[xxxjdoggxxx]

The other day I received a letter from Sprint about my roaming data usage. The letter is attached (sorry I don't have a scanner so I took a picture of the letter with my phone, it's readable but blurry) Basically it says I am in violation of the roaming terms and conditions. I have unlimited data and unlimited 3G roaming is included in my plan (according to my bill and Sprint's own website). A screen shot is attached below. The only time I ever use data on roaming is when I go up to Michigan to visit family which is maybe a couple times a year (there is no Sprint coverage in Upper Michigan). In previous years I took my laptop and tethered with my phone. The last time I went up there however I forgot my laptop and didn't do any tethering. Just some web browsing.



Has anyone else received a similar letter? The letter says I am limited to 300MB a month on roaming. It also says my account is being monitored now. I called Sprint today on an unrelated issue and was told my account is now "being handled by management". I was then forwarded to a manager who took care of my issue and didn't mention anything about the roaming or why my account is being handled by management. I had a long day at work and didn't feel like arguing so I let the issue go for now.



I pay about $100 a month for my plan, barely make any calls and I always keep my data usage reasonable (I tether maybe a couple times a year just for web browsing). I am sick of being treated like I did something wrong when my plan details say I have "unlimited" 3G roaming. It's not like I was running a dedicated server or something. I was just doing a little bit of web browsing on roaming for a couple days. If I can find another provider that has reasonable data policies (or at least doesn't call 300MB unlimited) and will let me use my Evo 3D I will probably be leaving Sprint. I won't even get into my 3G speeds (on Sprint towers) being horrible over the last year in areas that used to have fast 3G as I see there is already another thread about that.

[Kendog210]

Wow thats crazy. I know in the Sprint T&C is states that you have limited roaming. But I didnt realize it says unlimited roaming on the bill. Doesnt surprise me though. I guess your going to have to accept it or switch carriers if you can. This happens to others. Since the network has become so stressed, people who once had excellent reception now start to roam. And then Sprint threatens to cut off service because of it. I would just go elsewhere but understand if this is more difficult then said.

Also I dont think you can use your phone on other carriers. Some of the prepaid carriers can flash your phone for their network. It just varies though

[variablebinary]

If you are roaming that much, get a new carrier.

Roaming is not a right.

[Kendog210]

Originally Posted by variablebinary

If you are roaming that much, get a new carrier.

Roaming is not a right.

Well whats weird about this is if the attached photo from the OP is not manipulated and is from the Sprint website, it makes it seem you are incorrect. Seems roaming is a right. If the photo is correct, you have unlimited roaming and are then entitled to it.

[variablebinary]

Originally Posted by Kendog210

Well whats weird about this is if the attached photo from the OP is not manipulated and is from the Sprint website, it makes it seem you are incorrect. Seems roaming is a right. If the photo is correct, you have unlimited roaming and are then entitled to it.

Test that theory and let us know how it works for you.

[Kendog210]

Originally Posted by variablebinary

Test that theory and let us know how it works for you.

I quit my sorry excuse for Sprint service so Ill let someone else test the theory But I wish I had. It would have saved me alot of money in ETF if I could have got Sprint to drop my contract by roaming.

But Sprint needs to fix the website so that it does not show "unlimited" under roaming. If its 300MB like they state, they should change the site to show this. It doesnt surprise me, Sprint employs many false advertisement tactics. This is no different.

[jonnythan]

Originally Posted by variablebinary

If you are roaming that much, get a new carrier.

Roaming is not a right.

I got one of these letters two weeks ago after I had used 305 MB while away on a ski weekend where there was no Sprint service.

Is that what you consider "roaming so much I need a new carrier"? Sprint seems to think so.

I've been a (non-SERO) customer for 12 years now, and they threaten to drop me for going to Vermont for a weekend? Not remotely cool.

[Dan]

Originally Posted by jonnythan

I got one of these letters two weeks ago after I had used 305 MB while away on a ski weekend where there was no Sprint service.

Is that what you consider "roaming so much I need a new carrier"? Sprint seems to think so.

I've been a (non-SERO) customer for 12 years now, and they threaten to drop me for going to Vermont for a weekend? Not remotely cool.

They reminded you of the acceptable usage policy, and you did technically go over the data roaming limits.

