ISP Threats?

**Wiska** · April 10th, 2012

Hey guys,

I am with Virgin Media and I've had two letters saying that I have been downloading excessively large amounts of data. It is true, I do download a lot of data as I subscribe to Netflix, have a couple of PS3's and an Xbox!

Basically, I've been told to keep large, non-essential downloads until after 9pm and before 9am. I have done so and my downloading habits have actually calmed quite a lot, I haven't downloaded anything in ages. I have been reading forums and many say that after getting 3 letters they may stop your connection. I am trying my best to behave well and trust me I am.

I have read users complaining that the ISP does not tell them what their Fair Use Policy is and even seeing some users getting letters for downloading a measly 15GB during peak hours (9AM-9PM). I find it incredibly stupid that a company offering fibre optic speeds of up to 120mb doesn't want their users to transfer more than 15gb per day!?

What is considered to be a normal day at mine and most likely thousands of other homes by all members of the household combined.

1 Netflix movie (HD), a couple of TV episodes (Animal 24:7 on BBC iPlayer) (5-8GB?)
Few hours online on Xbox and PS3 (Fifa, COD + Random Demo's or Updates)(1-2GB)
Light web browsing on this lovely website, Youtube and Facebook. (0-500MB?)
Phones connected to Wi-Fi (0-20MB?)

There may be other things I missed out but just casual use of my internet brings it out to about 10GB/day. If I happen to watch another movie or download another update I would have gone over the threshold and will be eligible to receive another letter. Virgin say that downloads made during off-peak hours won't count but many users have said that they still received warnings even when all their downloads were made during off-peak hours.

It is all very annoying as I am paying lots for my connection as well as other services which use the internet but I am having to be wary of what I do just in case I go over 15GB which is a very unreasonable amount.

- Are you with Virgin? (Other ISP's)
- Have you had similar issues?
- Have you or anyone you know been cut off as a result of downloading 'excessively'?

Please share your experiences

**joedamas** · April 10th, 2012

Set your downloads up to run over night and throttle them so that they download at a lower rate over the night or switch isps. You could try comcast, I don't think they have a daily limit. They just come down on you like the wrath of god if you go over 250gb a month. A monthly limit is easier to stay within than a daily one.

**Wiska** · April 10th, 2012

I am trying to learn how to schedule them for overnight downloading but lol, there is no Comcast in England

I can't change ISP's for atleast another 8 months as I am in a contract, but I don't want to leave them as they provide the best service in the whole country, I am pretty sure other ISP's do similar things too! Tbh, 250GB/month is too little for anybody who uses the services outlined above and torrent :/

I kinda agree but what if you absolutely had to do 240GB within 20 days, what will you do then? I don't think I could live without my Internet LOL

**Spicey** · April 11th, 2012

Wow, that's total BS. My ISP has announced caps of total bandwidth per month, but apparently they are not confident in their ability to measure bandwidth usage, so currently it is ALL YOU CAN EAT : D

**MADMAN13** · April 11th, 2012

thats weird i usually d/l anywhere between 350 - 600gb a month and they never annoy me but most of my usage is after 9pm so that could be why they dont or maybe its because they dont want me to shout at them again either way i wouldnt worry about it if you do have anything big to d/l start it before you goto bed and set whatever your using to d/l so it turns off your comp when its finished

if you need any help setting whatever software your using to shut things down let me know

**Wonder56901** · April 11th, 2012

It all depends on what they sold you to start with... Did they sell you an unlimited internet connection?

Assuming they did: It may be worth sending a letter to your local telecommunications ombudsman, with a copy of the ISP's letters, a copy of their terms and conditions complaining about illegal bait and switch of the internet company. CC your internet company with the complaint.

The problem is it might be stirring up a hornets nest.

**Keyser** · April 11th, 2012

I am not in England but pretty close. Have you ever considered going to BT ? I have their fiber-optic package and while their speeds might not be as awesome as Virgin , they are sufficient. I torrent and ps3 amongst other things and i easily use 300-500gb a month and have never had any problems from them.

**Wiska** · April 11th, 2012

I know Spicey, their website brags of being truly unlimited, never cutting their users off - blah blah!

MADMAN13, I already do so with IDM (Amazing program) but still, why should I leave my downloads until after 9PM, it is so unfair, do they want me to become some sort of insomniac? Virgin used to be great but they're not keeping up to their promises

Yep Wonder, it was the main reason I went for them in the first place, it was a dream with unlimited downloads/uploads and fastest speed in the country but nowadays if you just download what they consider 'a lot' in todays day and age they will throttle your connection. Their website and employees still say they are truly unlimited which is so, so untrue. I might just do that because I am not the only unhappy customer, there are thousands of us ahahaha!

Well Keyser_Soze, I am now but I am in a contract so I can't :( When do you do most of your downloading, if they allow you to do so during the day then I'll definitely put it on my list :D

**MADMAN13** · April 11th, 2012

your contract with them doesnt mean a thing if there not providing you with a service you can use after all your paying for unlimited broadband (they didnt tell you of any caps when you signed up and they should of told you if there were usage limits unlimited isnt a number they can pull out of there ass when they feel like it ) so its a breach of contract on there end not yours goto your bank stop the payments and sign up with someone else if your not happy m8

**Wonder56901** · April 11th, 2012

What Madman says. If you don't want to send a letter to the ombudsman, send them a breach of contract notice seeking damages. Make sure you send them their own letters as your evidence ;)...

If they're anything like our country, they're going to be somewhat regulated in what they can do. I had the power company disconnect me once without notice and they had to pay me a fine of about $1000. I know its not much, but it's something.

3 Strikes and they're out, right?

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