BigPecs8
2006-11-01 14:43:30 UTC
As of Thursday, October 26, 2006, my personal Comcast internet account has
been suspended by Comcast citing "abuse".
I have rec'd no recent communications in any format from Comcast in
reference to this suspension and can only conclude that this action is the
result of an earlier "abuse" ticket from August, 2006.
I subscribe/did subscribe to Unlimited News as a newsgroup provider and did
not use Comcast for newsgroup file/message retrieval.
Comcast permits any of their internet subscriber customers to
download/retrieve a total of 2 (yes, two - this is not a typo) gigabytes of
files/messages per month from their newsgroups. If you are in the middle of
downloading a file and you have hit your 2 gb limit, you would be permitted
to finish/conclude that particular download only with the amount above 2 gb
coming off your next month's quota/limit.
In reference to the August complaint I received one telephone call without
any Caller ID around 8:30 PM one Thursday evening. According to an
individual "John" of their Legal and Internet Abuse Division, I, as a
Comcast internet subscriber, was guilty of "excessive usage" and was being
warned that any further/repeated incidents of "heavy usage" would result in
the suspension of my Comcast internet account. John went on to say that
this potential suspension was at his/their sole discretion and could occur
at any time, for any reason and without any prior notice, warning or
communication whatsoever. John went on to say that my excessive usage could
only be the result of my operating a business from my home and that I should
contact Comcast Customer Service to subscribe to a commercial account. The
cost of my personal account is/was $24.95 per month - introductory price.
The cost of a commercial account is a little over $200.00 per month plus
tax.
In my defense, I informed John that my newsgroup message/file retrieval was
from Unlimited News and not from Comcast's newsgroups so how could this be a
concern of theirs?
John stated that Comcast did not care as to whether or not the message/file
retrieval came from their newsgroups, someone else's or whatever. The point
was that it used "their bandwidth". Comcast and Comcast was now monitoring
and
recording usage "of their top 20%" internet subscribers and was determined
to rid themselves of these customers.
I asked John if the files your computer downloads when accessing a
new/different web page were included in/on this "usage meter" total and he
replied that any and all byte transference was included.
Since a different newsgroup provider feeds Comcast, I asked if my
subscription were changed from Unlimited to their "preferred" newsgroup
provider (GigaNews) would I still be in jeopardy of having my account
cancelled.
Absolutely was the answer from John. "Newsgroup subscription firms and
software for newsgroup reading are the main culprits for internet abuse and
Comcast is making their demise our company's top priority."
I stated that in addition to Unlimited News I used the news reader software
from NewsRover. Could this be causing a problem I asked.
John stated that he felt he had made Comcast's position very clear in this
regard and that personally he would be glad when they were all gone.
"What was the number of byte pass through that was considered abusive?" I
asked. "There is no set number it's just the top 20%" was John's reply.
"How can I monitor my total byte usage passed through Comcast?" "I don't
know," said John. "We have those numbers but we are not going to make those
available to you."
Can you legally threaten disconnection of internet service for excessive
usage under Comcast's Terms of Service? According to John, the TOS of
Comcast's internet service are so broad in interpretation that they can
pretty much do whatever they want. "Learn to live with it and find another
ISP" he stated.
Yes, if you read or see much on the internet and, in particular, the
newsgroups you may have become pretty calloused as to what's credible and
what's a load of BS.
Don't take my word for it. If you're a Comcast internet subscriber, call
the customer service dept number listed on your bill and ask for the
telephone number of their Legal and Abuse Dept.
The Abuse Dept vermin have clearly stated that the regular Comcast service
representatives are not aware of the abuse dept's actions and do not have
access to their information. Comcast Abuse Dept numbers are 856-317-7272 or
856-324-2025 or 856-638-4000. You don't/won't know if you're a "criminal"
until after you're "suspended".
***@ZjZuZnZoZ.ZcZoZmZ <<<------<<< Remove Z for my
"temporary" e-mail address.
UPDATE!!
I have now been informed that I can make an "application for reconnection"
at the end of the twelve month suspension period but the decision(s) of the
abuse dept Gods is final, without appeal and covered under their TOS.
Right!
