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VZAccess Manager usage amount rollbacks/inaccurate

The usage tab on VZAccess Manager (and also data usage on MyVerizon page) seems like it is always inaccurate. For example, the other day it said my usage up to 7/20 was 4.1gb out of 5gb. Then, yesterday it rolled back and was saying my usage at 7/17 was 3.9gb. But the wierd part is, today it is saying my usage is 3.92gb as of 7/23.

Usually, I'm lucky if the usage date is within 2-3 days of the actual date.

How do they expect me to stay within 5gb (hard enough as is) without accurate, up-to-date usage measurements?

What number should I go with?

Message Edited by CorkyMcDoogle on 07-24-2009 01:29 AM

Comments

LukeTech

MyVerizon account managment is the accurate measurement. The numbers should be pretty close. If they vary by a large margin, something is up and definitely not good for VZW in the long term. I smell a class action if VZW doesn't make these figures clearer and easier to obtain...

Greg4Wireless

I'd like to have an answer to this as well.

7/18 11:57pm 2.65GB

7/19 11:11am 2.72GB

7/19 11:57pm 2.55GB******************DOWN***********

7/20 7:15am 3.26GB (what a jump)

7/20 10:52am 3.50GB

7/21 9:34pm 3.92GB

7/21 9:39pm 3.66GB***DOWN***

7/22 4:21pm 3.61GB***DOWN***

7/22 7:47pm 3.50GB***DOWN***

7/22 8:42pm 3.66GB

7/22 11:32pm 3.83GB

Note. the times listed are NOT the times I checked the usage, it is the TIME VERIZON last UPDATED the usage reading.

HOW COULD MY USAGE GO DOWN ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

Obviously, my usage is NOT accurate. My same concern.....This data is coming DIRECTLY from Verizon's systems.

If I can't rely on this to be accurate, then how does Verizon expect me to accurately monitor and project my 5GB of monthly

usage?

So, Verizon, what is going to happen on 7/31 (or when ever my billing cycle ends). Is my usage suddenly going to EXPONENTIALLY INCREASE?????? then I get popped with a bunch of overages?

Currently, the data seems to be about a day behind.

I see a VERY long battle if I have a huge bill at the end of the cycle. be forewarned, Verizon.

It took me almost a month to get a mistake on my LAST BILL corrected, I can see this going terribly wrong as well.

VERIZON, GET THIS USAGE MONITOR FIXED ! ! ! !

Greg4Wireless

I am still seeing inaccurate usage readings as reported by the VZAccess Manager.

The last four times I looked at the usage (which the VZAM USAGE TAB even gives you an error accessing this info most of the time unless you hit USAGE and CLOSE the dialogue box about 11 times).......

...the usage was the same, then...BAM....it shot up.

Again, the time listed was obviously the LAST time it was updated, not the time I pulled the reading. And how is that? the time stamp on the reading was the SAME on all 4 readings, although I took the usage reading at a different time.

7/23 11:31am 4.03GB

7/23 11:31am 4.11GB

7/23 11:31am 4.44GB (WHOA! This reading was taken at 8:37am on Sat July 25)

How can the time be the same on FOUR readings? In that case, the readings are about a day and a half behind. (EVEN when I was on sucky HughesNet, their readings were updated EVERY HOUR, so you have a CLEAR, CONCISE where you were in your usage)

Obviously, I am going to be over at this rate, but until Verizon provides more timely, ACCURATE usage readings, they can't expect

users to effectively monitor their usage and not go over.......

Verizon, I feel a long battle with you if you dont get this fixed (for all users). Moderators, I know you read these posts, you need to pass this information onto your programming folks.......

CorkyMcDoogle

My readings have been like yours. Same dates with different usages and same usages with different dates. It's extremely frustrating.

Verizon better not expect me to pay the overages if I go over this month...

Greg4Wireless

DOCUMENT EVERYTHNG ! ! ! !

and hopefully you're on CREDIT CARD billing (not debited out of your checking account).

That's the only way you can dispute overages (and have the bank rule in your favor) if they charge you for them.

(Experience with sucky Hughesnet taught me this).

Greg4Wireless

System Updates for 7/24 Include These Updates.

