Verizon CEO Seidenberg Adds Fuel To AT&T Wireless Rumors

Comcast's Fuzzy Usage Caps Getting More Attention

from the where-have-I-heard-that-before dept

Thu, Jan 29th 2004 6:01pm — Mike Masnick

We've discussed this a few times before, but now the Associated Press is running an article about Comcast's "fuzzy" usage caps - where they'll suddenly send letters to users threatening to cut them off if they don't cut back on their bandwidth usage. Of course, they don't (and won't) tell them how much they're using or how much they need to cut back by. It's all a big mystery. Comcast responds with the same line they always use, pointing out that it's only the very worst offenders, who make up such a tiny percentage of users. That, of course, is not the point. The point is that they're offering a service which they bill as being flat-rate and unlimited, and that's not true. If they want to put in a cap, that's fine - but they should say what that cap is so people can make an educated decision.

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58 Comments

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alex, 30 Jan 2004 @ 9:00am

legal action
Why hasn't any of these subscribers who has gotten these letters try to sue Comcast for false advertising when Comcast advertise their service as "unlimited" or better yet once Comcast do cut off their service all together.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Paul M Johnson, 30 Jan 2004 @ 9:51am

Re: legal action
I suspect that the "unlimited" refers to connection time not download limits.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Michael Vilain, 30 Jan 2004 @ 11:26am

Re: unlimited it isn't
The TV commercials don't specify and there's nothing in the UA to specify. There's also no service agreement that spells out downtimes for the network or caps on network data transfers _or_ bandwidth. I sure as hell don't get unlimited connect time. There are network outages all the time. A lot less than SBC DSL, but it's not 'unlimited'. Maybe I should get a life..

Such ambiguity is _begging_ for class action litegation against a company with deep pockets. Why hasn't some enterprising law firm advertised for people to sign on to such a suit?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
LittleW0lf, 30 Jan 2004 @ 6:08pm

Re: unlimited it isn't
The TV commercials don't specify and there's nothing in the UA to specify.

I got one from @Home once, early on in its history. It said I had gone beyond their 2GB per month download limit (I download distros all the time, and routinely go above 2GB, though not nearly as much as I used to now that I CVSup most of the distros,) which was news to me, so I called them up on the phone and explained to them that they sold me the pipe, and unless I was preventing others from using their service (since my downloads were normally during the 2:00-4:00am hours.)

The person I spoke with, who was a manager, stated that they never meant to send out those letters (which he said was a number of them,) and that apparently an employee who sent them out was doing so without the permission of the company. I have never seen one since from @Home or from Cox. However, if I was to see another one, I'd be on the phone again in a heart-beat, and if that didn't fix the problem, would take my business elsewhere. I don't need some prick telling me what I should or shouldn't do with their always on, "broadband" connectivity. I am already pissed of with the caps as it is, you are right that there is nothing in their ad or on their UA or contract to say what these caps and limits are.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Sammy Moz, 2 Feb 2004 @ 9:44am

Re: unlimited it isn't
The limit must be pretty high. I do well above what any average user would in data transfer, and have not gotten one from comcast. Still I would be curious to see what the cap is.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Sun Kim, 30 Oct 2005 @ 12:25am

Re: unlimited it isn't
Comcast is probably afraid that if you set a maximum cap, that will encourage non-abusers to actually use more bandwidth since s/he feels they can utilize more than they currently are. Its probably better for Comcast not to disclose a figure to not encourage additional abuse.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Jamaal, 8 Jan 2006 @ 2:58am

Re: unlimited it isn't
Then hell, lets all just rack it up. I myself download about 10-20 Gigs a month and i have not once received such a letter.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
tim, 17 Jan 2006 @ 11:46pm

Re: unlimited it isn't
Crap....in the last 4 days, i've downloaded 60GB. Haha. I guess that's what happens when you download HDTV content. I haven't received a letter yet ^^. I use newsgroups by the way, which is why i use so much bandwidth.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 29 May 2006 @ 1:55am

Re: Re: unlimited it isn't
Hey you all I can top you all. Comcast's user agreement department called me and warned if I did not stop my 400 gigs a month I would be cancelled for 12 months.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 29 May 2006 @ 1:55am

