Smart Telecom is not unlimited - Irish ISP Test - Broadband Forum

topcat31285 · #1 (**permalink**) 24th June 2009, 11:59 PM

I recently got a e-mail from Smart Telecom telling me that my broadband usage is a bit excessive that in there terms and conditions it says theres a fair usage policy.
( Smart Telecom currently applies no transfer limits to your service subject to our fair usage policy. This fair usage policy is detailed within our terms and conditions which are available on our website and helps us ensure that all Smart Telecom customers enjoy a high quality of service. )
( We would ask that you limit the activity that is causing such high levels of traffic usage. Failure to do so could, per our terms and conditions, lead to your service being restricted or disconnected, with prior notification. )
Well I dont know about you but I am sure that sounds to me that there is a limit and that telling people on there site that they are unlimited is not the truth. I am sorry but as you see from my early messages I have been a supporter of Smart Telecom and have told many people that they provide a excellent service and unlimited well no more as for there terms and conditions I was not told once actually I was told I could download 24 hours a days but guess we know now that was not the truth. So if any body from smart
reads this you want to get your act together Please dont turn into Eircom Bull****ting customers only concerned with the money and not the customers.

damocles · #2 (**permalink**) 29th June 2009, 07:27 AM

How much did you download in a month?

topcat31285 · #3 (**permalink**) 29th June 2009, 03:51 PM

Yes it was a large amount but when they were contacted first they said that I could download 24 hours a day 7 days a week no problems and I was told nothing to do with a fair usage policy that it was only because I lowered down my speed from 9 meg to 5 meg have had this connection for nearly a year and they have not had a problem with my downloading the same amount . I think they should put it on there site and not say you can download what you want then complain when you do it. Other wise they have been a good provider with good speeds and customer service.

damocles · #4 (**permalink**) 30th June 2009, 06:10 AM

But how much. I'm thinking of switching to them.

(Incidentally this is normal in the industry, fair usage is their get out clause to stop you hogging their pipe)

Chipzilla · #5 (**permalink**) 14th July 2009, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by topcat31285

I think they should put it on there site and not say you can download what you want then complain when you do it. Other wise they have been a good provider with good speeds and customer service.

The terms and conditions (including the fair usage policy) are on "there" site for anybody to read.

http://www.smarttelecom.ie/termsandconditions.pdf

BTW you never told us the exact amount you downloaded in a month...

Fatboyie · #6 (**permalink**) 21st July 2009, 02:42 PM

I have their 24MB package and downloaded 1TB + over a period of 6 weeks. Not a peep from them. I think it depends entirely on the area you live in, i.e. how many people are connected to the same node.

topcat31285 · #7 (**permalink**) 13th August 2009, 08:07 PM

My first was 250gb and got an email saying excessive usuage then got it down to 170gb and that was also to much and for that smart arse chipzilla or is it smart telecom employee I checked out the fair usage policy there is no limit written on it they decide the limit when it suits them I never got these when on 9meg as soon as I got it lowered it down to 5 meg they started moaning.
I asked was it unlimited and was told I could download what I wanted when I signed up.It was on there site saying its unlimited so if I get any more emails I will be making a complant to comreg concerning false advertising . They cant have it both ways. Pity they have a good service have been with them just over a year have never had any problems.

NetGuru · #8 (**permalink**) 14th August 2009, 09:13 PM

If smart are uncontended like they say on their website one person downloading a lot shoulnt be affecting the service of others and a FUP contradicts this. It would increase the cost of smarts own providers bill though prob eircom or esb fibre

topcat31285 · #9 (**permalink**) 10th November 2009, 02:44 AM

Well have not heard anything for a while and am still working away. You think its bad now I have been reading about smart telecom been taken over by Digi-web well if smart does get taken over were all rightly screwed Digi-web are a bunch of clowns and I will be moving to another broadband provider rather than have to put up with these gob ****s and just in case your woundering I have first hand knowledge of how bad they are telling people how are unlimited and they have a limit of 30gb are least with smart they give you a fair amount before they say anything and there staff will bull**** you just to get you to sign up then you are really screwed so down with Digi-web just wait see how bad it gets.

topcat31285 · #10 (**permalink**) 30th November 2009, 01:43 AM

So I have another e-mail from smart telling me that I have exceeded my 170GB download and upload limi tand will be flagged as having an excessive traffic usage level so much for unlimited and I am supposed to be the only person using my phone line so can I be effecting other peoples broadband. Am just woundering will it go any lower, I can tell you something that if Digi-Web take over smart it will get a lot lower and it will really go to **** as prior experience with them. And first chance I get it bye bye smart telecom .

topcat31285 · #11 (**permalink**) 18th December 2009, 06:37 PM

Well this is what is happening I got an e-mail telling me that I have used up 80 percent of my (170 GB limit ) which came to about 140 GB and warning me that my usage is a bit excessive . So I have contacted Smart Telecom and also my brother has and I was told that the fair usage policy had been there for many years but was never really used and he was told that it had only come into use in the last couple of months so woundering who is talking BULL**** . So I asked why them are they saying the are unlimited to most people means that you can download 24 hours a day 7 days a week and guess what thats what it means to there staff because thats what they told us. So to put an end to it all I said was getting a bit pissed off with this and told them to disconnect me and have been on to UPC concerning switching over to them just have to wait and see. This is what happens when you play games customers they go away .Sorry forgot to say my brother also got one and they capped his broadband till he got on to them they say they will take it off and hes on 12 meg so it does not matter what your on.

