Data Usage charges, 5C Verizon FaceTime?

I'm confused since I had thought that FaceTime didn't use data that I would be charged for. But I see that setting has enable cellular data for FaceTime.
Back in March I made a lengthy call to a friend in another state & after awhile switched to FaceTime. I am on Verizon w the More plan w 250 MB data allowance.
I got notice of my bill & it shows a huge overage in data. So I am truing to figure out why. I remembered that lengthy call & my phone shows it as 2 hrs 29 min (442 MB). I guess that must have been the reason, but I was unaware that would use data. Mo before data was 121.19, months before that 80.52, 67.84, 59.04, 107.73
Most of the call was inside where it should have been using my wife. But I also decided to walk outside to show my friend around where I live (we both used to live in CA & now have moved to different states). My wifi doesn't extend much outside--not even to my car & I went out to the front of our long driveway which was definitely out of range of my wifi.
But then after walking around the area & went back inside & most of the call took place inside in range of wifi. So, would it have switched to cellular data when I got out of wifi range & then stayed using cellular data even after I was back inside?
In my usage, I see a call showing 5 min at that time. Wondering if that was before I switched to FaceTime?
Also, after awhile, I decided we didn't need to still be on FaceTime & looked to try to turn it off but didn't see a way to do that.
So I'm really confused how this works?
In addition, I had previously entered the log in info for the wifi at my office. Not too long ago, I noticed that it wasn't connected to the wifi there, so wondering if it lost the log in when I updated iOS? Or why it would forget a previous wifi log in that I should be using all the time?
Also, I do have my iPhone set up w my iPad mini as a mobile hot spot but it is turned off. It sees that when looking for a network, but am I correct in assuming that it since it is turned to off, it won't use it until I turn the function on?

CBearsDada wrote:
I have the following "Usage Type/Event Description" on my detailed Data Usage Charges screen:
PAYGO $1.99MB 3G HNDST356
I understand that this is the $1.99/mb usage rate, but is there anyway I can found what this was (mobile web, etc). I'm trying to get a handle on my daughter's charges and this keeps popping up every month. Does Verizon charge her line whenever someone sends her a text with data attached?
Thank you for your inquiry. Adding to what was stated, the message from above about PAYGO $1.99MB 3G HNDST356 sounds like its referring to the Backup Assistant. As long as that line is registered on My Verizon, a limited one credit of $1.99 should be reflected on the billing statement once per billing cycle. Please review your billing statement carefully to see if the credit is present. Also, data usage is not based on whether or not a phone was touched within the last couple of days. Its based upon if any data usage was incurred from the beginning of a bill cycle that goes until the end of the bill cycle. In other words, you can use data 3 days after a bill cycle started and then not use any data at all for 2 days afterward. The two days of not using data does not eliminate the 3 days that data was used. Data attachments are not used in text messaging but in picture messaging or email. For example, you can send a picture and attach another picture to that same message for it to go to someone. As long as you have a unlimited texting/picture messaging package on that line, it should not be billed for that message with the attachment.

Similar Messages

Data Usage Charges Skyrocketing

In the past two months I have seen my data usage charges going through the roof and nothing has changed with my usage which is very limited because I always have my phone connected to my home WiFi and at work to work Wifi so I only had 2 gigabytes of data and I didn't have any overages until April and then my phones suddenly has between and 3 and 4 gigabytes but I have not changed anything relative to data usage. I am not on Facebook or any other social media and have a personal laptop and work laptop and so I am not on the web on my phone at all and don't use the GPS or download movies. When I called customer service I had someone who was very helpful and when he looked at the usage he also thought it was odd given previous months and said he was going to run a check and get back to me, but as usual once you hang up with customer service you never hear back. The odd thing was that the day after my billing cycle started I was already to 90% of the monthly bill which is just not correct. I truly believe that Verizon is padding everyone's bill because we cannot refute it since they don't provide the actual websites you went to. However, if I was being subpoenaed verizon would have all that detail for lawyers. My next step is to contact the better business bureau because this is shameless and verizon customers have no recourse and no one at verizon will help. I am stuck with my two year contract, so I think we need to also write our congressmen and women to get them to act on this blatant fleecing of the American public.
>Shortened Subject Line<
Message was edited by: Verizon Moderator