Re: Re: unlimited it isn't
Hey you all I can top you all. Comcast's user agreement department called me and warned if I did not stop my 400 gigs a month I would be cancelled for 12 months.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
kristin, 11 Jul 2006 @ 7:08pm

comcast employee
there isnt necissarily a cap per say..... unlimited is measured in time not bandwith as most dialup users well know..... its in the tbps but there isnt specifically a cap # to tell customers primarily you would have to be downlading 800kb constantly all day/24/7 to recieve any letter, someone who never stops for example.. suspicion of illegal activity realistically
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ex comcast custmoer, 15 Aug 2006 @ 7:23am

getting back to the point
if there wasn't a cap, then no one would be getting letters. that the cap is "fuzzy" doesn't make it less of a cap. cable internet is pretty much the fastest thing available for the price, and heavy users would be happy to stay within a certain cap and keep the service, but comcast refuses to say what that is. they refuse to say how much a user should cut down. why?

Try calling their "network abuse and policy observance" department. You have to leave a message and hope they call you back. Then ask them yourselves. Try to get a straight answer to any question and you'll see what the frustration is about.

856 324 2025

They sound like a bunch of politicians reciting talking points when they talk about this issue.

"Is there a cap?"
"No."
"But I'm downloading too much?"
"Yes."
"How much is too much?"
"I can't tell you that."
"Why?"
"Because that would mean there was a cap, and there isn't."
"If there isn't a cap, then how can I be downloading too much?"
*brain explodes from logic fault*
[ link to this | view in thread ]
mojo, 29 Aug 2006 @ 10:56pm

Re: getting back to the point
if you're downloading enough for them to say you're slowing down the network for everyone else, i say that it's best that they ask you to not download so much. why should my internet be affected by your usage if we both pay the same amount?

comcast is good, fast, and cheap. and if they had to make it so everyone could download 400gb/mo then it would cost a lot more.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Fred, 14 Oct 2006 @ 1:02pm

limits
I also got the vague answers from the "network abuse and policy observance" department when they finally decided to call me back. I had to give them specific hours I would be available and then sit around waiting for them to call. This whole process took two weeks. As in the cases above, they said I was downloading "too much" and needed to "cut down drastically". When I asked what that meant, he couldn't answer, besides saying "drastically" again. Is there any truly unlimited ISP out there, because this is baloney?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
bren, 24 Nov 2006 @ 11:35am

Re: Re: unlimited it isn't
I got one also but I was using a lot-they said I was in the top 1 percent in the country. They did say it was 500 gb in a month period. I asked what the limit was and they wont say
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Dave, 12 Dec 2006 @ 3:28pm

856-324-2025
Got a suspicious Call from Comcast security?? Hmm called and got a answering machine! Should have NEVER Called that number!
I then,
Called Comcast 1-800-COMCAST number and they did not recognize this number 856-324-2025 or the party who claims to be abuse or security Comcast people!

There was not record of abuse on my formal Comcast account through the legit Comcast Company as there should not be. The Comcast employee I spoke with took this number down and is forwarding it to her manager.
So Beware! If anyone threatens you, tell them sorry you do not deal with Comcast unless it is through the 1-800-COMCAST number and you will be glad to contact Comcast through that number and they can then relay any type of discrepancies!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
steve, 12 Dec 2006 @ 6:27pm

Re: 856-324-2025
hello i just got a call today from them (856-324-2025). Ill probably report this phone to Comcast too.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
steve, 12 Dec 2006 @ 6:28pm

Re: 856-324-2025
hello i just got a call today from them (856-324-2025). Ill probably report this phone to Comcast too.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
856-324-2025, 13 Dec 2006 @ 7:33am

856-324-2025
Got the same call last night, tried calling about 12 different times and just get the voicemail. Some of us aren't home during the day... if they want to leave a message they should leave a TOLL-FREE NUMBER THAT THEY ACTUALLY ANSWER!

