Unlimited Texts - False Advertisement?

pc1271

Complain to them (I wouldn't be surprised if they refunded you with a warning not to do it again). If you get nowhere go to someone like OFCOM and make a formal complaint.

oopsadaisydoddle

pc1271 wrote: »

Complain to them (I wouldn't be surprised if they refunded you with a warning not to do it again). If you get nowhere go to someone like OFCOM and make a formal complaint.

Not sure ofcom would do anything. Not that I am saying it is right, but it is something that is standard practice. As i mentioned in my previous post, Guidance from the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) in September 2009 states that offers can be described as ‘unlimited’ even if a fair use policy exists, as long as the policy is “fair and reasonable”. This means that the usage of the majority of customers must be within the fair use limit, and only ‘atypical’ customers use more than this....just copied that again!

Like I said, it doesn't mean I agree with it but i know this is why they get around it and ofcom are probably already aware. A complaint to Voda might just come up trumps though, got to be worth a letter!

Earthworm

I have said this before but will say it again. If Vodafone use the word "unlimited" I can understand services being restricted once the limit is hit or some form method which limits the amount of SMS messages sent per hour without a cost... This is fair, and 3000 is a reasonable amount to cap usage at.

The problem I have is with the charge you face once the limit is hit. ASA seem a lot harsher on broadband providers for their advertising talk but suprisingly relaxed on mobile operators. BT and Virgin would not get away with issuing charges once their respective fair use allowances are hit... This is why they use traffic management to slow down their heaviest users speeds. This allows the service to remain unlimited. Your texts are 3000 and there is no other way it can be described. Personally I would fight it.

Again I am not disputing the fair use... Just the specified charge.

Earthworm

Just found a link relating to an ASA complaint related to this. ASA sided with Vodafone unfortunately but it makes an interesting read. The bit about charges faced is still the decision I do not agree with as this does not manage overuse in the way a traffic management solution such as a slow down on the rate SMS can be sent does.

Earthworm

http://www.asa.org.uk/Rulings/Adjudications/2009/12/Vodafone-Ltd/TF_ADJ_47835.aspx

simax

grumbler wrote: »

And?
Is this the same for all customers on all 'unlimited' tariffs and always was? If so, your network definitely stands out from the crowd.

Actually, I lie. I signed in to my online account and they class unlimited texts on the billing system as 10,000,000 texts (ten MILLION).

That's 322,580 texts a day, or 13,441 texts an hour, or to break it down even more it's 3 and a half texts a second. So to use my allowance up I'd have to send over 3 texts every second of every hour of the day constantly 24/7.

However, it's not unlimited. I'm OUTRAGED!! I was told it would be unlimited!! I'm going to OFCOM and trading standards!!

Get real.

Surely it's the customers responsibility to ask if there is a fair use policy? If the don't ask and breach it, it is their problem.

Earthworm

This link also shows the contrast with the broadband market and how providers are not able to apply any form of charge when they exceed their fair usage policy. It seems crazy that the mobile market does not have a similar rule.

http://www.cap.org.uk/Advice-Training-on-the-rules/Advice-Online-Database/Internet-Fair-use-policies.aspx

Earthworm

simax wrote: »

Actually, I lie. I signed in to my online account and they class unlimited texts on the billing system as 10,000,000 texts (ten MILLION).

That's 322,580 texts a day, or 13,441 texts an hour, or to break it down even more it's 3 and a half texts a second. So to use my allowance up I'd have to send over 3 texts every second of every hour of the day constantly 24/7.

However, it's not unlimited. I'm OWUTRAGED!! I was told it would be unlimited!! I'm going to OFCOM and trading standards!!

Get real.

Surely it's the customers responsibility to ask if there is a fair use policy? If the don't ask and breach it, it is their problem.

When it comes to a system where a charge is automatic once the limit is hit it would be nice to think this, or just the term fair usage policy, should be stated at point of sale. Unfortunately this is not the case.

amcg100

It is not unusual to send that amount of text. If you have ten work contacts and send them ten generic texts per day then that's 100 per day which is 3000 per month. In terms of time it would take half an hour per day max, especially if you are using tenplates.
I have always been aware of fair usage policy and I think it stinks. All I can say in their favour is that if someone is sending that amount of text, then they are using their phone for commercial purposes and would be better off on a commercial tariff -
This does not however excuse mobile companies from a marketing policy which uses the word ' unlimited' contrary to the common perception of it's meaning.

grumbler

simax wrote: »

I signed in to my online account and they class unlimited texts on the billing system as 10,000,000 texts (ten MILLION).

Who cares about the technicalities? It's unlimited for you. How their billing system works is their business, not yours. Surely there was no any FUP with this 10,000,000 in it.

Surely it's the customers responsibility to ask if there is a fair use policy?

Surely? Why would anyone in their right mind ask about the meaning of a perfectly clear English word? And if the networks don't mean really unlimited, why do they use this long word instead of much shorter, say, 3000?

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