FreeDSL - My In-depth Report on their TOS
Written: Sep 06 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: None that outweigh the Cons
Cons: Loss of Privacy
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| Destinys-Child's Full Review: FreeDSL |
A while ago someone called me up to tell me all about this great new service that was giving away free DSL service. Of course I am always the pessimist when it comes to "free" things on the web so I decided to check it out. I spent more than an hour scanning through their TOS rules and after some extensive digging I found some very interesting things.
When I say extensive digging I mean it too. Some of the TOS items are very hard to find so I have put up links to some of the trickier ones. The ones that were harder to find were the ones that I found most disturbing as well.
Everything in "quotes" was taken directly from their page. I did not change any wording or anything.
While the service may be free there are some charges that you may find interesting.
1.) It is not free, their service is but you have to pay your phone company up to 200.00 to set it up. Your phone lines need to be setup for DSL service and the phone company doesn't do this for free. This may not be the case in your area but it is in mine. You also need to buy filters to put on each of your jacks. You see DSL uses a much higher frequency than a regular modem; this is how you can use the phone while on the net. Without these filters you will hear a very high-pitched "whine" while on the phone. These filters cost $24.95 each from my phone company and you need one for every phone. I called my phone co. and confirmed it. This is from FreeDSL's website.
"5.0 - THIRD PARTY FEES AND CHARGES -
Using your account may enable you to purchase goods or incur other charges to third parties. You are responsible for all activities and charges resulting from use of your account. You are also solely responsible for all charges (associated with connecting to the
Service through an available access number for example, telephone or xDSL* charges). You are further responsible for obtaining or providing all telephone, computer (including modem), or other equipment necessary to access the Service. You are responsible for
determining whether the access number You use to connect to the Service will obligate You to pay telephone use charges to your telephone company."
2.) Read the TOS on their page, the TOS reads as such.
"FreeDSL™ users must provide basic demographic and geographic information, and may be asked in the future for more detailed personal information. This information enables us to provide our advertising and marketing partners with a "nameless" and generic profile, which they can use to customize the information delivered within our FreeDSL™ Browser Assistant window."
They say that they keep your information private....well then what is up with this.....
"You further acknowledge that in exchange for the ability to use the Service, BDG may gather information about you, such as data about your use of the Service or responses to questionnaires and surveys, and that BDG may provide this information to third parties, including advertisers. You also acknowledge that in exchange for the ability to use the Service, BDG may gather information about You and your practices, preferences and other relevant information when You are on-line. For more detail on BDG's information collection and dissemination practices, You may consult BDG's Privacy Policy which can be viewed at www.freedsl.com. It is very important that you read our privacy policy carefully since it may significantly affect your privacy rights."
In other words they want to send you Spam, Junk mail to your home address etc. How else will they make money? They will also probably sell out your name to other companies and before you know it you will be receiving Junk mail (e-mail and to your home address) from tons of companies. I mean how much clearer can they make it. They tell you that they are going to provide all your information to third parties (advertisers).
3.) Read this ( http://www.FreeDSL.com/rules_modem.asp ) As you can see you not only have to register with FreeDSL but also with for the WinFire browser assistant. And you must use it!!!
The Winfire browser is basically a normal browser that has ads on it. Not bad right? You are getting free DSL right? Well the other problem with the Winfire browser is it crashes all the time, logs you off if you are inactive, and constantly displays pages from its sponsors while you are trying to surf.
4.) E-mail
"9.0 - E-MAIL -
When providing e-mail service, BDG may place a message promoting the Service in outgoing e-mail messages transmitted from your account. You shall not alter, obscure or delete such promotional information messages. BDG may, but is not obligated to, block any incoming or outgoing e-mail message that BDG determines, in its sole discretion, is unsolicited or otherwise violates its then-current policies."
You Really want them reading and deleting your e-mail, or adding stuff to it???
How would they know that you are deleting their message if they don't read it to find out???
And how will they know if the mail violates their current policies unless they read it before they block it???
It’s obvious that people have not read through the entire TOS of this company. So if you want to give up your personal rights then be my guest. I know I don't want people reading my mail or watching where I surf.
All the E-mails I sent to tech support and customer service inquiring about these problems went unanswered. They are either ignoring me or they just don't answer e-mail questions from customers.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
Destinys-Child
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 - Top 500 |
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Location: Sagamore Beach Ma.
Reviews written: 128
Trusted by: 87 members
About Me:
A fool and his money were lucky to be together in the first place.
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