Question about “unlimited data”

[Kinetickutz]

Looking into making the switch to Visible but I’m not seeing the real information about the different plans & the real type of unlimited data they offer. Do all the plans have data caps that after certain amounts used the speeds are throttled down or are they all true unlimited data at the fastest speeds offered no matter how much you use? I have AT&T now & I can use 2TB a month & they never slow me down. I don't think I could switch if Visible throttles down speeds after 25GB or 50GB… I eat 50GB for breakfast!! Lol!! Please explain what's the real story. Ty in advance

[DeanKevin64]

Visible is unlimited and no throttling or so they say, only deprioritized on the base plan, but they do have in their terms and conditions that they can terminate service if there is data abuse. On Visible's Reddit page there has been mention that 1TB of data will get a notification from Verizon to stop or service will be canceled.The post was mentioned 2 or 3 years ago. Another post on there recently where someone link a video of someone using 450GB in an 8 hour period and Visible throttled the person to 3Mbps speeds, he apparently got Visible to lift that limit and did it again and got throttled after 450GB in a short period. If you are using 2TB of data in a month will likely get you at least throttled if not canceled or terminated. Using that much data you might want to just stick with AT&T if it doesn't bother them what you use. Visible has added a data counter to the app this month so it would be easier for them to monitor it besides Verizon noticing the high data usage.

Edit: Not sure if how hard they would go after the abuse if it was all used on 5GUW though. But it still may get flagged.

[Kinetickutz]

Thanks. What do u mean by deprioritized? Also, I don’t feel like I abuse data. I just watch a lot of podcasts, movies, & shows. Just streaming. I never download though. Its annoying they call it unlimited but then punish people for using what they consider too much. Its not like the signals can't handle it. I also hate that they don't mention the possibility of throttling unless you dig deep into the fine print. I really was hoping to switch to Visible cause AT&T reception is garbage where I live. Version is too expensive for their true unlimited plans. Does Mint monitor data usage? 

[DeanKevin64]

Deprioritized means you are at the bottom of the chain of getting data on towers. Post paid customer on Verizon or those on premium data through MVNO's such as the plus plan on Visible get priority data.

You may not feel like you're not abusing it but high data usage such as anything over 1TB in Verizon eyes apparently is considered abuse and will get a notification to stop or you could get canceled. All I know is what I read and 1 TB seems to be the threshold. The 450GB that got throttled was in an 8 hour period so even I would consider that abuse.

I have no clue if Mint monitors data usage. Most MVNO's seem to have a limit even though most of them say unlimited. You would have to look at their terms and conditions.

You would be better off with home internet services. You could see if T-Mobile 5G home internet is available in your area, not sure if they have a data limit though. Verizon also offers it if available.

[Kinetickutz]

Yeah. I can't afford internet. I barely can afford AT&T wireless. That's why I was looking into Visible. Their cheaper & the Verizon towers seem to give better reception in my area. 450 in 8 hours is a lot but maybe that person was doing something good like downloading a bunch of video to use to make a documentary that would change the world in a good way? Throttling or canceling someone for using to much data on an “unlimited” plan is like cutting someone off at an all you can eat buffet for eating too much food. They shouldn't be allowed to call it unlimited if there really are limits. I like the companies that are upfront about it & don’t hide the clauses deep in the fine print somewhere in the 30 page disclaimer that's nearly impossible to find. Most internet companies say unlimited data but after 50gb or however many gb you get slowed down. Thanks for the insights DeanKevin64. I appreciate it. 😊

[DeanKevin64]

Have you looked at Verizon home internet?

The person that did the 450GB in 8 hours was supposedly testing if it was actually unlimited, I don't recall it said what he was doing to actually get that in that time frame. He got Visible to lift it and did it again and got the throttle.

I get the fact that it says unlimited but there are clauses in that unlimited data and just about every carrier has something in their disclosures. Visible's T&C state that it is not to be used as whole home internet replacement.

The analogy about all you can eat buffet, put yourself in the place of the owner, if a person come in and sat at your buffet eating from 8am to 8pm what would you do? I am sure you would ad a time limit in the future. Even some all you can eat buffets have a set time you can do that, such as an hour limit, so is that really all you can eat if you can eat steady for an hour and a half?