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

**sunsean** · 03-29-2012, 10:33 PM

So the one 'catch' I'm reading over and over seems to be that the 'unlimited' data is not really unlimited. But is it true that they will really just flat cut off your service for going over a limit they don't tell/warn you about? Umm...isn't that illegal? A) they advertise as unlimited; B) they don't warn about any kind of ceiling/cap; C) how can they advertise as unlimited when they are so limited as to shut off your service without warning if you go over??

Somebody help me out. It's not that I don't believe it, it just doesn't seem legal.

**Hesster** · 03-29-2012, 10:48 PM

The data issue has been discussed here quite a bit. The short answer is, yes they can. The terms and conditions you agree to when you sign up for service state they get to determine what the limit is. Unlimited that's not really unlimited is pretty much the norm these days. Either the carrier throttles your account to a low speed after a certain limit, or their data network is so slow to begin with there's no way you can use bandwidth intensive apps/functions without wanting to throw your phone against the wall.

They do give you a warning first.

**AndroidFoneFan** · 03-30-2012, 05:26 AM

Originally Posted by Hesster

The data issue has been discussed here quite a bit. The short answer is, yes they can. The terms and conditions you agree to when you sign up for service state they get to determine what the limit is. Unlimited that's not really unlimited is pretty much the norm these days. Either the carrier throttles your account to a low speed after a certain limit.

They do give you a warning first.

Just wanted to note here that with services that throttle you still have unlimited data.
Most places will sell....we'll say 5gig at 4G unlimited data package. Most people think this means your entire package is at 4G speeds. When it is only the first 5gigs you get at 4G speeds after that it drops down to what ever their plan says.
TMobile has this. 5gigs at 4G, unlimited data. once you go through the first 5gigs you still get internet, they don't cut you off, it really is unlimited. it just isn't 4G speeds.

**DannyNY** · 03-31-2012, 12:11 AM

Originally Posted by Hesster

The data issue has been discussed here quite a bit. The short answer is, yes they can. The terms and conditions you agree to when you sign up for service state they get to determine what the limit is. Unlimited that's not really unlimited is pretty much the norm these days. Either the carrier throttles your account to a low speed after a certain limit, or their data network is so slow to begin with there's no way you can use bandwidth intensive apps/functions without wanting to throw your phone against the wall.

They do give you a warning first.

Both the examples you used above are "UNLIMITED" - 1. Fast speeds up until a specific cap (stated or not) then throttled to slow speeds. 2. Slow data network in which it's harder to reach a huge amount of data usage is still an "UNLIMITED" plan, whether you're able to use a lot of gigs or not.

Data usually comes in these options:
1. Unlimited fast speeds then throttled to slow speeds (ex: T-Mobile states how much 4G data you will get before being throttled to 2G on their plans; Simple Mobile throttles on their $60 3G speed plan without stating a cap but is known to be 2GB.) Virgin Mobile & Boost also fall on this category if they are already enforcing throttling as Sprint them to do.
2. Unlimited data without throttling - currently only offered on Sprint's network both on their slow EVDO and their Wimax 4G. Reigional carrier Metro PCS is also truly unlimited. AT&T Go Phone offers unlimited data for feature phones, Verizon prepaid offers unlimited 3G Evdo data but at a huge cost for smartphones.
3. Specified amount of data and then the user is being charged additional amount above that cap. This is currently what Verizon postpaid and AT&T postpaid do. Additional data charges are pretty high once the specified cap is used up.
4. Specified hard cap in which ONLY data is shutoff once the amount is reached. There are many that operate in this fashion and it allows the consumer to use a specified amount of data however they like - Air Voice, H20, Red Pocket, Jolt, AT&T Go Phone for smartphones, Page Plus, etc.

The problem here is that Net10/Straight Talk are the only ones advertising UNLIMITED that is in fact not anything close to what options 1 & 2 mentioned above are, they are simply shutting off ALL the services after 100 additional MB's passed the warning phone call.
The warning isn't really a warning, it's just a message that we are about to shutdown all your services and throw you out in a few more MB's and not allow you to keep your #.
If Net10/Straight Talk wouldn't advertise a specified cap but would only suspend data when they feel you are abusing their terms and conditions then this whole case wouldn't be much of an issue.
But instead of suspending only the data until the next bililng cycle (the way Simple Mobile used to do) - they are in fact throwing people off, banning them, and setting their # off into a recycling pool preventing a number portability initiation. THIS IS JUST WRONG AND SOMETHING MUST BE DONE ABOUT IT!

**SinePari160** · 03-31-2012, 12:43 AM

Originally Posted by Hesster

The data issue has been discussed here quite a bit. The short answer is, yes they can. The terms and conditions you agree to when you sign up for service state they get to determine what the limit is. Unlimited that's not really unlimited is pretty much the norm these days. Either the carrier throttles your account to a low speed after a certain limit, or their data network is so slow to begin with there's no way you can use bandwidth intensive apps/functions without wanting to throw your phone against the wall.

They do give you a warning first.

Just because it is in the terms and conditions does not make THEIR deceptive practices legal, it is cowards that don't write complaints to the FTC, FCC, States Attny, and their US Congressional reps that get ran over. Someone just sewed AT&T in the last week or two and got something like 500 dollars back in small claims court. I promise you, if they have to start responding to hundreds of FCC complaints, and small claims cases, they will lose enough profits to lawyers and administrative staff and they will be influenced. We don't have a consumer lobby (per sey, see consumers union) but we can easily be a pain in their ars right back.

