[joeluken]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thine Wonk

They are doing this so that the performance improves for the majority of customers and so that a small minority < 10% don't cause 60% of the network's resources to be used. I support them in that.

In which case they have the actual usage of each customer so why piss off the majority of customers in the process by going from £15 to £28 if this is the real reason ?

I hardly tether (<2GB over the year) because I have fibe BB at home and use less than 400MB per day mobile on average over a month. Do I qualify as the 10% ?

[joeluken]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jabbamk1

Did you ring the 0800 number?

No I haven't recieved a text but called 333 to ask what was happening because of what I'd read about the plan being phased out.

[jabbamk1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by joeluken

No I haven't recieved a text but called 333 to ask what was happening because of what I'd read about the plan being phased out.

Yeh then you won't be offered it yet.

You need to ring the 0800 number.

Three are dumb and don't know how to tell information to each channel properly and so it turns out that normal customer service will have no idea what you're talking about when you mention that the one plan is being removed.

Only the team on the 0800 number have been briefed. I'm sure some other teams have been as well.

Three's communications have always been poor both internally and to consumers. O2 has the best communications team by far.

[Chris1973]

Quote:

They won't.

It's a final decision that has been signed off.

Three aren't brining back Unlimited tethering.

And besides there are differences between UK and Austria as to why they can offer unlimited tethering at the price they currently do. Low population comes to mind.

I think most accept that unlimited tethering isn't coming back, what most are wanting now is something a little bit more generous than the existing allowance.

EE offers a 50GB monthly allowance shared between handset and tethering albeit at a high price. Currently Three doesn't offer anything approaching this usage beyond handset data, at any price, including its dedicated mobile data sim tariff.

Even the goalposts have moved in relation to the 15GB Mobile Data package from '3' which now only seems to be available when taken with a dongle and a minimum 24 month contract.

Sure, unlimited tethering wasn't profitable at £15 - £18 a month on SIMO, but that has now been addressed by removing it and imposing the 4GB limit, so why are they also hiking the price for *some* existing customers.

[jabbamk1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris1973

I think most accept that unlimited tethering isn't coming back, what most are wanting now is something a bit more generous than the existing allowance.

EE offers a 50GB monthly allowance shared between handset and tethering albeit at a high price. Currently Three doesn't offer anything approaching this usage beyond handset data, at any price.

Even the goalposts have moved in relation to the 15GB Mobile Data package from '3' which now only seems to be available when taken with a dongle and a minimum 24 month contract.

Three were meant to introduce more generous Mobile Broadband tariffs earlier this year but they delayed it to summer, then to Q4 and now it probably won't be till the new year.

And Three haven't changed the goalposts, 15GB was always on a 24 month contract with a dongle/Mi-Fi. It's never been on a 1 month/12 month contract. Maybe you're thinking of the 10GB plan?

The 2GB/4GB tethering allowance from Three is the worst idea ever and I maintain that whoever introduced that should be fired. Especially as you don't have the option to increase it by much if anything at all.

Three have an opportunity to get customers to pay for additional tetherable data but they're capping it at a low rate that their competitors easily exceed now.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris1973

Sure, unlimited tethering wasn't profitable at £15 - £18 a month on SIMO, but that has now been addressed by removing it and imposing the 4GB limit, so why are they also hiking the price for *some* existing customers.

Who's to say it wasn't profitable, Three in the grand scheme of things have been growing their profit YOY. There are a number of financial reasons and also data related reasons as to why Three are doing this.

One reason is that Three can save a hell of a lot of money by simplifying their plans, also they can increase revenue without increasing customers. It's a win for Three. Three's customer growth isn't at the rate Three want so charging some customers more or the same for less is going to benefit Three. They've already worked out that they'll profit of this move.

[joeluken]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jabbamk1

Yeh then you won't be offered it yet.

You need to ring the 0800 number.

Assuming I'm still with Three is that after receiving the text ?

Also what is the" £15 AYCE deal" you mention in relation to my current £15 The One Plan ?

[jabbamk1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by joeluken

Assuming I'm still with Three is that after receiving the text ?

Also what is the" £15 AYCE deal" you mention in relation to my current £15 The One Plan ?

AYCE Minutes, AYCE Texts, AYCE Data.
4GB Tethering
Free 0800 calls
Feel At Home.

£15pm.

Why would you move before the text? Just stay on the one plan until you're asked to move off. Or just move over to the plan above by calling the 0800 number. At £15 that is an absolute bargain.

If they offer you a worse deal then you have now, then leave.

[jonmorris]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mogzyboy

Thanks Anne Robinson.

I assume Three operates like any other company these days and makes it very clear if you're 'signing' a new contract verbally. There will be a script that can't be skipped and that you must implicitly agree to on the phone with an 'I agree' or similar. This might then be followed up by an SMS, email or letter. Naturally the call is recorded.

If someone still manages to get 'tricked' then it's a miracle they can get out of bed without assistance.

