Verizon Data Issues - Like Feedback

[JudyJB]

I am having a very difficult time staying under my Verizon data allowance for my Jetpack. I have been checking my usage constantly and trying to figure out what uses a lot of data and what doesn't. (Obviously, I know that downloading videos and uploading photos uses a lot of data, but I almost never do that.) Here is what I found:

- Accessing things like Facebook on my iPhone uses a lot less data than it does when I access it via my Jetpack on my laptop, so I am now going to access it on my iPhone.

- Using the new 4 LTE service is a BIG data user. (It took a while to get Verizon to admit it.) So when I can, I am going to use 3G service rather than the 4G service.

- I am working to turn off automatic video loading, but have had only mixed results. I think that is a big user also, but no evidence.

I would REALLY appreciate anything any of you find on how to reduce usage.

[avalen]

I learned I also had to shut down my location setting unless I needed it. I'll turn it on
for what I need and then turn it back off. I also keep my WiFi turned off unless I need
to pick up a WiFi. Updating the computer also seems to use a lot of data. But I guess I'm
thinking in terms of how I manage my data usage on the cell phone. I also don't watch
any tv shows on my cell cause that uses lots of data. Make sure your jet pack is password
protected cause if someone taps into it they can suck up your data too and you might not
know for a long time. ( I did have something along that line happen to me) Is the data limit
on your jet pack separate from your cell phone? Verizon really likes to bundle things together.
I also went through that with Verizon too, long time ago. Fixed that annoyance by separating
the two using cricket for one the cell on Verizon. Have been thinking of doing that again.
I do monitor my usage very carefully but I'm interested in what others do too. I use 4gb per month
and when the month is half over, I'm doing good if I've only used two.

[chalet05]

I got rid of the JetPack and have hotspot on my phone. Have no idea if that is what made the difference. They had me using several GBs on the first day of billing.

LeRoy and I share an account. I know my photo uploads use a lot of data, but taking that into account, he doesn't show near the data usage I do. I know he watches videos (not movies), downloads a magazine, belongs to forums. I wonder if FB is the problem.

I have also been stopping all the automatic video.

If someone shares something, I tell FB I don't want to see posts from the original source. I don't think I'll ever get them all gone, but some days I 'stop' 15 of them.

As I mentioned before, my grandson's friends scanned my computer and found trojans, worms, etc. I did that at Verizon's suggestion.

I have seen many people online complain about this problem.
I also downloaded a free Bit Meter that will keep track tho doesn't help with phone and I haven't tried to download to tablet.

[JudyJB]

I have done all of those things, Avalon. Don't know what else to do. I used 21 Gig last month when I was previously using 12-14 to do a lot more surfing and downloading. I am getting desperate.

I have good scanning software and have no viruses or worms. I never download videos, unless it is student videos and have been doing the same stuff for my online classes for two years.

[Bethers]

That's only one of the reasons I switched back to AT&T.

[Cudedog]

I think Verizon is getting hungry, and is looking for other (and hidden) revenue streams. Read: "rip-off". There is a lot more competition for them than there used to be. Also, they have been caught before doing unfair business practices.

I ditched contract Verizon several years ago, although I have a no-contract Verizon TracPhone for use on the road. My everyday smart phone is a no-contract Virginmobileusa

http://www.virginmobileusa.com/

for a fast $25.00/mo (I am grandfathered in - it is now $35.00/mo). I have had them for about 3 years, and have been very happy with them - although, since they are based on the Sprint network, the coverage while on the road is not so good as Verizon, which is the reason for the TracPhone:

http://www.tracfone.com/

I was recently at a campground at the foot of Medicine Lake volcano (Northern California) WAY out in the boonies, and got three bars on the Tracfone, no bars on the VirginMobile.

Which is fine with me. If you are thinking about a TracPhone, do your research to be sure that the phone you choose is homed on Verizon rather than on Sprint or T-Mobile or some lesser carrier. There is coding in the serial number that will tell you this, but it will not tell you on the box. If anyone is interested, I can dig up the website that explains this, so let me know.

On the other hand, this doesn't help with Judy's 21G bill, which I find totally outrageous and unbelievable. For a couple of years, at my home in the mountains (before I moved to the city), I had HughesNet, a sattellite-based broadband service. HughesNet limited their customers to 200M per month, and I easily got everything done that I needed to do - email, photos, even some video. And 200M is a tiny fraction of 21G!!

