3's Fair Use Policy changes

Dear 3

I refer to your recent announcement as follows:

"From 11 June 2004, we will be making the following changes to our plans:

1. Introduction of changes to the Fair Use Policy for the $99 Talk Cap (only on First on 3 series of plans)

Reduce the limit in the Fair Use Policy for the $99 Talk Cap from 3,000 minutes to $500 a month. This is equivalent to approx 1,200 minutes.
This means that after a customer has used $500 of national voice calls in a month they will be charged our low standard charges & flagfall for all additional calls.

2. Introduction of a limit for Free 10 minute calls from 3 to 3 and 3 to Orange (On all rate plans except Bonus plans)

Introduction of a 500 minute per month limit on Free 10 (3 to 3) national voice calls.
This means that once a customer has made 500 minutes of Free 10 minute calls from 3 to 3 (and 3 to Orange if this applies to their plan), they will be charged the standard voice rate plus flagfall for all additional 3 to 3 (and 3 to Orange) calls.
Minutes used beyond the Free 10 minutes are charged at our low, standard rates & flag fall. "

As a user of the 3 service I am extremely disappointed by this decision which will impact me greatly.

When I originally joined 3, your fair use policy allowed up to 3000 minutes per month of free calls under ten minutes when using the Free 10 (3 to 3) national voice calls.

This equated to approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes of free calls per day to other 3 mobiles.

With your recent changes to a 500 minute limit per month, 3 users now only have 16 minutes per day of free calls to other 3 mobiles. Considering each call must be under 10 minutes, this does not even allow two free phone calls per day.

I consider this change completely unfair and unethical. Therefore, I request that you immediately reverse this decision and restore the original 3000 minutes on the fair use policy.

If you choose to ignore my request I will be forced to take the following action:

1. I will ensure that the only calls I make with my 3 phone will be to other 3 users and I will keep each call under 10 minutes and never exceed the free monthly allowance

2. I will never use any of the 3 content services, I will not use SMS or Email on the three service.

By carrying out the actions listed in points 1 & 2, you will not be receiving any income whatsoever from me for the remainder of my contract with 3.

Further, I will take the following action.

3. I will actively discourage people from joining the 3 service, citing your recent "Mid Contract" changes in policy. I will do this by any means possible including personal contact and any electronic forum.

4. I will write a letter explaining my dissatisfaction to the following agency.

a) "The Australian"
http://news.com.au/feedback/
[email protected]
News Interactive, a News Corporation company
Address: Level 3, 2 Holt St, Surry Hills NSW 2010
Postal: GPO Box 4245, Sydney NSW 2001
Telephone: +61 2 9288 3000

Further, I will personally make an official complaint, either in writing or by telephone to the following agencies

a) The Telecommunications Ombudsman
1800 062 058

b) AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION & CONSUMER COMMISSION (ACCC)
1300 302 502
http://www.accc.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/54217/fromItemId/3634

c) Department of Fair Trading
1300 658 030

Further I will contact the Australian Stock exchange Media department and advise them of my extreme dissatisfaction with your recent decision. The ASX will be contacted through the contact listed on this site.

http://www.asx.com.au/shareholder/ASXContacts_AS2.shtm

I therefore request that the recent changes to the Fair Use Policy be immediately reversed and the original policy be restored.