Verizon Jetpack Usage doubled overnight!

[shylev33]

I have 18G Usage, but this Past Month Bill, billing cycle January 17th to February 17th 2013, I  just received No Usage warnings! Never saw a 50%, 75%, or 90% usage Percentages!!! grrrr and then I got and OUTRAGEOUS Bill saying I used 40G = $474.14 I called Verizon and told them to cut my bill down to the agreed billing of $100 plus $20 fee and taxes or I will refuse to pay and will get an attorney to investigate this bogus overage. The Tech guy said he Can Not test my Jetpack, that he could not bounce a signal off my device like DSL and Cable Companies can do with thier modems. He said all he can do is confirm usage.

The sad thing is that Proves my case, is that I was never received the 50%, 75%, or 90% or You might be charged overages on next bill TEXT Warnings! So, Case should be closed! and bill should be reduced to less than $130. right? Not what the Verizon Technican told me. Maybe there is a hack involved? Because already less than 10 days into a new billing cycle according to verizon operator and online www.verizonwireIess.com I apparently have Already used 75% of my 18G Usage as of Feb 25th, 2013. I call this Hog Wash! I been hacked! By whom? By what? well all I know my Computer is Clean of any viruses and malware! How do I know? I clean and repair computers for a living.

Oct.17th - Nov.16th $140.

then Nov.17th - Dec.16th $130.

then Dec.17th - Jan.16th $160.

BUT!!! Jan.17th - Feb.16th $474.14 !!! I call Balony Sandwiches!

I bought my Verizon Jetpack Wireless Hotspot unit in the Middle of October 2012 and first bill was all messed up. I started with 6G and then finally stopped at 18G being a comfortable level. Verizon fixed the errors on my billing.  Because I was told, I can keep adding usage time and that there would be no xtra charges for upgrading, balony. Well you are allowed actually only One Free upgrade per month and backdated only once per month on billing cycle. Also, If I wanted to downgrade minutes, I could, but would not go into affect untill the next billing cycle. I received Usage warnings every billing cycle ever since October 2012. It starts at 50%, then 75%, then 91% and then it says On your Next bill you might see Overage Usage Charges on your next Bill.

So, what Legal Help can I get? Cause I am not gonna stand for this.

[shylev33]

Actually NOW! my Jetpack Usage QUADROOPLED, not just doubled or tripled! Funny thing is, I am using my internet LESS than I did in December, so EXPLAIN that!

[Ann154]

It's quadrupled.

By the way, are you using the jetpack to access the VZW community tonight?

[shylev33]

HUH? ??? what is VZW Community? I use my jetpack to veiw emails, go on craigslist to sell my computers and PC Repair services and play Combat arms. PLUS! only I use the jetpack and no one else.

[Ann154]

shylev33 wrote:

HUH? ??? what is VZW Community? I use my jetpack to veiw emails, go on craigslist to sell my computers and PC Repair services and play Combat arms. PLUS! only I use the jetpack and no one else.

You are posting on the the VZW community (Verizon Wireless Community Forum). It is a peer to peer customer forum viewable to the public.

[shylev33]

This is my first night EVER posting anything on any commununity website in over 3 years. I joined the Verizon Forums just 3 hours ago for the first time ever, Right after I got off the phone from Verizon Tech support and billing Department and they said they will call me back in 48 hours. So after the phone call to them I came here to Verizon Forums to look and get answers for receiving my OUTRAGEOUS Verizon Jetpack Bill that was 4 times what I normally pay!

[shylev33]

Examples of My Good Data Habits:

1. Avoid Video, use low def options if necessary
2. Avoid Streaming music, use low def options if necessary
3. Avoid High-res pictures, use low def options if necessary
4. Close down your applications when you are done using them
5. Disconnect from the device when you are not using it
6. Check in on your usage frequently until you understand what impact your habbits have on the plan
7. Turn off automatic updates for any programs or services
8. Secure your device by changing the default connection credentials to custom values

[shylev33]

Sad thing is I did NOT receive data Usage reports saying 50%, 75%, 90% or "You might have overage charges" sent to my Jetpack or online verizon account from January 17th 2013 to February 16th, 2013 Billing Period. Not a single Warning! So anyone that have any Real helpful Legal advice, would be very much appreciated, Thanks.

Message was edited by: Lance

[Ann154]

shylev33 wrote:

Sad thing is I did NOT receive data Usage reports saying 50%, 75%, 90% or chance overage charges sent to my Jetpack or online verizon account from January 17th 2013 to February 16th, 2013. Not a single Warning! So anyone that have any Real helpful Legal advice would be appreciated, Thanks.

You said that before in your original post.

Have you made it a habit to check out your usage through your MyVerizon account on a weekly basis?

[shylev33]

I was barely using my Internet last month and I check my usage every month for text messages from Verizon and never receved a single message, I check my jetpack once every few days. I just figured and never went over the 50% mark.

Plus,  Just a couple hours ago the Verizon Operator & Technican that I am already less than 8 days into a new billing cycle my jetpack and online www.verizonwireIess.com account says I have Already used 75% of my 18G Usage as of Feb 25th, 2013, just 8 days into New Billing Cycle.

Can U explain that to me?

I call this Hog Wash! I been hacked! By whom? By what? well all I know my Computer is Clean of any viruses and malware! How do I know? I clean and repair computers for a living.

