I Phone 5 BOGUS DATA OVERAGES

[sunshinegirlie]

Although Apple and Verizon issued a JOINT PRESS RELEASE *weeks* ago regarding the bogus data overage charges that Verizon I Phone 5 owners are accruing, when you call customer service in *both* companies, you are told that employees are UNAWARE of the issue and have not heard anything about it. My typical "Share Everything" usage is the following: July 2012=2.4 GB August 2012=2.8 GB September 2012=2.5 GB. Here comes the purchase of the I Phone 5. October= 6GB's used with TWO WEEKS LEFT in the cycle. I just had to increase my GB for this cycle to a whopping 8 GB's. The press release states that Verizon customers will not be charged for the overage-yet customer service cannot say how Verizon will know which customers were effected. Apple has issued a so called FIX on there support website, yet the Fix DOESN'T WORK. Since the fix-4 days ago, we have blown through *3* GB's. I finally got a tech support person on the line from Verizon this morning who acknowledged this is a problem. (Ya think? it's on the front page of the New York Times and Huffington Post). The tech support person told me "there is no fix". but that she would be happy to send me a text message with my reference number to keep checking back to see if and when a true fix comes out. The problem is: I Phone 5 AND older versions that have had the IOS6 update, are being charged for WiFi usage. These are bogus charges to customers. I have zero confidence that when I call in for my credits at the end of the billing cycle, that it will be a smooth process. And because there is "No fix"-per Verizon...I have to look forward to the same thing next month. I have an idea Verizon: LIsten up!! THE FIX SHOULD BE TO PUT *ALL* I PHONE 5 OWNERS ON *UNLIMITED DATA* UNTIL YOU FIND A FIX. This way, your customers are not being charged bogus data charges and wasting countless hours of their time on the phone with your reps, wasting their time (which you are paying for) to tell us there is no fix!!

[sunshinegirlie]

The point of this thread is that the "Fix" does not work! An Apple consultant not only talked me through updating the carrier settings to make sure that it was done properly, but she sent a link that I clicked on which allowed her to robot into my phone and try things herself. She conceded that nothing is working. After we have burned through approx 1 GB/DAY for the last 3 weeks, Verizon is also conceding that the carrier settings do not seem to be working and they are working on a "permanent, REAL fix" but that they do NOT have one now!

Thanks for your suggestion, though...tried that 3 weeks ago

[edtorious]

Let's assume that it was fixed, what is going to happen to those data that accumulated on cell network even though we thought data was on wifi before the fix?  Are they going reverse those data accumulated?  Or if it overages, will they not charge us for data overages instead?  My bill ends Oct. 22 and I'm almost 90% of my 4GB data plan as of today but still I fear that I will be over by my data plan before my billing end date and I will be charged for it and it seems unfair because I don't think I would have accumulated this much data before the fix.   What do you think?

[sunshinegirlie]

That is the question of the day. Nobody knows, yet. Verizon put out a press release stating that customers would not have to pay for the mistake but when I called customer service to find out exactly how they are going to rectify it once bills come out-nobody could answer me. I was told that customers will have to "prove" they were effected. In my case, I have never once used 3 GB in a month in 3 yrs, and I have already burned through 8 GB's with 1.5 weeks to go in my cycle. If that isn't proof, I don't know what its! I was also told that billing would "automatically issue credits" which gives me less faith because again, how are they going to know who to credit? At this point in time, I am up to 8 GB's and counting-that I am paying for because my "plan" now says 8 GB's because I keep having to increase it. My phone is still not computing Wi Fi and I am being told by both Verizon AND Apple that there is not a solution at this time because Carrier Settings reads 13.1 and nothing is working. I was also told that because when we did the carrier settings update, we were not in a wifi area and that it may have "stuck" my phone into constantly trying to update-kind of freezing it but that there is not a way that is working to undo it. I'm stumped, too. I fully intend on taking them to court if my bill is not rectified when it comes out.

[kaebfly]

I don't know why you keep stirring up such outrage when:

1. You have yet to actually be billed
2. You have not been told that your bill won't be rectified IF the charges actually do show on it
3. You have no allowed anything to be rectified and seem dead set on somehow thinking you are going to court because you have imagined nothing but the negative based on....? CS reps on the phone that get paid very little (probably the lowest wages in the organization)? CS reps that don't actually do anything with billing except for explain what they can currently see on the account and take your payment?

