HomeNewsComcast Draws Outrage From Customers for Its Latest Data Cap Move

Comcast Draws Outrage From Customers for Its Latest Data Cap Move

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Last Updated on 28/11/2020 by Hrithik V

After customers hit the threshold, they’ll be charged $10 per 50GB up to $100

Comcast Draws Outrage From Customers for Its Latest Data Cap Move 1
Image source: www.diversityinc.com

Comcast, Unites states largest cable company, has quietly updated its online customer support website to reflect the forthcoming introduction of data caps to the last remaining major regions of the country where it has avoided imposing them for years.

It will debut its 1.2 TB data cap usage plan on January 1, 2021, in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Vermont, and West Virginia.

Comcast imposed data caps on residential customers in other parts of the country for years but had avoided doing so until now in the northeast and mid-Atlantic states where Verizon FiOS is a frequent competitor. 

Verizon does not impose formal data caps on its residential customers. The introduction of data caps by Comcast is likely to result in a shift of some customers towards Verizon if FiOS is available.

Comcast Draws Outrage From Customers for Its Latest Data Cap Move 2
Image source: www.sjmagazine.net

“Customers in select markets can take the months of January and February to understand how the new 1.2 TB Internet Data Plan affects them without additional charges,” Comcast wrote on its new customer FAQ page. “We’ll credit your bill for any additional data usage charges over 1.2 TB during those months if you’re not on an unlimited data plan. It does not apply to Xfinity Internet customers on our Gigabit Pro tier of service, Business Internet customers, customers with Prepaid Internet, or customers on Bulk Internet agreements.”

But effective March 1st, residential customers will begin facing over-limit fees for exceeding their data allowance at a rate of $10 for each 50 GB of excess usage, up to a maximum of $100 a month. Customers will not be credited for unused data, cannot roll over unused data, or be charged less than $10 in over-limit fees, regardless if one used 1 MB or 49 GB over the 1.2 TB allowance.

Customers approaching their usage limit will receive email, text messages, and Xfinity X1 on-screen notifications upon reaching 75% (email only), 90%, and 100% of 1.2 TB of data usage. Overlimit fees that subsequently start accumulating will be noted in email and X1 on-screen notifications for each additional 50 GB of usage over 1.2 TB, up to the maximum overage charge of $100.

Customers can return to the unlimited data plan they had before January 1st by paying an additional $30 a month for an unlimited add-on plan.

Comcast Draws Outrage From Customers for Its Latest Data Cap Move 3

Image source: www.pymnts.com

According to Comcast, 95 per cent of its customers don’t get close to using that much data per month; over the last six months, the median monthly data use was around 308GB.

The move has drawn outrage from customers all over the nation because they are upset at the timing of Comcast’s decision, as millions of Americans remain close to home using their Wi-Fi more often to connect for school, work or other virtual activities amidst the pandemic which is getting worse with every passing day and pushing people to work from home. Hence,  the internet is feeling the strain of the increased use — even though, so far, it’s held up relatively well.

Comcast Draws Outrage From Customers for Its Latest Data Cap Move 4
A Twitter user criticising Comcast for the data cap. Image source: www.twitter.com
Comcast Draws Outrage From Customers for Its Latest Data Cap Move 5
Image source: www.cheatsheet.com

Well, this is not the first time, Comcast has faced criticism. Comcast is known for its terrible customer service, consumer-hostile policies and ever-increasing prices.No one out there likes Comcast, but people don’t hate it either because of its monopoly over broadband in many markets.

Brad Reed explains, “customers have no option but to go with them or live with 5Mbps DSL service that will never get upgraded to higher speeds.”

And in the latest development in Comcast’s long-running history of giving you reasons to dislike it, Comcast is telling regulators that it wants to either charge you for privacy or sell your browsing history to advertisers.

Drashti
Drashti
Drashti is a free-spirited TheDigitalHacker contributor, who loves writing stories and listening to music. She loves learning and exploring new languages and cultures, and makes sure to click a picture of the same for her Memoir.
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