I understand your concerns mgratsch and know it's frustrating to have a higher data usage than expected. We can certainly review the usage and determine if its correct. You can send a private message with your name and mobile number and we can discuss the usage in more detail. What phone do you have? Do you have email set up or notifications coming through your phone. All of this can cause data usage also. Do you browse the internet at all or download applications? Some apps may have a bigger data usage than others. Let's figure this out together and just as a reminder, don't forget to change your plan to prevent overages for data http://bit.ly/xdDajD .
KinquanaH_VZW
Follow us on Twitter @vzwsupport

New phone shows high data usage in My Verizon right after purchase - why?

I purchased a new Galaxy S5 yesterday. We looked at "My Verizon" and saw data usage of 470 MB on the summary, but the phone showed 14 MB. I downloaded the data usage details, and they also showed 14 MB. Today her summary shows 1556 MB, but the detailed data spreadsheet cells add up to 162.49 MB. The phone is on wifi only. What gives? My wife has averaged around 200 MB per month for years. Is this some kind of fraud? We got my daughter a new IPhone and go nailed for a $10 data overage within a 24 hours. There were two half-gig downloads, but there is no way to trace what they were, whether some kind of Apple-induced downloads or what. Verizon customer service gave us an extra gig since the store failed to tell us that the data usage was pro-rated. They also failed to tell my wife to set the phone to wifi only until all of the phone's little data-sucking default applications did their updates. I was totally off contract with 5 phones, and just put 4 new little data-sucking piggy phones back on contract for two years for my family. My own phone number 5 will not be with Verizon. Unless they change their loan-shark practices on data charges, this will be my last contract with Verizon. Their customer support folks are great, but I have a low tolerance for a billing system that cannot be audited for accuracy in data charges.

Regarding your second comment, you are dead-on correct. My daughter's last plan was Virgin with unlimited data and 200 minutes of talk. We failed to sit down together and go over the differences. While I was ultimately responsible for explaining the need to turn off cellular coverage at home, I still feel the need to let my Verizon sales rep know to stress this to customers like us who have lived for years with unlimited data plans.
I am taking your advice and pulling the trigger on Republic tomorrow. They have a referral plan that will give both me and my son $19 after the first payment period ends. I appreciate your feedback!

Mandatory data usage charge

To whoever it concerns,
After a very rude and unpleasant trip to my local verizon store, I have just found out that in order to get a normal phone-sorry the "feature" phones looks extremely cheap for a bussiness professional- I must pay a mandatory data useage charge of 10$ on top of my already high bill. This is absurd because I never use any "data" anyway on my plan as it stands, so in order to get the phone, which by the way I already owned without this extra charge, I now must pay 10$ for internet that I will never and don't even know how to use. Whoever thought this was a good idea is insane. While this might trick a few innocent people who simply do not notice the charge at first, I can almost guarantee you will see a substantial drop in customers, including myself, my family, and all of my friends.

Just remember to turn off your cellular usage while you're in Wi-Fi areas, because you will continue to accumulate data usage even though you're using WiFi...at least that's what happened to me.

Phone data usage not matching verizon usage

Since having my droid turbo, my data usage in my setting has not been matching my usage on my verizon account and another line on my account is having the same issue, right now my phone says that i have used 0.56GB and verizon says i have used 1.03 which is a pretty big difference, the other line on my account that is having the same issue says he has used 0.69 verizon says he has used 2.421 which is a huge difference, i checked the wifi usage for both phones and it seems that the top the data app under wifi usage seem to be making up the difference between the usage in settings and the usage on verizon. I have also seen people online talking about this similar issue which seems to be caused by the phone using mobile data while connected to wifi. I have been with verizon for over 2 yrs and this is the first phone i have noticed this issue with. I have also attached screen shots from my phone to prove this issue. Any help with this problem would be appreciated.
>> Attachment containing personal information removed to comply with the Verizon Wireless Terms of Service <<
Message was edited by: Verizon Moderator

If you want to see the report from VZW on your current data usage then you must sign into the VZW website and access your account. Only the VZW website will allow you to see any kind of information on your data usage. The Jetpack itself does not have any data usage metrics installed on it.
I assume that you already know that the data usage report from VZW is only a summary of your actual usage in terms of various sessions. The most information that will be disclosed to you are these sessions, their timestamps and how much data was consumed during that session. If you want the actual statistics for what was consumed then you must setup and maintain your own data usage monitor.

