Not lucky, three are limited by their cellular spectrum, each mast is only capable of so much bandwdith. The masts in the cities are saturated by hundreds/thousands of users, the mast in the rural areas with very few users are not impacted as much.

Trafficsense was probably 3's equivalent - make tethering performance so crap that you'd consider just getting a real mobile broadband tariff.

(it was also the plan for networks like Verizon in the US, where they didn't actually want to cancel people's unlimited data plans, just throttle them after xGB of usage so they'd consider moving anyway)

But equally, you can't really complain when you're using the service beyond what 3 intended it to be, and they decide to stop offering it because of that. It was never sold as an alternative to crap wired broadband - that's what the actual mobile broadband tariffs were for - but many people signed up to the one plan because it was cheaper and "all you can eat".


Yes, mobile broadband, a service 3 still offers and will continue to offer. Not "use a phone plan to tether permanently or even put the SIM into a mobile broadband device that 3 is unaware of so won't block it".


Lucky indeed. But there are parts of the network that are not so lucky, and it wouldn't be fair to only cancel people's plans if they happen to be in an urban area more regularly than you are. At least no one can claim special treatment with 3's heavy handed approach. If the mast appears underloaded then it's probable that your area is full of light users who could probably move to a mobile broadband tariff with little fuss. It's the really heavy users (20GB+) who will have to pay more for less.

Hopefully 3 will up the data allowances when they finally get around to overhauling their mobile broadband plans. It seems EE are currently the most generous, but also expensive and want a 2 year contract.

While BT may not want to touch the landline network in your area, they have been looking at fixed 4G too - which would probably have good performance and nicer data limits in exchange for limited portability

Sorry but in business it does not work like that

How can Three build a business by losing 1 million customers paying £15p each? That's loss of potential £15 million a month. Good luck building a business with such a loss of income.



They have always said that it was on their website it is them who quoted 1000gb which clearly was a cheap marketing tactic. 3 promised something they could not deliver.

To be fair to them other companies do the same look at Virgin offer and check what you get now, however, just because other companies also lie to their customers won't save 3 here once the trust and reputation is destroyed it is hard to rebuild.



You have no idea what you are talking about. Please stop scare mongering. As soon as The One Plan is finished they will have no right to debit customers account who have signed to One Plan. No Plan no payment simple as that. If they make a mistake of debiting customer's account after that day people would have every right to recall their DD payments.

And if 3 make further mistake and send debt collectors for the payment they are not legally entitled to then they would have to pay compensation and get sued as well.



Sorry I am the customer here I don't need to chase them if they want money they would have to work for it, contact me and offer me something as good and cheap as one plan or they will lose my business.

It is up to 3 to contact the customer and offer something as good and cheap as what they are taking away or thousands of customers will just cancel and go somewhere else. That's how it works in real world.




The simple mistake of your post is that you can't seem to grasp the fact that I am the customer I have the power as I am paying them not other way around!

I don't need unlimited tethering I have never tethered enough to bother about it but if the network is removing the package I am on and not offering me more or less same for the the same amount of money I have no intention of staying with them and I am sure I am not the only one feeling the same.

This move will cost 3 but fair to them not many other companies out there brave enough to go after their loyal customers and upset them by offering less for more!

As I originally said whoever made this decision should be sacked because potential loss of customer is huge and that's really stupid to lose what they have while chasing more customers.





What a clueless comment!




Actually they did as it was advertised on their website 1000GB a month! A promise they or any other network can't deliver but I guess in this day and age the name of the game is lie if needed as long as you can sign up more customers!

As above please stop scare mongering Three can't give anyone any red dot on their credit file if they illegally claim the DD in the first place.

If they do that good luck to them, not only would they have to rectify it but also pay compensation as well.

If the One Plan contract is no more from 5th January, they have no leg to stand if they continue debiting customers account and if they do all those customer would have every right to call their DD back.

It is not up to customers to contact Three in regards to those changes, it is up to 3 to contact the customer. Sending a text won't just do it.

I hope people aren't taking you seriously. The only advice that should be followed here is the likes ov Jabbamk1's which is sound, as well as those that have dealt with Three regarding this specific issue.
The bravado above ought to be treated for the ludicrous entertainment that it is.

