Enormous And Unexplained Data Usage

2 months ago, my blackberry started transferring impressive amounts of data, which I discovered when I got a (delayed) alert from ATT. In one instance, per my ATT bill, the blackberry transferred 150 MB of data, in apparently 2 minutes in London, which feels like it is bending the laws of current cell technology. For a total monthly usage of over 450 MB until I shut down all roaming.
I have had a personal blackberry for 3 years (current one for 2). I have not changed my behavior or my applications and my usage is always a few MB per month (<20). So this recent spike is quite unusual. I travel overseas frequently and this spike was quite expensive. I have switched off roaming data, but that is now limiting my ability to read my emails (unless connected to wifi).
I have a blackberry 9900, 7.0 bundle 2392 (v7.0.0.576, Platform 5.0.0.733). I do not use facebook or watch videos or anything. Primary use is email (very limited and very few attachments) + consumer Bloomberg (occasionally) and some browser use. I play Sudoku everyday. I have taken the odd photograph, which is usually transferred during synch.
Neither the blackberry store (Singapore) nor the ATT operators can explain the spiking.
Any help is appreciated, thank you.

My best advice is that you need to get ATT to escalate this issue to RIM level tier two Tech Support.
They can trace the data and see what apps or source the data was coming from.
Perhaps you had some app or OS upgrade on the device while roaming? Still though, 150mb in two mins is quite beyond belief.
I don't know what you mean by an OS reset. Have you recently upgraded your OS or did I miss you've said that?
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Similar Messages

Serious unexplained data usages

I not sure what's going on but I keep getting my connection dropped and my data usages went from 4 percent to close if not 10 percent in several days and I even took my battery so I wouldn't go over my limit and it's still climbing. Also I can't sign in to the community. It says invalid but I've redone it so many times so I no its right.
PEGGY THOMPSON

What phone? Did you look to see what app is using data? Did you reboot the phone?
Each day is 3.3% of a month, so your trajectory would not be to run out of data if you are increasing from 4% to 10% over 2 days or more (4% + 3.3% + 3.3%= 10.6%)

Unexplained Data Usage While iPhone is Not in Use

I have been a loyal customer to Verizon for 4 years. I had an iPhone 4S until Sept. 23rd, when I purchased an iPhone 6 Plus. Prior-to the swap, I received a data usage notification, saying I was at about 90%, on Sept. 19th. This was one day before my billing cycle restarted, so I ignored it. Now, I've had no change in use, no change in WiFi connectivity at home or work (which have been the same at both locations for 5 years), and in less than 2 weeks, I have, for the first time ever, gone .2 GB over my 2GB monthly allowance.
When I went into My Verizon to review the list of times/amounts of data use, I found something that neither Verizon, nor my common sense could explain, and the short of the response I received after 45 minutes on the phone was "we'll submit a billing review request." I don't care about the extra $10 or so for going over. I care for the following bullet-points:
1. I am OCD; I close every app I use directly following use
2. I have Background App Data shut off
3. My email does not have anything stuck in "Outbox" or "Sent" in either my Exchange or Gmail accounts
4. Nothing has changed relative to phone usage in the last 4 years
5. THE MOST IMPORTANT FACT: These data spike are occurring at between 5:22am and 6:30am, before I'm even awake on weekdays, AT HOME, connected to my wireless router. The router is fine, and the phone works perfectly, as well as my router at work.
I'm also a back-end networking engineer. None of this makes sense.
Spikes from 70mb - (and in one instance) 250 mb while the phone is not in use, and connected to my home Wifi.
Additionally, one suggestion from Verizon rep "Jason" was to bring the phone to Apple, because there may be a problem with it.
Someone, anyone, please get me some answers on this. Right now, it seems like neither Verizon nor myself can detail the data use, and I simply don't want to deal with this headache every month.
I feel like Verizon is scamming me..

