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Post by Deleted on May 18, 2015 15:27:40 GMT
I've just contacted MobiData to request an up to date balance of data usage for this month as I did a load of downloading yesterday, and to point out that the Double Data deal wasn't showing on my current plan, to discover that they have now pulled the deal, and that anyone who was on that 3 month deal (£20 for 10 gb data, doubled to 20gb data if you signed for a 3 month deal instead of just the monthly rolling contract) has now reverted back to the standard deal of 10GB for £20. I've sent a strongly worded email of complaint, asking why long term customers who were on the Double Data deal were not advised that the deal had ended and that they were no longer receiving double data. I've also given notice on the plan. Am really pissed off, not least in that had I known this yesterday, I wouldn't have done so much downloading which may have already taken me over the 10gb allowance, but also that it's a bit sneaky practice and in view of other deals, it's not now particularly good value. Also most annoying too to have to now spend considerable time, and valuable data researching new Mifi sim only deals. I really need between 10 and 20gb data each month - I have no home landline as I'm not living at home, so everything online is done using my Mifi in the van. I can only afford to pay in the region of £20 per month, maybe £25 at a push. In order to save me some time and data and hassle over next few days (my current plan expires on 26th May) can anyone with a large data package or unlimited data package please post details of the provider. At a quick glance, it seems that most unlimited data packages do not allow hotspotting or tethering - not sure if this rules out using a Mifi too, it probably does. This would apply for the 3 unlimited data package - so I wouldn't be able to use that sim in my mifi to get online with laptop and tablet. Anyone else got any experience of this deal? The other deal I've just come across is the Buzzard deal from EE which would be within my price range - it looks good but would mean that my Mifi device is redundant. Although nice to have a device which doesn't need recharging daily. Anyone got experience of this Buzzard and deal? Anyone else got any recommendations? Firefox - you are in the same position as me!
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Post by Deleted on May 18, 2015 19:08:58 GMT
Update - After an unplanned afternoon researching mobile broadband data deals (which I really really didn't want to be doing today), it seems that the best options are:
1. 3 mobile broadband sim on 1 month rolling contract which gives 10gb for £15 per month and can be used for tethering, hotspotting, in mifi devices etc (that's if they will give me a contract - its subject to a credit check - as my credit file has been recently trashed due to a CCJ for a parking ticket which I didn't know I had got until well after the court date and am just about to start appealing for court to set aside)
or
2. this deal from EE which gives 15gb for £20 per month with a one off fee of £19.99 for the Buzzard in car mifi device (this means my current huawei mifi device will be redundant but the advantage of the Buzzard is that it is one less device to charge daily and the EE 3 and 4g networks do seem to have massively expanded recently becoming a significant rival to the 3 network which has been the best coverage for a long time, disadvantage is that it's use will be limited to the range from the vehicle, ie ok if sat outside but no good on a bus or away from vehicle on foot, and also in poor signal areas you can't reposition the device higher up or outside to get a better signal)
Any feedback from users of 3 mobile broadband 1 month deals and / or EE + Buzzard device?
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Post by Deleted on May 18, 2015 19:36:18 GMT
Well, amazingly it seems a CCJ doesn't stop 3 from accepting you as a pay monthly customer and so I've gone for it and ordered a 3 sim on the following deal :
SIM ONLY 10gb 1 month rolling contract £15 monthly by DD
I checked the small print and it seems my first bill (for 1 month and 8 days ??!!??) will be available to view in 7 - 10 days (hopefully it'll be here before the end of the week, but I may not actually pick it up to activate it until mid next week so not sure how that will affect billing cycle) and payment due 19 days later.
It's not clear from this when the billing cycle is nor whether you are actually paying in advance or arrears - anyone know?
It's a minefield and takes forever to sort out these kind of things - you really do need to sit and read all the small print to avoid being caught out by conditions that will affect you - I nearly signed up for the 3 sim only phone, txt and unlimited data deal thinking that I would use that sim in the mifi but the small print indicated a hotspot / tether cap of 4gb and from web research, it seems that this is now being enforced by 3 - the data is only unlimited if used directly in a mobile phone.
The 1 month 3 data sim contract buys me a month or two's time to shop around, with a reasonable amount of data (but will have to be careful to keep an eye on usage) whilst I research any better deals and have a think about EE and the Buzzard and maybe get some feedback about it.
So now I need to get on with all the jobs I needed to get done today before I discovered about bloody Mobidata changing their deal... grrr
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Post by Firefox on May 18, 2015 21:22:57 GMT
What a bummer! So far the latest I have had from Mobi-data is telling me I have used 50% on 13 May. So I am on my second 10GB now but no doubt they will tell me before the new billing on the 2nd June - well at least I hope they do!
I think this cut back is due to all providers running out of bandwidth on both broadband and fibre optic now so they can't afford to continue the introductory rate. People are streaming ridiculous amounts of HD vids and TV players at present. The networks are not increasing capacity at a rate fast enough to cope.
