Friday, January 16, 2015

AT&T Gophone Data usage - *777*3# no longer works

So this is really far off base from my normal reviews but it's one of the things I don't have a good outlet for, so why not rant on here.  AT&T recently stopped the *777*3# code to check data and they claim you can check through their app, but that's a flat lie.

Moral of this whole story is: if you're looking for your gophone data usage under the new plan you need to call customer service.  Also there is a certain threshold that they'll send you an automated message saying you're almost out of high speed data, on the $45 plan that's 100MB remaining, or 90% usage.  (I spent a half hour on hold for that answer, you're welcome)

Full story:

AT&T GoPhone plans for smartphones recently started to have unlimited data, awesome right?  Well you get capped at a certain amount, my plan is the $45 plan, 1GB high speed then the rest of the month at a reduced speed...but I have no idea how fast or slow the reduced speed is.  This sounds like just whining over not being able to surf Facebook (which I RARELY use and pretty much despise) but for me it's more.

 The biggest thing I'm concerned about is my GPS.  I recently moved near Boston and can't find my way around anywhere yet and I rely very heavily on my smartphone to get me there.  I have a stand alone GPS but it's less reliable, out of date, and MUCH slower.  I could buy a new one but what a waste of money and electronics that'll just end up polluting a dump.

So when I hit my data limit what will happen to my GPS?  How much data does it actually use?  Will it load the images fast enough?  I have no idea.

And yes there are other options. :
-I could raise my account to $60 a month because I know I've NEVER gone over 2GB...but why should I pay extra because of their shortcomings?
-I could switch to T-Mobile I have a phone from abroad and started with them because they're cheaper...you get what you pay for.  I'd rather pay more for better service and be in the dark.
-I can buy extra data part of the way through the month...but the extra data doesn't carry over.  I'd pay $15 for 1GB and use it for what?  7 days?  4 days?  That's ridiculous.

So really I think there are two options for AT&T to get back on my good side.  One: give us back a way to check our data.  Two: Let us carry over high speed data for a month or two.

I can't believe I'm gonna say this but really I'd rather know where I stand and have limited data than unlimited and not be able to access my information.  Why are we required to be left in the dark?

And yes, their app is useless and just sends you to their equally useless website.