Not to knock them because a job is a job, but seriously...VZW outsources their calling center CS to third party companies just like most other companies do. These CS reps not being able to answer how specifically something is going to occur should not be a surprise. Unless the info shows on their screens or they have been sent a message about what to relay to callers they probably don't know anything deeper than what you and I know.

Now, IF when your bill comes out and you see charges on there...and they tell you that you have to pay it THEN would be the time to be upset. You say you have talked to them and you post it as if you have talked to them several times since you first start posting about this...then you have a big part of your proof on the issue since you have a record of calling about this very problem. Will the billing be corrected automatically? No one knows just yet (unless someone that has been affected has already received a bill that shows the overage...maybe they will chime in). Since we all aren't seeing the issue...and since many have stated that the fix HAS worked for them it is possible that those that see extra charges on their bill may have to call in to initiate the crediting. That doesn't mean that the issue isn't being taken care of. It just means that everyone is NOT still affected so those that are may need to call in. Then again, it's possible that to eliminate any headaches VZW might have it set up to automatically adjust charges on all accounts...NO ONE KNOWS YET!

I get being anxious. I get being concerned. What I don't get is automatically assuming the worse and running with it despite being told that it would be taken care of. If you question the tech support info you have been told thus far you can try calling back and dealing with a different tech support rep. Worse case scenario, it doesn't fix what is still happening to your device. You could also ask for a replacement device if you feel like nothing else has worked yet some are saying they aren't having the issue at all anymore. But as far as the bill goes...relax and wait until it comes (you can see it online before you would physically receive it. THEN you'll know if you got worked up for nothing or if you have a real issue to battle over.

[sunshinegirlie]

As a Vice President of a bank, I am more than intelligent enough to know how to view my usage and bill online. I also would not be this upset if I were given this information by only one person. I have talked with multiple people at both Verizon and Apple and have visited both stores. I also have a good friend that is pretty high up the chain of command at Verizon and I know *exactly* what Verizon is being told to coach customers. What I don't get is that you have admittedly stated that you have not had this problem and I believe do not own this phone? So what you are stating is that you have no skin in this game except for to lecture people for expressing their opinion and making the general public aware and constantly defending Verizon. Are you a Verizon employee?

I have had enough issues with Verizon in the past-where they did make a HUGE mistake and it was like pulling teeth and consumed enough of my time that I am NOT looking forward to going through this again. Whether my bill is actually credited (which I will know in a week) or I have to WASTE MORE OF MY PRECIOUS TIME getting it corrected is irrelevant, as I have already had to waste several hours and make several trips to several stores without resolution. So yes, I am outraged. Especially after spending $300+ on this phone (including accessories). The *point* of this thread is NOT for all of the wonderful people that were able to fix their phones. The *point* of this thread is for all of the wonderful people that STILL HAVE THE PROBLEM AND CAN'T GET IT FIXED. The people who have to CONTINUE to INCREASE their GB's EVERY 2 DAYS because their phones are blowing through data.

[ubm0158]

When I got my bionic, literally, the instant

I signed the contract the sales person tried to swindle me out of

My unlimited data plan. Even after I had been told by Verizon phone

Support that I was grandfathered. I raised holy **** at the store, told them to reactivate my old contract, then told them to stick

That tiered data plan >Post edited<. Eventually, we called

Online support and I kept my unlimited plan.

Simply put, the slime balls at Verizon put their retail

Store personnel through a class to teach them

How to screw people out of their  grandfathered unlimited

Data plans.

My experience, between AT&T vs Verizon retail sales personnel,

AT&T is a billion times more professional and courteous!!

Yet, both have a monopoly on the cell phone market

And we desperately need a viable third option.

>Post edited to comply with VZW ToS<

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Message was edited by: Verizon Moderator

[kaebfly]

I DO own the iPhone 5, which I have stated several times (and is why I post in the iPhone 5 forum now although I do still post in the 4s forum since I still own a 4s and a 4 on my account). So the "skin" I have in this conversation is equal to if not greater than that of your own. The only thing that I stated is not the same as you and some of the others with this is issue is that I still have an unlimited data plan, so ultimately if the issue gets fixed or not doesn't personally affect me. I do however understand the concern of those like yourself that actually HAVE to keep track of their data. Because of this I started tracking my own data usage to see if the issue existed for me. Again, this is info I have stated several times. I don't do it because I have to (I don't)...I do it because it may help show that for some users the issue doesn't exist. How it will help I don't know...but it does at least show that the issue isn't occurring to every one...and may help someone to realize that the issue may not be the iOS or VZW alone...but may be related to certain areas (again, I don't know if that is the case...but to the best of my knowledge and based on the people I know in my area that own one of the VZW iPhones currently running on iOS 6 the issue doesn't seem to be happening here). It could be a defect in some of the devices. Apparently, if the issue still exists for some then no one knows what the real source of the problem is.

