O2 unlimited data bolt on simplicity contract. Not so unlimited.

dj_andy

I've been on an O2 simplicity contract for a few years now, and I still have the "Unlimited Data" bolt on.

Recently I've had to move home at the start of June, and BT won't be around to install the line until the 10th July, so I've been relying on BT Openzone (Very flaky in a residential area) and my Motorola Atrix with it's lapdock.

On a normal broadband line, because of the nature of my work i.e a DJ, I'm forever on iTunes and other sites researching/purchasing music and general internet stuff. On this I can use in excess of 100gb in a month. Because of the lack of internet I've really cut back what I do because its just not possible with the unreliablity of what resources I have.

Today, O2 has just put a nail in that coffin, and potentially just lost them self a long-term customer.

Due to BT Openzone rebranding, it has caused a mountain of issues as customers clearly don't realise they are hotspots and therefore are under no obligation to reboot their routers, and as a result I cannot use them because they have stopped working. I have had to rely on my laptop rather than my mac to use the internet, and the other day at about 2gb of usage I get a message from O2 (word for word, bad grammar/sentence structure included. I'm not perfect either.):

"We've noticed you're using a lot of data. And it affecting other customers. Please cut down your use or connect over Wi-Fi. Or we may have to stop your data until your next bill date. For more info on our excessive use policy visit *link removed, I'm a newbie!*"

I took one look at that and thought, right sure, of course, with the size of your data infrastructure, 2GB of data is really excessive, and as for affecting customers? Really? I'm not even getting full speed anyway with 1 or 2 bars.

So I continued to use my lapdock just to see what they would do to me (BT Openzone still down) and this morning, they've cut my internet off altogether with their crafty legislation loop hole of slowing it down to 0.01mbps.

"You've used an extremely high amount of data this month, which has started to affect the experience of our other customers trying to use data. To be fair to all of our customers, we've been forced to slow down your speed until 12/7/12 which is your next bill data. To experience faster data, we recommending using Wi-Fi until then."

Of course, using 4GB of data is going to affect customers experience. Even at 3am in the morning? Normally I never use over 500mb in a month because I never need to use this method.

On a serious note however, in this day and age of internet and smart technologies, 4GB really isn't excessive at all.

Where do I stand on this because this is a massive pack of lies for one on their behalf, and two they do not mention anywhere in any term or condition that I'll be limited to the this amount of data, and this isn't unlimited now is it?

And before you shout at me about tethering, I'm using a modified Atrix (i.e CM7) and it is not booting into the normal webtop mode which some people would consider as tethering (personally I don't!).

What do I do? Is there something I can use against them?

smartphone

Hi Andy. Most of the networks cover themselves with their "fair use" policy, and warn that going over a certain level of use gives them the right to restrict your usage. It will probably be in the Ts & Cs somewhere, and is usually about 1GB a month. I've never been convinced of the data services on O2, and despite their mixed reputation, if you are in a decent coverage area, Three are still the best for data services.

Fifer

I thought Three had been getting a lot of stick for their excessive traffic management processes recently?

buscape

Doesn't happen to everyone, I'm with Three myself on a sim only with all you can eat data and I've never had problems with speed, nobody I know on Three has had a problem either.

dj_andy wrote:

Where do I stand on this because this is a massive pack of lies for one on their behalf, and two they do not mention anywhere in any term or condition that I'll be limited to the this amount of data, and this isn't unlimited now is it?

It isn't really because it's not really usable at 0.01mbps, but they will say you can still use the internet as much as you want, even if it is at a snails pace, therefore you have unlimited data and they have done nothing wring.

dj_andy wrote:

What do I do? Is there something I can use against them?

If you're outside your minimum term, leave. O2 don't do unlimited data anymore so they haven't really got anything to offer you. As had been said above, Three will likely give you the best speeds, T-Mobile aren't too bad either and both do unlimited data.

dj_andy

Thanks guys, I'm on a simplicity contract so I can easily leave.

It says Unlimited not Unlimited with a star or Unlimited until O2 thinks that somehow I'm affecting other customers on my account page. I'd post a screen shot but I'm not allowed!

I can't find a term or a condition that says I'm limited, I've searched many times.

Three in my area is actually very bad because they seem to have lack of back haul due to the limits of internet in the area full stop, but I agree otherwise on speed!

buscape

What's T-Mobile like where you are?

dj_andy

buscape wrote: »

What's T-Mobile like where you are?

Better than O2 thanks to the TM/Orange joint network.

buscape

I'd go with them then, they unlimited data on a sim only. Don't rule out Virgin Mobile either, they use the same T-Mobile/Orange network.

Check where their base stations are here, coverage maps can't be completely relied upon: http://www.sitefinder.ofcom.org.uk/

dj_andy

In some ways I'd rather not leave O2 because they have 3G on 900mhz, along side their 2g on the same frequency which in the long run will bring advantages (provided they get with the times)

They have limited my speed to such a rate that it is unusable.

I'm sure there is some breaches in contract here.

buscape

dj_andy wrote:

In some ways I'd rather not leave O2 because they have 3G on 900mhz, along side their 2g on the same frequency which in the long run will bring advantages (provided they get with the times)

Are these advantages worth having limited unlimited internet?

You can leave and then come back if and when they do get with the times. You're not going to get any special treatment by staying with them, loyalty means nothing to them or any network, so why put up with unlimited internet that isn't really unlimited if you don't have to?

Vodafone and O2 are merging their networks, so both of them will have 900mhz 3G. - http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/06/07/vodafonica/

I'm sure there is some breaches in contract here.

Even if there was a breach of contract, they would let you out of your contract free. Given you're on a sim only and out of your minimum term, this won't make any difference to your situation.

If you really have to have O2 signal, go on giffgaff - https://giffgaff.com/orders/free-sim

Rusty!

dj_andy wrote: »

In some ways I'd rather not leave O2 because they have 3G on 900mhz, along side their 2g on the same frequency which in the long run will bring advantages (provided they get with the times)

Have a look at Giffgaff then, O2's network and does have a proper unlimited data option.