IPhone 4s iOs 6 data usage problems on Verizon

Last night around 6PM I lifted the usage controls on my teenage cousin's iphone 4s. We had never set a data limit for the phone because she only uses it for internet when at home on the wifi network. We only had it on her phone to be able to block unwanted numbers, but the feature also allows customers to set data caps, internet restrictions by age ect.
Prior to last night her usuage was minimal. However, within 6 hrs of the usuage control being lifted suddenly I was notified we'd hit 50% of our 6g data plan. In the morning when I woke up I had a text saying we'd hit 75% of our usage plan. I logged into Verizon and it indicated she had consumed 4.6g.
I spoke with Verizon and the first reprepresenative told me that this was a known iOs 6 issue for iphones and asked me to check if the phone was using the that operating system. She said if it was Verizon would be giving credits to customers because it was a known issue. I hung up, called my aunt and learned that in fact iOs 6 was installed. She also confirmed that the phone settings had not changed. It was still only using wifi. Verizon data usage remained turned off.
I called Verizon back and spoke with a second representative who then told me that it was not an iOs 6 issue, but just an iPhone 5 issue. She said the previous information given to me was incorrect; it was hardware and not operating system based problem. I then reapplied usage controls and went in to set a data limit, for the first time, and discovered that the iPhone's data usage had now reached 5.4g of 6g. I still have 18 days left on my billing cycle and just .6g of data remaining. It seems crazy to me that I should have to set a cap on data usage for a phone using wifi to prevent that phone from maxing out verizon data, but that is what I have done until I can get to the bottom of this
The rep told me to visit Apple for further details. I also googled it and found stories on CNN and TheNextWeb reporting instances where individuals with the iOs 6 on iphone 4s were also experiencing problems, but nothing concrete on how to resolve it.
Can someone please clarify for me what is going on or where I can find a solution to this.
Thank you in advance.

The second rep is a moron. Yes it is a software issue and not just an iphone 5 one.
Something you didn't mention is what carrier software version is on the iphone. Verizon sent out a settings update around Oct 5th because of this issue. I believe you should be on 13.1. it's definitely something.1
I've heard talk if you go Settings-General-About it will OTA load the update but I'm not certain about this. Frankly I would wipe the phone and set it up new. During the restore iTunes should check that the software is up to date and find the carrier updates. Make sure your cousin has all her photos, contacts etc. And warn her that she'll lose her texts. Although I have heard if you google around someone figured out how to erase everything but backups from an iTunes backup file. That was for iOS 5 as I recall but it might still work. So have her do a backup in iTunes, duplicate it and play if you feel techie enough.

How is the data usage charged?

I went over my 25MB this month and I am not sure what I did differently to make it increase another 25MB. Is there somewhere to get a breakdown? If you go to a website and get a call, you take the phone call and forgot to close out of the web browser, do you get charged?
Sorry if this question has already been posted. I scanned through the first 3 pages. Got tired of reading the complaints about the data packages.

As long as you are not browsing from page to page you will not use megabytes.
Hope this helps!

Unexplained Verizon Data Usage on Iphone 5s

I have data usage charges showing up on my Iphone 5s every day at 5:40am Eastern time. The problem is that my phone is not being used at that time of day and is always connected to WiFi while I am home. The data usage has been very large, from 60mb all the way up to 100mb. I see that others have posted similar concerns so I'm throwing my voice in here saying that this is not our imagination, it is happening and killing out data usage.
Here is a screen grab of my data usage. As you can see, every day at 5:40am, there is a large spike in usage. My phone is not in use at that time:
There must be an explanation and resolution for this.

