Verizon Drops The Axe! Will Disconnect Unlimited Data Users Using Extraordinary Amounts Of Data!

[liftedplane]

Now knowing that it's 100gb I'm not even remotely worried, even when weekending 30 days at ntc and using my phone to tether while playing lotro or just surf the web (this is before 4g btw) my mac data use has only ever been around 80gb I'm sure if I set my one at home and used it as my home internet, Netflix xbox pc movies etc I could easily hit 250gb,except even 4g isn't fast enough and doesn't have enough bandwidth to connect all of my devices.

If they make it 20gb then yes of course I'd be worried, I use 20 - 25 per month. Not tethering just music videos and app updates


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[FoxKat]

I'm currently sitting at 102 GB. I also have WiFi at home but it doesn't do me any good. I drive a semi for a living and I'm only home 3 days a month. Between streaming music music while I drive and watching Netflix after I stop for the day I can burn through data fast.

I don't think you'll be targeted unless as they said, you use "well in excess of 100GB". How close to your plan month end are you with 102GB already?

 

[scottysize]

I've just gotten verbal confirmation from Verizon that the letters are going out between July 21 and August 20. But remember, it is per line so if you have more than one line since it's a shared data plan you could use the aggregate of upwards of 100GB X #lines (i.e. 100GB X 3 lines = 300GB), safely since they are targeting those using in excess of 100GB.

From a Verizon spokesperson;

"These users are using data amounts well in excess of our largest plan size (100GB). While the Verizon Plan at 100GB is designed to be shared across multiple users, each line receiving notification to move to the new Verizon Plan is using well in excess of that on a single device."


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My phones will be fine, but my Hotspot's all alone. It'll be caught.

 

[FoxKat]

I certainly hope that this is accurate. The most I have ever used is 70Gb in a month. Most months it is about 1/2 that. I feel very fortunate to have had a UDP for as long as I have. I live in a rural area that has no high-speed internet. Drive 10 min in any direction and there is both Xfinity and Fios available but not anywhere near me.I've tried Hughesnet satellite but trying to stream anything is impossible. Other posts have been critical of a sense of entitlement. I certainly don't feel entitled to Verizon's bandwidth but I do fear not having access to the internet that exists in some 3rd world developing countries.

It's not people like you that they are focusing on. You are well under the 100GB mark, and that's not even the trigger point, just given as a reference for discussion. Nobody really knows what the threshold is though I expect we'll find out once and if people get the letter as it will most likely explain their usage and why it exceeds their limits. Still, "well in excess of" 100GB "each line" is the verbiage so far and the closest we have to an indication of the actual trigger amount.

 

[aphex412w]

I don't think you'll be targeted unless as they said, you use "well in excess of 100GB". How close to your plan month end are you with 102GB already?

I'm 10 days out. Better lay low then.

 

[FoxKat]

I'm 10 days out. Better lay low then.

I would advise that. Try to keep your head low and averages at or below 100GB and hopefully you'll be fine. According to sources, the letters will go out between July 21 and August 20, so I think that if you haven't received a letter by the end of August you will have slipped through the screening.

 

[shockracer]

But is it an ongoing screening? When one hits that set point an alarm goes off in the system and a letter goes out?

 

[FoxKat]

But is it an ongoing screening? When one hits that set point an alarm goes off in the system and a letter goes out?

My interpretation of what was told to me initially yesterday is that they are looking only at a 3-month average during the period starting July 1 and ending August 30, but that could be somewhat inaccurate given what I was told today The rep today said that the letters (possibly only the first wave-mind you), will be going out between July 21 and August 20. In any event, I would simply lay low and in every case try to remain as close to or below 100GB per line as possible.

 

[dezymond]

Writing has been on the wall for years, though I guess I'm glad I'm not a power user. Past few months I'd say I've averaged about 3gb, a bit less even, and I've used even less before.

Feel bad for those that fall into the category though.

 

[pchain]

So if they are ending all UDPs for customers using over 100GB a month, it basically means UDP doesn't exist anymore... it's capped at 100GB.

In other words, all UDP customers will lose their unlimited data, and they will either be forced to go to a lower tiered plan, or remain on their current plan, but in reality it's really a brand new 100GB plan, formerly known as UDP?

Basically those of us still on the UDP plan that don't get a letter from Verizon are now on a 100GB plan.

So now that they have former UDPers all on a high usage 100GB plan, it's just a matter of time before they squeeze down on the 100GB and make it 80, then 60, then, 40, then convert us into one of the normal plans.

Yep, it is the beginning of the end for us who still have UDPs. At least that's how I read this...

 

[FoxKat]

That's one way of looking at it, but as said before it's not a firm 100GB cap. First, the spokesperson said it would be those who used "well in excess of 100GB", and that those that get the letter are persons who are using that excessive data on just one line. So if you have a family plan with 2 or more UDP lines, you will be looking at the aggregate of in excess of 100GB per line (i.e. 2 lines = 200GB, 3 lines = 300GB, etc.). Also, I was informed it would be based on a 3-month average of use, so if you average 20GB, but one month go up to 200GB, at least in theory you would still be 40GB below the 300GB psuedo-threshold, or about 13GB below the monthly limit, based on that 3 month average.