And I checked my Giganews usage for October and mine was way higher than normal, I'm sure that is why they are calling. Musta been 175 gigs newsgroups and prob over 100 gigs torrents.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
dslreports, 13 Dec 2006 @ 7:34am

dslreports
There's also a thread here:

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,17447955
[ link to this | view in thread ]
carl, 13 Dec 2006 @ 1:40pm

856-324-2025
I tried calling this number 856-324-2025 about 10 tens but i keep getting the voice mail. has anyone gotten through the voice mail and actually speak with a rep.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 13 Dec 2006 @ 6:11pm

Ok

It's not comcast! I called Comcast! like I said before. It's not them! They said they only deal with customers through the 1-800 number.
I suggest everyone call comcast and report the number to them!

So the question is how did these NJ folk get our personal telephone numbers?

Some people have mentioned giganews?

It seems like there is a link between giganews and these NJ folk! Giganews I read came out with a new security thing cost more bucks!

Now how would someone know how much someone downloads and their phone number? Isn't that info on giganews?

I will be writing giganews because I've already talked with comcast! So one it's giganews or two some people have hacked giganews accounts and personal information
So if anyone is doing illegal things is the 856 Mr.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Abusive Comcast Dude (350GB/month), 13 Dec 2006 @ 8:41pm

Yes, (856-324-2025) it's Comcast
Or should I say Comcastic?. But it's like the Secret Comcast Security geek squad. Regular support cannot even open the notes on their tickets. BUT if you give them a Network security ticket number, they CAN see who has worked it (ie, the operator ID). So, if you get an abusive network security dweeb (like I did), get the their name and ticket number that you are being contacted about, hang up, call regular support, report the issue, and explain that you would be happy to speak to someone from network security who can talk with you in a non-judgmental, non-abusive, and professional manner. And oh yea, they still won't answer any of your questions, but ask them anyway, and make them smile while they repeat the same thing over and over.
I take great issue with anyone who calls me up and immediately comes off as if I'm a criminal just for using the service. I also take issue with the Comcast employee who posted here with the assumption that 7x24 somehow implies illegal activity. If this represents the present thinking on Comcast managers,then they are about to be in for a world of hurt. (See news about Movie distributor purchase of BitTorrent - i think it's still on the goofy "wheel". Am I getting charged bandwidth every time I have to wait for the wheel to spin??? Hell, just give me the news).

And geez guys, at least you could attempt to hide your contempt for your heavy use customers. Instead of calling us "abusers" (to our face BTW), why not something like "high capacity consumers", and recognize, we are probably the technically elite that recommend (or bad mouth) your customer service to anyone who asks us. And I get a lot of people asking me.

Good news is, they use a top 1% to identify their heavy consumers, and that means there will always be a top 1%, and as more "normal" customers tweak up their usage, so floats up the bottom of that top 1%. I would think if they put a hard cap, that would mean to me they have admitted defeat in growing capacity to meet the demand growth. The trick then becomes figuring out what consumption constitutes their top 1%, and staying just below it. I would love to see a web site where those who get "the call", can list what they were told was their consumption level. Do the math. 1% of 12M customers is 120,000 customers, A MONTH!. I think you could figure out their fuzzy cap if we collected data like that. (BTW, does anyone actually believe they really call all those people EVERY month??? My guess is that you actually have to appear on the report for several months before you get the call, but of course that wouldn't make for as nearly a dramatic phone call and would lead into other questions like, well why didn't you call me sooner?) Security geeks live for the drama.

Cheers
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Abusive Comcast Dude (350GB/month), 13 Dec 2006 @ 8:41pm

Yes, (856-324-2025) it's Comcast
Or should I say Comcastic?. But it's like the Secret Comcast Security geek squad. Regular support cannot even open the notes on their tickets. BUT if you give them a Network security ticket number, they CAN see who has worked it (ie, the operator ID). So, if you get an abusive network security dweeb (like I did), get the their name and ticket number that you are being contacted about, hang up, call regular support, report the issue, and explain that you would be happy to speak to someone from network security who can talk with you in a non-judgmental, non-abusive, and professional manner. And oh yea, they still won't answer any of your questions, but ask them anyway, and make them smile while they repeat the same thing over and over.
I take great issue with anyone who calls me up and immediately comes off as if I'm a criminal just for using the service. I also take issue with the Comcast employee who posted here with the assumption that 7x24 somehow implies illegal activity. If this represents the present thinking on Comcast managers,then they are about to be in for a world of hurt. (See news about Movie distributor purchase of BitTorrent - i think it's still on the goofy "wheel". Am I getting charged bandwidth every time I have to wait for the wheel to spin??? Hell, just give me the news).