But sending someone a text is contacting them.
I do it all the time to my customers, they ask me to contact them, I do so by text...

The reason they won't phone them is because customers probably haven't got the time to take a call and discuss plans with Three at a random time of the day. By7 sending a text it allows the customer to contact Three when it suits the customer... sounds ok to me.

To be fair he sounds like one of those guys that have read about his consumer rights on a dodgy website and now thinks he's entitled to things he isn't.
There's plenty of them about, I blame the internet!

It was never on the website, the 1000GB amount was mentioned in one blog post made some time ago. On the Three blog, not advertised on the website.


Did you seriously say you worked in finance and then write nonsense like the above?

Three bill you for service, the contract for service allows them to change your price plan with 30 days notice. They give notice and change the plan, they then bill you for the service.

I hope you do try and be an idiot and don't give notice and then refuse to pay after the price plan is changed. If you really do work in finance the default will look really good on your credit file.

He seems to have missed my point about 3 sending a formal notice at whatever the legal minimum / 3's terms and conditions require - they can do what they want with probably 30 days notice (which is not yet if it's going to be the end in January) and the option to cancel if you don't like it. There will undoubtedly be a formal communication in a month or so.

But if you ignore the informal/formal notices you won't have much of a case to cancel/reverse the DD when they charge the new price.

The guy seems to be deluded into thinking if they ignore everything 3 is saying that he'll stay on the one plan, but it simply won't happen. It's like the people who assume cancelling a direct debit means that they don't have to pay for it any more and they have cancelled the service

How long is the wait once you call Three to get thought ? Great if it takes 5 minutes but not so great if you're on hold for 45 mins +.

As per the response from Three re long waiting times when people do attempt to call them on the number in the text.


"Moderator: Richard November 11, 2014

Hi @Joe, for those that aren’t able to call up, we’ll get in touch with them to discuss our range of new plans. You’ll have 60 days to decide what’s right for you. >Rich"

Indeed. While it's good to know your rights as a consumer - and I've had to be one of those that pompously quotes sections of the Sale of Goods Act to an electrical store because of a faulty fridge - there is no issue here with regard to laws and acts.
Three are honouring contracts until the end of the minimum term and then changing the plan. I don't think this kind of thing is hugely common but it's certainly not unheard of. They're allowed to do it - it's in the terms and conditions, so you've already agreed that you're happy for them to do it.

Make the best of it and get the best out of the new plans for the same price when you contact them. That's what I'll be doing. I won't be obnoxious and rude, it'll just be a good negotiating session. Some of you ought to try it sometime.

There's now a news article on Money Saving Expert about this -

"Three Mobile moving out-of-contract users to new deals as it axes old tariffs"

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/new...893.1413597646

If the One Plan is unprofitable, then losing the unprofitable customers is better in the long run.


Never seen that - only "all you can eat"


It would be you who appears to be clueless. 3 will be free to change the plan with 30 days' notice - since January is more than 30 days away, this means that they don't yet have to send out letters/emails or something formal. I'd estimate that around December that they'll send letters out to those who have not changed plans already.

Once they have done so, they can charge the new price and direct debit it if you have agreed by not doing anything after the 30 day period.



You seem to assume that 3 are anxious to keep you - you've said you are already getting a discount on the already cheap one plan - so how much profit are 3 genuinely making off of you? Not much if anything, I'd imagine.

A companies' willingness to keep you depends on how profitable you are. If you were spending 100 quid a month they'd be falling over themselves to keep you sweet. If you are technically a loss then they won't.



They have the power to remove the plan and charge you more for an equivalent plan. You have the power to leave if you disagree with the changes.


It won't be "illegally claiming the direct debit" if an appropriate notice period is given and an opportunity to cancel or downgrade is made available. Which will happen, just not yet as they aren't required to do so this early.

If you ignored a letter saying the price is going up, you have no basis to try to refuse to pay. Enjoy your credit report and debt collectors.

Only 1GB per month preloaded is not much data to consume. If you intend to use an extra 20GB per month that would cost you £20 every month on top of the dongle or mifi unit cost based on the 3-2-1 PAYG sim.