Now, you have never mentioned previous issues as part of your reasoning for ranting like crazy on the forum. So you can not possibly expect anyone to know THAT is part of your amped up need to declare war immediately if the bill you have yet to receive isn't right. And as far as your "precious time" goes...everyone's time is important but it's interesting that you call it a waste of your time to call or troubleshoot or do anything that would require something on your part to alert them to charges on your bill that need to be adjusted...yet you have plenty of time to rant repeatedly about this on here before you have something to truly rant about. I also find it interesting that you know someone high up the chain at VZW that can tell you what the reps are being coached to tell customers (I guess that what you meant to say), yet they apparently aren't high enough to tell you what IS going on to the best of their knowledge nor are they high enough to make it easier for you to bypass the CS issues you are going through...and can handle whatever billing issues you may have without you having to call CS (if necessary).

One thing I have noticed you saying is that you have to keep increasing your data plan. If this is a known issue and you have been calling in about it...and it's been stated that customers won't have to pay for the overage due to this issue...why are you increasing your data plan? Wouldn't that put you at risk (possibly) for having VZW give you a more difficult time with this? You may have set yourself up for only being credited for data up to the current plan you have increased to versus your original plan which is what you should want them to credit you for. Just something to think about. Are you being told that you HAVE to increase your data plan? I'd be a bit more concerned about the possible ramifications of doing this....

And no, as has already been pointed out to you on one of your previous threads, VZW employees are clearly identified by their usernames and the VZW logo. I am a customer, just as you are...and 99% of those that post on here. And let's be honest here...this thread and the others you have posted in about this issue was NOT posted or started for those that have the issue and can't get it fixed...it is for you to rant. Period. You get e-irate with any response that tries to help or suggest anything even if you feel like you have already proven or stated that the fix doesn't work. I never had the issue to begin with (even before the carrier update) so I have clearly stated that for myself, I couldn't say if the fix worked or not...BUT others have stated that they have seen improvement. Which MAY explain why you get mentions of the fix. You get upset when suggestions are made for you to continue to contact VZW and argue that it's a waste of your precious time or start dropping hints about your own importance or who you know...none of which has helped you in any way so it doesn't matter who you know or what your profession may be. The point of you saying you are the VP of a bank was what? No one questioned your intelligence or ability to view your usage or bill online. It was mentioned as a method to see it sooner than you would get the paper bill.

At any rate, good luck with whatever happens. If you feel so inclined to file a lawsuit good luck with that also. It's obvious that you have no intent on being anything but irate on this so if it makes you feel better to handle it that way then ok.

[ubm0158]

I and a lot of other people got (deleted) upon by Verizon

When we bought the infamous GRAND (deleted inappropriate content) Droid bionic!!

A phone that Verizon knew was defective the day it hit the market.

A phone so (deleted content) up that it was discontinued only a few months after it was introduced. Verizon knew this problem was coming which is why they cut in half the return time from 30 to 15 days.

Oh, did I mention the data drops? How about the infamous

Serial rebooting? Say, 21 times in a row was my personal record.

When calling Verizon (deleted inappropriate content), they only offered to send me another

Bionic! When talking to a tech support person about getting

A different phone, I was told I could not get the razr

Because it was a newer phone. Newer by less than a freaking

Month!!

Don't play (deleted content) with me YOU KNOW WHAT THE (deleted)

I AM TALKING ABOUT!!!

Oh, I forgot, where is android 4 ( ICS). July? No! August? No!

How about, say....end of 3rd quarter? No.

Well, thank god in heaven for XDA DEVELOPERS, because I went ahead and upgraded to ICS.

If Verizon was a company that values it's customers

It would have offered us bionic (deleted)

A one time offer to trade In the phone for a different one,

Even if it meant paying a nominal cost to upgrade.

But then again, this is (deleted) Verizon we're talking about!