And geez guys, at least you could attempt to hide your contempt for your heavy use customers. Instead of calling us "abusers" (to our face BTW), why not something like "high capacity consumers", and recognize, we are probably the technically elite that recommend (or bad mouth) your customer service to anyone who asks us. And I get a lot of people asking me.

Good news is, they use a top 1% to identify their heavy consumers, and that means there will always be a top 1%, and as more "normal" customers tweak up their usage, so floats up the bottom of that top 1%. I would think if they put a hard cap, that would mean to me they have admitted defeat in growing capacity to meet the demand growth. The trick then becomes figuring out what consumption constitutes their top 1%, and staying just below it. I would love to see a web site where those who get "the call", can list what they were told was their consumption level. Do the math. 1% of 12M customers is 120,000 customers, A MONTH!. I think you could figure out their fuzzy cap if we collected data like that. (BTW, does anyone actually believe they really call all those people EVERY month??? My guess is that you actually have to appear on the report for several months before you get the call, but of course that wouldn't make for as nearly a dramatic phone call and would lead into other questions like, well why didn't you call me sooner?) Security geeks live for the drama.

Cheers
[ link to this | view in thread ]
herb..., 14 Dec 2006 @ 10:46am

close connection??
hello i got a message from 856-324-2025 Monday stating to call them right away regarding my comcast account. I called 856-324-2025 about 10 times but all a got was the voice mail message. I lost my connection yesterday afternoon and i still dont have internet connection today. Did anyone else have this happen to them. Ill probably call my local comcast service about my situation and see whats up
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anon, 14 Dec 2006 @ 12:24pm

Comcrap
They called me back 1.5 days later, said I downloaded over 300 gigs and need to cut my usage back or I get suspended for a year. Wouldn't tell me what the limit was, said there is no limit but my usage was 100x over that of a normal user. Said my connection will be back up this evening. The guy was at least polite.
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crapycom.net, 8 Feb 2007 @ 12:00pm

I got a call today to about how much i downloaded and also they would not tell me how much other then i have to cut back alot or get cut off for 12 months! Well going to look at verizon now!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
John, 13 Feb 2007 @ 6:26am

limits
They called to tell me I was using too much bandwidth and if it kept up I would be cut off for 12 months. The problem is that Comcast supplied and installed my wireless home network and the contract states that they are also responsible to keep it running properly. Comcast tech. support told me that the beanbags from the Comcast Policy Observance Group must have made a mistake because the router they supplied and installed by their own admission isn't even capable of the bandwidth stated so the cap must be on usage time and download size and not for 'total bytes per second' "tbps" as stated by that COMCAST EMPLOYEE on 7/11/06. I'm going to start out by canceling my automatic payments. Let's see how long it takes them to collect the last months payment if I get cut off.
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John, 13 Feb 2007 @ 7:01am

Re: Re: getting back to the point
Comcast could put a "BANDWIDTH" limmiter on their cable if they wanted. Why should our usage be a guessing game? Has your connection actually been slowed down by so called abusers? If so, how do you know it wasn't just Comcast making excuces. I use the internet a lot for work and it has never slowed down for any reason. It's been competely down several times though. Bandwidth is supposed to be based on total bytes per second not the total of what you download in a month.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Dana, 13 Feb 2007 @ 3:16pm

i just got cut off
this is so irritating. comcast has a monopoly out here so i can't really go somewhere else yet. has anyone ever thought about a class action yet....
[ link to this | view in thread ]
John, 16 Feb 2007 @ 6:51am