[Chris1973]

Quote:

And Three haven't changed the goalposts, 15GB was always on a 24 month contract with a dongle/Mi-Fi. It's never been on a 1 month/12 month contract. Maybe you're thinking of the 10GB plan?

I'm sure i'd seen the 15GB deal advertised for £15.99 a month somewhere. I assumed that was 12 month without a dongle as its £19.99 / month on the website.

Edit:- Uswitch still advertises it for £15.99, although that changes to £19.99 when you get to the 3 site

http://www.uswitch.com/broadband/providers/3/

Quote:

The 2GB/4GB tethering allowance from Three is the worst idea ever and I maintain that whoever introduced that should be fired. Especially as you don't have the option to increase it by much if anything at all.

Agreed, the "Network built for the internet" is waning a bit in relation to its allowances beyond handset data now.

[moox]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonmorris

This might then be followed up by an SMS, email or letter. Naturally the call is recorded.

IME 3 do send a letter with the new details and you get the standard two weeks to cancel if it's not to your liking

[jabbamk1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris1973

I'm sure i'd seen the 15GB deal advertised for £15.99 a month somewhere. I assumed that was 12 month without a dongle as its £19.99 / month on the website.

Edit:- Uswitch still advertises it for £15.99, although that changes to £19.99 when you get to the 3 site

http://www.uswitch.com/broadband/providers/3/

Agreed, the "Network built for the internet" is waning a bit in relation to its allowances beyond handset data now.

Yeh, it was £15.99 ages ago, now it's £19.99.

My point though was that it's always been on a 24 month contract with a dongle/Mi-Fi. So they haven't changed the goalposts. Just increased the price like they've done on their mobile phone tariffs as well.

And three don't advertise as "The network built for the internet" publicly anymore.

[Alex_1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by joeluken

Assuming I'm still with Three is that after receiving the text ?

Also what is the" £15 AYCE deal" you mention in relation to my current £15 The One Plan ?

jabbamk1 is correct in what he says... ring the 0800 number & let us know how you get on. Read back a couple of pages for more info

[jabbamk1]

Btw, for anyone wondering (wavejock) why I'm being hard on Three in this case, It's because I've always been "Pro Consumer". I've never been loyal to a company or business. My interest lies purely in what is best for the consumer. And that's why I create threads like these to use my knowledge and experience to inform consumers about relevant changes across all networks and what the best way to respond is.

A lot of people on this forum have called me pro Three or claimed I work for Three or EE etc... I don't. I just like to be informed and pass on that information to others.

So I'm pro consumer, like i've always said.

[jonmorris]

Indeed. Wavejock probably expected nobody to talk about this so he could start his own thread.

I've never seen him start a thread that was in any way negative about O2.

[eforce]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thine Wonk

They are doing this so that the performance improves for the majority of customers and so that a small minority < 10% don't cause 60% of the network's resources to be used. I support them in that.

No, it's a financial decision, they can regulate performance without removing the unlimited plans just like BT based landline ISP's and Three Austria does.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jabbamk1

They won't.

It's a final decision that has been signed off.

Three aren't brining back Unlimited tethering.

And besides there are differences between UK and Austria as to why they can offer unlimited tethering at the price they currently do. Low population comes to mind.

Three's track record shows they aren't to be trusted.

Traffic issues are a local issue and Austria, just like the UK, has heavy urban centres which makes it a fair comparison.

And then you have BT based landline ISP's which can manage just fine by giving heavy users peak and off-peak allowances/restrictions.

[moox]

Quote:

Originally Posted by eforce

No, it's a financial decision, they can regulate performance without removing the unlimited plans just like BT based landline ISP's

Many BT-based ISPs didn't offer unlimited plans - those that do are normally massively overselling, are expensive, or are using an LLU provider to lower their costs but limiting coverage.

It is only with the BT 21CN and FTTC/P that ISPs, including BT, are beginning to offer them again, go back a few years and caps were the norm unless you could get an LLU-based ISP.

Quote:

Originally Posted by eforce

Traffic issues are a local issue and Austria, just like the UK, has heavy urban centres which makes it a fair comparison.

An actual statistic showing demand on 3 AT's network compared to 3 UK would be more helpful than simplifying it down to "Austria has cities, the UK has cities, so it must be identical".

Quote:

Originally Posted by eforce

And then you have BT based landline ISP's which can manage just fine by giving heavy users peak and off-peak allowances/restrictions.

You mean about two ISPs. It isn't good to compare wired and wireless networks anyway.

[Thine Wonk]

Quote:

Originally Posted by eforce

No, it's a financial decision, they can regulate performance without removing the unlimited plans just like BT based landline ISP's and Three Austria does.

.

No, BT offers light use packages and then more expensive unlimited. You cannot compared fixed line broadband with mobile broadband, which have a limited amount of capacity based on the amount of data the spectrum and number of cells can serve.