Thanks for the heads up on the other offers, I may well look at those if Mobidata cut back for me which I'm certain they will. I really need about 20GB a month. But a caveat on all these offers, there is a real problem developing to satisfy people's needs for increasing bandwith, so they may be just hooks to catch new customers, no guarantee they will last for any length of time.
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Post by Deleted on May 18, 2015 22:07:15 GMT
Contact them and ask for up to date data usage as depending on when you're last 3 month signup ended or is due to end, you may, like me, no longer be on the 20gb deal, so your 50% usage alert will have been triggered at 5gb and not 10gb as previously. I got a 50% trigger warning this morning, and after downloading a load of tv episodes (xfiles, grimm, ncis etc) to watch in the van, I checked to see what my actual data usage was so that I would know how much more I could download before 25 May when my month is up. Good job I did check as I would have almost certainly gone over 10gb otherwise, being at 7gb already. Got another 8 series of Xfiles and 6 series of ncis still to download yet... :-(
I doubt they will contact you and advise you as they didn't with me - I had noticed on my previous statement a couple of weeks ago that I was only down for the 10gb deal and had been meaning to contact them since then just to check I was still on the double data deal. Following the 50 % warning this morning, I did that and discovered that the double data deal is now closed to new sign ups and existing customers are being put on the standard deal without being informed - at least I wasn't. So don't expect them to contact you. I'd email them straightaway. I did tell them that I would be advising all the people I'd recommended them too on the same motorhoming forums where I'd recommended them and they didn't insist on me giving a full 30 days notice, just accepted my statement that I would not be continuing beyond the end of the current billing period so I think they know they've been a bit shady - suggests a last minute thing, perhaps a cashflow problem. Could go the same way as Samba.
So don't do nothing - email them pronto and check!
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Post by Deleted on May 18, 2015 22:15:52 GMT
Email from me to Mobidata following receipt of 50% warning email this morning after a big download session last night...
I see from the recent 50% usage alert email that I am not listed as being on the double data allowance. As I have been on this deal for approximately year, ringing to confirm that the contract will roll over at the end of each 3 month period, and being told that I don’t need to ring each time as this will happen automatically, on the most recent occasion, I see that this rollover hasn’t happened.
Could you please therefore reinstate the Double Data deal with effect from when it lapsed henceforth.
Could you also please confirm whether or not I need to contact you at the end of each 3 month period to renew the Double Data deal, and when the new expiry date for this deal will be once you have actioned the above request.
Could you also please give me an up to date balance of data used this month.
I trust I will get a reply to this support ticket this time – last month I requested an up to date balance by email, received a support ticket but got no further communication from you, despite several emails from myself as follow up.
Reply from Mobidata
Thank you for your contact.
Please be advised that what is rolling is the contract that you have signed up with us. This will be renewed every month until you request the cancellation. You will remain on the same plan until you request otherwise.
As you stated, you have been in the double-data offer for some time. However this offer has now ended. This offer was originally intended as an initial offer, but we have allowed customers to stay on it longer and even to upgrade to it, but unfortunately it is not available anymore.
From now on you will continue on the monthly 10GB plan purchased, but it is from now on single data
Reply from me back to Mobidata
Why did you not advise customers of the change to the terms and conditions?
Please cancel my contract with effect from the end of the current month on the grounds that you failed to notify of changes to terms and conditions. There are cheaper data providers around and had I known of this change I would have terminated my contract at the end of the double data deal.
I am disappointed with your service and will be making sure that all the people I have referred to you as a good deal with the Double Data package are notified immediately that they are probably not getting the deal they think they are getting. As I am an active member of various motorhoming online forums where I have recommended your package, I will be posting today an advisory that the deal is in fact ended and that people should check the status of their Double Data deal package with you.
I believe you have conned me into continuing this months contract by not advising me of the changes.
And you still have not given me an up to date balance of data usage.
Very disappointed and angry, and feeling ripped off. Such a shame as I’ve had good service and good value from you in the past.
Reply from Mobidata
Thank you for your email and please accept our apologies for any inconvenience caused. As stated before the double data deal was meant to be only an initial offer. Unfortunately however this offer is not available to customers anymore, as it has recently ended.
Please find attached the usage report on your account for the current month, for your reference.
As requested, please be advised that your account has been scheduled for cancellation at the end of your current billing period.
Once this cancellation has taken effect, your SIM will become inactive and cannot be reversed.
If you do change your mind or wish to continue your service please advise us prior to the cancellation date: 27/05/2015.
You may also receive a final invoice on your next billing date and should you exceed your data allowance, this will contain information regarding any overage from your current month and any outstanding charges you may have on your account.
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Post by Firefox on May 19, 2015 1:44:48 GMT
I checked and I am on the 20GB deal for this month which may be due to my start date for this month, 2 May, being before they decided to end the offer. I'll review it at the end of this month. I may be able to cope with 10GB per month, just have to watch less You Tube!
