Oh dear. The rather popular and best-in-class T-Mobile acceptable use policy for phone data use is about to be SLASHED, with the company taking the HARD LINE on mobile web traffic for new contracts from next month.
From 1st February 2011, T-Mobile UK’s acceptable use policy for smartphone data is coming down to 500MB. It used to be either 1GB or 3GB depending on your contract. Here’s T-Mobile UK’s rather amusing description of what being on the internet means:
Browsing means looking at websites and checking email, but not watching videos, downloading files or playing games. We’ve got a fair use policy but ours means that you’ll always be able to browse the internet, it’s only when you go over the fair use amount that you won’t be able to download, stream and watch video clips.
So Whats Changing? – From 1st February 2011 we will be aligning our fair use policies so our mobile internet service will have fair use of 500MB.
UPDATE:
According to many angry users and a great post on Bitterwallet, this change WILL affect all T-Mobile customers, even those on the older 1GB and 3GB contracts.
Read the full explanation of the changes from T-Mobile here. We will not upload an image with this news to reflect the sombre nature of the announcement.
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MrChaz
/ January 10, 2011I think I speak for everyone when I say ‘Booooooo’
Robin
/ January 10, 2011I think I speak for everyone when I say ‘GiffGaff’!!!! (Where unlimited means u-n-l-i-m-i-t-e-d.
Timbo
/ January 10, 2011You sure that it’s new contracts only? Didn’t see that anywhere.
Gary C
/ January 10, 2011They can’t retroactively change existing contracts, surely? They’d be on Watchdog every week for years to come if they did that. I’ll see if I can get a proper answer.
Timbo
/ January 10, 2011Vodafone did it ( and added charges for going over) watchdog wouldn’t even cover it!
Mark G
/ January 10, 2011the point is, you have an exit clause for early termination. Clearly T-Mobile can’t offer you up a contract and then change it.
It’s called Bait and Switch….
Nick
/ January 10, 2011Wonder if this will roll onto Virgin as they use T Mobile network?
Timbo
/ January 10, 2011Just had confirmation (via a Twitter DM) that this is new AND EXISTING CUSTOMERS!
Time to delve into my contract T&C’s.
Gary C
/ January 10, 2011Cheers for that. I’ve changed the original post.
Oliver
/ January 10, 2011Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!
Mark G
/ January 10, 2011You don’t have to delve into any small print. This practise is illegal, it’s called “Bait and Switch”.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bait-and-switch
Mercool
/ January 10, 2011I got the text message – it affects all customers, not just new contracts. Customers have 14 days to react before they are deemed to have accepted the change. If you are adversely affected by this change (i.e. if you can show you use more than 500mb a month) you may be able to cancel your contract. See website link for “joke” announcement ;-p
Anonymous
/ January 10, 2011Im already on 1 gb contract and ive recaived sms that my data allowance will chenge since 2 feb. to 500 mb :-( thy dont care about watchdog so dont be surprised.
andrei
/ January 10, 2011i have just sent this to t-mobile via a web form on their help and support page.
feel free to copy and paste/change it for your own use.
dear sir/madam, i have just received a text message from yourselves stating that my internet FUP is being reduced from 3gb to 500mb. i am deeply unhappy about this and feel that you are in breach of contract.
i have phoned your customer services and contacted yourselves via twitter and the response has been that the internet is an additional service provided to myself that can be changed by yourselves with 30 days notice.
could you please show me;
1.where in my contract it states that the internet is an additional service?
2. where in my contract it states that my call/sms allowance is not an additional service. 3. could you also tell me, if you need to give 30 days notice of any changes to my additional services, you can send a text on the 10th of jan and change the service on the 2nd of feb?
i would wish that both my contracts with yourselves are cancelled with no further charges to my account and PAC’s are supplied to myself.
deadite66
/ January 10, 2011i’d phone them as they’ve broken the contract, walk away with the phone and find someone cheaper.
Mercool
/ January 10, 2011I agree whole-heartedly with the above – what I would say to deadite66 is not to phone them but to send them a recorded delivery letter so that you have proof notice has been served on them. Their customer service people in the Phillippines are a joke (they try to help, but things were much better when it was done in Glasgow and South Wales) and their disconnections teams, who are in the UK, are getting more calls than usual – I wonder why?!
Timbo
/ January 10, 2011Ive not even had a text yet! I fought long and hard to cancel a vodafone contract over similar problem (except they were going to charge more if you went over)
Jer
/ January 10, 2011I’ve not received any SMS about this so it clearly does not affect me.
Deadite
/ January 10, 2011To clarify, t-mobile will not allow customers to cancel without charge, argument being that it is a fair use and you can stil browse unlimited, it’s just downloading of data intensive items I.e video that is capped.
Personally I think it’s garbage and that if someone bought an android based phone on t-mobile based on the fact they offered 3gb fair use, which is what I was sold on instore, then there should be grounds for cancelation. However in saying that the alternatives are pretty much the same but with run on rates over and above the data allowances.
I just don’t get how when three an t-mob now have a network share agreement in the 3G band, there are huge differences to their offers??
dans
/ January 10, 2011This is a big problem, i currently have 3 contracts with Tmobile, all with data, 10gb, 3gb and 1gb. If they suddenly all go to 500mb, im off to 3.
dans
/ January 10, 2011This is the best bit;
If you want to download, stream and watch video clips, save that stuff for your home broadband.
lol.