Spintel unlimited is not unlimited

[Chamelion]

Been reports of people who used to be on the 500gb plan, which automatically changed to the unlimited plan a few months ago, getting the boot for downloading as 'little' as 750gb per month. Kind of a dick move by spintel.

[iphex]

Not unusual, ive had a phonecall or two from a certain ISP for exceeding 'acceptable' download amounts.

For TPG at least its around 5tb, at least it was for me.

[Rezin]

Originally Posted by iphex

...'acceptable' download amounts.

The magic words, which are probably listed somewhere in the T&Cs of any ISP that offers unlimited quota.

[Chamelion]

Originally Posted by Rezin

The magic words, which are probably listed somewhere in the T&Cs of any ISP that offers unlimited quota.

spintel don't provide an example as to what constitutes an unacceptable amount. They also flatly refuse to give you a 'roundabout' number over the phone. It appears to be a mystery to anyone but them.
One might assume that the magic number is 500gb. Any more in consecutive months and you're out of there.

[caspian]

"acceptable" is probably more based on a highest-percentage calculation, a la Exetel.

I'd be extremely surprised if they have out a hard number, because it would be on Whirlpool 30 seconds later as "xxx from Spintel told me..." and then every leech would be aiming to hit five nines of that number.

as always -

(a) don't use cheap ISPs and expect top level service.
(b) don't believe advertising. it only lists the positive features of a product to suck you in.

[Chamelion]

Originally Posted by caspian

(a) don't use cheap ISPs and expect top level service.
(b) don't believe advertising. it only lists the positive features of a product to suck you in.

I should note at this point that I am one of the customers affected.

Comcen/spintel has been GREAT for me for the 5 years I have been with them. Decent pricing and the customer service was always reasonable decent. Certainly on par with my previous isp (internode).

When i first signed up I had 20gb and free pipe. was on that happily until only a few months ago when I voluntarily changed to the 500gb plan. I was very happy on that. They 'forced' me onto the unlimited plan and are now disconnecting me after I exceeded 500gb, but never 1tb three calendar months running. That absolutely SCREAMS of misinformation, misleading claims toward plan data 'limits' and very poor customer appreciation.

Anyone on Dodo? looking at the 3TB plan.

[Chamelion]

Contacted spin.. Was told on the phone that as 'we use three times the amount of data as the average unlimited plan user our usage is excessive and set for termination under the AUP'. As our average is around the 850gig mark I would suggest that all unlimited users consider around 500gb as the safe maximum. The bloody idiots should have left the plan AS 500gb in the first place.

[iphex]

Originally Posted by Chamelion

Contacted spin.. Was told on the phone that as 'we use three times the amount of data as the average unlimited plan user our usage is excessive and set for termination under the AUP'. As our average is around the 850gig mark I would suggest that all unlimited users consider around 500gb as the safe maximum. The bloody idiots should have left the plan AS 500gb in the first place.

Contact the TIO about it perhaps? deceptive and bait advertising.

I would also ask Spin for a copy of the terms of conditions and the definition of what is fair usage. For unlimited i would personally consider 2-3tb to be the upper reach of fair game (and if your exceding this amount on a monthly basis, somethings up)

I also would just go for broke download as much as i possibly could and as hard as i could till they disconnect me, then contact the obudsman that they have breached contract and just move to another ISP.

[maev]

I'm actually with unlimited dodo for $59 a month or so.
I wouldn't mind betting that in their TnC there is also something similar.

Good thing i use 50gb at most per month, not much of a downloader myself. I guess if i were still into games and movies i could expect that to be 500GB or more.

Ideally, another thing you can do is ring up and ask them about their unlimited plan.

Say your interested and want to know if its truly unlimited. If the rep then says yeah you can download as much as you want for as long as you want then you got something to shove up their ass.

[ozzycozz]

I didn't realise (some) ISPs were still using the term 'unlimited'. I thought the ACCC cracked down on this where 'unlimited' with a reference to an AUP wasn't on. It's either unlimited or it's not.

[Crusher]

What can you possibly be doing online that would leave you feeling shortchanged at only having 750gb downloaded in a month.

And dont give any of that "downloading linux iso's" garbage.

Its ironic that people complain their ISP's are breaking the law with limits advertised, when the people using the huge limits are typically breaking far more laws with their content downloads.

[caspian]

Originally Posted by Chamelion

Comcen/spintel has been GREAT for me for the 5 years I have been with them. Decent pricing and the customer service was always reasonable decent. Certainly on par with my previous isp (internode).

yes, that's one of the main characteristics of a cheap ISP. the pricing is great while it works.

Anyone on Dodo?

fuck me... who said that humans are unique in that they have the capacity to learn yet refuse to do so?

[Linkin]

Originally Posted by Crusher

What can you possibly be doing online that would leave you feeling shortchanged at only having 750gb downloaded in a month.

And dont give any of that "downloading linux iso's" garbage.

Its ironic that people complain their ISP's are breaking the law with limits advertised, when the people using the huge limits are typically breaking far more laws with their content downloads.

Let's accept the gravity of the situation:

No one in Australia gives a shit about copyright infringement, as prices for media here are shit
What else are you legally going to use all that data on, in a home environment? If in doubt, see my first point

[Chamelion]

Originally Posted by ozzycozz

I didn't realise (some) ISPs were still using the term 'unlimited'. I thought the ACCC cracked down on this where 'unlimited' with a reference to an AUP wasn't on. It's either unlimited or it's not.

I thought they had cracked down on it too.

Originally Posted by Crusher

What can you possibly be doing online that would leave you feeling shortchanged at only having 750gb downloaded in a month.

And dont give any of that "downloading linux iso's" garbage.

Its ironic that people complain their ISP's are breaking the law with limits advertised, when the people using the huge limits are typically breaking far more laws with their content downloads.

That's not nearly the point.. They have placed me on an unlimited plan, my usage should be unlimited. Not limited by an arbitrary number or percentage of use compared to anyone else.

I feel short changed in that I'm being forced to relocate my services, at my own cost, when I have done only what I believe I was able to do so under the lack of limits placed on any form of realistic definition of the word unlimited.

Originally Posted by caspian

yes, that's one of the main characteristics of a cheap ISP. the pricing is great while it works.



fuck me... who said that humans are unique in that they have the capacity to learn yet refuse to do so?

I have heard mixed reports about Dodo. Unfortunately I only have Telstra gear in my local exchange, so my options are rather limited. Fortunately I can switch to Dodo for $29, without any contracts being in place, so it's not going to cost a lot to give them a shot and see if they're going to meet my needs and/or wants. At the very worst I'll buy a bit more time to find a suitable replacement ISP.

[caspian]

I'm a firm believer that it's nobody's business what anyone uses their data for, other than their own. I don't care if it's for linux isos, midget porn or copyright infringement.

you're also free to try to download the entire internet every month if you want.

just be prepared to pay the consequences and costs of doing both.

in the latter case, it means that if you're downloading more data than the average user, be prepared to pay higher than average prices.