Hi KingPumpkin,
We always want your charges to be accurate! Smartphones are now able to tell you what applications are using your data. Please go to cellular>use cellualr data for>and this list tells you what data was billed to your cellular data. You could screen shot this list when your done using the phone in the evening. Then compare the screenshot in the morning to see what application data has changed. Data overages can sometime be billed in delay. Your device is set to pick up the strongest signal on the device, so if the Wi-fi server is weak or reboots at 5:40am every morning, then the device will quickly switch to back the Verizon Wireless network until the Wi-fi server comes back up. You could also eliminate these charges by turning off the cellular data every night since the device is connected to Wi-fi.
Thanks,
PamelaF_VZW
Tweet us @vzwsupport

View Individual Device Data Usage on Shared Plan

Hello, I was recently given a smart phone on my employer's plan (I previously had a regular phone, so did not incur data usage charges). I can view the overall plan's data usage on my phone, using the Verizon app, but I can't see where to view my individual device's data use. I created a Verizon account here on the web, and using the online tools here I can see my individual use, but I would like to do so on my phone.
I can use my phone's settings to see what it says my data use is (which just about matches what Verizon says) but I would rather have the Verizon totals shown on my phone, just to be sure what the actual data being billed is.

I know keeping tabs on your data usage is important Felderburg. If you are a user on a company account, you may not have the full access to My Verizon Mobile. You would typically be able to see the individual line usage by clicking the "shared data" option under the usage estimate total. I'm pleased you have been able to gain this information online via your computer. As an additional option on the phone if you don't have full access, you can dial #DATA.
JonathanK_VZW
VZW Support
Follow Us on Twitter@VZWSupport

MIFI451 data usage

Just bought this device last Sunday and Verizon says I have used over 3G's of my 5g allowance. Anyone else have this problem? I have not streamed any video or radio. I have left device on but was told by Verizon to shut it off when not in use and it is using data when I am not on computer. No DSL is available in my area and I have an autistic son who uses the computer after school and on weekends. I have been on the computer for most of the day. I don't understand how I could have used 3.142G in 5 days. HELP!!! At this rate my internet bill will be out of this world.

Hello,
You can request a Data Usage report from Verizon to help you isolate when the problem is happening. Verizon should be able to tell you the time of day and the ammount of data consumed at each interval. There may be a way to look it up through your My Verizon Account if you set it up, but I dont have the steps for that process. Once you know when your data is being consumed you can start to isolate down the running applications which were running at that time and shut them down.
You mentioned that your son also used the computer after school and on the weekends. I hate to point out the obvious but are you sure you know how he is consuming your data plan while you are not watching him? He might be streaming a radio station or watching videos on youtube with out you knowing about it.
Verizon also has an 1-800 number which you can use to check your data plan on the fly. It is fully automated and updated about every 10-20 minutes.
Until you can isolate the problem I suggest turning off your MiFi. Verizon will not be sympathetic if you go over your plan and there is no limit to how much you can rack up in overcharges. I have read forum threads before where the device was defective and was replaced and reimbursed by Verizon, but I wouldnt count on it happening for you until you know more.

Does using Wi-Fi count towards my data usage?

If I am at work or at home and can connect to my wireless internet will this count as data usage on my verizon plan. I only got the 105mb plan because I really only "need" access to email. It would be nice to access the internet if I can do it without running the chance of incurring overages.
If so, how do I make sure I am not using the phones data plan?
Sorry if this is covered elsewhere. This is my first smartphone and I am not sure what I have gotten myself into. Thanks.
Jodi

Make sure that not only the Wi-Fi is on, but that it's connected. turning on WiFi doesn't automatically connect it unless you've connected to that same WiFi before. You'll know if you're connected by checking the icon next to the signal strength indicator. If it says 3G then you're using your data allowance.
Also, if you're on a family plan and this is your first phone you can take advantage of the smartphones talk free promotion. They give you a $10 credit if you get the unlimited plan so it only ends up costing you $5 more than the 150MB plan, and lasts for the term of the contract.

Crazy data usage suddenly on Mifi! 10gb in one day?