Note.... I randomly checked my USAGE on the tab in the VZAM. (it takes about 11 times clicking on the USAGE icon, then closing it to get a reading).

The system updated the usage at these time (NOTE. These were NOT the times I checked, just the times the system it applied the update).

for 7/24, the system applied usage updates @ 9:37am, 11:24am, 4:30pm, and 10:22pm.

Now to report its inaccuracy....The system slows about 200mb of usage being applied between each update.

so, its 7/25 Now @ 9:37pm. So, is it to say the system is just now catching up on figuring usage for these dates and times?

What's more to point out the errors in this reporting is that if the system was actually "catching up on calculating usage for the

times above'.....The reason its wrong is that I only used the system about an hour on 7/24. So, how could updates

@ 9,11,4, and 10 included usage of approximately 200 megs of usage each update?

So in ONE day (24th), I used 800mb (according to a 200mb change in the reading at 8a, 11a, 4p, and 11pm?

NO FREAKING WAY!

So, basically, there is NO way of knowing HOW FAR BEHIND the usage calculation is, and even if the time reported is actually the usage to that point.

that, combined with the ERRORS the USAGE tab gives you when you try to check your usage, definately reports erraneous usage stats.

It says I am currently at 4.89GB as of 7/24 @ 10:22pm... I can assure you I did not use 1GB in 1 day ! ! ! ! !

VERIZON TECH'S.....you need to get the USAGE TAB on the VZAM corrected! and the usage updated to at least the current day.....

Everything is documented. sounds like a long battle with billing at the end of the month...

dellfan

I am sorry that people unhappy with this service. Because of where I live, I cannot get cable or dsl for many years to come. So mobile broadband is the only decent way for me to connect to the internet.

I realize that the usage counter is OFTEN way behind, sometimes will show dates/times and usage then later those dates/times usage amounts will be gone, only to show up again later.

So, I've found that not living on the GB cap edge makes life a whole lot less stressful.

Mobile broadband has been a 99% positive experience for me.

Greg4Wireless

DELFAN . . . I dont think its that we're necessarily "dissatisfied" with the service . . . . . It's just that the tools that Verizon gives us to "monitor our usage" only work 1/4 of the time..

Verizon should supply us with a usage tool that is ACCURATE, UP-TO-DATE, and that WORKS!

If this isn't provided, how can they expect us to manage our usage on a "capped" plan.

and I guarantee, if you're on a VERIZON wireless mobile plan, you **ARE** on a CAP! (whether you ever come close to it

or not might be a different story...)

Baldcypress

I'm another one who is having problems with this. The usage tab on the access manager only works occassionally but when it does work it agrees with what the online account manager says. Unfortunately both are well behind the current time, and do sometimes go backwards in time. I have no idea what the access manager log function reports, as it is completely different than what the other two say. Not that it matters, since it is not the count used for billing.

The online account manager is abysmally slow to use, so I don't like to go there often.

It's as if the only way one can stay under the 5 GB limit is to stay WELL BELOW it. Does that mean the limit is really 4 GB? Seems that way if you want to avoid the exhorbitant overage charges.

Being diligent about usage is not enough on some days. Things like automatic software updates can blow you away without your knowledge. Then there are runaway programs. One day I had Google Chrome get into some kind of a loop and it chewed up 300 megabytes of usage in less than an hour. I wasn't even using it my computer, everything was "idle" but it had a mind of its own until I exited Chrome. I saw the net activity in windows task manager more or less by accident. Good think I hadn't walked away from my computer for hours, or my whole 5 GB usage quota would have evaporated in a single day.

Message Edited by Baldcypress on 07-31-2009 06:36 AM

Greg4Wireless

Actually, reading the previous post. Most likely that's Verizon's thinking.

(1) That we will all be so conscious about our usage, we WON'T use much, conceivably using MUCH LESS than our 5GB that we

are paying for? In that sense, we should get credit on the next month for the UNUSED GB that we didn't use in the previous

month. YEAH... FAT CHANCE of that happening . .. . .

