T-Mobile cutting data limit to 500Mb (from 3Gb) - New/Upgrading Customers only

[New Start Neil]

T-Mobile UK is cutting "fair use" data limits on Feb 1 to 500MB from 3GB and has sparked furious complaints from customers, who were told by text today of the move.

T-Mobile customers on "unlimited' monthly data contracts who contacted The Reg were particularly aggrieved. Most were aware that the fair use policy was 3GB per month, but all felt this was sufficient for their smartphone use.

But today T-Mobile invoked "subject to change" rights, outlined in the contract small-print, to reduce fair usage down to 500MB.

The amendments, state that when customers who exceed the 500MB cap can longer download files or watch videos. Browsing sites such as Facebook, Gmail and BBC News will not be affected, though.

T-Mobile suggest that if "you want to download, stream and watch video clips, save that stuff for your home broadband".

As a smartphone user, streaming video and downloading files are part of the experience and unsurprisingly, many customers are feeling stung.

T-Mobile was unavailable for comment at this time. ®

T-Mobile imposes swingeing cuts on fair use data limits • reghardware

I guess that brings them in line with O2 & Vodafone (not sure about Orange), but in stark contrast to Three's "All you can eat" data allowance on their "One" tariff.

 

[TwoJs]

I'm on a T Mobile sim only 12 monthly deal, with unlimited Internet as a flexible booster and just got myself a micro sim from t mobile store and stuck it in my iPhone
Would this decrease affect me as I have received no text, if so be annoyed I enjoy my spotify 3G streaming etc, ok I know I can sync tracks I want for offline play but that's beside the point !!

 

[New Start Neil]

I'm on a T Mobile sim only 12 monthly deal, with unlimited Internet as a flexible booster and just got myself a micro sim from t mobile store and stuck it in my iPhone
Would this decrease affect me as I have received no text, if so be annoyed I enjoy my spotify 3G streaming etc, ok I know I can sync tracks I want for offline play but that's beside the point !!

The link is in the post above.

T-Mobile - Help & Support

Changes to Mobile Internet fair use policies

T-Mobile is the only operator to give customers the Mobile Internet for a fixed-price. We never charge our customer's more than they expect for their Mobile Internet in the UK.

Therefore you'll never need to worry about how many emails you've sent, how long you've been on-line or the ‘data / GB's'

Browsing means looking at websites and checking email, but not watching videos, downloading files or playing games. We've got a fair use policy but ours means that you'll always be able to browse the internet, it's only when you go over the fair use amount that you won't be able to download, stream and watch video clips.

So Whats Changing? - From 1st February 2011 we will be aligning our fair use policies so our mobile internet service will have fair use of 500MB.

What Does This Mean? - We'll always let you email and browse the internet and you'll never pay more than you agree to. We do have a fair use policy but ours is there to make sure we deliver the best service possible to all our customers. This means that you'll always be able to browse the internet.

So remember our Mobile Broadband and internet on your phone service is best used for browsing which means looking at your favorite websites like Facebook, Twitter, Gmail, BBC News and more, checking your email and looking for information, but not watching videos or downloading files.

If you want to download, stream and watch video clips, save that stuff for your home broadband.

 

[usenetz]

Would this decrease affect me as I have received no text

T-Mobile have announced on Twitter that "it affects everyone" and "Text messages will be rolled out to affected customers".

john

 

[buzz_lightclick]

I know alot of people signed up to T Mobile over the last few months purely because of their 3GB data allowance, so I wonder if this massive change of terms and conditions would allow you to end the 12 month contract early?

 

[New Start Neil]

I know alot of people signed up to T Mobile over the last few months purely because of their 3GB data allowance, so I wonder if this massive change of terms and conditions would allow you to end the 12 month contract early?

It absolutely would.

 

[PHOTOSHOP KID]

What is it with this country at the moment, all the big companys we deal with on a daily basis are trying to grab as much back from us as possible, even Tesco have reduced the points on petrol by 50%

We should boycott theses companies, I wonder how long it would be before they all came running back to us with special deals.