The choice is yours, obviously. If you leave Sprint coverage often and need roaming data, then switching to Verizon may be your "better" choice. You just need to remember that the roaming services are not free, and Sprint is going to make sure you are a profitable customer.

[Kendog210]

Originally Posted by jonnythan

I got one of these letters two weeks ago after I had used 305 MB while away on a ski weekend where there was no Sprint service.

Is that what you consider "roaming so much I need a new carrier"? Sprint seems to think so.

I've been a (non-SERO) customer for 12 years now, and they threaten to drop me for going to Vermont for a weekend? Not remotely cool.

I guess if you want to keep Sprint you will have to ensure you do not use over 300MB's the next time you go skiing in Vermont.

Or if you do want to terminate your Sprint service then do use over 300MB roaming and they will let you go ETF free. Choice is yours.

[variablebinary]

Originally Posted by jonnythan

I got one of these letters two weeks ago after I had used 305 MB while away on a ski weekend where there was no Sprint service.

Is that what you consider "roaming so much I need a new carrier"? Sprint seems to think so.

I've been a (non-SERO) customer for 12 years now, and they threaten to drop me for going to Vermont for a weekend? Not remotely cool.

Go to better resorts with native towers or Wifi or get a new carrier.

Sent from my iPhone using SU Forum

[jonnythan]

Originally Posted by variablebinary

Go to better resorts with native towers or Wifi or get a new carrier.

Sent from my iPhone using SU Forum

If you know of a better place than Jay Peak to ski glades in the northeast let the rest of us know

You people are seriously telling me to get a new carrier because I spent one weekend skiing in Vermont. Yeesh. Internet communities foster the strangest groupthink sometimes.

[Kendog210]

Originally Posted by jonnythan

If you know of a better place than Jay Peak to ski glades in the northeast let the rest of us know

You people are seriously telling me to get a new carrier because I spent one weekend skiing in Vermont. Yeesh. Internet communities foster the strangest groupthink sometimes.

Its not us telling you, its Sprint telling you. I agree, it would seem pretty dumb to drop a long time customer just because they roamed over 300MB. But thats Sprint's policy and they have done that to many customers before you.

If you go over 300MB's again there is a chance Sprint will terminate your service. If it was me I wouldnt care and would just sell my phones and go with another carrier. If you like having Sprint however you might want to be careful about your roaming use because they will terminate your service no matter how long you have been a customer.

I think most people on this site will say to try another carrier because they have seen this before. Sprint defines excessive roaming as over 300MB's in a month. Sometimes this can occur consecutively and sometimes it can be across a couple months time. I dont believe its really set in stone. They only thing you can do is monitor your roaming usage or go elsewhere. What do you want us to tell you? By using over 300MB's in a month you were in the wrong and this was against Sprints T&C. Again, I agree with you this should be allowed during certain circumstances. Its Sprint who makes their policies and it's you (the customer) who has signed the document agreeing to abide my them. Your just gonna have to cut back on your cell phone usage while at that skiing resort or try to find a cell provider that works there. Nothing personal.

[monkeyboy]

Originally Posted by jonnythan

You people are seriously telling me to get a new carrier because I spent one weekend skiing in Vermont.

When these roaming limits were first instituted, the policy was that a single month's excess was not sufficient to trigger any action. The policy was that it took 3 mos of exceeding the roaming limits for Sprint to take action and even then, they would first call or write, inquiring as to whether your habits had changed, whether you might have moved, or whether your phone was malfunctioning or configured incorrectly.

I am not aware of any major change to these policies and so a single incident, one weekend, should not warrant looking for a new carrier, etc...

[Subie77]

Switching carriers won't save you from running into this issue again. Maybe so if you switched to the carrier who's network you were roaming on for this particular instance yes. But no carrier likes people roaming on another carriers network for very long. That would be like paying for one carriers service and enjoying another for free. Verizon and AT and T both discourage this as well and i know this for a fact being as I have been on both carriers myself. While being on ATT and visiting family in a very rural area i roamed quite a bit and got the same stern letter from them. This is not Sprint specific.

[sitlet]

I have unlimited data and unlimited 3G roaming is included in my plan (according to my bill and Sprint's own website).

Nobody has unlimited data roaming. Every account is limited to 300mb a month, it says this in your contract. The unlimited data is on sprint's network only.