Posted on 09/23/2016 2:21:15 PM PDT by US Navy Vet
It's been an interesting week. Last weekend, I wrote about a sudden surge in my family's cell phone data through Verizon. In my unscientific survey that lasted one week, every friend and acquaintance I asked said they were having the same problem: Their monthly data use had been soaring in recent months for no apparent reason. In some cases, using more data meant hefty over-limit fees.
Well, well, well. Since my column ran a week ago, I've heard from about 700 Verizon customers (and quite a few AT&T customers too) in Ohio and many other states. Most have iPhones. Some have Androids. All have seen their data use through Verizon jump significantly -- doubling or tripling since the spring in many cases, even though their cell phone habits haven't changed. Data costs money. As if Verizon doesn't make enough money, it posted a profit of $18 billion -- billion with a B -- last year. That's up from $2 billion five years ago.
(Excerpt) Read more at syracuse.com ...
Trump’s fault. Seriously
I used to have T-Mobile. I was never able to use a lot of data because it simply didn’t work in several places I needed to have it. Their coverage maps are a lie.
Here in northern California, T-Mobile works very well—I’ve seen 95 megabits/second download speeds (pretty much the max) on my iPhone 6) in most metro areas. On my old Samsung Galaxy SIII, I was getting around 30 megabits/second max due to the fact the phone only used GSM/HSDPA cellular data.
“It always seems to spIke a week before the cycle...”
I’ve noticed that too.
My usage of data has changed very little, if anything, I try to use less. No videos and I won’t open high resolution photos. Over the past few months I have consistently been charged for about an 80% increase in data usage despite taking deliberate action to reduce my data usage. After my last month’s bill I called Verizon to try and figure out what was going on. After talking with the rep for about 10 minutes he put me on hold so he could talk with his supervisor. After waiting on hold for over 25 minutes, I hung up. Next thing I know, the following day I discovered the guy had changed my plan to a more costly one, which was the exact opposite of what I desired. So then I had to call back and go through all the hassle to get back on my previous plan. I’ve been with Verizon for about 15 years and have in general been quite pleased, that is up until all this data overage started a few months ago. I’m glad to see an article about it to confirm I’m not the only one experiencing this. I’m almost to the point where I may quit doing business with Verizon.
I’ve become hyper-sensitive to my data usage to the point of while clicking on an article on Free Republic, if I see that it’s loading slowly, I immediately stop the load, since experience has shown that those slow loading threads are ones that people have posted lots of video clips on, using more data, usually only to see the same silly clip that a person posts over and over. I’ve also installed an ad blocking app. I await my next bill to see if any of this makes any difference. BTW, I don’t watch any video unless I’m using wifi, and the same goes for loading any updates. But I’ve always done that. Something is going on and Verizon isn’t being upfront about it. At times I have to wonder if all the data usage is being used by some sort of surveillance programs. In the current state our nation is in, it wouldn’t surprise me at all.
Why don’t you just go to TMobil with unlimited EVERYTHING it’s 50.00 a month I was with Verizon and changed VERY HAPPY!!!
Use Wi-Fi whenever possible.....................
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My wife uses nothing but Wi-Fi, never uses her phone’s data outside the house but Verizon says “over limit”. She argues them out of it every time it happens.
This sh** is getting old. I’m ready to dump them and when I do, I’m ready to stiff them for at least one month’s bill.
If they don’t have to pay for it, they just cannot understand being frugal.
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My two teens have unlimited text, good thing too, it’s not unusual for them to have 4,000-5,000 texts per month each.
After the unlimited data family plan was changed I began to get notices of overages. I hardly use my smart phone away from my home wifi and never watch movies or You Tube. I don’t text message a lot—maybe 10 a month and they are very short.
I occasionally read my Kindle books when out of the house. Are these downloaded as I read or are they already on the phone?
“Why don’t you just go to TMobil with unlimited EVERYTHING it’s 50.00 a month...”
I definitely would, but they don’t cover the area where I live. There’s also only one land line provider here.
I am having the same problem with my home computer. We live out in the country and do not have DSL. We use a Verizon Hot Spot. Always had the 6 GB plan.....had to recently change to the 8 GB plan. But my daily use has shot through the roof while my usage habits have not changed. At this rate 8 GB is not going to be enough.
We do not have smart phones...just flip phone. They are used only as phones.....never text. Our phone service is with AT&T.
Verison is the best computer reception. AT&T is the best phone reception.
Verizon can never tell us why our data suddenly increased. My husband has been pulling his hair out trying to find the reason.
Yes, I get automatic notices from Verizon when I get close to my limit. I can adjust my plan for one month, and change the next.
By design................
See post #13................
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