MichelleH_VZW - you responded to a commenter on my post, but not to the actual post. There was no help in that response. Any chance you can read above and give some insight?
I know what the dates and time are from looking at the rundown in My Verizon, and the peak data spikes (as noted above; 70-250 mb in a quick/brief timeframe) are during times when my phone is not in use (5:22am - 6:30am on weekdays, while I'm still asleep), when connected to my home wifi, and all apps are closed (no background app data is used as I have that shut off).
It would be awesome to have some restored faith in you guys, here..
Sent from my iPhone

WiFi and GPS - Data Usage

8900 Curve (EDGE, Wi-Fi)
Carrier - Rogers
v.4.6.1.250 (Platform 4.2.0.113)
Simple and stupid questions:
1. If the WiFi is enabled, does it mean if I surf the internet any downloading of the pages or surfing does not count towards my data plan usage? Is that correct?
2. There is a golf application (I'm sure there are many) that allows my device to be used as a GPS distance device for golf. It uses the GPS of my device. Is it true that if the app is designed so that my device uses the satellite GPS system vs the cell tower GPS, that there will be no data usage (other than the downloading of the app itself and golf course itself - not major drain of data usage).
Sorry for the questions above if they are simple and stupid.

1. The native BlackBerry OS itself, and most applications, will prefer the WiFi connection.
2. Yes, the GPS signal is via satellite. Your mapping data is from your EDGE or carrier connection. I don't know about your EXACT golf course map application, but it is my experience that mapping aplications do use lots of data.
1. If any post helps you please click the below the post(s) that helped you.
2. Please resolve your thread by marking the post "Solution?" which solved it for you!
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4. Guide to Unlocking your BlackBerry & Unlock Codes
Join our BBM Channels (Beta)
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Unexplained data usage

Hi, I have been on the 3.5GB monthly data plan for a number of months now, and have consistently only averaged usage of approx half of that data each month. Nothing data heavy, I usually use my phone to check emails, whatsapp and surf the net. This morning I received a notification from Telstra that my data usage is 50% with eight days to go which appeared normal. But at about 4pm I received another message from Telstra that my data usage has reached 85% or approx usage of over 1GB in just 8 hours. I have hardly used my phone in that time. It's now 7:45pm and I have just checked the Telstra 24x7 app and it shows my data usage allowance as 0% remaining. I'm quite concerned and am not sure where the data is draining to. Can someone please advice?

Hi Puimum, OK, the series of tips in the link below was specific to iPhone 6. I emphasise the need to chech what is using data, tap: Settings>, Cellular>, scroll right to the bottom of that page and tap System Services>. This will reveal the specific applications using data in descending order.
The tips in the link below go into more detail
I would also look at any Aut Backup settings under Settings>, iCloud. Check that this is off, otherwise everything you do could be being backed up to iCloud. (This is another lengthy topic - yell out if you need help with it)

RE: movie rentals and downloaded data usage

I purchased my first movie rental the other day. The 1.5gb it took to download has not appeared in my data usage for the month with my service provider. Am I to assume that my movie rental only cost me $3.99 and not the $25 worth gb's it took to download as well? This will make me very relieved.

That's not something Apple have any control over.
Do you have an alternative you can swap to?
I use to have unlimited download capacity but it's been capped at 100GB because og the small number of selfish users who were downloading torrents etc 24/7 - BUT if they had an unlimited service surely 24/7 downloads wouldn't break an unlimited service! All these companies want to have their cake and eat it.
The other unlimited rtactic is to give unlimited downloads but at very slow speeds limiting monthly usage anyway.
In many instances data caps will prevent uptake of video on demand/rentals regardless of who's providing them.
AC

Can I use wireless WIFI on a 9650 at home and save data usage

Hi,
I am ordering a 9650, and have a wireless network at home. I was going to go with the $15 data plan, because i use email mostly. Someone said I could use wifi on my wireless network at home for web pages to save data not going thru the verizon network? I am new to this, can you really do this?
Thanks

Gunit wrote:
Hi,
I am ordering a 9650, and have a wireless network at home. I was going to go with the $15 data plan, because i use email mostly. Someone said I could use wifi on my wireless network at home for web pages to save data not going thru the verizon network? I am new to this, can you really do this?
Thanks
Hi,
I think you made a great choice ordering the 9650 Bold. You can probably save a lot of money on the data plan by using the 15 dollar/month plan. You can do a lot with your BB with just the WiFi. I turned my WiFi on and turned off the mobile connection and was able to send/recieve emails, chat on Blackberry Messenger, and surf the internet. For me, using my home WiFi is a lot faster that using the mobile network. My only advice is to regularly check your My Verizon for your usage on data to make sure you are not going over the max usage for your plan. Good luck.
Doc

Sound problems and excessive data usage. Anyone else had this problem?