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Message was edited by: Verizon Moderator (M)

[kaebfly]

I have no idea what you are talking about only because I have never owned the Bionic so I honestly had no reason to follow the news or issues related to it. I know that while researching what device I wanted to upgrade to (before VZW got the iPhone) I personally got frustrated with what felt like the fragmentation of Android devices and which ones got what updates...so it was one of the reasons I decided to go with the iPhone once it was announced. But everything that you stated in regards to it...I have no clue about. Not sure why you appear to be pointing your anger on your experience with VZW and that phone towards me (ie your appearing to be telling me that Iknow what you're talking about...when I don't) but if the experience was as terrible as it appears to have been and it was something that only affected VZW customers with that device (again, I know nothing about the phone except that it existed so I don't know if it was exclusive to VZW or not) did you consider leaving VZW at the end of your contract? I do know that VZW didn't just treat Bionic owners like that (as far as being allowed to upgrade to only select phones and the newer ones were usually excluded. When I had issues with my BB Curve I believe they finally offered to let me upgrade but it was to one of the older ones and not the new one that was released to replace my model. After stating that I did not want to go to a device that was technologically behind the one that I owned I was given an early upgrade credit on my account....which would let me upgrade to any device that I wanted to without penalty. This is when I started researching the various Android devices...but couldn't settle on one so I waited and continued to research. Since that was 2 years ago I can't recall the length and details of the entire struggle but I know it wasn't an easy feat. If I hadn't thrown a fit about having my BB replaced 4-5 times already they probably would have wanted to keep sending replacements or opening trouble tickets.). At the time I did consider switching providers also...but the alternatives didn't fit my needs as well...as far as actual coverage (when I have a phone that works) for voice calls.

At any rate, whatever your beef is with VZW on the Bionic device has absolutely nothing to do with this issue unless it was the exact same problem....which from your rant doesn't seem to be the case. No clue what ICS is (operating system maybe?) but if the Bionic works anything like Apple devices do then any updates outside of a carrier update isn't controlled by VZW (Apple controls it...which people still complain about but I guess the plus side is that if Apple releases it and your device isn't too old then you know you'll be able to get the upgrade and VZW can't block it). Otherwise...I guess you can show VZW how angry you are about whatever is going on and take your buisness somewhere else if you feel like you've exhausted all other possibilites...which you may have already done.

[ubm0158]

Oh yeah, it's not verizon's fault.

They just sold an overhyped phone that

They knew was defective from the start.

BTW, with ICS, my bionic does run 100%

Better.

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[tikibar1]

I suggest that if you want to continue to complain about the Bionic that you do so in the Bionic forum, and not the iPhone 5 forum.

[kaebfly]

Again...not a Bionic owner, never used one, don't own or use any Android device so your sarcasm/issue/problems are Greek to me. ICS means??? (rhetorical question...I don't actually care what it means or what it is because it doesn't apply to me and I couldn't help you with it even if I wanted to). If you're with AT&T and you own a Bionic why are you posting in the VZW forum dedicated to the iPhone 5 (or in a VZW forum at all)? Again, rhetorical.

[davidgibas]

answer me this

whats the difference

total shared usage and line usage ( domestic data)

total shared says  679.94mb

domestic says 15.36mb

do i add they up to get the total or what

ON MY IPHONE 5 USAGE DATA IS AT 382MB AND 3 HOURS AND 29 MINUTES WHY IS THIS DIFFERENT VERIZON

[kaebfly]

I don't have a shared line but is it possible that the total shared is the usage between two or more devices on your account...and the (line usage) domestic applies solely to your device? That's assuming you are using more than one device on your account. I would assume that you look at the total shared since it is labeled as "total". As far as what your iPhone 5 says in the usage menu...it may not be accurate if it has been reset at any point during the billing cycle OR if you haven't reset it since the start of a new billing cycle. Otherwise you might need to contact VZW and ask them to explain the difference in the two numbers you are seeing.

[davidgibas]

i only have 1 line on my account

my iPhone 5 says  341mb usage

4 hours and 12 mins

my online account says 897.7mb and domestic 197mb

     W T F

???? VERIZON CONTACT ME WHY

I PICKED 1GB DATA FOR THE RESEASON THAT I KNOW I WONT USE IT MUCH AT ALL

I HAVE WIFI AT HOME AND WIFI AT WORK

AND I HAVE THE CARRIER UPDATE 13.1

TODAY I HAD  WIFI AND DATA OFF , BUT SOME HOW I GOT A EMAIL  ???