I don't see anybody forking out £50 odd per month for the sake of consuning 41GB data each month.

I hope people do not take you seriously as clearly you are clueless to your own right let alone others.



It was on their website I read it myself. No amount of lying will change that

Yes I did say I worked in finance and if anyone that is writing nonsense is you. I deal with bounced Direct Debits on a daily basis!. I can understand why some of you are financially clueless but can't understand your ignorance, as clearly some of you think scare mongering people with debt collectors on public forums etc work but it does not.

It just shows how clueless you are.

I wrote here yesterday that there are 8 reasons why the Bank can refuse the Direct Debit payment or the customer can recall that payment legally. I don't have time to teach you every reason but I give you one reason every day so that you learn. I gave one yesterday there comes to second one.

Reason 2: No advance notice received by Payer/or the amount quoted disputed

If you keep reading my posts I am sure you will learn a lot and nice of me I won't even charge you for that

Also Three can't change any of my plan without my consent. They can remove the plan completely after giving required notice but they can't move me on to another plan or contract without my agreement.

So you are deluded if you think they can just move customers on the plans they want and carry on charging for that plan the customer has not agreed to.



Again it is not me who is deluded but you. Three can't move me or any other customer to any plan without the customer's consent my friend. They can terminate the plan I am on after giving the required notice but they have no right to move me anywhere they see fit.

It does not work like that you can't have a one sided contract. The direct debit mandidate I have signed confirms what I am paying and why I am paying. Any changes to this service and amount invalidates that contract which gives customers every right to recall their Direct Debit Payment.

So if you claim Three can do what they want with probably 30 days notice actually shows how clueless and deluded you are.

I was thinking of moving over to 3 network, but is their 'all you can eat' data being capped at 4GB then?

It isn't one sided - that would be "you are paying more next week, tough". 3 will give notice that they intend to increase the price and change the terms with a period where you either cancel or downgrade if you don't like it, or agree by doing nothing. Standard stuff, 3 won't be the first to do it this way.

The Direct Debit Mandate won't help you there, despite what you may think - as they did (will) tell you about the increase. The contract you agreed to covers all of this - I'm guessing you have not read the terms and conditions?

Yes but u get unlimited data on your mobile which i don't see any network giving.

No. AYCE remains, it's only tethering that is being capped at 4GB.

"there is no excuse for limited tethering outside of peak times for other than financial reasons."

Young Turks is going to have a nasty shock in a few months time when he ends up with a suspended account and late payment markers on his file. Despite what you claim after the minimum term they can do pretty much what they like as both parties can exercise their right to terminate the agreement.

Also, I have never signed a DD mandate that says how much I'm paying. They are called "variable" for a reason. Trust me - you claim to work in finance. I doubt it. If you did you wouldn't come out with such nonsense. I however do know what I'm talking about (and many forum members here will back me up).

Thank you. How would you rate 3 otherwise?

"I can quote stuff too".

Phone tethering is there for occasional use, not long term usage. Therefore why would a network operator feel the need to get their network overloaded overnight from people using a service intended for email, web browsing, the odd video, and not someone trying to download 50GB blu-ray rips?

By "working in finance" he probably means he is an agency cleaner that has a bank branch in his cleaning round.

His ignorance is astounding, he is in for a rude shock in a few months..

The reason people rushed to Three for its unlimited tethering deal is because it was unique. Nobody else offers unlimited tethering, and very few operators even offer unlimited data on the handset.

I don't believe that many people were 'abusing' it, which I write as such because in theory nobody could abuse something sold as unlimited. 500GB of data in a month? Well, it might be 'morally' wrong, but it's not in breach of any T&Cs. That was Three's fault, not the user that took advantage of it.

Three was arguably stupid to offer so much for just £15 a month at one point too. If it wanted to offer such an amazing deal, it could have charged way more. Sure, I'm not complaining or making voluntary donations to Three, but it was too cheap! Some other tariffs, albeit with handsets, can set you back £60 a month or more.

If Three was making a lot more money from any tariff offering tethering (unlimited) it would have had money to invest in coping with the usage, but it can't increase tariffs by such huge percentages so the only option is to get rid of it.