Wednesday, September 29, 2010

AT&T Data Plan

A few months ago AT&T changed how their data plans work.  I commented on it a few months ago because I’ve been a customer of AT&T wireless (nee Cingular) for a decade.  I have an unlimited data plan that grandfathered, so all ended up being right with the world.  Until today.

A few days ago I received an email from AT&T saying that my off network data usage was too high and that I needed to call them.  It was a curious email because I’ve been on the same data plan for years now and had never received such a note even though my travel patterns haven’t changed much.  But fine.  I called them. 

I was given two choices:

1) They can restrict my data plan so that I don’t have data coverage unless I am on AT&T’s network.

2) I can switch to another carrier. 

Wow.  I wasn’t even offered the chance to switch to one of their new data plans (I wouldn’t have done it anyway).  So they are using this little club to beat their high data users into submission or out of their customer base.  Works for me.  I was in the market anyway and not under any contracts.  AT&T just lost a customer by their own choosing. 

On a side note, I had been considering AT&T’s U-verse service too.  Not anymore.

(14) Comments
Posted by Owen at 1438 hrs
Economy + Technology

  1. Verizon has very strong service and works basically everywhere in the country….I’ve always gotten service anywhere i’ve been

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on September 29, 2010 at 1535 hrs


  2. Come over to US Cell.  They continue to expand the network and the speed is good.

    Posted by Deekaman on September 29, 2010 at 1714 hrs


  3. Owen, bring this issue to whatever governmental body regulates telecoms in Wisconsin.  Here in Vermont we went through the same issue when AT&T acquired the previous GSM carrier (Unicel) and our telecoms regulator forced AT&T to abide by all existing contracts for forever as long as you use the phone that came with the contract.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on September 29, 2010 at 1722 hrs


  4. AT&T sucks. That said, the other carriers are not too much better. I was with US Cellular, until the most atrocious customer service situation that I have ever experienced occurred between my wife and I, and them, inside one of their stores.

    I am with AT&T, have been for a number of years, and will be until the iPhone is available on another carrier, who can provide equal or better service for a lower price.

    Sorry about your experience.

    Clark Howard keeps saying the time of the giant carriers is coming to an end, I still don’t see it though.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on September 29, 2010 at 1723 hrs


  5. @dj:  A little surprised at your US Cell experience.  I’ve had nothing but excellent customer service.  Over Christmas, my phone battery crashed in an area US Cell doesn’t cover.  They told me to go to Batteries Plus and pick up a new one for which they would credit my next bill.

    Done and Done.  I have other stories, but you know what they say about Customer Service.  If you give good service, you keep one customer.  If you give bad, you lose 10.

    Posted by Deekaman on September 29, 2010 at 1733 hrs


  6. Yeah, Deekaman, I was extremely happy with US Cellular until that experience, I was with them from when I got my first cell phone at 17 until I was 24… AT&T is terrible, but I love my iPhone enough to make it worthwhile for me. In Wisconsin all of the big carriers are pretty competitive on price, so for me it boils down to who has 3G and good reception in my area. Until recently US Cellular had no 3G, and Verizon was not very good in my area. We’ll see what happens as we move into the 4G/WiMax era.

    As far as U-Verse goes. It is the best cable/sattelite system I have seen yet, not available in my area, so I continue to overpay for basic service from Directv and Bertram Wireless…..

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on September 29, 2010 at 1757 hrs


  7. I’ve been happy with my switch to Sprint.  Good speeds, good coverage, and I’ve been purposely using up bandwidth to see if they react.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on September 29, 2010 at 1951 hrs


  8. I’m thinking about going with Virgin Mobile MiFi.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on September 29, 2010 at 2015 hrs


  9. US cell has good rates, but the people in their stores are just idiots. I’m wondering how well the iphone will work on Verizon. I’m out of contract - and waiting…

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on September 29, 2010 at 2110 hrs


  10. U-verse is crap.  IF you can get it (which is far from a given no matter where you are) it’s not worth the trouble.  I have been living in a house that has U-verse for only two months, and it has gone out no less than 4 times that I have noticed.  Also, while they say up to 3 mbps, I have never had it faster than 2.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on September 29, 2010 at 2237 hrs


  11. As far as I know, Sprint is still the only company that has truly “unlimited” data plans. If you read the fine print, most other plans cap out at 5 gig, even if they say it is “unlimited”.

    I have been a loyal Sprint customer for over 7 years, and am happy. I haven’t had an issue with the customer service. Their coverage can get spotty way up north and if you are not near a decent sized city (rural & wooded areas). But I rarely have a problem when I am near a major highway.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on September 30, 2010 at 0313 hrs


  12. First off, AT&T is the Great Satan of American corporations.  I’ve had lots of interactions with them over the years—as my onetime cell provider, my landline provider, long distance provider.  In every single case, I’d invariably end up screwed over due to some billing error or some unilateral decision by AT&T to make a change to their terms of service.  A lot like Owen’s experience.  As of a few years back, I decided I’d never do business with AT&T again.  Just not worth the headache.

    I’ve been a US Cellular customer for ten years now.  Their pricing is reasonable, and their service just *works*.  I have an unlimited data plan with them, and I put tons of data through it.  I even have a Slingbox app on the phone that lets me stream my DirecTV receiver to the phone.  And I use it.  I frequently access data out of market as well.  And US Cellular has never said a word about it.

    Yeah, their store personnel leave something to be desired.  My chief complaint about them is that they don’t have a lot of interest in cutting-edge phone offerings.  But if you can find a phone you like, you’d love US Cellular’s service.  Especially their new nationwide 3G.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on September 30, 2010 at 0730 hrs


  13. U-verse is crap.  IF you can get it (which is far from a given no matter where you are) it’s not worth the trouble.  I have been living in a house that has U-verse for only two months, and it has gone out no less than 4 times that I have noticed.  Also, while they say up to 3 mbps, I have never had it faster than 2.

    It is all a matter of personal experience. I have uverse and I love it. I have the 6 mbps for gaming and have never had a problem. I believe with uverse, your download speed is effected by use of other devices on the network. If you watch tv while on the internet, it slows down since it all comes from the same source.

    I certainly like the ability to dvr 4 channels at once with one box. The hd recording is only two channels though.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on September 30, 2010 at 0851 hrs


  14. I do phone tech support for U-verse.  Run away!  It’s not worth it.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on September 30, 2010 at 1643 hrs


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