Re: i just got cut off
I haven't been cut off yet but if it does happen I intend to go head to head with them in court. I pay more than the average customer for extra bandwidth because my customers are always attaching graphics with their sign orders and I have to reply with proofs of my rendition before production but the same download restrictions apply to me.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
John, 18 Feb 2007 @ 10:39am

Re: Yes, (856-324-2025) it's Comcast
I think the Abusive Comcast Dude has it nailed down. Comcast is going to drop the top 1% volume users until only people who don't need broadband are left and those fools will gladly pay $20.00 to $30.00 a month extra for a lot of wasted bandwidth.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Jeff, 18 Feb 2007 @ 2:06pm

Comcast shut me down, then restored service!
I recently got shut down by comcast. I received one warning by phone and argued with the
guy when he refused to state what my bandwidth cap should be. I was exasperated to say the
least. He mentioned that I'd been doing about 200GB per month and needed to "drastically
cut back" on my bandwidth usage. He did also mention that I needed to stay off of their
"top 1% of users list". I admit, my family are Internet power users. We have about 5
computers connected to the firewall router and my 8yo daughter uses the connection too.

The next day I called ATT and got signed up for DSL. ATT has new types of DSL that do not
depend on distance to the central office and rely upon remote connection points instead,
where a fiber connection is aggregated for the area and sent back to the CO and then
connected to the Internet backbone. This is a much more scalable architecture and it is
obvious to me that Comcast is very much worried about being able to maintain their current
network in light of some customers downloading Netflix movies and so forth in the months
to come.

The 200GB figure was not completely a surprise to me, as I do various P2P activities on
occasion, we have Vonage and my wife is a homemaker and talks to friends and family every
day. I think software and video downloads on youtube, as well as ebay picture uploads
would account for a great deal of bandwidth in addition to the Vonage use. I did cut back
on downloads quite a bit (I tried to limit to 2GB per day) and thought I would be OK for
the next couple of weeks until ATT DSL was installed; having a date about a week out when
I would get switched on, I continued to do downloads on my Comcast account, albeit at a
much lower level.

I WAS WRONG. My Comcast Internet service was shut off within about a week.

Of course my wife (who uses the phone a lot, as well as the Internet for her business) was
ticked off; po'ed at me and very mad at Comcast. I told her I had been reading DSL reports
and various ISP reviews that indicated that once the service was cut, nobody had been
successful in getting them to turn it back on. Maybe a dozen reports I had read were very
uniform in this respect.

I told her to take the kids and go visit her mother (has DSL) for the weekend and our
service with ATT would be switched on in a few days...

Of course ATT has never been a very progressive company and I found out just how bad they
are when I ordered DSL and realized they had completely fouled up my DSL order, except for
the phone line itself (there are 3 parts: phone line, unlimited LD, and DSL installation)
needed to be completely reordered! They had not completed 3rd party verification of the
ULD, and that was on hold. The DSL order was completely misplaced and had to be reordered.

This pushed out our ATT DSL service date a bit..

ATT it seems is completely unable to track DSL orders for new customers that do not yet
have an ATT phone line. I found this completely unacceptable and inept, and not a small
bit disconcerting! Old school.. they don't even answer the phone after about 9pm pacific.

I pointed out to my wife that our 911 access (via Vonage) had been cut off (by Comcast)
without any notice; a vague warning did not cite any hard limit, and we were not capable
of monitoring our actual usage with any tool provided by Comcast. My emails to
abuse@comcast.net (dev null) inbox where merely being autoresponed to and I saw no
coherent responses that looked like a human being was involved. Mean while the wife has a
cell phone and was putting it to good use.

She called the consumer hotlines. She called Sacramento, the state capital. She talked to
neighbors and tried to alert the media of our problem. Finally she ended up at the Public
Utilities Commission. I guess she happened to find the right person there because they
conferenced her in on their calls to Comcast on her behalf and transfered around to
various departments until they ended up with the high speed Internet department.

The PUC lady kept up her mantra "You have disconnected this woman's 911 access without
notice, and she has a sick child at home; if she needs 911 service, you have a HUGE
LIABILITY on your hands here; do you really want that?"