ANSWER ME THAT  , APPLE HAS NO CLUE AND I WAS AT THE APPLE STORE WHEN THIS HAPPENED AND IT SCARED THE APPLE GUY

[LuvMyLabs]

Save yourself hours and hours of customer service calls. Put your data back to what you originally had.....keep notes, names (badge #'s), dates, for any communications, and save any articles where verizon admits there is a problem, etc. Set your verizon account up on automatic bill pay with a credit card (amex or any other good one) and dispute every bill that has overages for data with the credit card company until the issue is solved. The charges will be kicked right back to verizon so you don't have to pay anything til everything is resolved. It can take a couple months as everything is done in writing. And if you were to lose (which I doubt), you can appeal and kick the charges right back again to verizon while that is settled.

And for every bill you get that has data overages, file a notice of dispute with verizon.....short form, 2 minutes to fill out and mail it in. Let verizon take the heat instead of you.

[homeistexas]

I am glad to see your post. I don't use my phone a lot for data usage. But what I'm seeing is that when I go out my phone shows data usage even when my phone is in my pocket. I have turned email and everything else off and maybe only make a phone call or send a text message. On my phone in usage it shows cellular network data as being 1.3 MB sent and 5.7 MB received since  Oct. 11th.  online shows about the same. what I don't understand is how can I be using MB's of data when I'm not even using the phone. The only way I can stop the data usage is to turn off the cellular data in settings. I have done their upgrade to my iphone 5 but I think it is still reporting cellular data usage when I'm home on my wifi. Hope you get an answer to this problem soon if not I would be willing to join in the fight cause I got this phone so I could use it occasionally to be able to look online for info or check facebook but wright now I'm afraid to use it cause I live on a fixed income and can't afford to go over. I was one of those that gave up my unlimited for my upgrade but before I never even used more than 1G and I even tethered my laptop to my droid phone occasionally. Also I keep the 4G turned off cause when  turn it on the data usage goes up even more when not using the phone

[sunshinegirlie]

Thank you for sharing your story. This is not a limited problem, this is a WIDESPREAD problem, spanning over multiple countries. I have old cell phones as well in the junk drawer and I am considering hooking one of them back up and putting my I Phone 5 in the JUNK DRAWER where it belongs. I received another text alert this morning-I have now used 75% of 8 GB with a week remaining in my cycle. NOTHING that I have done has worked. Not visiting Verizon in person, not contacting both Verizon and Apple customer service, multiple times spending several hours on the phone with each. Prior data before purchasing the I Phone 5 last month? LESS than *3* GB EVER used in a month cycle over a 3 year span of records that I reviewed.

I will now have to call and increase to 10 GB's (LAUGHABLE) because I have a week left in the cycle. Verizon reps told me that you *have* to call and increase GB's as oppossed to just allowing it to lapse over because I will have more of a fight on my hands trying to get the credits when my bill comes out. This way, it shows that I have been monitoring my usage, calling in and talking with someone on a weekly basis and having documentation to support my claim. Even then-the "credits" are sketchy at best and nobody can tell you what the action plan is to credit customers back this data usage. I know one thing-I am not doing this for another month. I wasn't kidding when I said I was going to junk my I Phone 5 and go back to my prior phone. I am not about to pay $300 per month for a phone bill when I have internet at work, internet at home and Wi Fi in both places yet I am blowing through 10 GB's of data in a month. The only aps that I have that are not standard with the phone are facebook and twitter. That's it. 2. And I ensure they are "closed" *every single time* I use either ap. This is ridiculous and I am glad to hear that others are STILL having this problem DESPITE doing the carrier update!

[kaebfly]