**Hesster** · 03-31-2012, 01:49 AM

I am aware that the examples I gave in my first post are unlimited in the sense that you're not charged extra for data. I meant that 'unlimited' always comes with compromises. There are plenty of land line ISPs that advertise unlimited data but have the same type of soft cap as ST where they cancel your service if they decide you use too much.

And BTW, unless VZW has changed their policies since I last worked there in 2009, if you have an 'unlimited' data plan and the system decides you're using too much data it throttles you down to 1X speeds until the next billing cycle. Seeing as how this is Verizon, I'd expect to see pigs fly first.

**sunsean** · 03-31-2012, 01:07 PM

I agree with DannyNY's position on their practices, out of principle. I mean, what ST does isn't even close to on-the-level, IMO. My personal solution though is to treat ST's $45 plan as unlimited voice, text, and 2MB of data, instead of total unlimited anything. At $45/month, compared to other mainstream plans, it is still a steal. And since I am not a huge tetherer/power user, 2MB should be enough for my iphone needs.

While I am personally fine just adopting this mindset and enjoying ST service, I would prefer that they offer this upfront for what it really is. IMO, it would still be a good deal, and they wouldn't come off as shady.

**sunsean** · 03-31-2012, 01:09 PM

Oh DannyNY - are you using ST in NY? on what phone? And are you happy with the service?

I mean, besides the shady "unlimited data" thing lol.

**DannyNY** · 03-31-2012, 03:16 PM

Originally Posted by sunsean

Oh DannyNY - are you using ST in NY? on what phone? And are you happy with the service?

I mean, besides the shady "unlimited data" thing lol.

Yes I'm in NYC. Using Straight Talk micro sim card on iPhone 4 and a new BlackBerry on Simple Mobile's $60 unlimited plan. Porting the BlackBerry over to T-Mobile in 2 weeks to see if the data speeds are different.
Have used around 600 MB's on the Straight Talk for the whole month.
Up to 1200 MB's on Simple Mobile so far in only 2 weeks of use (I been using it for most of my music streaming) and haven't had any issues. Only problem with Simple Mobile is that their speeds are slower than T-Mobile from what I can assess so far. Straight Talk on the other hand is the same speeds that AT&T postpaid is giving for the iPhone from several tests that I've ran with people who have AT&T.

**DannyNY** · 03-31-2012, 03:08 PM

Originally Posted by Hesster

I am aware that the examples I gave in my first post are unlimited in the sense that you're not charged extra for data. I meant that 'unlimited' always comes with compromises. There are plenty of land line ISPs that advertise unlimited data but have the same type of soft cap as ST where they cancel your service if they decide you use too much.

And BTW, unless VZW has changed their policies since I last worked there in 2009, if you have an 'unlimited' data plan and the system decides you're using too much data it throttles you down to 1X speeds until the next billing cycle. Seeing as how this is Verizon, I'd expect to see pigs fly first.

Unlimited does always come with compromises on data but those compromises involve: 1. throttling 2. a slow network to begin with 3. overage charges (on Verizon postpaid & AT&T postpaid) or 4. a HARD cap in which data (and only data) is shutoff until the next cycle begins.
These are all seen as reasonable compromises with the exception to those who have grandfathered postpaid accounts in which they were under the impression that throttling will never occur.
These customers don't get booted and lose their service and number though.

Straight Talk is the only company to suspend your service completely, boot you off, and not hold unto your # forcing you to lose it.
Even when other mvno's didn't want to give service to a customer for overuse, they still gave them the option to keep using the phone until the month is over and allow a porting to take place.
What Straight Talk is doing is absurd!

**W2PMX** · 03-29-2012, 11:06 PM

As has been said here many times, unlimited web browsing (which is what they actually offer) isn't unlimited data.

**sunsean** · 03-29-2012, 11:57 PM

Thanks for the clarification. Good to know they at least warn you. I'm not too personally worried, I'm a fairly light user myself. Just seems kind of 'shady.' But I know what you're saying with everyone saying "unlimited" these days.

**CallMeCoach** · 04-25-2012, 07:56 AM

Originally Posted by W2PMX

As has been said here many times, unlimited web browsing (which is what they actually offer) isn't unlimited data.

How can that be "what they actually offer" when actually, it's capped????

**Tracfancier** · 03-30-2012, 03:18 AM

Take a look at anything with the ST, Net10 or Tracfone label, and you will see a reminder of your obligation to follow the T&C. Everyone has a case of selective memory or a disreguard of the limitations.

**sunsean** · 03-30-2012, 08:09 AM

Originally Posted by AndroidPhoneFan

Just wanted to note here that with services that throttle you still have unlimited data.
Most places will sell....we'll say 5gig at 4G unlimited data package. Most people think this means your entire package is at 4G speeds. When it is only the first 5gigs you get at 4G speeds after that it drops down to what ever their plan says.
TMobile has this. 5gigs at 4G, unlimited data. once you go through the first 5gigs you still get internet, they don't cut you off, it really is unlimited. it just isn't 4G speeds.

This is a good point - usually when another 'major' provider sells 'unlimited' data, it really is unlimited, it just gets throttled after a certain point, which makes it almost worthless, but still...

Originally Posted by Tracfancier

Take a look at anything with the ST, Net10 or Tracfone label, and you will see a reminder of your obligation to follow the T&C. Everyone has a case of selective memory or a disreguard of the limitations.

I will keep an eye out on the contract for the t&c - haven't actually activated my service yet, just ordered the SIM yesterday.