My wife's cell phone finally dropped the call and she was worried but looks like the PUC
did the trick because within an hour, our Internet connection was back on, and we had
a $50 credit to our Comcast bill (!).

I'm posted this around the Internet because it is the first example I had heard of any
success whatsoever in this type of case.
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John, 19 Feb 2007 @ 5:08am

Re: Comcast shut me down, then restored service!
Well; in light of this I don't know where Comcast is geting off threatening me. I only have 3 computers on my network and it's a rare occasion to have more than 1 online at any given time. My wife uses her's chat, we have a Media Center PC for entertainment but don't download music or movies it only goes online for upgrades and music info for CD's we own and my business computer. I pay $72.95 per month for extra bandwidth to boot because I don't like waiting for my customers graphics to download. I save everything my customers send me even when they don't turn out to be customers. I don't even have 200GB of downloaded graphics on my computer so how could I have downloaded that much in a month? Tech. support assured me my network was seccure and nobody coul hack in without my network key. They also told me the router they supplied couldn't handle that much bandwidth anyway. THREE GUESSES WHO ELSE HAS MY NETWORK KEY: COMCAST, COMCAST, COMCAST!!!!!!!
I THINK IT'S TIME FOR AN INTERNAL INVESTIGATION.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Cameron, 20 Feb 2007 @ 10:08am

Class Action
My wife and I are currently discussing this issue with an attorney and are seriously considering filing a class action suit against Comcast because of this issue. If anyone else is interested in this, please e-mail me at thorneone@gmail.com. Please include as much information as possible in regards to your problem(s) with Comcast in this regard.

Also, I was on the phone with my local Comcast office today and there is an 865 number that is through Comcast that is for the Internet Security and Legal Issues Department. It is located in New Jersey, there is no toll-free number, and no one other than that office can help you in this matter.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Cameron, 1 Mar 2007 @ 3:51pm

Follow-up
I was interviewed today by the ABC affiliate in Atlanta, GA regarding this issue. They're trying to get as much information as they can and are planning on running the story for May sweeps.

I have also spoken to an attorney about the possibility of filing a class action suit. He himself is unable to due to money issues (they're expensive) but he told me that he could put me in touch with a law firm that could handle one. While he didn't come right out and say it, I think that he feels that there is a very good possibility of at least being able to get a class action suit filed in this matter, but I definitely need to get more people on board.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
b1gdr3, 15 Mar 2007 @ 5:48pm

Re: legal action
They do not advertise it as unlimited. Nuff said.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
b1gdr3, 15 Mar 2007 @ 5:50pm

Re: Re: unlimited it isn't
The ToS states that your only recourse is binding arbitration. So yeah and uh-huh with that class action nonsense.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
b1gdr3, 15 Mar 2007 @ 5:52pm

Re: Comcast shut me down, then restored service!
this bullshit has already been debunked, the PUC doesn't regulate voip....so stfu.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
John, 6 Apr 2007 @ 12:37pm

crap
Oh no! The small bus people found us.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
jnlynnq, 16 Apr 2007 @ 12:49am

244 gigs...
Also received one of those calls a few days ago. I guess, they must be reading from a script, because they also used the term "drastically reduce service". They told me I used 244 gigs of traffic last month - which is probably true, except I've had them for almost 4 years, and I know I've had at least 150-200 gigs of traffic EVERY MONTH for this whole time. I actually didn't have any trouble reaching someone at that 856 phone number - and I called twice, the first time in response to their voicemail, and second time, just to give them a hard time. Also went through the whole logic black hole of "if there isn't a cap, how can I be using my internet too much?" Anyway, I filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau, and I would urge anyone to do the same - just to add hundreds of complaints to Comcast's BBB record, even if nothing gets resolved. I did install NetLimiter to see how much traffic I use up this month - the only reason I can cut down on my traffic *somewhat* is that I can use the Internet freely at work. Either way - I get a feeling that Qwest DSL should be looking forward to getting my business real damn soon, because I don't have much patience for this kind of bullshit.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
280 GB, 25 Apr 2007 @ 2:25pm

CRAP
comcast cut me off today, they claim I used 280gb of bandwidth whihc is impossible. I never had a problem until I received a comcast leased modem since my modem died. This is BS
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Fred, 28 Apr 2007 @ 12:38am

Why cut off?
Here in the UK, I use Tiscali. They're very similar, in that they have a mystery cap and no one will tell you what it is. But, they're up front about their 'fair use' policy, and state it's there before you even sign up. And, they don't cut you off; they put you on a network (vlan?) shared by other 'heavy usage' users, so you can continue your large downloads, but on a throttled line.