I contacted VZW this morning and asked out of curiosity if I start experiencing the data overage issue would I need to keep increasing my data plan to keep it from charging me overages and would I be charged for increasing my plan.  (I called as a friend of mine with their permission because they have a tiered data plan. Otherwise, if I had called as myself the rep would have pointed out that I have unlimited data and shouldn't worry about the issue). I was told NOT to increase my data plan because if I do then there will be no overages that can be credited back because my account would never show overages occurred. THAT actually makes a lot of sense because otherwise, it would just look like I knew I was using a lot of data and kept increasing my data to cover it (let's pretend this was a regular month and there was no data issue going on). Unfortunately I couldn't tell you how to contact this specific rep (her name was Jessica but realistically it would be close to impossible to get her without a direct extension to her) but she did notate the account about the call and the questions that I asked. When I asked her if the account would be notated about my call she assured me that it would be and even read back the notes she typed in (I did NOT ask her to do this...she did it on her own which was great, but I don't know if others will be as accommodating). So....honestly, I'd worry a LOT about continuously upping your data plan without having it in writing that you should. A friendly suggestion (if it doesn't take too much of your "precious time") would be to try emailing VZW and asking if you need to keep upping your data plan with this issue (you can go in to your full on rant also if you'd like...so it's also in writing to VZW and not just on a user forum). You will get a written response (be prepared for a canned answer initially as is almost always the case...but if you put a request at the very beginning of your email that you would like whomever responds to completely read your concerns before sending a response it might eliminate the issue). You can then use this if there is an issue after billing where otherwise anything you say you were told verbally would be difficult to prove. This is good advice for any situation where  you anticipate conflict....if I contact any company in regards to something that I want clear and defined procedures for I will opt for emailing them rather than calling or if I have to call I ask if any information can be emailed to me. If I do a chat session for CS on a website I ask if a copy of the session will be emailed to me for my records. If not, then I copy, paste, and save the chat session on my computer.

And if you do decide that you will junk your iPhone...instead of sticking it in a drawer I'm pretty sure you can get pretty good money on it by selling it (if you have no intent on using it again). There are still a ton of people out there that are dying to have the device despite what is written on the internet about it. It's something worth considering if you decide you won't use it at all in the future.

[sunshinegirlie]

Wow. I sincerely thank you for going out of your way, and consuming your own personal time to try to help me to resolve this issue. I read your message and contacted Verizon yet again, today and it's a good thing I did. 2.5 hours of my time (and I believe that all customers time is precious and should not have to be spent trying to fix a problem in excess of 8 hours of personal time used. Which is time taken away from my children and priceless).

This was my experience today: I called to follow up from my call last week, in which the tech increased my GB to 8. I was supposed to have a text message sent to me with the ticket number. It never arrived. I was, at that time, assured that extensive notes were placed on my account. My initial conversation with the customer service rep today, I was told that unfortunately-the tech support person from 10/13 did *not* place detailed notes on my account. So...I had to explain the entire situation to yet another person. She apologized and said that the support staff have only been aware of this issue for about 2 weeks (even though the updates/press releases were issued 3 weeks ago) and that they were not properly trained, initially to handle these calls. She then transferred me to a tech person, but the call was dropped. She called me on another line and left a message (which I am saving) that "Rick" in tech support would be calling me and that he did look up my account, and my cell numbers are on "the list" of numbers with residual issues. (I didn't know until this point that there was a "list".) In any case, I am glad that I am on it. Rick never called. Surprise, surprise. I called back tech support and spoke with Joyce. As we all know-I have 2 primary concerns and 1 secondary which I did not even mention.1. Overage data charges. 2. Fixing the problem. Rather than reading up on my case, or hearing me when I was speaking, she began the conversation telling me that there was a carrier update 3 weeks ago and that it was my responsibility to do the carrier update and that charges would not be getting credited back due to this. First off, I was only aware of the carrier update because I was proactive and googled my problem NOT because Verizon informed me in any way, shape or form. Not through phone call, email, text message or US mail. Secondly, I did the carrier update 3 weeks ago. Once I made her read the notes that were left by past reps on my account, indicating that I did the carrier update 3 weeks ago and it did not solve the problem, only then did she begin to listen and not be defensive, as if it were my fault. (This is the exact reason that I have been dreading any attempt in getting these credits). She told me (as you stated) that the past 2 tech support people that I spoke with were incorrect in increasing my GB's because when the "system credits" take place, it will not recognize any overage and therefore not credit me. This makes absolute sense to be, but at the same time, infuriates me that the last 2 reps that I spoke with (and 2 hours of my life) were for nothing-and according to Verizon "they shouldn't have done that". Great. So here I am, with another text alert today, telling me that we are at 90% of our 8 GB and I have 5 days left in this cycle. When I asked if this was specifically an I Phone 5 problem, or an IOS 6 problem, she told me that Apple would have to answer that for me. She then told me that she could not help me with a solution but she was going to get Apple on the line, which she did. My call was then transferred to Apple and I was told that I need a replacement phone and that he can see that I have already spoken with Apple several times so as a "convenience" he was going to waive the $30 express shipping charge. How nice of him. But-if my problem could be solved by this-I would be very happy. I was then told that in order to get me a replacement phone, I would have to allow Apple to hold the retail cost of the phone ($650.00) against my available balance in my checking account for a few days. There is no way that I am going to let Apple (who I have no faith in at this point) hold $650.00 of my money and render me unable to use my checking account for a few days to solve their problem. I was even more infuriated than I was when I initially called! The 2nd option was for me to go to an Apple store. An Apple tech would physically take a look at the phone and see if he can fix it. If not, he would provide a replacement. I had to make an appointment, which I did, for tonight. It gets better. When I asked if the Apple store that I scheduled my appointment, via him, actually *had* an I Phone 5 in stock to replace it with (I have heard they are hard to come by). I was told that there is no way that he can answer that due to "security reasons". He could not tell me if I Phone 5's were in stock in case I decided to rob the Apple store of their supply of I Phone 5's. So, I asked if there is potential that I am wasting a trip and he said....yes. But, I have to go~because what other option do I have? I specifically asked him if this is related to the I Phone 5 OR the IOS 6 update and (wait for it)....he said "BOTH". Apparently, data is being burned through older models of I Phone as well, but at a slower rate, so it is going unnoticed in many cases. If it is not effecting people's charges, they are likely to not take the time to call and complain. Data is burning through the I Phone 5 on a much larger scale because of the 4G capability. This came from *Apple*. I also have an I Phone 4S that went from .7 GB typical usage to 2 GB's in October, but since it was such a small contribution to the overall data used, I am not even going to try to resolve that until the problems with the I Phone 5 are resolved.