Dont know about everyone else, but I for one am sick and tired of this country and it`s price rises etc, just look at the price of petrol, how exspensive does it have to be for us to say enough is enough?

Ok, rant over. now, where is my medication

 

[Peew971]

Can a mod move this to the main Mobile Phones thread? It's not like iPhone users are the only ones affected .
The allowance was the reason I picked T-Mobile, this is just ridiculous.

 

[New Start Neil]

Can a mod move this to the main Mobile Phones thread? It's not like iPhone users are the only ones affected .

But if it was moved there, iPhone users that don't go in there might not find out about it.

Each forum (Windows, HTC, iPhone) should have it's own thread about this IMO.

The allowance was the reason I picked T-Mobile, this is just ridiculous.

I agree, but it's the way things are going unfortunately.

Seeing as this change in terms will undoubtedly allow people that are locked into contracts to leave penalty free, now is the time to look around at other deals.

For me, Three have one of the best offerings out there (especially if you already have a handset and want to go SIM free) with their "One" tariff @ £25 per month.

• 2000 minutes (anytime, any network)
• 5000 texts
• All-you-can-eat Data
• 5000 Three-to-Three minutes
• Voicemail

Sim Only deal summary

 

[usenetz]

Can a mod move this to the main Mobile Phones thread?

I did do a posting in the Networks, Contracts and PAYG forum but when I tried to post was reminded about duplications and pointed to this thread, and as Azzin says:

But if it was moved there, iPhone users that don't go in there might not find out about it.

Each forum (Windows, HTC, iPhone) should have it's own thread about this IMO.[/url]

john

 

[Peew971]

Ironically the best Sim Only deal I've seen recently was on T-Mobile:
Sim only - 600mins 500txt Unlimited Internet - £10 per month @ T-Mobile - HotUKDeals
Don't know if it's still on but that's not bad at all.

 

[Peew971]

I did do a posting in the Networks, Contracts and PAYG forum but when I tried to post was reminded about duplications and pointed to this thread

So now non iPhone users have to come here to discuss the matter, that's a bit ridiculous. Can a mod do something please?

 

[New Start Neil]

So now non iPhone users have to come here to discuss the matter, that's a bit ridiculous. Can a mod do something please?

Calm down dear, it's only a forum thread!

I'm not sure what will happen, but as I mentioned earlier I think there should be a thread in each relevant forum, so each specific set of smartphone users can find out about it.

I have an iPhone and I don't go into any of the other forums and I think the same applies the other way round, in that HTC/Windows Mobile users don't stray out of their relevant forum sections, so having it on one place is not helpful IMO.

 

[usenetz]

Ironically the best Sim Only deal I've seen recently was on T-Mobile:
Sim only - 600mins 500txt Unlimited Internet - £10 per month @ T-Mobile - HotUKDeals
Don't know if it's still on but that's not bad at all.

That is the point - that deal and all other T-Mobile contracts have had the data limits reduced to 500mb, although T-Mobile do say email and web browsing will not be affected by this limit. Their aim appears to be to stop people streaming and downloading large files so reduce the demand on their etwork and reduce their costs.

T-Mobile cuts “unlimited internet” fair usage limit to 500MB per month | Ken's Tech Tips

john

 

[New Start Neil]

That is the point - that deal and all other T-Mobile contracts have had the data limits reduced to 500mb, alltough T-Mobile do say email and web browsing will not be affected by this limit. Their aim appears to be to stop people streaming and downloading large files so reduce the demand on their etwork and reduce their costs.

T-Mobile cuts “unlimited internet” fair usage limit to 500MB per month | Ken's Tech Tips

john

Which I think was probably always going to happen once the Orange merger was done-especially as they plan to share 3G networks at some point in the future (they have already sarted doing it with voice calls).

They must surely be planning to look at the 2 x 3G networks they have and merge them "as one", with some masts going where they have duplicate coverage.

 

[Peew971]

From link above:

I’m a T-Mobile customer. Can I cancel my contract due to the change in the fair usage limit?