topcat31285 · #12 (**permalink**) 22nd December 2009, 10:59 PM

well just a short message today I have cancelled my smart telecom account and have moved to another broadband company . if you read my comments in the start was very happy and pleased with smart but over the last couple of months what ever has changed with smart has not been for the good of the customers maybe it because of the dealings there having with Digi-web because of experiences with them there a ****ing joke as well. so smart is going the same way as Eircom screw the customers they just want as much money as the can get for as little work as possible.

topcat31285 · #13 (**permalink**) 2nd January 2010, 12:17 AM

Broadband Ireland, Mobile phones Ireland, Mobile Services Ireland, International Roaming Ireland, Telephone roaming, Text messaging, Telecommunications Service Providers, Telephone numbers, Telecommunications Ireland - ComReg

Internet
My Service Provider has advertised an "unlimited package" - what does this mean for me?
A number of telephone and broadband packages being offered are described as ‘unlimited’. In this context the word ‘unlimited’ would normally be taken to mean that a subscriber, having agreed to pay a set price, may make as many calls or spend as much time online as he or she wishes. However, some service contracts qualify the meaning of ‘unlimited’ by stating that it is subject to an ‘acceptable’ or ‘fair’ level of use by the subscriber. This is referred to as a “fair usage policy” in some advertising.

ComReg would like to advise consumers that any provision of a contract which sets usage thresholds, or describes what constitutes ‘fair’ or ‘acceptable’ use, should be clear and unambiguous, particularly where the service is described as being ‘unlimited’.

Usage thresholds or limits should be clearly set out, as should the manner in which they may be updated or amended.

ComReg expects each service provider to implement a clear, transparent and policy for dealing with customer usage above any set thresholds. The policy should set out the rules for contract termination, including penalties, the charges that shall apply for any use above the threshold/limit, and the policy regarding migration of the customer to other packages, if applicable.

ComReg advises consumers to carefully read the terms and conditions of their contracts and to be aware of the particular limits or thresholds that apply before purchasing.

You can find more information in ComReg’s Consumer Guide - Phone and Broadband Contracts; available here and specific information about telephone and broadband packages on ComReg’s independent tariff guide

topcat31285 · #14 (**permalink**) 2nd January 2010, 12:57 AM

Subject to Clause 23, there are no specific download or upload limits imposed on you by us in connection with the Smart
Broadband service.

FAIR USAGE POLICY

There are no specific download or upload limits imposed on you by us, except for our budget entry bundle (what is the budget entry bundle please if somebody could answer ???)
product which has a usage allowance as notified ( Were is it notified ????).
For customers on service tiers higher than the entry level product we may require you to reduce your download and/or upload usage where we consider it excessive or for purposes outside of normal residential ( What is normal residental usage and what is the limit????) use to ensure a
fair service to all customers. Where this occurs, we will request you to reduce your usage. In certain situations, we may suspend
or terminate the Services, but not before giving you a reasonable opportunity to reduce your usage first. We reserve the right to charge for excessive usage or to limit bandwidth at our discretion at all times using traffic shaping or
other techniques.

This is in the contract I see no limit and they do not tell you any of this when you ask we asked were they unlimited and were told we could download 24 hours a day 7 days a week what ever we wanted you make up your own mind please answer use please tell us and we make up our own minds. I have three questions if anybody could answer the above in brackets. thank you ()

HDfan · #15 (**permalink**) 10th January 2010, 03:34 AM

topcat31285 : I have the same problem with smart

They lie on the page : No limits

http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/3113/nolimits.jpg

but they have limit 170 Gb down + upl / month.

My friend just sign 12 month contract, they speek no word about limits

liers.

UPC have also limits on unlimited connection, but they have 250 GB down + upl /month.

HDfan · #16 (**permalink**) 10th January 2010, 03:41 AM

Smart forgott that We live in XXI cent. We can down legal HD movie from iTune,

We have HD camcorders and We can upload private movie for family. But we must understand them. Theay are private company, they do this for money:

they just lie in ours eyes

they think We are stupid youn boys and girls from 3 world

They must grow up and understand : we have choice, other companies with biger limits or unlimited.

topcat31285 · #17 (**permalink**) 10th January 2010, 11:31 AM

if you even check the fair usage policy it does not even give you a limit I think they make one up and they go along if you want to do something make a complaint to comreg there supposed to help us against this **** but they just sit on there fat behinds letting them away with it .

topcat31285 · #18 (**permalink**) 13th January 2010, 12:04 AM

I wounder what ever happened to that one hit wounder chipzilla with his smart arse comments with the amount of smart telecom staff they have including chipzilla you think our questions could be answered. This Gob**** appears throws in the fair usage policy then disappears can even send him a private message asking about it . Is that the way smart train there staff jump in give you **** information then refuse to answer you back he could not even stand his ground they promise you everything and provide nothing.
Sorry to say people like myself are really getting tired of this crap.

topcat31285 · #19 (**permalink**) 13th January 2010, 06:52 AM

check out this forum that also has smart customers on it and there starting to notice the change in smart and are not happy and a lot are jumping ship to other companies pity they were doing well till they started having dealings with Digi web .

Smart Telecom any use? - boards.ie

topcat31285 · #20 (**permalink**) 13th January 2010, 07:11 AM

I was looking around and came across this and have a read , look how many time it says that its unlimited then with a little line at the bottom it says (** Unlimited allowance is subject to a fair usage policy.) what the biggest load of bull**** but you can see how long they have been taking advantage of us.

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