Typical Ofcom statement to the effect of
'We let all the mobile companies rip off their customers to their hearts content. But if enough customers find our complaints forms and fill them in we then have a long drawn out review with free fudge for everyone."

I'm on Orange.
As they recently merged with T-Mobile, does anyone know if they're planning something similar?
I frequently go over my 500MB, so this policy would be a disaster for me.

exactly, surely Ofcom can see what has happened and take action accordingly. Especially as most customers (I have 4 Android 3Gb contracts with them but have yet to receive a single communication about this) will be oblivious.

Nope.

"You can log your complaint with Ofcom...if there is a high volume of complaints about a particular issue, we do investigate and take action as required."

They do nothing unless pushed. Look at the compaints with regards to 0870 etc. It's still 43p per minute for many!
5 years plus free fudge there.

Is it here:

http://consumers.ofcom.org.uk/tell-us/telecoms/

and do complaints need to be logged under Sales/Mis-selling?

I thought there was a petition or a facebook group for this also - anyone know about this?

I haven't received any communication. I certainly don't want my data limit touched before the end of my contract. I will have to write to them if they won't write to me. They really must not change the terms in this detrimental way before the end of existing contracts, as people have said they are trying to cloud the issue. If they said you had 600 minutes, but now you've only got 200 it would be no different.

Its quite possible that they will have the same usage and tariff policies during 2011 as the merger moves from one stage to the next.

Ok guys this proves T-Mobile is pulling a fast one. I added Web Max on to one of my T-Mobile lines yesterday. I am never going to hit the 10GB fup but allows you to use Skype. That is the only difference to W&W+ if you believe T-Mobile.
just to compare as they are on the same cell.
3
DL speed 2.1 meg
up speed 1.6 meg
T-Mobile before max add on and other lines
1.8 meg download
500KBPS uplad

after max added.
download 2.3 meg
upload 1.8 meg.
So it would seem that unless you are on the Max package T-Mobile still throttle your speeds. Can confirm other T-Mobile lines still on 1.8 and 500KBPS.

This is ridiculous. How do i know if my phone is affected? 3GB to 500mb, please no...

They have always done this, Their SIM-only contracts, for example, have a maximum cap of 384k down, 64k up (speeds equivalent to 3G data without HSDPA, although it seems that it is simply throttling on the HSDPA network).

If you wanted the throttle removed, you'd have to pay an astronomical figure for a data plan, even though your contract already had 1GB data.

Ofcom is examining the situation for what its worth.



http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/01...bile_data_cap/

This has really pissed me off, going to have to ring them up and complain, get them to either reduce how much i pay a month or add something onto my tariff. This is really getting to me since the reason i came to tmobile was because i like to use the wifi hotspot feature on my phone and up to a GB browsing on top of that per month.

This is a reply email I just received from CS:

Thanks for your email Jordan, enquiring about the changes to the Internet Fair Use Policy from 3GB to 500MB.

I understand the importance of this matter and I'll be more than happy to help with your concern.

On the 1st of Feb 2011, we are changing our Internet portfolio and Internet fair use policies. As part of the changes, all existing Internet on Your Phone (web'n'walk) will have your fair use policies reduced to 500MB. When the changes come into effect, you will still get unlimited browsing and email, so only things like downloading and watching video clips will be impacted by the reduction in fair use policies.

Jordan, regarding your contract, I do apologise, however, the change to our fair use policy doesn?t mean you can get out of your contract with us. In section 7.1.2, of our Pay Monthly Ts & Cs we state that, "We can suspend, change, increase the price of or withdraw part or all of the additional services on giving active users of the additional service a reasonable period of Written Notice".

We feel that we have given you reasonable notice of the changes. Remember, that we aren't increasing our prices and you?ll always be able to browse the internet and email and never get charged more than you agree to.

Reducing your fair use policy will enable us to enhance you existing service when accessing the internet by reducing network data traffic. I'm delighted to tell you that you will still get unlimited internet browsing. If you would like to use the internet for downloading, and require additional usage, you can buy a booster from us for £12.77/mth. We are still the only network that does not charge run on rates and our boosters are priced competitively.

Alternatively, You can call us by dialling 150 from any T-Mobile number or dial 0845 412 5000 using a fixed line (Landline calls are charged at local rates, if you're a BT customer, if you're with a different provider it may cost a bit more, please check with your provider.) We're here from 8AM to 10PM Monday to Friday and 8AM to 8PM on Saturday and Sunday.

Thanks again for your email Jordan, I hope the above information is useful.

If you have further queries, please feel free to reply to this email or visit our help and support section by clicking here.




I haven't even had a text message from them yet, I only know about this from the internet. I am a heavy user, so this is massive for me.

Wooohoo!!

http://support.t-mobile.co.uk/help-a...t=DATA_CHANGES

Any changes in conditions requires the to give you a legal minimum of 30 days notice which they clearly haven't given. They are therefore in breach of contract.

I would expect them to figure this out sooner or later and move the date to March.

They have backed down:

http://support.t-mobile.co.uk/help-a...t=DATA_CHANGES

Excellent news, thank you. I guess the lawyers got worried we had a point and would be able to cancel without fee. Victory for the consumer! Still not heard anything from them myself.

So does this also mean if you signup with them before the 1st of feb 2011 your still get 3gb allowance for a smartphone contract

Changes to Mobile Internet fair use policies
T-Mobile Statement:

“On Monday 10 January 2011 we announced that, in line with the rest of the industry, T-Mobile would be reducing its Fair Use Policy for data usage to 500MB a month for all mobile phone customers. Following a further review of our policy, these changes will now be introduced from 1 February, to new and upgrading customers only - not existing customers.

There will be no change to the data packages for existing customers for the duration of their contract and we apologise for any confusion caused. The revision to the Fair Use Policy is designed to ensure an improved quality of service for all mobile internet users."

Lysa Hardy, VP, T-Mobile UK


So when your contract is up its time to move!

Get in there!!

I get the feeling that T-mobile must have realised that they were on very dodgy ground when existing customers me included were asking to cancel my contract because of the changes they were going to introduce.

Power the the people it seems. Good work, although of course existing customers or customers that are upgrading will be affected by this.

That amount of data is so small on a smartphone. I like to update my podcasts, browse youtube, use skype, stream some audio etc. All of that is no problem as I have a 2GB allowance on Three, but god knows where I would go if they cut that down as no network apart from Three gives 1GB or upwards as far as I'm aware and I use about 1.5 a month.

There's always Giffgaff but I hate PAYG it seems so crap, coverage no good and the deal won't last anyway as I suspect it's just to buy up customers.

Good news that T-mobile had a rethink for existing customers though.

The trick is not to ask, it's to tell. Anyway, it's all sorted now hopefully. I still have 1 year 3 months left on my contract.

Ah so it is new and upgrading customers only after all. Just like what O2 did. They were on shaky legal ground IMHO changing existing running contracts and any decent lawyer would have told them that, despite their what their T&C's say. Normally any significant changes to a contract, such as reducing the value of the service to the customer (as this clearly does), requires sufficient notice and you have the option not to agree - and exit the contract.

Good news T-Mobile customers just to mention that Ive been an 02 customer for nearly a year and ive been told CS that my unlimited data plan is now 750 meg better than t-mobiles 500 meg but not what i signed up for, so as far as iam concerned 02 have screwed over there exisitng customers contrary to popular belief

Very odd. We've got two contracts and one is old and is unlimited (and I regularly go over 750MB without any problem) and one is new which is capped at 500MB, but my wife uses that one, and doesn't use very much data anyway.