This topic

Mobile data usage

Kentish51 — Mon, 03 Apr 2023 09:21:59 GMT

Had a notification from BT that somehow I had used 9.68 GB of mobile data in 6 days. Not sure how that is possible as I do not download anything on my phone, not music or movies, nothing. Anybody had this before? Maybe it is my phone playing tricks I don't know but I have switched off my mobile data now.

Re: Mobile data usage

Dode — Mon, 03 Apr 2023 11:22:02 GMT

Are you sure it's not a scam? Did the message want you to pay for more.

Re: Mobile data usage

Kentish51 — Mon, 03 Apr 2023 13:47:48 GMT

Thanks for replying. It was one of BT's standard messages when the usage nears the monthly allowance so I don't think it is a scam. The data usage figure is on the record but to be advised that I used 8.71 GB in 3 days was puzzling to say the least.

Re: Mobile data usage

kojowusu — Wed, 05 Apr 2023 21:39:58 GMT

Same here. Suddenly using 6 GB of data t home when I have unlimited data broadband. Makes no sense. Thinking of getting a replacement SIM.

BT Mobile data usage

kojowusu — Wed, 05 Apr 2023 21:49:59 GMT

My BT mobile phone data usage has just gone crazy. I suddenly got a text message that I had used a lot of data so went into my MyBT checked and saw I had used nearly 7 GB on Sunday when I was at home all day and have unlimited home broadband. Complained to BT and they claim it was excessive YouTube use but cannot provide itemised detail. Sounds suspicious that they claim it was YouTube but cannot provide itemised browsing detail - what devices were used etc. Any ideas? Will a new SIM help?

Re: BT Mobile data usage

ctrlz — Wed, 05 Apr 2023 23:15:58 GMT

A new sim won’t make a difference, it’s likely to be your handset settings.

Depending on make/model there are a few settings that could contribute towards it. Most default settings allow data to be used either when Wi-Fi is poor or when it will benefit from a combination of data and Wi-Fi eg streaming, software updates etc

Re: Mobile data usage

ctrlz — Wed, 05 Apr 2023 23:24:41 GMT

Probably background data for software/app updates or cloud backup most likely

Re: Mobile data usage

Dode — Thu, 06 Apr 2023 10:00:25 GMT

Most phones have a setting that allows the user to see what the phone has actually used. On an iPhone it is under Settings>Mobile Data. If your having problems then it's probably a good idea to reset it to zero then check regularly.

Re: BT Mobile data usage

Kentish51 — Thu, 06 Apr 2023 10:34:29 GMT

That is interesting. My Huawei P20 lite has refused to connect to both WiFi and Bluetooth since June last year. Maybe it is time for a new phone as obviously my phone is not working properly.

Re: BT Mobile data usage

Carlusha — Thu, 06 Apr 2023 13:43:51 GMT

@Kentish51wrote:
That is interesting. My Huawei P20 lite has refused to connect to both WiFi and Bluetooth since June last year. Maybe it is time for a new phone as obviously my phone is not working properly.

For your P20 Lite, check where this magical data has been used.

Press Settings.
Press Wireless & networks.
Press Mobile data.
The total data usage is displayed.
Press Data usage ranking.
The data usage for each application is displayed below the name of the application. See how to turn mobile data on or off.
Press the Home key to return to the home screen.

Re: BT Mobile data usage

Kentish51 — Thu, 06 Apr 2023 14:24:08 GMT

Thanks for the information.

Re: BT Mobile data usage

kojowusu — Thu, 04 May 2023 19:16:49 GMT

Check this out. 2 days ago, I apparently ‘used’ 9 gig. Yesterday I ‘used’ 19 gig. Today between midnight and 7 am (when asleep) I ‘used’ 6 gig. Make that make sense. BT are lying to us. There’s clearly some heavy bugging going on - or their systems are compromised

Re: BT Mobile data usage

imjolly — Thu, 04 May 2023 20:11:22 GMT

@kojowusu

What data usage does your phone show you have used over the same period?

Re: BT Mobile data usage

kojowusu — Thu, 04 May 2023 20:46:22 GMT

Hi.

My phone shows similar total 35+gig usage under ‘data usage’ but the app breakdown shows YouTube usage of only about 2 gig … And my YouTube watch history does indeed confirm about 2 gig of usage.

Meanwhile the BT tech team say 90% of my 35 gig usage is YouTube.
I mean who watches 19 gig of YouTube in one day? Incredible

Re: BT Mobile data usage

Lesley3 — Tue, 13 Jun 2023 11:42:20 GMT

Hi,

Did you ever get a satisfactory answer from BT about the excessive data usage as same thing has happened to me twice. they only offered to change me over to EE as I'm still BT Mobile.

