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My data usage has doubled for no descernable reason.

I have a Galaxy Note 4, a Blackberry Bold 9930 and a Verizon Netgear Router, all of which I had for a while now. For the past 3 month I have exceeded my 30 GB data plan 2/3 through the cycle, whereas before I was hard pressed to even use up all of my data. While in the past I was on the internet, using Verizon's 4G network, all day long I have cut my time dramatically. Before, I never even disconnected my Verizon router. I spend most of my time on facebook and also used to watch and download videos. Now, I spend less then half the amount of time on the internet and no longer watch or download videos, yet my data usage has almost doubled during the same period.

Any ideas? Did Verizon make changes to its data network? I am about ready to cancel my Verizon internet and go without.

Comments

Verizon_Support

Loboloco, this would concern me big time too. Let's do all we can to help get the data usage back under control.

Outside of those two phones, what other electronic devices do you connect to your router?

Those devices may also be using up data directly. Especially if those other phones do not connect to the router too.

NicandroN_VZW
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loboloco

The only device connected to my router/wifi is my laptop. My Blackberry has been turned off for a while. My Note 4 is set to update "over wifi only" and the wifi is turned off. I only update over free public wifi networks, and I have no apps running in the background.

I live alone in the country and my nearest neighbor is over a mile away. No one but me has access to my secure network. The only change to my internet habits has been that I spend dramatically less time on it and very rarely watch videos, whereas before I would download lengthy HD videos at the end of my billing cycle just to use up my remaining data.

loboloco

I have had Verizon 4G internet at this location for about 3 years now. I have not changed anything. Until three month ago, I actually considered lowering my data plan, because I was not using my data allotment. The only reason I did not make any changes is, because I am grandfathered it at a much lower rate than what even smaller data plans cost now. The problem, i.e. data usage increase did not occur until about 3 month/billing cycles ago. I can not come up with any discernible explanation. I am planning on canceling my internet/data plan at the end of this billing cycle, because I was charged overage last month.

Verizon_Support

loboloco, thanks for those important clues. Streaming videos will use large amounts of data allowance. Click the link below to understand how data usage is calculated:

http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/splash/dataShareCalculator.jsp

LasinaH_VZW
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If my response answered your question please click the "Correct Answer" button under my response. This ensures others can benefit from our conversation. Thanks in advance for your help with this!!

loboloco

You are telling me things I already know. What I want to know is why my data use has doubled for the last three month while my time spend on the internet for the same period has been nearly cut in half. I watched and downloaded lots of videos prior that, but have reduced downloads to zero and watching to nearly zero during this period. Nonetheless, I am already at above 75% data allowance for this billing cycle.

I disconnected my router last month and used my phone as a mobile hotspot. It did not reduce my data use. Customer service adviced me to use the router again, because it would use less data. Turns out, that is not the case.

Verizon_Support

loboloco, We don’t want these kind of surprises. Let’s see what is going on with your data usage. These are some very helpful tools to be able to see how the data is being used http://spr.ly/6584ByfYi The Data Utilization Tool will be the most helpful in determining where the heavier categories are.
JoelR_VZW
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If my response answered your question please click the �Correct Answer� button under my response. This ensures others can benefit from our conversation. Thanks in advance for your help with this!!

loboloco

Only 4% of my entire data usage is attributed to videos.

loboloco

My data usage jumped significantly starting with the month of June.

loboloco

If I turn off mobile data on my phone, will I still be able to make and receive phone calls and texts?

skb2245

With Verizon after they took away my unlimited plan I was qualified for 6 gbs data they then took it away from me lowered it to 2 so I turned data off and do not turn it on unless I'm not where I can get WiFi. That is not often. When they put me at 2 gb they were showing I used 1 gb. I called after two months of it appearing on my statement and told them I knew I was not using any data. My phone usage info showed that I used <.01 gb which still does but they stopped showing I had used 2 gb on statement. So my theory was that when they lowered it to 2 gb they were starting usage at 1 gb so then I would be going over quickly so they could charge the overage. They have had to pay fines for this. After I called them and told them it would not be used except in emergency and they knew I was going to watch closely it has shown on statement the same as my phone. When I had unlimited I never used over 2 gb same as when they gave me 6 gb for same price. But suddenly I was using a gb when allowed only 2.

