Know your internet limit - or risk being cut off

If you do not know what your internet download limit is you are at risk of exceeding your allowance and being disconnected.

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by Victoria Bischoff on Jun 14, 2010 at 00:01

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Eight million broadband customers are at risk of being cut off because they do not know their download limit, according to research from uSwitch.

According to the findings, seven million customers think their broadband is unlimited when it is not, while eight million consumers have no idea what their usage allowance is.

Meanwhile, two million customers have already been contacted by their broadband firm for ‘excessive use’, and 350,000 people were charged as a result.

What is a download limit?

Your download limit is the amount of data you are allowed to download from the internet each month before your provider starts to charge you extra. This amount is measured in kilobytes (KB), megabytes (MB) or gigabytes (GB).

When you choose your broadband package you will need to decide if want a deal that allows you a limited number of downloads or an unlimited amount (more on this later).

How do I use up my download limit?

You use up some of your download limit every time you browse the web, but as a rough guide, according to uSwitch:

Reading an email uses 4KB

Downloading a photo uses 1MB

Listening to a music track uses 4MB

Streaming 30 minutes of TV online using services such as BBC iPlayer uses 108MB

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5 comments so far. Why not have your say?

Sky seem to have a fair system in place. If you go over your monthly allowance, they simply send you an email saying if you go over again with the next 2 or 3 months (can't quite remember which), they'll automatically upgrade you to the unlimited deal. You can downgrade again if you choose (i'd imagine they'd enforce the limits a bit more strictly in this case, but don't know).

All very non-threatening and easy to understand, with a bonus that the unlimited deal claims up to 20Mb connection speeds.

I've had a reliable and fast internet service from sky in my area for several years now.

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I ended up suing Demon as they were so opaque regarding their Fair Usage policy. I won. See here:

http://demonic-tale.blogspot.com/

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I have "unlimited" O2 and they have threatend to cut me off (when no one used the service for nearly 2 weeks!!) They will not define this "significant ammount" in any way and say that it varies day to day and location. I have said that this is an unfair term and they have offered £10 compensation but say I must reduce usage. They have also agreed not to hold me to the 12 month contract - as if they could!

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I suggest that users with problems might find it worthwhile to look at plusnet

We have used them for several years -good speed & consistent, they do packages to suite: I use line rental + BB +unlim local phone +lim long dist telephone & overseas. Personal problem solving service is second to none (even when it turns out to be not the package but the users problem) and the prices are good.. I am not an employee -- i started using them when I worked and am now retd.

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TJW

Jun 15, 2010 at 09:42

I endorse the comments on PlusNet. I have been with them for about six years and from time to time I exceed my monthly limit. If so I receve an e-mail telling me that my bill for that month will be increased by a couple of pounds. This is one of the very few telecoms organisations that treats is customers with consideration and good service.

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