Tesco/ Data Usage Limit

fendi · 1 May 2013 at 15:20

Hi guys.

I'm in a little bit of a pickle about my data usage with Tesco.

Yesterday I got a text saying I was near the limit of my data usage and will be charged £0.60/MB if I exceed it.

I logged into my account yesterday and it showed my usage as being 916mb. Their fair usage I believe is 1GB. Today I get another text so I log in and it shows 1500mb or so. So exceeding their fair usage limit by over half a gig.

That has got me worried because I'll be billed for over £300+. I've disabled my data connection now. I really only used it for Whatsapp and Clash of Clans. But even with just these two I am amazed at home much data has been used. Especially in 1 day. 600mb+. Is this even possible? I don't download apps over 3G. only at home over the Wifi. I send some photos from time to time on whatsapp but that is it. No video. No youtube either.

Has anyone exceeded Tesco's 1GB limit and not been billed? Should I ring them and ask if I will be billed for going so far over their limit? This is the first time it has happened in over 2 years of being with them. I am usually a light user so have no idea how 1.5gb has been used in what is pretty much half a month.

Any advice would be welcomed.

Myshra · 1 May 2013 at 15:23

Phone manufacturer, model and if known - OS version please.

fendi · 1 May 2013 at 15:27

Myshra said:
Phone manufacturer, model and if known - OS version please.

Ah sorry about that.

It's an iPhone 4. iOS 5.1.1.

To add a bit more. I had used Ruzzle a bit too and have Skype on in the background - not being used. But I've always had Skype on and Whatsapp on 24/7 for over a year with no problems. Even when the sim was previously in an Android/San Fransisco.

Edit.

I am just wondering if I should call them and ask to speak to someone about it. As the first warning text only came in a day ago. The second today. Or if an automated system will just bill me. Maybe talking to someone could give me the benefit of the doubt.

Rroff · 1 May 2013 at 15:34

The updates on data use are often quite delayed and/or irregular intervals so you might have used that data over a bigger time period.

Also not sure about iPhone but some phones are setup to download new firmware updates, etc. which can eat massive data chunks.

fendi · 1 May 2013 at 16:05

I’ve just got off the phone with Tesco. 4455 for anyone that needs to call them from their handset. The guy said that he can see that I’ve used the 1500+mb but my account shows that I haven’t been charged for going over the limit. He said though that the system might not be up to date so to call back in 5 hours when they will be able to confirm. At first he said I won’t be charged but then he backtracked and said the 5 hours.

So fingers crossed it stays as £0.00. I’ll keep all data turned off now. I had no idea that I could use 1.5gb’s worth of data in 2 weeks – and that’s without using any streaming or music sites/youtube. Pretty scary.

Myshra · 1 May 2013 at 16:37

You didn't download any new games / new apps recently did you? Or attempt to sync all your music via dropbox or anything else similar?

fendi · 1 May 2013 at 17:12

Myshra said:
You didn't download any new games / new apps recently did you? Or attempt to sync all your music via dropbox or anything else similar?

Myshra, I think you might have hit the nail on the head with Dropbox. I have used that this month for the first time. That's probably it. Damn. I can see that using a large amount of data. Not music but photos. I'm not sure how many photos I have on it. I use the PC to upload them but I have viewed them a couple of times on the mobile to show friends.

I guess I am guilty of it then. I just hope it isn't too late to get off without being charged a huge amount for a silly mistake. Thanks for identifying the problem.

As for games/apps. I never download them over 3G. I am always patient enough to wait till I get home.

Will get them a couple before I hit the cinema tonight. I hope the news doesn't ruin the showing.

Myshra · 2 May 2013 at 08:48

Dropbox has a sync over wifi only option. Dropbox doesn't download unless on demand (eg you looked through your pics) IIRC, but it does upload from the phone silently.

You might be OK, tesco are pretty understanding and new to the game so are trying to please. You might get away with it.

Simian · 2 May 2013 at 12:24

Myshra said:
Dropbox has a sync over wifi only option.