Just upgraded from 3GS to 4S literally had the phone for 3 weeks, firstly within first week got told I'd used 90% of my 500mb data allowance when I hadn't even used the phone for much data only maps and general quick web page no YouTube vids or emails. I found this odd as O2 told me I don't even use 500mb per month wiv my 3GS and with that I was streaming YouTube lots and emailing! And now today all my sound has gone! No ringing no alert sounds and when I call I can't hear anything and neither can the person at the other end. I have tried resetting and everything anybody else had these problems??

The iPhone is DESIGNED to switch to cellular data when asleep, unless it's connected to a power source, in which case it will stay logged onto the WiFi network. iPhones have ALWAYS behaved this way.
Either turn cellular data off at night, or leave your phone connected to a power source to continue the WiFI.

Droid2 data usage jumps from zip to 100's of MB a week

After seeing similar threads with sudden and unexplained data usage, I want to share my problem with one possible SOLUTION!
I was alerted that my account was going over the 150mb limit. I checked online my usage and saw nothing, the usual flat line at zero mb. I assumed it was another sales attempt to get me to up my data service. I rarely even use the internet on my phone (maybe price check at the store) as I always have a laptop or a customer’s fast internet available. BTW - I am an independent IT consultant, MCSE, Novell CNE, HP/Compaq Engineer, and COMPTIA Security Specialist. I admit the phone is a different monster for me. I get a bill with $30 extra charge and go back online (details) to see that my phone started "using" data at up to 144MB at a clip near the end of the billing cycle. I have the 150mb plan. Ouch!!! Now with the new billing cycle, I am on target to hit 3 GB and $400 plus monthly phone bill. I triple checked my settings. Everything is turned off, zero apps (except what came with the phone) are installed. I went to the local Verizon store. They said to turn on my wireless settings and up my data plan to 2 or 3 GB. What??? I don't use the data plan, it was required with that phone. The usage did decrease with wireless turned on, as it was using my clients Internet and my limited satellite (rural) internet. But my phone was still using over 300mg per month average. In the previous week it already racked up 750 mb, with 3 more weeks left on the billing cycle! I felt like I left my credit card in the Verizon 24 hour ATM machine!
SOLUTION: Last night, I went to a 3rd party Verizon store where they really try to gain your business (commission based?). Immediately the rep saw that the phone was using the internet and NOTHING was running. 3G was staying on. Phone was up to date, no apps running, nothing. A call to Verizon and 10 minutes later a hard reset (read lose any all not backed up settings) and the phone calmed down. The bogus data charges have seemed to go away overnight.
Was the phone defective? The software hosed? Why would Verizon not readily know about this symptom?
Question to Verizon: After reading tons of complaints from customers with similar complaints.....
Given that in the last 27 months of owning this phone and hardly ever using any data, and being a Verizon customer for 8 or more years.....Are you going to remove the excess data charges from my bill without a fight?

jerryinparkton wrote:
Question to Verizon: After reading tons of complaints from customers with similar complaints.....
Given that in the last 27 months of owning this phone and hardly ever using any data, and being a Verizon customer for 8 or more years.....Are you going to remove the excess data charges from my bill without a fight?
Answer: possibly, but you will have to contact CS. This is a peer-to-peer forum and you will not necessarily even hear from Verizon on these boards.

Unexplained heavy data usage - Microsoft owns up

For the many who are seeing odd and unexplained data traffic - Microsoft are now admitting a problem caused by an unnamed third party app. See - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-12152517
I guess it won't be long before someone discovers which app is actually doing it - or indeed, if it is just one. It goes without saying that this may actually be the tip of an iceberg, and may not be restricted to Windows Phone 7 only.

I wonder how many members if this forum who have been 'victims' over the last few years are actually using Windows 7?
AQ.
"Welcome to Royston Vasey - You'll never leave."