I wonder why Comcast doesn't do this? They could still be collecting their subs, and would at least appear more honest about their 'cap.'
[ link to this | view in thread ]
cheryl, 9 Jul 2007 @ 8:35pm

Comcast Caps
4 calls to Comcast reps today... each one stated emphatically that there is NO limit to downloading.

This from a company that I'v been with for 7 years, never downloaded much but when I did, one time only, download a series of movies from my paid for, premium, giganews acount.. I was labeled an "abuser" and trace routes for the past four months show that everything I do is being monitored by Comcast's New Jersey Abuse center.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
cheryl, 9 Jul 2007 @ 8:37pm

Re: Re: legal action
Actually they do... and that's exactly what you will be told if you call (as a new customer) and ask if there is a "limit".
[ link to this | view in thread ]
AQP, 16 Jul 2007 @ 3:55pm

Comcast Buiss Account
Just to let you all know, comcast buiss accounts is holding a promotion for users that want to upgrade to a buiss account, for $59.99 a month, no install.
I got the "Call" a few days ago, and had to chew my way through the abuse dept, the 800-comcast number, and then on to my local comcast franchise holder. I think I have a solution, at $5 more a month.
Hopefully it all works out, and I will keep you power users posted.
Geez they think 388gb a month is bad. Information is NEVER BAD
AQP
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henry, 14 Aug 2007 @ 12:16pm

Re: Re: unlimited it isn't
you will
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utter-disbelief, 29 Sep 2007 @ 5:24pm

Re: Re: Re: unlimited it isn't
They tapped me at 456 GB calling that " excessive"..

Problem is, is that I cannot use that much with the connection I have and believe they deliberately inflated the numbers...especially when I asked them to send me a copy of the report he was supposedly reading from... and since he refused to do so, that sort of tells me that just maybe they are making up numbers at random...

They offered me a Business account and for only 15 hundred a month... lol...

I believe it's a total scam and they are trying to get customers to sign up for even more services by threating to cut off their service, and " oh... by the way... we can offer you a different service to solve this for you... "

Bullsh*t..
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utter-disbelief, 29 Sep 2007 @ 5:40pm

Re: comcast employee
That's crap...

I am a movie buff and sign up for movies on demand, pay sites, etc.....

I PAY for my movies and download a ton of them LEGALLY..

So how is this considered "suspicion of illegal activities"..

Just because others do it illegally, don't group me in with them and then penalize me for it..
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utter-disbelief, 29 Sep 2007 @ 6:01pm

I think the real reason(s) that Comcast does this is that if they ever made public that magic "invisible" bandwidth number that you cannot surpass, it would show everyone how badly they oversold their services, and that they cannot possibly support that which they have already sold...

As someone pointed out earlier, by doing what they are doing, Comcrap can eliminate those customers who actually try to use what they paid for.

Comcrap is happy to cut them lose in order to keep those who don't use that much so that they can continue to over sell their services.

As for everyone getting together for a class-action suit, I don't believe there is a cause of action in which to pursue.. Comcrap is well within their rights to modify and or change their TOS (as they have done) and everyone has agreed to allow them to do so when they signed up..

There are no fraudulent practices as far as I can see... We all voluntarily screwed ourselves when we agreed to their terms... Live and Learn I say...

The only way for Comcrap to be forced into changing their strange business practices is for everyone to just cancel their services and go with another service... Then they would take notice and make changes in order to keep their customer base.. but I don't see that happening anytime soon..

I for one am looking for another service, but as was said by another, Comcrap has the monopoly here where i live and there is no other broadband service offered... Verizon is on the move with FIOS but is still years away... Satellite is too expensive here and dsl is down to about 2 or 3 and they are having troubles as well..

