes.

[pitflyer]

My only objection is Straight Talk taking your number (and not letting you port out) if you break their arbitrary rules.
If ST doesn't want me as a customer that's their right but their should be a reasonable period of time (lets say at least 7 days) where you can port out.

[keyz16b]

... ST was enticing enough for me to ditch my $25 Virgin plan even, and is IMO a great value in wireless, despite these unspoken caps.

That and you can't put an iPhone on VM :P I was a VM user too until I heard of a rumor over a year ago about putting an iPhone on ST with unlimited everything** for $45. I've been a iPhone user on ST since Feb 2011 and VERY pleased with service. ST is for me and has saved me money!

** = ST's "unlimited data" is 2gb every 30 days OR a 24-hr data usage of no more than 130mb. Play by ST's rules and you'll be a happy ST customer flying under their violation radar. Once you've been "spotted" the fun is OVER. ST will watch your usage like a HAWK!!

To the OP. I'm sure your question has already been answered but feel free to find out yourself! LoL.

[Hesster]

My only objection is Straight Talk taking your number (and not letting you port out) if you break their arbitrary rules.
If ST doesn't want me as a customer that's their right but their should be a reasonable period of time (lets say at least 7 days) where you can port out.

It's a limitation of the porting system in general, not Straight Talk specifically. If the account is not active, the number can't be ported. This is why the instructions for porting a number from any service tell you not to cancel your service with your old carrier first.

I guess they're worried if they give you advance warning that you'll be cut off in a specific number of days, you'll abuse the service as much as possible during your grace period. There are probably things they can do to keep the account from shutting off completely that will still allow the port through (like changing the SIM/ESN on the account to a dummy) but the logistics might be challenging considering they work with so many different carriers.

[ivaz]

With the BYOD plan I have to respectfully disagree. People will be bringing all kinds of phones that they haven't tested. Windows Phones come to mind because CS reps seem clueless about them. Furthermore, some of the "near smartphones" they sell qualify for the $30 all you want plan and can consume just as much data as some crappy BYOD 3G phones. I thinkt he extra $15 for unlimited is in essence the fudge factor they have worked in for the BYOD phones they don't know about. They should leave it at that and move on. They should also up their cutoffs to where att is capped (3Gb vs 2Gb).

[silentjudge]

My only objection is Straight Talk taking your number (and not letting you port out) if you break their arbitrary rules.
If ST doesn't want me as a customer that's their right but their should be a reasonable period of time (lets say at least 7 days) where you can port out.

I agree, they should let you leave gracefully if they no longer want you as a customer. The big guys in wireless all give you 15-30 days to leave if they choose to terminate your contract for things such as excessive roaming.