BSkyB and BT force Virgin Media to drop unlimited broadband claim

[muppetman11]

BSkyB and BT have successfully teamed up to force rival Virgin Media to drop its claim that its broadband is "unlimited", after the advertising watchdog found that heavy users could find their download speeds cut by up to 50%.

A spokeswoman for Virgin Media said the company had not been banned from making the "unlimited" claim per se, but just in this advertisement and in this context, and that the company has updated its traffic management policy for users.

"Our customers receive unlimited, superfast broadband and, even if they're one of the tiny minority traffic managed for a short period of time, Virgin Media customers can download more than other 'unlimited' services, including BT Infinity," the spokeswoman said.

"Unlike BT or Sky, all Virgin Media customers can download as much as they like, safe in the knowledge we'll never charge them more."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2013...redirect=false

[Kabaal]

I was just reading that from another forum, heres the ASA link http://www.asa.org.uk/Rulings/Adjudi...DJ_213114.aspx

On one hand i hope it prompts them to go unlimited again like 50mb was once but on the other i dread to think the problems it will cause.

They can cut my speeds by 50% if they want, after all they did cut my bill by 50%

[Chad]

"Our customers receive unlimited, superfast broadband and, even if they're one of the tiny minority traffic managed for a short period of time, Virgin Media customers can download more than other 'unlimited' services, including BT Infinity," the spokeswoman said."

From my experience I seemed to be one of the tiny minority almost every night.

[MovedGoalPosts]

About time too that ISPs are getting reined in by the ASA over their misleading use of unlimited as a headline word to describe their overall package.

The use of "Unlimited" was originally misused by ISPs to mean "always on" way back in the days when broadband was first becoming a new thing, and replacing dial up. Even back then it was misleading as there were use caps applied. The consumer simply sees the word, and applies the dictionary definition, and won't expect the small print that says all is not what it seems.

As time moves on the potential speeds of services have increased. But restrictions from some providers remain. Virgin Media may have a potentially fast network, but ultimately people want to be able to make use of it. You subscribe to the higher speed services, because you want that speed, and you want to be able to use it when you want to use it, not when the provider says you can have it. It's one thing to be trying to download the internet, which might not be reasonable, but numerous times have I heard people state they can't download the latest set of game updates or whatever because they are frightened of then being STM'd when they wanted to be gaming or whatever.

Throttling users may be an essential part of Virgin Media's current network setup. But it really needs to be clearer that there are restrictions on speeds if you overdo things. Personally, I'd rather have a slower, but higher capacity responsive network, that paying for a high speed so that if I do get throttled I can still have an acceptable speed.

[craigj2k12]

"Unlike BT or Sky, all Virgin Media customers can download as much as they like, safe in the knowledge we'll never charge them more."

I think Virgin need to clarify this one

[danielf]

Originally Posted by Chad

"Our customers receive unlimited, superfast broadband and, even if they're one of the tiny minority traffic managed for a short period of time, Virgin Media customers can download more than other 'unlimited' services, including BT Infinity," the spokeswoman said."

From my experience I seemed to be one of the tiny minority almost every night.

Stop stealing stuff then

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) received three complaints, from BSkyB, BT and a member of the public, who argued that the claim was misleading.

OK, own up, which of you Sky lovers was it?

[denphone]

Only two possible candidates methinks.

[Sirius]

Originally Posted by Chad

"Our customers receive unlimited, superfast broadband and, even if they're one of the tiny minority traffic managed for a short period of time, Virgin Media customers can download more than other 'unlimited' services, including BT Infinity," the spokeswoman said."

From my experience I seemed to be one of the tiny minority almost every night.

And me, i have also been subject to the letter that says i am downloading to much on my unlimited broadband

[Perfect Choice]

Perhaps they should complain about those customers on "unlimited" Infinity say who buy 50MB say and only get 40MB due to the distance from the FTTC cabinet (unless you do get 50MB in which case fair enough). I call that always limited not unlimited and am happy with my 60MB from VM and I get all 60MB. Never been traffic managed yet, clearly I do not download/upload enough.

[qasdfdsaq]

You can't buy 50MB on Infinity or anywhere else for that matter.

Personally though I "buy" 76Mb and get all 76Mb, along with no traffic management and at least 3 times faster upload.

Someone else was just complaining they were paying for 120Mb and getting 80k on VM...

[pinkpound]

Seeing as I have BT fibre @ 74.90mb and VM @ 105mb

3 weeks I've been using BT fibre it has been very stable and true to speeds(I ve humped the connection quite alot in testing :P)

As for my VM my samknows box reports looks like a rollercoaster for speed and latency

105mb 1 day 15.50mb next day ..then 30mb etc

Only 20 days left till its gone anyway

[Mick Fisher]

VM gets yet another slapping off ASA.

Nevermind VM finds a slapping to be a cheaper option than giving their subs what they pay for and saving cash is all they are interested in.

Good - perhaps they will go for consistent speeds, rather than headline.