I intend to file suit within the next 10 days and would welcome any
supportive information.
Big
been suspended by Comcast citing "abuse".
I have rec'd no recent communications in any format from Comcast in
reference to this suspension and can only conclude that this action is the
result of an earlier "abuse" ticket from August, 2006.
I subscribe/did subscribe to Unlimited News as a newsgroup provider and did
not use Comcast for newsgroup file/message retrieval.
Comcast permits any of their internet subscriber customers to
download/retrieve a total of 2 (yes, two - this is not a typo) gigabytes of
files/messages per month from their newsgroups. If you are in the middle of
downloading a file and you have hit your 2 gb limit, you would be permitted
to finish/conclude that particular download only with the amount above 2 gb
coming off your next month's quota/limit.
In reference to the August complaint I received one telephone call without
any Caller ID around 8:30 PM one Thursday evening. According to an
individual "John" of their Legal and Internet Abuse Division, I, as a
Comcast internet subscriber, was guilty of "excessive usage" and was being
warned that any further/repeated incidents of "heavy usage" would result in
the suspension of my Comcast internet account. John went on to say that
this potential suspension was at his/their sole discretion and could occur
at any time, for any reason and without any prior notice, warning or
communication whatsoever. John went on to say that my excessive usage could
only be the result of my operating a business from my home and that I should
contact Comcast Customer Service to subscribe to a commercial account. The
cost of my personal account is/was $24.95 per month - introductory price.
The cost of a commercial account is a little over $200.00 per month plus
tax.
In my defense, I informed John that my newsgroup message/file retrieval was
from Unlimited News and not from Comcast's newsgroups so how could this be a
concern of theirs?
John stated that Comcast did not care as to whether or not the message/file
retrieval came from their newsgroups, someone else's or whatever. The point
was that it used "their bandwidth". Comcast and Comcast was now monitoring
and
recording usage "of their top 20%" internet subscribers and was determined
to rid themselves of these customers.
I asked John if the files your computer downloads when accessing a
new/different web page were included in/on this "usage meter" total and he
replied that any and all byte transference was included.
Since a different newsgroup provider feeds Comcast, I asked if my
subscription were changed from Unlimited to their "preferred" newsgroup
provider (GigaNews) would I still be in jeopardy of having my account
cancelled.
Absolutely was the answer from John. "Newsgroup subscription firms and
software for newsgroup reading are the main culprits for internet abuse and
Comcast is making their demise our company's top priority."
I stated that in addition to Unlimited News I used the news reader software
from NewsRover. Could this be causing a problem I asked.
John stated that he felt he had made Comcast's position very clear in this
regard and that personally he would be glad when they were all gone.
"What was the number of byte pass through that was considered abusive?" I
asked. "There is no set number it's just the top 20%" was John's reply.
"How can I monitor my total byte usage passed through Comcast?" "I don't
know," said John. "We have those numbers but we are not going to make those
available to you."
Can you legally threaten disconnection of internet service for excessive
usage under Comcast's Terms of Service? According to John, the TOS of
Comcast's internet service are so broad in interpretation that they can
pretty much do whatever they want. "Learn to live with it and find another
ISP" he stated.
Yes, if you read or see much on the internet and, in particular, the
newsgroups you may have become pretty calloused as to what's credible and
what's a load of BS.
Don't take my word for it. If you're a Comcast internet subscriber, call
the customer service dept number listed on your bill and ask for the
telephone number of their Legal and Abuse Dept.
The Abuse Dept vermin have clearly stated that the regular Comcast service
representatives are not aware of the abuse dept's actions and do not have
access to their information. Comcast Abuse Dept numbers are 856-317-7272 or
856-324-2025 or 856-638-4000. You don't/won't know if you're a "criminal"
until after you're "suspended".
***@ZjZuZnZoZ.ZcZoZmZ <<<------<<< Remove Z for my
"temporary" e-mail address.
UPDATE!!
I have now been informed that I can make an "application for reconnection"
at the end of the twelve month suspension period but the decision(s) of the
abuse dept Gods is final, without appeal and covered under their TOS.
Right!
I intend to file suit within the next 10 days and would welcome any
supportive information.
Big