Is this false advertisement?

RomanNose · 15 Jul 2011 at 19:32

I was just alerted to some possible misconduct by orange, from their website it says this.

Let’s be as simple as we can be, when you’re an Orange Home broadband customer, we do not limit the amount of broadband you use. Put another way, we do not have a Fair Use Policy on broadband.

Source

Then it says this in the more detailed T&C.

All our currently available broadband services offer unlimited usage, subject to fair use policy.
This means that there are not specific usage allowances as a feature of the package. Like
other broadband service providers we operate a fair usage policy that protects customers
from others that use their broadband connection excessively. If you exceed the fair use
policy, we could suspend your service or reduce the speed at which your broadband works.

Source

Amp34 · 15 Jul 2011 at 19:37

That makes no sense...

Definitely something amiss!

ojrules · 15 Jul 2011 at 19:39

doesnt sky mis-advertise in this way too?.. all they mean is theres not a download limit, rather than not throttling..

edit-- didnt read fully

d_brennen · 15 Jul 2011 at 19:41

No download limit but will slow you down to 25kbs if you dare download anything over 2GB on a day ending in "y"

RomanNose · 15 Jul 2011 at 19:42

Amp34 said:
That makes no sense...

Definitely something amiss!

That's what I thought, unless they are using nifty trick to get away with then I don't see how it can be allowed. This is blatant misconduct, it's not the typical unlimited downloads with an asterisk, it's saying that they don't have fair usage policies when in fact they do!

Tefal · 15 Jul 2011 at 19:47

send it to tradfing standards?

Cosimo · 15 Jul 2011 at 19:51

It looks a bit odd.

Reaper 392 · 15 Jul 2011 at 20:00

what the hell? they say there is no fair usage policy, then they say there is one? thats like saying there is no download limit, then saying there is a download limit of 20GB.

as tefal said:

Tefal said:
send it to tradfing standards?

RomanNose · 15 Jul 2011 at 20:01

I could send it to trading standards, hopefully it's not the same as ASA as the last time I tried to send something I had to fill out a massive form.

Edit: Actually I think ofcom or ASA would be more appropriate, they make it a chore when trying to write a simple complaint though.

Amp34 · 15 Jul 2011 at 20:03

ojrules said:
doesnt sky mis-advertise in this way too?.. all they mean is theres not a download limit, rather than not throttling..

No, he's pointing out that they say they don't have a fair usage policy on their advert/main page yet actually do. It's not even like they cover it by calling it something different!

Energize · 15 Jul 2011 at 20:50

Virtually every unlimited broadband advertisement is fraud.

VaderDSL · 15 Jul 2011 at 20:56

Ha, it's bizarre and completely contradictory! Unless they are referring to two different packages/products, but then it sounds like a blanket statement in both instances.

I can imagine the CEO at board meetings while trying new marketing strategies.

"Read my lips ... NO MORE FUP"

d_brennen · 15 Jul 2011 at 21:24

Energize said:
Virtually every unlimited broadband advertisement is fraud.

Indeed, because nothing at all is unlimited, except God's loving grace*

*may not be true

Craig1981 · 15 Jul 2011 at 21:26

Looks like they changed their policy regarding a fair usage limit, but forgot to update one of the pages.

memyselfandi · 15 Jul 2011 at 21:31

Given the way their sales line treated me I wouldn't go with Orange Broadband anyway.

(Phoned me up trying to sell me their broadband. Bloke asked what speed I get currently so I told him, ~12mbps as I'm on BE ADSL2 which I explained, and he just went off on one saying how his system said I could only get up to a much lower figure so I was obviously a liar ... way to try and sell me your product!).

Gammawolf · 15 Jul 2011 at 22:21

d_brennen said:
Indeed, because nothing at all is unlimited, except God's loving grace*

*may not be true

BT is unlimited

manic111 · 15 Jul 2011 at 22:59

Energize said:
Virtually every unlimited broadband advertisement is fraud.

Yes, but you can have unlimited broadband subject to fair use. You can't have broadband without a fair use policy which is subject to a fair use policy.

Tefal · 15 Jul 2011 at 23:29

manic111 said:
Yes, but you can have unlimited broadband subject to fair use. You can't have broadband without a fair use policy which is subject to a fair use policy.

but it';s not really unlimited is it?

I'll give you unlimited beer, as long as it's not more than 1 pint.

VaderDSL · 15 Jul 2011 at 23:35

It's more akin to I'll give you unlimited beer but if you start hogging the keg then I'll have to curtail the speed at which you can drink it.

Windle · 15 Jul 2011 at 23:37

Sky Broadband (well some of the packages) are exempt from their Fair Use Policy.

"Please note that this Fair Usage Network Management Policy does not apply to Sky Broadband Everyday Lite or Sky Broadband Unlimited. "