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Post by Deleted on May 19, 2015 2:36:41 GMT
Very odd as my start date for this month was 27 April, and the deal had obviously ended by then. I'd check to see when your 3 month deal expires, you must be in month 2 or 3 now. If month 2 then you have a month's grace so long as they honour the remainder of the contract but I wouldn't trust them to. They've conned me into giving them £20 for only 10gb this month by not telling me about the removal of the double data deal, had I known I would have cancelled immediately at the end of last month and would have refused to pay for this month but there's only a week or so left now.
But if you are in month 3 and you want to pay a fiver a month more than me for the same data, feel free but I'm going to be paying £15 for 10gb with 3, whereas you'll be paying £20 for 10gb if you stay with Mobidata.
All it takes to save yourself a fiver a month is an email to cancel the contract and a quick web form to sign up to 3 network.
If you leave it till the end of the month to see what happens, you'll already be £5 worse off as you'll have to pay for the following months service before cancellation becomes effective.
If you're giving money away, feel free to give me a fiver a month... ;-)
It all seems a bit sudden and odd, especially as how I checked on 2 occasions last year as to whether I needed to keep ringing and requesting the Double Data deal at the end of 3 months and both times they said I didn't as it would automatically roll on every 3 months unless I cancelled. And yet their email says that's not the case.
I would definitely get back to them and ask about the Double Data deal ending and how much notice you will need to give to cancel when it does end.
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Post by Firefox on May 19, 2015 3:49:11 GMT
I will definitely switch to the 3 contract if they put me on the 10GB plan!
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Post by Firefox on May 19, 2015 15:46:08 GMT
They told me I was on the 20GB plan this month but would revert to the 10GB next month.
They have also charged me £8 extra "overage" last month when there is supposed to be a cap to 20GB on my account. They now tell me that it is not a cap but a "soft trigger" whereby it may take a while for the system to catch up and suspend the account, and if I use data in the meanwhile, it counts as overage charged at rip-off rates. I only used 470Mb over and it charged me £8! There's no control panel to check data usage so I'm getting fed up of this service now.
So I told them to stuff it, I'll use the Three Contract from next month on. I don't like the Buzzard idea. I often reposition my Wifi in the rooflight in poor signal areas. Or I take it with me on public transport or to pubs/in the house etc, so I want a SIM I can use in my Wifi. Also buying a dedicated device does not allow changing network so easily.
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Post by Firefox on May 19, 2015 17:34:54 GMT
Dear Sirs
I would like to end my contract with Mobi-Data at the end of this month for the following reasons:
1. I can buy 10GB of data from Three direct for £15 on a rolling contract. Therefore your service is no longer competitive at only 10GB for £20
2. There is no way to monitor usage eg A user accessible Control Panel, and thus avoid draconian, immoral, and illicit "overage" charges, despite there being a "soft trigger" it appears to be next to useless costing me £8 last month because of the ridiculously high and deceitful overage charges which are priced misleadingly "per MB". The Three service has a user accessible control panel to monitor usage.
3. If you do not credit the illegal £8 overage charge to my account I will be required to report Mobi-data to trading standards. You offered a cap on my account, which was not actually a cap, and caused me to be overcharged to the extent of half my monthly charge. I hope you can see the level of this charge in proportion to my monthly bill is ridiculous.
Therefore please cancel my account at the end of this month and do not bill me for any services from 2 June 2015 onwards.
Best regards
Vernon
Reply
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Post by Deleted on May 19, 2015 19:19:17 GMT
Good move and good result.
I reckon they are definitely in trouble if they are allowing people to leave without insisting on the 30 day notice period.
Am gonna stick with 3 and my old mifi for the next few months and just monitor usage, can always upgrade to next deal for a month if necessary, but need to make better use of Tesco, Maccy D, Barclays etc for downloading next series of Xfiles and NCIS ;-)
And going to try to spend less time online, more time doing physical things and getting out and about. I'm a slave to the internet and it's not good and needs to stop.
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Post by Firefox on May 19, 2015 21:48:46 GMT
Good move and good result. I reckon they are definitely in trouble if they are allowing people to leave without insisting on the 30 day notice period. Am gonna stick with 3 and my old mifi for the next few months and just monitor usage, can always upgrade to next deal for a month if necessary, but need to make better use of Tesco, Maccy D, Barclays etc for downloading next series of Xfiles and NCIS ;-) And going to try to spend less time online, more time doing physical things and getting out and about. I'm a slave to the internet and it's not good and needs to stop. Like you, I have been online too much and I have a rake of work to do on the house now Mark has plastered, and also to provide parking in the wood. I don't mind doing FMUK and a bit of FB, but too much FB and YT are big time wasters.
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Post by Deleted on May 20, 2015 13:53:18 GMT
The new 3 data sim arrived this morning (wed), excellent service as only ordered on Mon evening.
Will wait till after weekend or until I run out if Mobidata data before activating.
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