Data usage while I'm asleep and connected to WIFI

I just got a new Iphone 5S and also noticed my usage has gone up considerably.
I was just checking my data log for my new cycle which is only two days old and have seen significant MB of data usage in the early morning hours while I'm asleep and I'm on WIFI in my house. The phone is next to me on the night stand.
How could this be? I've read that sometime people leave apps running in the background that might account for that but I'm on WIFI in my house so it shouldn't be using any data at all. I've also noticed smaller amounts of data usage registering during times of the day when I'm in my house on WIFI.

The answer from the Verizon person seems wrong. I've had various iPhones with data through them for 3 years... I just got a new phone a few weeks ago and my data usage has gone up. I have had "cellular data" turned on.... but I ALWAYS have with my other phones as well and didn't experience this issue. I have data logging in the wee hours of the morning while I'm asleep at home and it should be connecting to wifi. This seems very backward to have to switch cellular data on and off when you come and go from wireless networks. It has never been like this in the past 3 years i've been with Verizon and a smartphone. I'm really annoyed I've paid overages for a couple months now seemingly due to this weird issue that has never affected me before. @joel_vzw please provide further explanation.

Verizon Data plan and "Delayed Data"

Had something very odd happen with the Verizon data usage on my Xoom over the course of the past two days.
I'm a fairly heavy user (3 Gbyte plan), and, as such, I do watch my usage using "My Verizon" - both the on-screen widget icon and via longing in to check.
Anyway, on Monday, the screen icon was showing a bit over 2 Gb had been used (cycle ending on the 12th), and later that day (7th) I got the alert text indicating that I'd reached 75%.
I took note of this, and decided to limit how I would use my Xoom so as to avoid going over.
But, Tuesday, I got the text alert that I'd reached 90%, and a check of the widget icon and logging in showed my usage at 2.77 Gb. I put my Xoom into Airplane Mode until I was at home, and my WiFi connected (I made sure that it was using WiFi). I didn't do a great deal with it that would have required much data transfer, even though in WiFi mode.
However, this morning, when I arrived at work (no WiFi, so in 4G) the icon indicated that I'd used 3.055 Gb - over 300 Mb more than when I'd shut-off my 4G/3G usage by going in to Airplane Mode outside of WiFi range. I was perplexed and concerned. I logged in, and sure enough, I was over-limit. I used it for a short while, then put it back into airplane mode (a bit concerned that something was amiss).
A short time later, I turned the 4G back on, and found the data usage had increased to 3.154 Gb – nearly an additional 100 Mbytes (without my even using my Xoom).
I put it back into Airplane Mode, and called Verizon to try to figure out what was happening.
I was eventually connected to someone in tech support, and after explaining what had been happening (turning 4G back on found my usage had gone up to 3.188 Gb), without my even asking if it were even possible, he quickly told me that it was not possible for data usage to be “stolen” (and I neither had tethering enabled, nor the Bluetooth on).
I continued to explain that I was not using my Xoom any more than normal (less, in fact); and he came to this answer for what might have been going on (drumroll, please…):
Delayed Data Usage
He went on to explain that “they see this happen all the time”, and that there can be these “delays” in tallying-up data usage that can extend back 90 days.
I argued that over 400 Mb seemed a rather excessive amount to have been “backed-up”, and suddenly pushed through.
He agreed, but said that there was nothing that could be done.
I have insufficient understanding to argue the point any further, so it seems I will have to accept that I will be charged for an additional 1 Gb (okay, it’s only $10, but it the ****** principle of it!).
So, what I’d like to ask of you all is, has anyone else ever heard of this “Delayed Data” or had something similar happen to you?
I concerned that this large-scale unexplained data usage will continue, and I’ll end up getting hit for even more overages, and I’d like to be better armed to argue my case should that occur. Any explanations of this would be greatly appreciated.