I noticed earlier this month that I got a notification for my data usage only about 10 days into my plan and thought it was unusual, but as my son had been streaming a music video I increased my plan, downloaded said video and disconnected his computer from wifi. Then, 3 days ago I get another notification and tell my son to no longer play games on his iphone and increase my plan yet again. Today, I get another notification (son at school and wifi on his phone and computer are off) and I increase, yet again to 40GB!!! I then go around and see what is connected to wifi, our ipad (which was only on a kindle book, not a game or surfing internet, nothing unusual), our Hopper from Dish (which I then disconnected, we do not stream as 4g is too slow and we don't want to use up our data) and turn off the wifi on 2 other iphones (that were running nothing in the background, but did it just in case). I then almost immediately get an alert that I am at 77% of my new data plan (30.8 gb now) and I begin working on an excel spreadsheet with nothing running on my computer. A couple of hours later I am at 90% of my data and now, as I write this message, I have gotten 2 more alerts saying that I am now over my 40 gb, so that would be at least 10gb of data used just in the last 6 hours! A few hours ago I chatted with a Verizon chat and she said that it could be my phones, ipads, hoppers, basically anything but they cannot tell what, I disconnected everything except this computer and restarted the mifi. Something is clearly wrong. They want me to turn it off every night for the next week before they will open a problem ticket but at this rate my bill is going to be absolutely insane! I haven't changed any of my habits from the last year, other than what I mentioned earlier this month so I am completely baffled. Help!
See my log:

I have had VERY high data usage. 3GB in a few hours time. Verizon help line could not figure it out. I had a Verizon Jetpack 890L. I up graded to a newer model Verizon Jetpack MiFi 6620L in the middle of November. Data usage when even HIGHER! I noticed HIGH data usage in August of 2014. The HIGH data continued in September, October, and November of 2014. The newer Jetpack MiFi 6620L used even MORE data!
Verizon tech support was not much help. They wanted to know if I had changed the Jetpack password and they thought that someone was using my Jetpack WiFi. The problem is I live in a VERY rural area. My nearest neighbor is MORE than a mile away. My wireless network connection does not show ANY OTHER users! I still changed my password on the Jetpack. I normally change my passwords on a monthly basis. These changes made NO DIFFERENCE in my HIGH data usage. They also asked what was connected to my Jetpack. I have a phone by another provider. I DO NOT use the phone with the Blue Tooth or WiFi on my Jetpack . It's NOT needed for a clear phone signal. I only have my laptop (HP Pavilion) connected to the Jetpack. I have connected my printer by cable and don't even use the wireless printing functions. STILL NO CHANGE IN DATA USAGE!
The Verizon tech also suggested that I have an Internet Security and Antivirus software. I have used Norton Internet Security and Antivirus software for a decade or more without any problems. The tech suggested that maybe that was the problem. NOT! He felt that the Cloud setting maybe using all this data. I use Norton 360 with the Norton Zone Cloud. I DID NOT receive ANY FIXS from Verizon!
I also called Norton who provides my Internet Security and Antivirus software. I had been running these packages on an on going basis. I had not shown ANY threats or problems in the past year or more. I had the tech go over my settings to make sure that they were not the problem of HIGH Data Usage. My Norton Zone or Cloud settings were average without any high drain. He asked that I go back to Verizon!
I finally have found that I may have had Malware that was in my software. I used Malwarebytes. It works well wth my Norton 360. It has slowed my high data usage BUT NOT ELIMANATED the problem. Malwarebytes is a free service. You can also download it for free. You can purchase advance or premium packages on the internet and at some stores if you want a hard copy. It's always worth a try!
At this point I have run out of options!

Difference between website data usage and notifications

I check my data usage on the Verizon wireless website frequently. Yesterday it showed 5.7 GB used with 4.3 approx remaining and one day left before rolling over. Yet the day before I received a notification I had used 75% of my plan, and this morning another one indicating 90% usage, yet the website showed something entirely different. So why the difference?