[RidgeRider]

I sent you a follow message. Click accept and then send me a direct message and I will tell you what some of us are doing. Wade

[shylev33]

What legal rights do I have... because I never received usage updates for Jan 17 to Feb 16 2013. So by rights since I did not even get a 50% usage warning and knew I was using less internet compared to how much I was online the previous usage time period. I only figured I never got near the 50% point of my bandwidth.

[shylev33]

So far, I still owe close to $500, which is way too much money for Usage I swear, I never used, and all last billing period month from Jan 17th, 2013 to Feb 16th, 2013 ... I never received the normal 50%, 75%, 90%, or "You might owe overages on you next bill" Usage Warnings.

Additionally, since I never received a 50% warning and knew in my heart I was using the internet less than usual, that I was going to be charged for unused Usage and still be billed my normal $120. plus taxes. Wow, was I wrong. But sad thing, it was way more wrong that Verizon never sent text messages of percentages of what level my uasge was at, at no point all last billing period, then on top of that over charge me. grrrrrrr

[Ann154]

You don't have to repeat what you have written at least FOUR times in this discussion about never receiving the warning alerts.

Yes or no. Did you ever set up your MyVerizon account online for those alert messages? I know that I can set mine up on my account, but I haven't done so yet.

You could have also been proactive and manually checked the account at halfway through the billing cycle or sooner if you want.

[shylev33]

Wow you don't read all what I type! I set up my online account 4 months ago. That also did not reflect hardly any usage at all to me Until after I received the Outrageous bill ! So stop toying with me and setup your online account and learn before telling others what to do, especially if you have not done it yourself. grrrrrrrr wow the nerve of some people, telling others what to do and they themselves have not don it themselves. Practice what you preach or say nothing at all please. Thank you.

[Ann154]

shylev33 wrote:

Wow you don't read all what I type! I set up my online account 4 months ago. That also did not reflect hardly any usage at all to me Until after I received the Outrageous bill ! So stop toying with me and setup your online account and learn before telling others what to do, especially if you have not done it yourself. grrrrrrrr wow the nerve of some people, telling others what to do and they themselves have not don it themselves. Practice what you preach or say nothing at all please. Thank you.

I have setup my online account years ago. I said I never setup the overage alerts.

[montereyone]

Verizon has a usage problem with the Jetpack 4620 devices they are reselling. As it is 100% in their favor they have no incentive to fix the problem as they merrily take your money to the bank and issue nice bonus checks for their executives. OK to steal if you are a banker, stock broker, politician, loan officer, as we have seen over the past 5 years but now it appears to be legal to pad usage bills by Verizon. Verizon is not alone. I was overcharged 6 out of the first 7 months with AT&T for their wireless service. Each time it took an hour on the phone to get the overcharged amounts corrected. After the 7th month I gave up and cancelled my service with them. Ever notice that the billing errors are always in favor of the telco? If the Verizon usage applications understated usage and reduced revenue you can bet your life it would be fixed in a heartbeat and heads would roll.

The only course of action is to leave Verizon and go to Millenicom which uses the Verizon network and does not seem to be stealing from its customers as Verizon has clearly been doing for many months.

[RidgeRider]

Well said. And obviously very true. I will check out Millenicom. I also post on facebook the links that tell what Verizon is doing.to their customers. I also send emails to my "friends" group and ask them to forward to their email friends.

In addition, you might want to file an FCC complaint. Absolutely nothing happened when I did, but some have reported a little response.

I also sent a letter to the Verizon CEO. I got some response, but they didn't do much except give me a $50 credit on a computer exam that Ben, the tech, insisted that I do. (My computer was found to be o.k.)

I also got a few dollars, I think $30, on my overage charges, but had to do without service for over 3 weeks because I was in overage condition on the second day of my billing cycle

<< Comments and proprietary information removed to comply with >>

Then again, I doubt anyone working for a cooperation that treats their customers like Verizon Wireless does has a conscience. At least the people that are aware of what they are doing. I went to work for AT&T in 1983, and at that time they were a great cooperation to work for. Montereyone is the latest of a few people I have heard bad-mouth them lately. Wade

Message was edited by: Verizon Moderator

[RidgeRider]

I checked out Montereyone, but they don't offer 4G service to my address, only basic plan and 3G service. Odd. Maybe they didn't want to contract with Verizon because I live in the middle of nowhere.

Anybody else have any suggestions? I'm tired of trying. Wade

[montereyone]

If you have a friend with a smartphone and a 4G service plan they can go to your house and see what the signal strength is in your area. No bars you are not likely to get service. Two bars and the signal strength can be boosted with an external antenna. If the antenna alone is not enough then a $200 RF booster will do the trick. But there has to be some level of signal to gain or boost in the first place.

For what it is worth when I look at the last 12 months of activity by Millenicom customers using the 4620L for accessing the Verizonwireless network I have not seen a single complaint about usage problems or overcharges. It may be that with the $70 a month no contract Millenicom plan providing 20GB that far fewer people hit the cap or it may be that the overbilling of 4620L users is due entirely to the computer systems operating inside Verizon's billing department.

Based on my decades in the IT industry and working with Fortune 100 companies I would expect that the management at Verizonwireless are well aware of the overbilling and have purposely not taken steps to fix a problem that is generating so much revenue for the company.

[RidgeRider]

Thanks for the information. I'll try it.

I got an email from Verizon saying you had accepted my follow request. I tried to direct message you just now and it says I am following you, but doesn't allow me to direct mail you. Nothing new with that. It also gave me your full name. That is usually an indicator that I can direct mail you. It just depends on which way the wind is blowing. Wade