I actually talked to the Verizon rep about the automatic updating of apps (I beleive that I have it turned off for all my apps).
Now, I do have the Eye-Fi app which loads photos from my camera to my Xoom, but the option to upload those photes to Eye-Fi's web site is set to only happen when connected to WiFi. I did take some photos ove rthe weekend, which loaded to my Xoom. but, even if the Eye-Fi apps had ignored the WiFi-only setting, and uploaded them over 4G, it would have amounted to less than 100 Mbytes of data.
Obviously, so apps simnply do their own thing and send and recieve data without user input, but I've had these apps for months, and this sort of thing has never happened before.
One possible app that I was concerned with that might be able to account for such large amounts of data if it were in some rogue behavior would be Netflix, as movies would obvioulsy be very large data files. But, I have no indication that it (or any other app) has simply downloaded such large amounts of data without my knowledge. If anyone knows of apps which might go rogue in such a way, I'd ertainly like to know about them.
Since I didn't include EVRYTHING in my first post, I'll add a bit more info to consider. I've had my Xoom since Feb 28, so I've already been through a number of billing cycles. My typical data usage has been between 2.5 and 2.8 Gb/mo over all those cysles. And, that amount has often included some heavier usage near the end of the cycle when it seemed clear that I was in no danger of going over.
This months cycle is the first since my Xoom was upgraded to LTE. But, that's the only change. I've been using my Xoom pretty much the same way I have been doing for months. That's why I'm so concerned that there is some more going on than just "delayed data". It's not just that I'm over limit, but that it happened very quickly (from ~2.5 to nearly 3.5 in two days) and is so much more than I'd normally use.
Unless LTE has some unoique quirk to it that it ends up using a whole lot more data than 3G, and more (much more) of that data ends up showing up in this delayed fashion [something that it might be fair to warn user of], then I am concern that ther is something more going on here.

Disabling data usage on Elipsis Tablet does not turn of Data Usage

Yesterday purchased 3 tablets for my kids. First thing I did when I got home was add home wifi and disable data usage. Ridicoulous but this does not disable data usage. Tablet used 4gb of data before I realized what was going on, all the while connected to home Wifi, like the data connectio took precedence. This is a major flaw of this tablet. Called Customer Service, waiting for a mgr to call back. Unfortunatly waiting on hold for over 45min without getting to tech support but in the end the only way to turn off data apparently (or at least I found) was to put in Airplane mode. This is not right!
Even support forum states this is the way to enable/disable data. I feel dooped!

I'm sorry you waited so long trying to get through to Tech Support dm805. I know being able to disable Mobile Data is important to keep usage under control. As Ann154 mentioned, you are able to turn off Mobile Data in Settings. You can go to Settings> Data Usage> Select Mobile Data (at top right hand side), and it will turn off. You can also go to Settings> More> Mobile Networks> Uncheck Data Enabled.
I hope this helps.
Thank you,
VanessaS_VZW
Follow us on Twitter @VZWSupport

Huge increase over past few months on data usage.

Huge increase in data traffic, even at times when systems are in sleep mode - like at 6am in the morning. For months by usage levels varied between 10Gig and 12 Gig and I would adjust my plan as needed to prevent single Gigabyte overcharges. However, in the past 4-6 months I have had to go to 15GB then 20GB, and what we actually do internet wise has not changed any where near that much. Yesterday I had 600 meg of data transferred at about 6am when all systems were either off or in sleep mode. The usage tool on verizon is no help in identifying what is driving this other than broad categories.
Last night I turned off the MiFi device and there was no data recorded until I turned on at 8:30am then it recorded 800 megabytes only based on turning on the PC and not even using it. And the hard file light was on solid for a long long time.
I really need a tool that runs on the PC that shows what program or service is doing this much internet traffic. I have seen disk I/O using Windows Task Manager that shows a number of Chrome services actively working I/O, as well as Google sync, but there is nothing new here that I have done over the past 6 months - my usage is very consistent. And that tool does not show who is driving the MiFi load.
How can I get a handle on this? This is getting very expensive and there is no obvious answer why.

Personally, I use BitMeter OS for my PC. Any bandwidth from your computer (down/up) is logged & you can view certain days to see when it was used.
https://codebox.org.uk/pages/bitmeteros
Also, you may be able to view Mobile AND WiFi data usage (separate tabs) on your mobile devices, under Settings > Data Usage. Click the 3 dots for options.
I had the same issue, but it was due to Verizon Cloud backing up... all 12gb (mostly pictures I don't even care about!).
You may have that or another app that syncs data. It should tell you under Data Usage, though.
I disabled Verizon Cloud through the App Manager.
Hope that helps!

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!

Enormous And Unexplained Data Usage

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