I check my data usage on the Verizon wireless website frequently. Yesterday it showed 5.7 GB used with 4.3 approx remaining and one day left before rolling over. Yet the day before I received a notification I had used 75% of my plan, and this morning another one indicating 90% usage, yet the website showed something entirely different. So why the difference?

Large data usage transfer every 6 hours while on a WiFi network, who is doing this transfer? Is Verizon polling my phone causing this usage?

I have three iPhone 5s. All are using my WiFi while at home. One iPhone is sending data over Verizon's network, not WiFi, every 6 hours or so. The time of this data transfer changes every few days. I see data usage number on my Verizon account ranging from a few kilobytes to almost a gigabyte. Is this due to Verizon polling the iPhone for data usage and billing purposes on a regular basis? And what do these billing numbers mean? Where does Verizon get these numbers? Any running apps while on my WiFi should use the WiFi, not Verizon, correct?

I'm having the same issue and this month these data pulls equated to 1891.51 MB!!!
Model: iPhone 5S 64GB. Today I received a notification from Verizon that I had exceeded my data plan. I just went through my entire usage detail report on my phone and separated-out everything that appears to be part of a 6-hour pattern. When I'm at home and most of the time while I'm at work, I am connected to wifi. These data pulls often happen in the middle of the night, when I know for a fact that my phone is charging and connected to wifi at home. Below are the results of the pattern analysis. Keep in mind that I removed all lines that, as far as I could tell, were not part of a 6-hour pattern.
THE PROOF: You sent me three alerts immediately after pulling data from my phone.
The first alert said that I had used 75% of my data plan on 8/11/2014 at 9:45pm while I was at home on wifi. There was a data pull logged at 9:45pm which was part of the 6-hour pattern above.
The second alert stated that I had used 90% of my data at 10:46pm on 8/14/2014; the data log shows a pull just before the alert at 10:45pm.
The third alert telling me I had used all of my data came today while my phone was sitting next to me, connected to wifi at the office. The alert arrived at 12:48pm, the log shows a data pull at 12:48pm.
Screenshots:
How about an explanation Verizon?

How can you manage data usage when cellular data is off, but you are using WiFi where your WiFi provider charges for data use?

I spend quite a few months each year in Canada where I use a Telus Cellular Hub device which is also my WiFi Router. My iPhone 5 has Cellular Data set to "Off" which insures I won't be charged via my Verizon Wireless Service Provider for charges while in Canada. Trouble is Telus, Rogers and all the Canadian Internet Providers charge for all Data going through their Systems. Again, My Cellular Data on the iPhone 5 is turned off, but I use WiFi for such things as checking the Weather, or FaceBook, or searching the Web.
I believe that things may be happening in the background from various Apps that use quite a lot of Data. It could be that iCloud is part of the issue with things being backed up automatically. It also could be that Apps like AP or other News Apps are sending large amounts of Data in the photos associated with their New Stories, etc. I typically turn off the App Store "Updates" such that they don't automatically load. The FaceBook works now posted videos play when you are just scrolling through the News Feed.
I have been trying to fine an article somewhere which focuses on this specific problem but unfortunately many if not most articles are about folks worried about using Cellular Data while in a WiFi environment when their Cellular Data is turned on.
Does anyone know of a fairly comprehensive article about what settings on which Apps might reduce the Data Usage when Cellular Data is turned "Off" but you are going through a Service Provider who charges for all Data Accessed even when you are using WiFi?

Thanks for your comments, it is clear you understand my plight. The trouble is fully understanding what Apps and App Features are transferring data in the background any time you happen to turn WiFi to on (even if you have had it off most of the day or night). Obviously things like Location Services can constantly be sending and receiving data from my iPhone without any action on my part. Also if you have things like photo backup on the iCloud then each time you take a photo you are sending a copy out. All App Updates if set to Automatic also can add up to quite a bit of Data. Reading the News on AP or scrolling through FB News Feed is actually adding up to a lot of Data. There could be other culprits that I am not even thinking of. I don't want to turn Apps like Find My Phone off or turn iCloud off due to loosing the value of such a program entirely. Again thanks for your quick response.

Data Usage charges, 5C Verizon FaceTime?

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for