Verizon_Support

skb2245, I'm truly concerned about the usage on your account. I would like to verify a few things today. Are you receiving overages on your account each month for data usage? I want to make sure that we're able to get things back on track. I hope to hear back from you soon.

KevinR_VZW
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If my response answered your question please click the "Correct Answer" button under my response. This ensures others can benefit from our conversation. Thanks in advance for your help with this!!

rcschnoor

Have you gone on your MyVerizon account to determine WHICH of your devices is using more data in the past 3 months? Have you then gone on that device to determine which app(s) are using the most data?

You say your device is set to update via wifi. Is this in ALL of your apps? There is not a global setting for updating via wifi. Each app can have its own setting to update via wifi.

Do you have attachments set to download automatically in your email? Have you opened any emails from unknown sources in the past 3 months. Have you gone to any new websites in the past 3 months? Have you downloaded any new apps in the past 3 months?

Have you factory reset your Note 4 WITHOUT saving app settings and then downloaded your apps 1 at a time to see if data usage has changed?

These are ALL steps which can be taken to determine what/where your data usage is going.

skb2245

Not a problem after I notified Verizon that I knew I was not using any of my data that I turned it off. Using only WiFi for phone. I use iPad for most internet needs. I was only letting loboloco what happened in my case. Just waiting for data plan to expire and phone contract to be up and I will be probably be going to AT&T iPhone. I was loyal customer since Verizon bought it from Alltel. Loyalty means nothing to a company anymore it is how can we get more money from the customer and give them less product. I see your have new plans which did not include a 2 gb plan so means I have to drop down to 1 gb probably at higher cost than I pay now, or go higher gb that I am not going to use anyway. The Tyler store is the one that screwed up my data plan when I went to get a free tablet that was to share data plan I already had (6gb) for only ten dollars a month and connect fees. Returned tablet (iPad better anyway)within three days when received email from Verizon about the changed plan dropped from six to two gigibit. They promised to return plan as it was before. They did not. Therefore, the reason I am waiting for it to expire. Only will stay if it is same on month to month plan as it is now. If they force me to slect another plan I will not unless it is more gb for less or same price I now pay. Lesson learned here don't use a Verizon store or get anything they offer free. Best Buy handles Verizon products better than Verizon can.

loboloco

Thank you for your input. All apps are updating over wifi only and my wifi on the phone is turned off. My second mobile device has not been powered on in over a month, maybe two. My increased data usage is limited to my router/internet access. I have had said router for a few years now. I still visit the same websites, mainly social media, and I still use the same email program for all my accounts. As I have stated repeatedly, neither my devices, nor my user habits have changed over the last few years. EVERYTHING has remained the same, except for the rate that I am being charged data.

Until this May my average data usage was 26Gb a cycle, and I was hard pressed to even use up that much. That included frequently watching and downloading videos and staying connected to the internet 24 hours/day. All my devices, Laptop, and 2 mobile phones, where connected to my wifi router.

In June my data jumped to 30Gb 2/3rds into the cycle, despite the fact that my time spend on the computer/internet had decreased by about half. So, I disconnected all my devices, each time I left the house and turned off my computer at night. July, August and now September, have shown no change to excessive data usage. As of Sep. 7, I have already exceeded 75% of my allowed data for this cycle, which ends on the 21st of each month.

acraftylady2

You know I wonder if there was a glitch. I share with my son and he hardly uses any so it's mostly me. Once I hit 75% but it was my fault that time. My cycle ends on the 18th and all of a sudden Friday September 17th I got a notice about 75% and quite sure this cycle I didn't do anything like stream videos or anything to come that close. Since it was going to reset today I didn't think anything of it but will log in and check each account. I am pretty sure earlier in the week when I checked from the app I was no ware near that close them all of a sudden day before the cycle ends I get that notice. Mary

zee1059

I am having the same issue's. We never went over our data plan and now it has sky rocketed monthly. I think its an equipment issue. Verizon has not given me any explanation how to fix this issue. HELP!

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