I REALLY hate my ISP now!

[Syxx_Killer]

So today a letter comes in the mail from the ISP. In the letter they are claiming that because the usage of the Internet has "exploded" and greatly increased demand on their networks by all these new Internet capable devices they are now charging by the amount of bandwidth used a month (this is such BS). Being in Michigan my ISP is SpeedNet (they completely suck). I used to have a local ISP that was really good, but then they sold out to these idiots at SpeedNet. After that happened the service went to s*** pretty quick. Recently they merged with some company out of Iowa called CommSpeed. The new company is called SpeedConnect. The limit each month is 5GB. If more than that is used they are going to charge an additional $2 for each GB over. For "power users" they can upgrade to a 200GB month plan for $70 a month (What a bargain!). They still charge an additional $2 for each GB over 200GB. This ridiculous plan goes into effect Feb. 1st.

As part of the new plan they say they will publish the amount of bandwidth consumption used from the modem and itemize the usage on the statement. What does that mean? Are they going to list each website visited? I'm just asking in case anyone else has similar ISP's.

To say I am seething is an understatement. Being in a rural area ISP choices are extremely limited. The other ISP's in this area aren't that great, either. I HATE to stay with these idiots. I'm almost at the point of going without any Internet instead of using the utterly s****y service they provide.

I don't feel any better, but thanks anyway for letting me vent a little.

[TheDarkWraith]

do they at least let you roll-over your unused GBs each month

[the_tyrant]

I'm using Bell right now
the price is around the same, $70 for a huge amount

I suppose its not that bad. I mean, you can't expect them to charge the old lady that just uses checks her email the same as a huge bittorrent user

[Syxx_Killer]

Originally Posted by TheDarkWraith

do they at least let you roll-over your unused GBs each month

Not that I could see. I'm not a betting person, but I would be willing to bet the answer is no.

Originally Posted by the_tyrant

I'm using Bell right now
the price is around the same, $70 for a huge amount

I suppose its not that bad. I mean, you can't expect them to charge the old lady that just uses checks her email the same as a huge bittorrent user

I don't download bittorrents, either. It's the whole principle of the matter that really grates me the wrong way. Another thing that really irritates me is they don't provide any way to see how much you are using. Good thing I don't play Silent Hunter or Oblivion any more downloading one or two of the mega mods out there!

[Castout]

That SUCKS.

[Gargamel]

If they do rollover, that's not too bad an idea. Allow syou to do some big downloads some months, and normal usage the rest. Ever since Time Warner started talking about it, I've been monitoring my data usage.

I've been using NetLimiter and Bandwidth Monitor to keep an eye on my usage. I can do between .5 and 1 gb a day

[Blacklight]

I wouldn't be surprised if all ISP's start to follow this method. Anything to bleed some extra cash out of the subscribers.

[antikristuseke]

I'm glad limited connections do not exist here. No IPS offering such deals would survive more than a week here.

[Chad]

I've got one to beat you.

I live in a very rural area, where the only thing available is dial-up, or satellite internet.

For my own sanity we have satellite, which is still incredibly slow AND way over priced. We are limited to 400MBs daily! If we go over by 1bit over that 400mb, they turn our internet off for a whole day for their "Fair Access policy" which is crap.

http://consumer.hughesnet.com/plans....=05141PPChncom

We have Power 200. And even then we are not even CLOSE to those speeds. I get about 30kb down, and on a great day, 5 up.

[Gargamel]

I'm all for net neutrality, but some things jsut need some regulation. This price gouging that all the major service industries have started doing is sick, gas, electric, internet, etc.

[Gorduz]

I was also opposed to this line of charging, but in principle I believe it probably for the best. If you consider the cost of providing the service there is some base cost for the infrastructure some depends on usage(or high usage leads to more frequent upgrade of the infrastructure). So ISP should charge some base fee and some for the usage.

This is all and well as long as there are enough companies providing the service (i.e. central areas and cities). Places where you are in the mercy of one provider will need some regulation to prevent exploration of the customer and unnecessary waste of resources(digging two cables to the same house and using only one..).

[Gargamel]

I'm not really against tiered pricing, I mean why should grandma pay the same as the guy who is server 40 TF2 servers in his basement? BUt the levels they are charging is sickening. Each service industry seems to think they are the only one out there charging for their services, and they all add up.

[trekchu]

10mbit flatrate without restrictions of any kind + Cable TV + Nation-wide telephone Flatrate for €40.

[Morts]

ive never really heard of my isp, but, they sure do provide some decent internet

[antikristuseke]

Restults at work