(2) After many complaints about the VZ Manager constantly not working as far as retrieving usage, and the fact that the TOTALS

it DOES report are inaccurate and behind at least 3 days..... Verizon is betting that you will still continue to use your connection

although you have NO WAY of accurately calculating your use. In the end, its PROFIT for Verizon because they end up

banging your account for outrageous overage charges.....

Maybe we need to complain to the better business bureau (especially if you are hit with high overage charges). At least its

documented as a complaint. You might get Verizon to take the excess charges off ONCE, but then again you're stuck in a

contract. the BBB got me out of my HUGHESNET contract. IF you're fed up with this, its worth a try to get out of your

Verizon contract.

I guess I will decide personally after my first months bill arrives.

VERIZON, YOU STILL NEED TO GET THE VZAM "USAGE TAB" TO WORK, AND TO REPORT ACCURATE USAGE STATS!

CorkyMcDoogle

I recently sent a complaint to Verizon about the crazy usage readings and also asking if there was any plans on increasing the cap limit or adding an option higher than 5gb. Their response was that many people complain about the software/inaccurrate usage readings and that they had no forseeable plans to add any bigger options.

This is disappointing. 5gb for an entire month just isn't a reasonable amount of bandwidth for a typical internet user. But, like most people that use it, it's my only option if I want anything other than dial up.

Greg4Wireless

So, the people at Verizon ARE aware that the VZAM does NOT report accurate usage. WHAT, THEN, IS THE BASIS FOR CHARGING US OVERAGES at the end of the billing cycle?????????????????????????????????????????????????

surely, the moderators read these posts. You'd think they could pass along the comments to their information systems

division or to the engineers who wrote the crappy software.

I've wrote Verizon THREE times about this issue. at these email addresses, and only got "canned" responses.

Verizon Wireless Data Technical Support vzwkanacswirelessdata@gl.verizonwireless.com

vzwkanacsWirelessData@HQ.Verizonwireless.com

I laughed at their response when they told me to make sure I was in area serviced by Verizon. If I wasn't and wasn't online, HOW would I have been writing that email ? ? ? ?

Its just an endless loop of passing the problem off to another area, all without resolution!

Greg4Wireless

Just to prove this usage data is still inaccurate . . . .

Yesterday, sunday, August 2, around 10:00PM CST, I checked my account to see if my usage has reset.

It said my usage had RESET on 8/3/09 @ 12:14AM. WHAT???????????????????????? that has not even happened yet!

I check it again this morning @ 8:03AM on 8/3/09, and it says "AS OF 8/3/09 10:10AM, your usage was 0 MB".

WHAT???????????????????/ That hasn't happened yet either!

At one time, the usage was THREE DAYS BEHIND, now its a day AHEAD?

My total usage jumped from 5.11GB on 7/25 to and ending 6.87GB on 8/1 (end of cycle)?

That's 1.76GB extra usage that suddenly JUMPED ahead. Of course, the VZAM usage monitor is ALWAYS behind, and you

can almost never get a reading.

I will be surprised what my bill will be! I'm going to refer them back to this forum, and the issues myself and some others have

experienced with this issue.

Obviously, Verizon isn't listening, as they'd have the issue with the usage monitor fixed at this point.

Greg4Wireless

The updating of our usage on our mobile broadband plan still continues to be flawed.

Last month I was hit with 1.8GB in overages. Once I proved how inaccurate the updating system is (I had DETAILED logs),

they took the overages off my bill.

Read all the previous posts of the inaccuracies how your usage is reported.

ONCE AGAIN, I'm seeing the SAME trend. Usage isn't updated for three days....When it is, its high, then low.

For example.....

8/6/09 as of 10:15AM I'd used......596MB

8/7/09 as of 9:48AM I'd used.......958MB (NO WAY............)

8/7/09 as of 5:54PM I'd used.......706MB (Usage rolled back 200MB).

This is where the reporting system is FLAWED. The way it increments rapidly in 1 day, then it rolls back the day after.

HOW CAN WE RELY ON ANY OF THIS DATA USAGE TO BE ACCURATE?