So I guess what I'm saying is MODERATION whenever possible.

Finally, "well in excess of" could be interpreted any number of ways. It could be 10% more or 50% more, or 100% more.

 

[deadernie]

I think I will be ok. My data is usually under 25G a month between my wife and myself.

We do use our phones as our ISP as they're aren't any other good options. Satellite is expensive, fios is unavailable, cable was recently added to my street but was quoted several thousand for installation since we're far from the street.

I occasionally tether to my laptop for baking (which I pay a tether fee) and we watch a couple movies once in a while through Amazon Prime. And I stream audio at work.

The biggest problem out of all this is I barely can get a 4G signal at the house so streaming anything is hit or miss.

 

[tech_head]

Regarding the FCC and their position on limiting "unlimited data", that case has left the building a long time ago. Back in October of 2015 an article was published showing Verizon was still allowing unlimited to mean unlimited while three of its biggest competitors has already added data caps to their unlimited data plans (see below). Furthermore those other carriers capped the data at less than 1/4 of what Verizon is now proposing, between 22 and 23GB per month. And to clarify, the verbiage used by Verizon to indicate the days consumption rates that trigger the push was "well in excess of 100GB", so even using at our just over 100GB based on the statement should not trigger the pink slip for you.

Quote, CNN.com (http://money.cnn.com/2015/10/21/technology/unlimited-data/)b

"Sprint: Last week, Sprint announced that it would cap its unlimited data plans at 23 GB. After customers hit that limit, the network will begin prioritizing their download requests after all other Sprint customers, which means they'll have to get in line if they really want to watch that YouTube video.

23 GB is still a whole lot of data, and only impacts 3% of Sprint's customers. But it's a push-back nonetheless.

T-Mobile: Outspoken CEO John Legere went on a tirade against a small fraction of his customers he said are "stealing data" from T-Mobile. He said some customers used software tricks to bypass limits T-Mobile put in place on downloads from mobile hotspots.

The company also has implemented a 23 GB cap on unlimited data, after which T-Mobile prioritizes other customers over the heaviest downloaders.

AT&T: The first carrier to get rid of unlimited plans continues to grandfather in customers who have stuck with unlimited data since 2010.

Like Sprint and T-Mobile, AT&T has a 22 GB cap, after which it slows down speeds for its heaviest users.

But AT&T's policy appears to be harsher than its competitors. The FCC said that AT&T's unlimited customers had been subjected to slower speeds for an average of 12 days -- nearly half a billing cycle. The commission also noted that throttled customers' speeds have been so slow, that they have experienced trouble connecting to mapping services or streaming video."






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Verizon has special considerations based on Block C that they agreed to when they acquired it.

 

[FoxKat]

My phones will be fine, but my Hotspot's all alone. It'll be caught.

Is your hotspot on UDP?

 

[Wadman]

The proverbial Axe was just dropped by Verizon. For years we have seen the writing on the wall and the reckoning is finally here. If you are an unlimited data user who actually uses what you pay for expect to be disconnected by Verizon starting August 31. This is all part of a major migration project. Verizon is trying to move the final unlimited data users to a limited data plan. Verizon will begin to notify users who they deem as having used too much data of what is to come and the options that remain starting tomorrow July 21.

The options will be to either switch to a tiered data plan by August 31st or have the line terminated. You will then have the option to reactivate the line, but only if you start back up on a limited data plan. I think this is all a load of horse dung. If they want to do away with unlimited data plans just say hey we are officially abolishing unlimited data plans. You can't just shut someone down for using what they pay for! I am more than likely effected by this. I personally consume more than 50GB per month. My wife uses about 20GB per month on average. Reports indicate that 95% of all mobile data users use less than 5GB of data per month so you can see how Verizon would say that anything over 5GB is "extraordinary".

I will personally have to take my business to another carrier if Verizon decides to shut down my lines. I have been with them for more than 10 years now. I have never missed a bill, and have purchased tens of thousands of dollars worth of equipment with them. It is kind of ridiculous that this is how they chose to treat some of their best customers.

How does this make you feel. Is this something you totally expected. Should Verizon handle this situation differently? Honestly if they would just come out and say they are doing away with unlimited data I would understand that. I don't understand the notion they are keeping unlimited data just as long as you don't really use it as such. What are your thoughts.

UPDATE: Verizon has informed the guys over at Droid-Life that this report is accurate. They will indeed notify a small group of customers who use the extraordinary amount of data that they will need to be on a new plan by August 31.

UPDATE UPDATE: "Foxkat" has actually spoken with Technical support who informed him that users in the 20GB-30GB per month range will be the ones to get the axe. This will be a hard stop come August 31. The limit is also per line not collectively which means if you had 2 lines of UDP you could hit 40-60GB without seeing the boot. Since I average 70GB per month on two lines I may not be safe.

So what if I haven't been notified by August 31st? Am I in the clear?