If you’re currently in the initial term of a Pay Monthly contract on T-Mobile (e.g. the first 18/24 months), you’ll have to stay until the end of that period before leaving (or pay off the rest of your contract to leave early). If you’ve come to the end of the initial term, you can leave T-Mobile at any time without penalty. 1-month rolling SIM-only customers can leave with 30 days notice.

 

[usenetz]

Which I think was probably always going to happen once the Orange merger was done-especially as they plan to share 3G networks at some point in the future

You may well be right, however the real annoyance, and not inconsiderable inconvenience, is when the company say one thing and then do another.

john

 

[New Start Neil]

From link above:

I don't think so....

2.11.2. If You are a Consumer and the change is of material
detriment to You, We will send You Written Notice 30 days
before the terms and conditions are due to change.

The new terms and conditions will apply to You once that
notice has run out, unless You terminate Your Agreement
with Us within that notice period.

If You do this You won'thave to pay any Cancellation Charge that would otherwise apply, see point 7.2.3.2.

7.2.3. A Cancellation Charge won't apply if You are within the
Minimum Term and:7.2.3.1. Our entitlement to operate the Network ends atany time; or
7.2.3.2. You are a Consumer and the change that We gave You Written Notice of in point 2.11.2 or 7.1.4 above is of material detriment to You and You give Us notice to immediately cancel this
Agreement before the change takes effect; or 7.2.3.3. The change that We gave You Written Notice of in point 7.1.4 is an increase in Your Price Plan Charge (as a percentage) higher than any increase in the Retail Price Index (also calculated as a percentage) for the 12 months before the month in which We send You Written Notice and You give Us notice to immediately cancel this Agreement before the change takes effect.

7.2.4. If You are terminating this Agreement and a Cancellation
Charge doesn't apply because the circumstances outlined
in clause 7.2.3 have occurred, You can then ask for a
refund of any unused Pay As You Go Account balance that
You may have.

So there you have it-T-Mobile would have you believe you can't terminate early without penalty, but their own Ts & Cs say you can.

http://support.t-mobile.co.uk/resou...ENTS/0/DO117/en_GB/36014777_Online_TCs_v1.pdf

 

[N42]

So whats the official take, can we or can't we terminate the contract early, as I've this and 3 contract. 3 contract coming to an end soon and they are offering me a good deal not to terminate the contract. So hopefully I can terminate the Tmobile contract early and continue with my original sim with the newly offered allowance.

 

[New Start Neil]

So whats the official take, can we or can't we terminate the contract early, as I've this and 3 contract. 3 contract coming to an end soon and they are offering me a good deal not to terminate the contract. So hopefully I can terminate the Tmobile contract early and continue with my original sim with the newly offered allowance.

The "official take" is shown above is T-Mob's own Ts & Cs.

 

[astt]

I know alot of people signed up to T Mobile over the last few months purely because of their 3GB data allowance, so I wonder if this massive change of terms and conditions would allow you to end the 12 month contract early?

I also moved from O2 to T-mobile because of the 3GB data allowance.

Really annoyed with T-mobile now!

Lost the following good features that O2 used to provide me as well:
- MMS used up 4 free txts
- overseas txts to UK numbers used up 4 free txts
- visual voicemail on iPhone

 

[Steven]

BBC News - T-Mobile cuts mobile data usage

Most people won't notice the difference but there is a single digit minority that use upwards of 30% of the bandwidth

If that is true, then who can blame them?

 

[DarkEntity]

All the phone companies will follow suit, especially if TMobile get away with this and their current customers dont kick up a storm.

 

[CDR]

All the phone companies will follow suit, especially if TMobile get away with this and their current customers dont kick up a storm.

I think you may be a bit out of touch, all the other companies currently are doing 500mb data usage, T-Mobile was the last one to offer more, until this thread..

(Or did I read that wrong because i'm so exhausted?)

 

[DarkEntity]

Nope was me being slow and tired. I'm still on an old contract so the drop in data hasn't affected me yet. It will soon though as my contract is up and I'm waiting for the new LG Optimus 2X