It IS the case that a small minority were using Three tethering to tether in some cases 100GB or more, which it was never intended for and Three were making a loss on the high usage customers.

90% of Three customers use 40% of the network capacity, whilst the top 10% use 60%, that's why this is happening.

[jonmorris]

Even when Three said it was built for the Internet, all of the packages for desktop and laptop usage was based around mobile broadband dingles, not tethering.

I don't know why Three ever offered unlimited tethering, and certainly not on a £15 plan, but they did and plenty of people enjoyed it.

Some took a lot of advantage, while others merely liked having the knowledge they could use if if they had to.

But now it's going, while the broadband offerings are just the same as they ever were, more or less.

[mogzyboy]

The comparison with landline ISPs is a misleading one. Isn't it true that we each get around 17MHz worth of capacity to use for ourselves on FTTC? The networks have less than that to serve an entire town in some cases.

[Informationwar]

I had the text on one of my One Plans on the day it was first sent out. I'm just ignoring it for the time being as how am I to know my plan is due to end if they haven't contacted me to tell me? Surely they need to put it in writing with notice before any action can be taken. At the moment I'm considering staying for the right price when the time comes or I might try and get a discounted handset deal. The second account that my girlfriend uses hasn't even had the text yet.

[moox]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mogzyboy

The comparison with landline ISPs is a misleading one. Isn't it true that we each get around 17MHz worth of capacity to use for ourselves on FTTC? The networks have less than that to serve an entire town in some cases.

Well, you certainly have up to 80Mbit down, 20Mbit up dedicated between you and the street cabinet.

And the cabinets themselves have at least 1Gbit connecting themselves to the parent exchange, with plenty of spare fibre and the ability to do 10Gbit per fibre pair extremely easily. The exchanges could be using 10 or 100Gbit per fibre pair to connect to BT's core network. So there's masses of capacity and no massive amount of cost and effort to upgrade it.

Totally different to heavily limited wireless, of course.

[eforce]

Quote:

Originally Posted by moox

Many BT-based ISPs didn't offer unlimited plans - those that do are normally massively overselling, are expensive, or are using an LLU provider to lower their costs but limiting coverage.

It is only with the BT 21CN and FTTC/P that ISPs, including BT, are beginning to offer them again, go back a few years and caps were the norm unless you could get an LLU-based ISP.



An actual statistic showing demand on 3 AT's network compared to 3 UK would be more helpful than simplifying it down to "Austria has cities, the UK has cities, so it must be identical".



You mean about two ISPs. It isn't good to compare wired and wireless networks anyway.

They can maintain an unlimited package by restricting connections based on usage of each user, high usage users could be targeted more heavily during peak times, I think Three should go beyond that of BT landline ISP's.

Quote:

Originally Posted by moox

Well, you certainly have up to 80Mbit down, 20Mbit up dedicated between you and the street cabinet.

And the cabinets themselves have at least 1Gbit connecting themselves to the parent exchange, with plenty of spare fibre and the ability to do 10Gbit per fibre pair extremely easily. The exchanges could be using 10 or 100Gbit per fibre pair to connect to BT's core network. So there's masses of capacity and no massive amount of cost and effort to upgrade it.

Totally different to heavily limited wireless, of course.

Do you have a source for those figures regarding FTTC cabinet dedicated bandwidth?

[sweetstyle]

Quote:

Originally Posted by wavejockglw

Those affected by One Plan changes have to be very careful that they don't get themselves involved in additional contractual obligations by agreeing to terms offered when they call to enquire about the changes. Be careful what you agree to on the phone! A wrong response could prove expensive!

Might be wise recording the call just incase you nay need it for future use...

[sweetstyle]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jabbamk1

Three were meant to introduce more generous Mobile Broadband tariffs earlier this year but they delayed it to summer, then to Q4 and now it probably won't be till the new year.

And Three haven't changed the goalposts, 15GB was always on a 24 month contract with a dongle/Mi-Fi. It's never been on a 1 month/12 month contract. Maybe you're thinking of the 10GB plan?

The 2GB/4GB tethering allowance from Three is the worst idea ever and I maintain that whoever introduced that should be fired. Especially as you don't have the option to increase it by much if anything at all.

Three have an opportunity to get customers to pay for additional tetherable data but they're capping it at a low rate that their competitors easily exceed now.



Who's to say it wasn't profitable, Three in the grand scheme of things have been growing their profit YOY. There are a number of financial reasons and also data related reasons as to why Three are doing this.

One reason is that Three can save a hell of a lot of money by simplifying their plans, also they can increase revenue without increasing customers. It's a win for Three. Three's customer growth isn't at the rate Three want so charging some customers more or the same for less is going to benefit Three. They've already worked out that they'll profit of this move.

Three will not benefit if customers vote with their feet. Most deserters will and up at EE...

[sweetstyle]

the so called loyalty discounts should stay on customers accounts (by definition) if they accept new terms with three