Comcrap has my area locked up and they already own the mayor and city council, not to mention supervisors who granted them exclusive rights to sole broadband for this city... No competition is allowed in.. So no changes from Comcrap is seen in the distant future..

Something is going to give eventually... Till then, we just have to put up with all the (Com)crap...

Thanks for letting me have my say...

:)
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The Comcast Devil, 5 Oct 2007 @ 7:32am

What he Said
Besides; if you try to sue, you'll just end up in arbitration. That's where, when you call no one helps or will talk to you for "legal reasons." All given to you in your service agreement that you signed; I do apologize for your inconvenience.
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Christine, 18 Oct 2007 @ 8:38am

The Comcast Call
I got the call 2 weeks ago!!! I just read that the supreme court ruled on comcasts arbirtration policy. They threw it out and opened up the door to all Class Action Suits....

Lets Join together as American Consumers and protect our rights!!

The contract Comcast made me sign has nothing in it that my "unlimited" service is capped nor does it direct me to that ellusive Excessive Usage Policy" they have online.
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Sandaili, 6 Dec 2007 @ 1:46am

Re: Re: getting back to the point
Um, no.

What they should do is NOT give everyone unlimited internet, then, and impose a cap. That way a slowdown cannot happen.

If their lines can't handle "unlimited" then they have no business selling "unlimited" service, period. It's false advertisement. If we all are supposed to have unlimited, then we should be able to use it all downloading 400GB a month - with NO SLOWDOWN. It's not OUR fault that they lie.

This is not a case of "use common sense". If someone sells you a roast beef sandwich, well, that means you ordered a roast beef sandwich. UNLESS IT IS FROM COMCAST. Get the picture? They need to state when you sign up, a CLEAR limit. Who in their right mind is going to queue up a ton of shit just because they can? That's just retarded.

Sandaili
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Pete, 9 Dec 2007 @ 9:27am

Comcast's dirty pool
Just got my call from the "Customer Security Assurance" of something.. 856-324-2025.. via a message left for me by a housemate. Called back and got voicemail. Called back an hour later and got voicemail.

After reading this thread, the general consensus seems to be that the top 1% of users are affected (I'm around 400GB/mo myself).. so how can all of their reps be too busy to answer a *censored* call?

I am also intrigued by some of the stories posted here, and fully intend to use some of the advice given, should I be able to actually talk to (if not verbally throttle) one of these comcrap ghosts..
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elpedro, 10 Jan 2008 @ 8:55am

Re: legal action
I wrote to the FTC. It can't be any more simple. Unlimited means without limits. Period. But this has been a problem for a long, long time. I have similar experiences. I love the way how they don't identify themselves, record the conversation without your consent (you get a recording telling you), and refuse to put anything in writing. There is no way I know of to contact them by e-mail. If anyone knows, let me know. I do not call back people who don't identify themselves and give a direct callback number to verify their identity. F*ck them.
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James, 13 May 2008 @ 8:08pm

I regularly download from the internet. I am absolutely positive that I download at least 20GB per month. I live in a small rural community that Comcast just moved into. I am waiting for a call or letter. I would definitely press legal actions if one of these threatening calls or letters came in. The current actions Comcast is taking to limit downloads and torrent files is ridiculous and unheard of among most ISP's. Hopefully the higher-ups at comcast realize the mistakes they will and are making and learn how to run a business. It costs me $50 a month for internet and with the numbers of subscribers to comcast they should be able to afford systems that can handle the demand of their customers.
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ed, 20 Nov 2008 @ 5:53pm

comcast's limit is 250gb so if you are using anything below that a month you are fine. if you are exceeding that then there is something wron there because by even down loading tons of movies and music and picutres it should not add up to 250gb.
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Xopher, 12 Jan 2009 @ 3:53pm

cap
Ed's right it's 250gb.
I used 354gb last month and got some calls.
They're trying to stop P2P, without throttling it (because the courts says they can't).
I have a feeling that xbox 360 backup copy users will be hitting this cap, not that I'm one of them.
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