Hope you find a solution to this problem, Judy. By the way - you said a while back (I think) that you would be visiting in the Napa (California) area. If you get there, shoot me an email. I would love to meet you - your posts are some of my most favorite on this board. I live a bit north of Sacramento, and could easily come to Napa for a "meet and greet".

Anne

[JudyJB]

Another hour on phone with V. This time a "tier 2" person who listened and did not just give me spiel. She thinks it is new SIM card I got in July so is sending me a replacement jetpack and SIM card. Hope this helps.

My phone uses hardly any data which is why I am using it now. May end up just using it as hotspot. Will get new jetpack on tuesdAy at FedEx office.

The thing is that I am teaching only one class this summer instead of my usual two and spending MUCH less time online--maybe a quarter less and using a ton more bandwidth. How can I teach two classes in the fall????

Will see how this works. Spent a whole gig last night ordering a bike for GD over Amazon. She agreed that was ridiculous

Also the Verizon lady wants to buy an RV someday!!!

[bikerchic777]

I used to have unlimited data with Verizon. I am on my friend, Ken's, plan, so when he needed a new phone, he had to sign a new contract. We both got new phones and I no longer could stay on the unlimited plan. Before this, we never came close to using the amount of data we use now and I used to use a tether app for internet on my laptop...sometimes, even taking the dogs out and leaving it on. We recently had to increase our data limit. Not only that, but my battery runs down super fast! I even uninstalled a bunch of apps that I don't even use. Some of the pre-installed ones can't be uninstalled. They run all the time and I have never even used them!!! I downloaded an app to close them, but they come right back on. I am at wits end with it all

[bikerchic777]

Oh...I recently bought a WIFI extender and have been using that, here in the campground, to save on data.

[avalen]

Another hour on phone with V. This time a "tier 2" person who listened and did not just give me spiel. She thinks it is new SIM card I got in July so is sending me a replacement jetpack and SIM card. Hope this helps.

My phone uses hardly any data which is why I am using it now. May end up just using it as hotspot. Will get new jetpack on tuesdAy at FedEx office.

The thing is that I am teaching only one class this summer instead of my usual two and spending MUCH less time online--maybe a quarter less and using a ton more bandwidth. How can I teach two classes in the fall????

Will see how this works. Spent a whole gig last night ordering a bike for GD over Amazon. She agreed that was ridiculous

Also the Verizon lady wants to buy an RV someday!!!

certainly hopes this all corrects the problem, keep us posted

[JudyJB]

Got my tracking number today from verizon except they were supposd to send it second day air via FedEx as the lady said they would do. I gave her a nearby Fedex office address. Turns out they sent it via US mail!!!

I know for sure that FedEx will not accept a US mail package for me so now they are going to send it overnight via Fedex.

College shipping dept did same thing last spring. Hope they get it right this time.

[Cudedog]

I really hope you get to the bottom of this, Judy.

I still can't imagine how you could possibly use 21G per month. One of the most data-intensive things that one can do online is watch a movie - and your average movie is only around 3G.

Please keep us posted.

Anne

[Kristi]

Hi everybody, i'm new to the site and this topic is exactly what i have spent my day on up until now. I came here to get some info. Since you gals are in this situation also. I, too, have got at my wits' end.
My bill includes 2 smartphones and a laptop which connectivity to those devices alone, come to $100. Then the 10 Gb, another $100 + taxes . I was talked into actually watching a movie (from the laptop to the Tv..) to enjoy like others do... and wow-!!! There goes 3 Gbs...and for $20.00 more i got 12 gb.... $230./ mo.
Our unlimited talk & text was factored into that package at the time for addition 15.00 each.....and other than those, its email and a moderate amount of surffing on the smartphones....the cost is substantial after a year..
I wonder if i'm doing everything the hard way ?
Is there a way to get fast download speeds on wi-fi by way of that router? Does the wi-fi router cost to connect that "device"?
Download it first, then, watch the movie?

[Kristi]

Plus that 4G seems to be low connection rate, because i never get more that 2 bars. !! (?) I' m sorry, i failed to mention that its a Jetpak my laptop is connected to. Its slow. And the Jetpack shows lots of " messages" sent to its number...these only show phone numbers trying to call it.... are these what uses up our Jetpack data? A fictcious answering machine ?
If you press the Jetpack to messages.. you will see what im talking about.

[grammynmaggie]

One thing that I just found out ...that all the jet packs are given
recycled phone numbers...so that could be on of the problems
with using data that we all are plagued with ...was not told the
answer to that problem would be...