When I got off the phone with Apple, I decided to call Verizon back because the whole issue of my GB's being increased all month (increased a total of 3 times in October to a total of 10 GB's now)....I am again, concerned that my bill will not system credit. I get (so far) the most helpful customer service person that I had that really made me feel like she owned my problem. She acknowledged that the first wave of people's bills are starting to come out and she has seen more times than not-the system credit FAIL. She did tell me that my bill will not be system credited because my data was increased. She tried to lower it back down to 4 GB's (which was always my plan) to prompt the system to credit at the end of my cycle and the system would not allow her to do that because the system saw this as a disservice since I clearly had exceeded that in this cycle. So, instead...she INCREASED me to 10 GB's today. But what she did DIFFERENTLY than what ANY OTHER REP HAD DONE, is that she gave me manual statement credit to my next statement in the amount of $30.00 (the difference between 4 GB and 10 GB). This is a statement credit that I can immediately see and it removed the anxiety that I have been having over fighting with Verizon people getting my credits. This is all that anyone had to do since Day 1, to make me feel better about my bill and provide Verizon/Apple/whoever the time to come up with a fix that works. The next thing that she did was she set up my plan so that on the 1st day of my next cycle, my GB's drop back down to 4 (which is what my plan was to start with) and told me NOT to allow anyone to increase my GB's next month-should this not be resolved. This way, it will give the system credit a chance to work. She also set a follow up call with me in November. She read me the notes that she wrote, she provided me with her name AND her badge number and she acknowledged that the carrier fix DOES NOT WORK for more customers than it actually did work for. Although I still have the problem, this one rep took the time to listen to me and rather than telling me to call back in 5 days when my bill comes out-she was proactive in solving the credit problem so that we could focus on trying to get the actual problem fixed. Which, she admitted there is not a solution at this time but at least I will not have to worry about my bill or continue to make calls concerning my bill. So, I have an appointment at the Apple Store in 1 hour and hopefully this will finally be able to provide the solution that I have been seeking. If not-I will continue to rant (I have earned the right to do that). but I do want to thank you, again for taking the time to provide legitimate input on how I can solve this problem. I will keep you posted.

[sunshinegirlie]

Just returned from the Apple store. Their solution? Turn OFF the 4G (or LTE as it is also called). The phone is constantly "searching" for a stronger and better 4G signal and burning through data (even when you are sleeping). What this has to do with WiFi going against cellular data, I have no idea. How can this solution make sense when the purpose of the I Phone 5 is the 4G capability? No idea, either. For now-I am going to turn off the 4G for a week and see if it helps. If this does in fact, work then I will begin a new fight on how ridiculous it is that I have an I Phone 5 and can't use the 4G feature!

I can't see Verizon crediting customers bills month after month because Apple released a phone that was not ready to be released. The Apple guy said that if turning off the 4G does not help in a week, he will replace the phone in hopes that will help. So...still no solution but I will continue to keep people posted.