I keep up with my own data usage with NetMeter/NetWorx According to them, I've only used about 600MB as of 8/6 (which would have been accurate according to VZAM usage on that day...however PM, not AM)

SO, how did I use 200MB in 1 day when I wasn't even at home that day (computer off).............Then I'm suddenly "forgiven" for this usage.....No one at Verizon has been able to explain how USAGE ROLLS BACK!

I guess I'll just use that I need, and end up calling Verizon billing AGAIN at the end of the billing cycle, and tell them about this.

(or even better, a credit card dispute later on).

VERIZON MODS! I know you read these posts. Why can't you relay this to your engineering team???????

CorkyMcDoogle

I'm glad to hear they took the overages off of your bill. That makes me less worried if the same happens to me. I shouldn't have to pay for something I have no way of keeping track of.

Thanks

blacksheepfoto

I am SO glad I found this post. I've been scratching my head since I had almost $200 in overage last month. Now I have the proof to dispute it.

I checked my bills....and found numerous accounts of IMPOSSIBLE usage readings....example...

12:15 10MB

12:16 0MB

12:16 124MB

Now correct me if I am wrong...that would mean I had a connection speed of 2.06MB a second (or conservatively 1.9MB based on the previous 10MB usage reading)?!!?!??!?!!?

Am I missing something or am I right on my math?

There is know way in hell I am getting anywhere close to that kind of speed!!! We are talking 8-10Mb(megabit) CABLE speeds!!!

I am calling tomorrow and demanding a refund if this is right, and it looks like it is.

Doodle

I wasn't able to get them to take the overage off my bill until the guy called me a lair. They showed me online when I came home to find my house broken into and I was calling 911. The computer was off (even unplugged) the verizon device was in a drawer. They credited my account and are sending me a new device, but would not explain who was using my verizon. They said a page was accessed but would not tell me what page. They claimed for sercurity purposes, I let them know that it was my internet and they should be able to tell me what pages I was looking at. The verizon people are crazy. If this happens again I want out of this contract. I just wanted help to find out what was going on, not to be called a lair. I've been watching my usage increase like wildfire. At this rate I will be over in 2 weeks. My average for the 7 months with verizon is 3500, I have not change the way I use the internet.

hdixon3

I am having the exact same problem this month. The billing cycle they are charging me overages is 8/14/09-9/13/09. The strange thing is.....under my detailed usage on My Verizon....these dates are completely missing. My detailed usage jumps from 7/24/09 all the way to 9/14/09. Consistently for nine months I have used 4gb and then last month they're saying I went 1gb over my allowance? There is absolutely no way.

I called customer service and they have no idea what is going on. I also looked on my log in VZAccess and there are only 3 dates logged that total up to 500mb. I'm not sure what is going on, however, it doesn't sound like I am alone in this circus. If anyone has any ideas, I'm all ears!

najach

Wow, glad I found this thread. I thought once before that the readings were wrong... but I had no proof. Well, I WOULD have had proof had the VZAM not screwed up and corrupted the data of my concurrently run bandwidth monitor. Ever since using these things I downloaded a copy of FreeMeter, a free bandwidth monitor. When the VZAM crashes or disconnects, it forces the FreeMeter to completely shut off, and also corrupt my Counter (erasing the upload/download/total and starting dates I set)... so... there went all the evidence.

Not only do I not trust Verizon's little hack of a program, the connection is so crappy even though I'm in a good area. It insists I have good coverage, yet trying to watch a video or download something is horrible! Especially when watching videos; if I pause to let it buffer and catch up... it'll just stop downloading. And likewise with a recent download; it's impossible to get, 'cause Verizon calls it quits after just a few mb. I can't resume since it called it done.... it's so dumb.

Finland has Broadband as a legal right... why can't we?... Or at least raise the cap to 30gig or something, like some real internet service providers. 5gig is ridiculous! I've had to get a FF plugin, too, called ImgLikeOpera to make sure I don't redownload images in my cache or just allowing me to load the images I want to see. Besides, Verizon charges so much for a 5 gig cap, whereas the UNLIMITED data plan for smart phones costs HALF! Since we're already paying double, at least give us unlimited, too... double the price is MORE THAN ENOUGH to profit from the convenience of a usb device, and we already know they're able to give unlimited data to customers. I have no choice but to either go 3G or go without internet entirely. I don't have a cable outlet or even a phone jack, so I need 3G.

