VZAccess Manager usage amount rollbacks/inaccurate

[CorkyMcDoogle]

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

[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.

[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.

[Shep]

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

[#5]

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

1024 MB per GB

[Shep]

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.

[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

[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]

The same series of events happens EVERY month . . . .  Usage isn't updated for 5-6 days in a row........Usage jumps us more than actual usage.

and the USAGE tab in VZAM will not report usage...Giving the error code 241 : Error Returning Usage

[Deamorei]

I filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau because of this. It seems Verizon has many thousands of various complaints againt their services. I haven't seen an update in my usage in 3 days now. This makes the paying customer big targets for overage fees with their miniscule 5GB allowance. We have no way of knowing how honest they are being with this as i'm sure there is no watchdog monitoring them either to make sure we aren't being overcharged bandwidth at all. Most web pages uses about 500kb of data so you can eat a MB a sec in no time at all. I don't download movies or music and i really hate having to watch my usage like a hawk. This was the way it was when the internet was first upon us. Why are we going backwards instead of other countries moving forward?

[aquastell]

I am using two independent bandwith monitors on my system, because of the overcharges by Verizon.  I have the evidence that I need to take them to small claims court.  Both of my independent bandwidth monitors agree on the usage, yet VZAM + the billing details indicates far more usage on some days than either of them.

Bandwidth Monitor monitors network traffic through all network connections on the computer it's installed on, and displays real-time graphical and numerical downloading and uploading speeds. The software supports to display transfer rates of multiple network connections at the same time. It also logs network traffic and provides daily, weekly, monthly, and summary traffic reports. And start days of week and month are customizable. The program allows you to setup a notification to get an alert when you exceed a certain amount of bandwidth usage. And, traffic stopwatch enables you to test bandwidth speed of connections. You can also record transfer rates of connections.

The monitor works with the majority network connections including phone modems, DSL, cable modem, LAN, satellite, wireless, and VPN.

NetMeter is a small, customizable network usage monitoring program. It can monitor NICs and dial-up adapters as well. Its main window consists of a graphical, resizable display and text labels (optional). Additionally a tray icon shows if there is in- and/or outgoing traffic.

This is the second time this year I have had to go through the hassle of  disputing with them, and I thought it was resolved, but it just never seems to end.

Here is a link to information about the first case, which Verizon settled with me by crediting all of the overcharges before we went to court.  http://consumercreditinfo.blogspot.com/2009/02/taking-verizon-wireless-to-texas-small.html

But, well, now they are at it again, for about $300.00 and are being belligerent about it.  I have a court date for December 1st, on the new over charges.  When I have time, I will also post the current case on the blog.  I just realized I never updated information about the first case.  They credited my bill for 100% of the over charges that time.

The thing is, the data usage in the data tab is monitored and maintained by Verizon employees on Verizon equipment.  You cannot access the usage tab at all unless you are already connected to the internet!  I have noticed a distinctive pattern that my usage is not updated during "off hours" - - holidays and weekends.  But here is the better part.  I have also watched them ROLL BACK the usage when I was on the phone with a Verizon tech support person, who required me to incur a sizeable download.  Yeah, if they can roll it back, they can also bump it up, don't ya think?  I discovered that they charged me for bandwidth on days that I was not even at home and my computer was not even turned on.

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[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.