24th May I receive a text to say I've used 4.85gb of 6gb allowance, called BT who say I used 1.42gb on You Tube. I explained I only used it for approx 10 mins and was on wifi at the time.

11th June I went on You Tube for 10 mins, maybe less, I ensured I had wifi on and mobile data off, minutes later I get same text saying I used nearly 5gb of data. Call up BT who say this time its used 4.56gb. They could not say why it would download data when data is turned off and I said my grandaughter watched some nursery rythmes for 10 mins so literally a gb for every 2.5 mins. My phone says I've used 192MB this billing cycle on You Tube. My phone is also set to not allow mobile data when wifi signal is weak.

Other thing is my phone data usage for this billing cycle is only showing 1.55gb from 25th May to now, massively less than the amount BT are saying, how can this be.

I've now disabled You Tube as I won't get caught a 3rd time.

Re: BT Mobile data usage

kojowusu — Wed, 14 Jun 2023 13:15:52 GMT

Hello.

I have had to get a new Android phone.
I have got a new BT SIM card.

I have set a 10GB usage limit/warning on my phone. And every night, I switch off my mobile data. Watching it like a hawk but so far so good.

My belief is this is either:

1. BT systems are compromised (or corrupt) and mixing accounts/data usage and they don’t want to take responsibility. This bs about YouTube being the cause of usage is **bleep** because you can see your watch history in YouTube if it is videos. Who watches 10GB of videos in one day anyway? Or..

2. There is a new phone hacking gig going on . Or ..

3. Samsung (when they want you to buy a new phone) get your phone to act up. Or …

4. Something more sinister.

Re: BT Mobile data usage

DonnaB100 — Fri, 30 Jun 2023 17:36:08 GMT

Hi,

I have also had the same issue twice in the last month and my husband also had the same problem when his phone was turned off at work as well. I was given a free data bolt on but this does not resolve the unauthorised usage. When I check earlier today, I had 'used' over 700Mb, which is massive compared to my normal usage. I turned my Mobile Data off as i was at home on Wi-Fi. I checked 2 hours later and the usage has gone up to over 1Gb. How is this possible when my Mobile Data is turned off. I have taken screenshots on my phone of app usage and YouTube is minimal and I never use YouTube unless I am taken there via FB or Insta so would only be for a minimal time and at home on WiFi.

Something is very wrong and I have no confidence with BT even when my Mobile Data is turned off.

And I work for BT as well as my husband !!!!!!!!

Re: BT Mobile data usage

Lesley3 — Sat, 01 Jul 2023 08:13:48 GMT

Hi,

Something is definitely dodgy about this excess data usage.

When it happened to me the 1st time in May, like yourself I was at home and data was off and I wasn't on my phone all evening and yet I get a message just before midnight to say I'd used my entire data, the message earlier in the day had said I used 4.85 of 6GB allowance. I queried how I'd used it when data was definitely off and I'd not been on phone all evening. They gave me the You Tube story too.

When it happened the next month, again they blamed You Tube but I said I was 100% not on mobile data as I had been home all day and it was switched off and I checked it before allowing my granddaugher 10 mins of nursery rythmns due to what they claimed happened the previous month.

On each occasion they have suggested I move to EE SIM which I don't want to yet, as contract doesn't expire until end of October and I'm going abroad several times over coming months and BT Mobile still gives me free roaming.

I gave them permission to analyse my data usage to maybe help find the problem but they said due to data protection they would not be permitted. I said I was going to contact an old colleague that still works in BT and get an email address for whoever heads up BT Mobile and email them asking them to analyse it but advisor said this still would not be permitted. It makes no sense that BT claim I've used just short of 6gb by time my billing cycle renewed but phone data usage said 2.11GB, also BT claim I used 2.5gb in 10 mins on You Tube, phone says 504MB for entire billing cycle.

Its frustrating as I also worked for BT up until retirement last year and my intention was to stay with them when contract expires in October but I'm going to move to 02 who still provide free roaming.

Something very strange is happening with mobile data/you tube/samsung and I don't believe we'll get to the bottom of it and BT seem unable to offer any solution or help.

Re: BT Mobile data usage

Kentish51 — Sat, 01 Jul 2023 09:29:43 GMT

Fascinating replies to my initial post. By the seem of it we will never know the answer for this bug in the system. I now have got myself a new mobile phone and switched from BT to EE in view of the tie up which is coming. So far there have been no mysterious data spurts. Hopefully that will remain the case.

Re: BT Mobile data usage

Lesley3 — Sat, 01 Jul 2023 10:37:13 GMT

Fingers crossed!