Blah, too bad I'm stuck on their awful 2-yr contract. Even with a smart phone, they still trap you.... making you buy minutes, too... so the cost would end up being the same:

Unlimited data + Minutes/voice = 5gig data.... that just makes no sense.

Doodle

Verizon need to get it together. With so many people having overages they don't normally have. So far my usage hasn't changed since 6:11pm on 10/13. Before that it was increase like crazy.

najach

Just... no.... freaking... way. I was poking around in the VZAM and found that they do keep up to the second record of bandwidth usage! It doesn't exactly match what my FreeMeter says, but it's pretty close. I go to Options>Statistics and I see a bandwidth monitor for the current session, showing the graph, uploads, downloads and rates.

Why the hell is the usage button so late then? Why is this monitor hidden away and not out in the open? It shows live bandwidth usage!!! It should be front and bleeping center! Instead they hide it away and have it communicate with our usage button and the Verizon website through SNAIL MAIL, apparently, and have useless tabs for things like applications (that I'm perfectly capable of finding myself right on my desktop).

I guess all I can say is keep that session window open or get a separate meter yourself. I highly suggest a separate meter, just for proof.

Shep

:smileysad: Hi,

Last month the online verizon manager registered my usage way over my 5 GB allowance, although my usage was similar to the previous months (which was under 5 GB). I called cutomer service to inquire and they told me the usage box is correct, period.

I $PAID$ 5x, YES THAT IS FIVE TIMES my monthly service because VZW calculated me as being over. It takes a lot of computer use to exceed 5 GB and I still wonder...and am not convinced it was a correct reading, but what can I do? I did not keep any records.

By reading this blog I am now recording my usage and keeping track daily.

My question to all you broadband users out there is my usage is only calculated in megabytes, even though my limit if 5 GB. How many megabytes are there to equal a GB?

I'm disgusted, stinging from a huge VZW broadband bill, and now hesitant to even use the broadband. I'm in on any class action that comes of this "usage" issue.

Shep

How can I get Free Meter? I need help! Thank you!

unknown

I'm using NetMeter http://www.metal-machine.de/readerror/index.php?PHPSESSID=240055afb4339d988a1c120d0f33c6cd&

1024 MB per GB

OneBitterOldMan

I totally agree. This is the 24th and my usage shows the 20th, its like they want you to go over the 5gig cap , then it says I've used approximately blabla. I think if were gonna get hit for being over that they need to be mare accurate and up to date. Why should I have to pay more for approximately going over there stupid limit.

OneBitterOldMan

Your 5 GB = 5120 MB.

PeterDE

I have the same problem. The usage tab on VZAccess Manager doesn't work at all. It gives a message that says Device not available. I assume that measn I actually have to connect my "wireless" device with a USB Cable. I check the usage every day on MY Verizon. The Usage meter on MY Verizon has given me the same figure since October 20. I just checked. It still says October 20. The value hasn't changed.

When are they going to fix this???

PeterDE

I have since discovered that the usage tab does work when I plug the device in witha USB cord. But it is still giving me the 10/20/09 data. Plus that when I plug the MiFi in, the hotspot function no longer works. Of course the manual tells you that up front. So why design a device that doesn't register your usage when used as a hotspot (when you could have up to five users on line, and doesn't work as a hotspot when plugged in? The whole idea was that my wife and I could be on-line on different computers at the same time. This defeats that because if we use it as a hotspot we have no way of knowing what our usage is.

I will say this works a lot better than my old USB727 modem. It doesn't drop calls nearly as much and it gets a much better signal in fringe areas.

lilk13

I too am having a problem with the usage updating. I have also check vzw on line and it says the same exact number that my modem says. I also see that there is no answer to any of your questions. Has anyone received an email from vzw explaining what is going on. My modem has not updated since 10/25.

What is free meter and how is it used, is it a spearate program?

lilk13

Greg4Wireless

usage is still about three days behind... my usage jumped 300MB in the next update. and I had not even been on in 2 days.

I'll never believe the usage meter is accurate anyway.

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