Three 4G speeds and 'All you can eat' Claims

macbookprofan90

Hi, I'm new to Money Saving Expert, and i'd like to get some advice on what I should do with my current mobile phone plan. I use a Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 on the Three network. I'm on Pay as you go, and buy a £15 'All in one' Add on. It includes 300 minutes, 3000 texts (both only to Three numbers) and 'All you can eat' data. I've been using the same plan for well over a year, and i've had the problem for the majority of that. As soon as it's 3pm, my internet speed decreases dramatically, from approx. 50Mb/s down (I'm in a recently 4G enabled area) right down to barely 1 or 2 Mb/s down. The 4G that I now have is really fast before 3pm, but after it right up until midnight, it's just the same as before.

I've heard about Three's 'TrafficSense' schemes, but I wasn't told about any of this when I bought the SIM card. It's not the phone I'm using, as I used to have a Galaxy S3 last year, and I still had the same problem with that. I admit, I do tether and use approx. 30-40GB a month, but surely they can't sell it as 'All you can eat' if it's barely usable for 9 hours of the day?! I'm starting to get extremely frustrated with the service they are providing, and all they say to me when I complaint to them, is that there is no throttling on my SIM (which there clearly is! And that it's just a temporary glitch in the system, I wouldn't call 1 year+ a TEMPORARY glitch) Luckily, because I am on Pay as you go, I'm not tied into any contracts which I can't get out of. So if anyone could recommend any other networks that have plans for TRULY unlimited data (and preferably 4G) it would be much appreciated.

P.S... I don't want to have broadband because I'd find it unnecessary because I wouldn't need a home phone, so I would be paying for something I wouldn't need. If anyone else is having this issue, please let me know! Thanks in advance for any advice/help, Ben

Tony5101

You do realise that 3's PAYG plans specifically exclude tethering?
I know that 3 does use a trafficsense system, but this is implemented to ensure that there is enough bandwidth available so that everyone can get a/some service. The fact that the speed is being throttled back so much in your area is probably down to the fact that you're using a heavily subscribed mast. In fact - you're probably part of the overall problem. I'm extremely surprised that they haven't kicked you off the network, if this is what you've been doing for over a year!

macbookprofan90

I was told when I bought the Galaxy S3 last year (when I bought the SIM card) that the £15 'All in one' plan on Pay as you go DOES support tethering...

Tony5101

info taken from 3 site - once you select the plan that your sim is on.

"Choose either:
All-in-One 15 Add-on.
This Add-on gives you 300 minutes, 3,000 texts and all-you-can-eat data to use within 30 days.

All-in-One 10 Add-on.
This Add-on gives you 100 minutes, 3,000 texts and 500MB of data to use within 30 days.

Pay As You Go plans do not allow tethering. If you would like to tether, you will need to choose a Pay Monthly plan and / or an Add-On that does allow tethering."

I believe that the only plan to allow tethering is "the One Plan"

macbookprofan90

Now that I've seen that, Mr walk all over dummy here has been mis-sold! When it says 'or an Add-On that does allow tethering', I assume that applies for Pay as you go aswell? If so, then I can't find any plans that do allow tethering apart from the One Plan.

kingrulzuk

I have a Note 3 and for last 4 months im using 3 on the phone and i have no problems at all. If you are D/L 30 to 40GB a month then you should be happy coz all you pay is £15.

Coz if you take that £15 and go to EE o2 vodafone tesco i dont think you will get anywhere near 30GB a month.

kingrulzuk

[QUOTE=macbookprofan90;discussion/4902042]I'm on Pay as you go, and buy a £15 'All in one' Add on. It includes 300 minutes, 3000 texts (both only to Three numbers)[/QUOTE]



I have the same Add on plan. But i can call and text to any uk numbers. How come your add on plan is different??

macbookprofan90

Are you on the same plan as me and on Pay as you go?

macbookprofan90

I said both only to Three numbers because the 300 minutes and 3000 texts only apply to Three numbers, you have to top up and pay to send a text or call to another network

kingrulzuk

macbookprofan90 wrote: »

I said both only to Three numbers because the 300 minutes and 3000 texts only apply to Three numbers, you have to top up and pay to send a text or call to another network

Sorry to say this mate but you are rong. coz i have the same plan PAYG i get 300 min 3000 text and all data for £15. and i call my family on virgin and o2 and i never top up more then £15 a month so my balance is £0

pepdavies

The £15 add on covers all UK networks and landlines, not just 3.