FUP broadband speed restrictions concern?

I signed up during April 2010 for BT Broadband Option 3 but only recently I learned BT are restricting customers broadband speed when 100GB of bandwidth usage per month is breached. I am now concerned that my broadband speed will soon be restricted.

The BT HomeHub shows broadband usage over the last 10 days is ~21GB but it could very easily be much more:

Connection information
Connection time 10 days, 8:49:53
Data transmitted/received (MB) 892.99 / 20527.78

Our broadband download speed is 14Mbit/s and it is being used more and more particularly because it is so fast:

Line state Connected
Connection time 10 days, 8:50:23
Downstream 14,002 Kbps
Upstream 888 Kbps

Broadband usage is made up of the following by others in the house:

Email
Facebook
YouTube
Catch up TV from BBC, ITV and CH4
Playing games on Xbox live and Steam
Downloading game trailers, game demos and full games from Xbox live and Steam

My broadband usage is mostly related to Android open source programming with the most bandwidth intensive task being a couple of ~2GB git repository downloads.

In terms of time spent using our broadband I consider it to be reasonably light but it is likely that our bandwidth usage will continue to rise. I would prefer not to have to deal with a speed restriction so I have some questions:

1. Is it reasonable that I be allowed to cancel the BT Broadband Option 3 contract early so I can move to a more suitable broadband provider and would I be able to do so without having to pay early termination charges?

2. Is it reasonable for BT to resolve my concern by providing for example up to 200GB of bandwidth per month as a special case so that my mind is at ease regarding the likelihood of having to deal with the 100GB speed restriction?

3. Who at BT do I need to communicate with that will be able to provide answers in writing?

4. Is there a means of disputing the BT Broadband Option 3 contract should BT decide they are unable to resolve my 100GB speed restriction concern or allow early contract termination without early termination charges?

Edited by deleted (Thu 05-Aug-10 13:59:00)

Well the 100Gb limit comes under their fair use policy. But as its not stated in black and white I'd say you have some grounds to argue your case and cancel your contract.

Google up bt broadband 100gb and you'll find others in a similar position, I'm not sure how they got on when trying to leave though.

I can't answer your legal questions but I doubt if you have the resources to take it to the High Court against the best barristers in the land.

Re what you can actually do, if you haven't received one of those 80GB emails yet, that someone gave you the text of not long ago, then you clearly have at least 20GB still available to you.

Considering you are now 4 months into the 11 months you need to be to get out with no problem I would be inclined not to waste nervous energy worrying about something that may not happen. If you get the email you should be able to avoid breaching the limit that month, without too much difficulty in view of the way you use the connection.

In six months time start looking again at your usage by then and considering the alternatives, with a view to moving in month 11.

If you reach 90GB+ in the meantime, consider if that is a repeating rise or a 1-month blip, and if it is going to repeat then that is the time to assess the buy-out cost versus cutting your usage for a period.

I have searched but I haven't found official BT response to the complaints about the 100GB speed restriction.

From what I've read it appears customers become frustrated or angry with regards to the 100GB speed restriction and eventually switch providers without BT consent. As a result of cancelling their contract early BT demand that they pay the early termination charges as stated in BT's terms and conditions.

I would rather not deal with such a speed restriction so I hope BT will resolve my concern or clarify my options if any before the 100GB per month limit is breached.

Just as a point of interest, but perhaps opening up a solution for you, what exchange are you on?

Thanks for the feedback.

Just to clarify my position:

I mentioned in the OP that bandwidth usage continues to rise and I genuinely believe the 100GB limit will be breached in the near future.

I would prefer not having to deal with the 100GB speed restriction so I am hoping to quickly resolve my concern before a speed restriction occurs.

A solution based on the exchange?

I'm interested. PM me if you want to talk privately about it.

In reply to a post by kial:

A solution based on the exchange?

I'm interested. PM me if you want to talk privately about it.

Why not just answer the question? The link to what samknows says about it would be great .

In reply to a post by kial:

Thanks for the feedback.

Just to clarify my position:

I mentioned in the OP that bandwidth usage continues to rise and I genuinely believe the 100GB limit will be breached in the near future.

I would prefer not having to deal with the 100GB speed restriction so I am hoping to quickly resolve my concern before a speed restriction occurs.

I don't think you have the proverbial cat in hell's chance of any movement from BT. However as I think you have said in the thread, there seems to be no information about what other complainants did. Maybe they got a deal under a non-disclosure agreement, though I would expect the lid to have come off by now if that were so.

Sound advice from RS, personally I'd wait to see when in the month you actually get the warning email then judge your usage from there.