3 Secrets of the Internet Service Industry
3 Secrets of the Internet Service Industry
Transparent internet service is one that is honest and straightforward with its customers. It is something that is highly valued at Tachus. As the Internet is an essential resource, providers have a responsibility to be transparent with their customers. To determine if your spectrum internet provider is transparent, consider the following questions:
Does your provider charge you overages or throttle your speeds because you hit a data cap?
Do you experience a drop-in speed at 5:00 PM each evening?
Do you have to call your provider and negotiate your price back down after it skyrockets?
Do you see extra fees on your bill that you don't understand?
Are you trying to switch providers, but can't because you're stuck in a contract?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, your ISP may not be fully transparent with you. Many internet users have been tricked by fine print, contracts with promotional pricing, and other tricks providers use to charge their customers more for a slower, less reliable service. These providers often use hidden secrets to get away with this, such as undisclosed fees, data caps, and misleading advertising.
Data Caps
Houston is among the eight major cities in the United States where Comcast, also known as Xfinity, and other providers use data caps. Some internet providers are transparent about their data caps in their lower-priced plans, while others are not. To avoid overages or throttling each month, it is important to learn if your provider uses a data cap.
We've put together a list of ISPs in Greater Houston that use data caps. This information can help you make an informed decision about your spectrum internet plans.
You may also want to pay attention to the monthly data cap offered by your provider. Some providers may offer unlimited data, but only for customers on faster and more expensive plans or for an extra monthly payment.
It is also worth noting that some providers offer unlimited data for customers who bundle their internet and TV plans, which may not be necessary for everyone. If you only watch local TV or stream, you may not need to sign up and pay for channels you don't watch.
With the average household using more data per month than ever before, for activities such as working from home, streaming, using security or smart home systems, or upgrading or adding to their devices, unlimited data is becoming a necessity. Customers should not have to pay more for it. To check how close, you are to hitting your data cap, you can use a calculator to find out how much data your household uses each month.
Slowed or Throttled Speeds
A common sign that your internet provider is not properly supporting your internet use is frequently slowed speeds. How often do you not get the speeds you are paying for?
Your provider may throttle your internet when their network becomes too crowded with other users, typically during peak hours like 3:00 PM or 5:00 PM. If this happens to you, it is likely that your provider is using bandwidth throttling to regulate.
Customers who frequently download or upload large files experience the most impact from internet throttling and often see the bandwidth they already paid for being restricted by their provider.
To determine if you are being throttled by your internet provider, you can run speed tests throughout the day. This can help you compare the speeds you are getting to the speeds listed on your bill.
Misleading Pricing
Service plans and pricing from an internet service provider (ISP) can be misleading for a few reasons, one of which is the extra fees on your bill. Many of these fees are not even quoted to you when you're researching internet plans, and providers aren't required to charge these costs. This means that you may be surprised with extra fees that you shouldn't have to pay.
A common example of this is sales tax. In Texas, internet providers aren't required to collect a tax from customers. If your provider charges you a tax, know that they don't have to. The same goes for state cost recovery and franchise fees. If you see either of these on your bill, it's an extra fee not all providers charge.
Another example of misleading pricing is promotional rates that lure customers into contracts. Low prices during a one- or two-year contract can be appealing, but you should expect an increase once the contract ends. Many providers list post-contract prices in their fine print, so it is important to find out yours before your contract is up.
Why Transparency Matters
The internet is an essential resource that enables you to work, learn, communicate, and more. That's why it is important to have a reliable and honest internet service provider (ISP) that you can depend on. You deserve to be treated fairly and not be misled by tricks or hidden fees.
If you are looking for a transparent provider that offers high-speed internet, unlimited data, consistent pricing, and no contracts or extra fees, consider Tachus Fiber Internet. Check if Tachus Fiber Internet is available in your area and request service today.