The First box I tick on my phone after setting up all my accounts (dropbox, box, even Google Play) is 'Update over Wi-Fi only' or 'Upload over Wi-Fi only'

I'm on a 500Mb tarrif at the mo, with Vodaclone, and Even with 5 email addresses, skype, DropBox, Box, Skydrive (and many many more) I've never hit even 400Mb (except when I accidently updated the UK/IRL maps on NavFree on 3G)

Can't see how 600Mb+ in 24 hours is possible though!! :confused:

Murf · 2 May 2013 at 13:45

I've downloaded 7.5gb over 3G in 6 days using my S4 so it's definitely possible!

Myshra · 2 May 2013 at 19:49

Yeah, in 4G testing I used steam for sustained payload tests for internet sourced traffic, you'd be surprised what you can get out of a cell when it's close by

As with a lot of things, we are all different in how we use our devices.

Fendi if you get trouble and you're out of contract I might be able to help you with at least your next contract rather than your current one, pm me if you have issues

Redrum · 2 May 2013 at 20:23

fendi said:
That has got me worried because I'll be billed for over £300+

Personally, If I was billed £300 for 500MB of data usage, I'd just refuse to pay it, even though there's probably no legal grounds to do so. Considering they offer plans with 2GB of data for £15, £300 for 500MB is beyond unreasonable.

mjones1 · 2 May 2013 at 20:54

Murf said:
I've downloaded 7.5gb over 3G in 6 days using my S4 so it's definitely possible!

That's just excessive use more than likely with tethering thrown in.

fendi · 3 May 2013 at 13:53

Hi guys,

Just an update. I didn't get to ring them back later that day. Went to the cinema and didn't fancy possibly hearing bad news before the flick.

So I spoke to them yesterday. I had logged into my account previously before doing so. Data usage had gone up to 1823mb! From 1530ish the night before. No idea how.

Anyway, they said that my account was still showing £0.00 for any over charges. They said I am over the fair usage limit but because I am on an old tarrif that doesn't exist any more they believe that is the reason the system hasn't picked it up. I don't know what to think. But over the telephone I asked whether if was possible to disable data for the rest of my billing month. He said it was and that it would take 24hrs to kick in. So now I have a smart phone that isn't so smart (until I get home for wifi). 12 days to go to find out if I get charged.

What I find quite odd is that I did receive a warning text and another the following day telling me that I was close to my limit. But then in less than two days having checked the usage online it went up by 900mb. And that is without hammering it as I was being careful. They said that the system update every 5 hours so it can't be updating from a week or so ago.

One thing I dislike about the iPhone and maybe it was user error is that in settings I can't find anything to disable data being pushed through. I for some reason thought "notifications" was the area I was looking for so turned all of that off, but didn't realise until the other day but that data could still be going on in the background. And in some apps there is no option in their settings to turn this off, but I still get updates.

I got an update from Clash of Clans when I had both 3G/data and Wifi turned off so I'm not sure if the app sends these in an offline mode.

About drop box. I have views photos but to be fair I haven't uploaded that many so I can't imagine 900mb came from there. And if it syncs once I presume the photos don't need to be downloaded again but viewable without using a ton of data.

Anyway guys. Thanks for your posts. I'll let you know how this ends.

Bloomfield · 3 May 2013 at 14:10

mjones1 said:
That's just excessive use more than likely with tethering thrown in.

It's not excessive use if it's within the contract's limits. (I'm guessing it's Three he's on like most who use a lot of data) Three have an FUP (because they have to apparently) of 1TB, 7.5GB isn't close to excessive according to Three's AYCE plans.

Murf · 3 May 2013 at 16:18

mjones1 said:
That's just excessive use more than likely with tethering thrown in.

Downloaded some films through Google Play. Streamed a lot of music. Downloaded a few games. No tethering as of yet.

I'm sure my use will slow down once the novelty wears off but even 1 movie a week is a few gig a month.

The FUP is 1TB? lol.

Bloomfield · 3 May 2013 at 16:54

From their T&Cs:

Three said:
Does all you can eat data come with any limits? The limit is how much your device can consume – if you were to actively use data or the Internet on your phone every second, of every day, in every month (and we would be worried if you were !!!!) you would, subject to the current traffic management requirements (which vary from time to time), use up to 1000GB per month. So in essence there is a limit of how much data you can actually consume which is up to 1000GB. All this means that you can have absolute piece of mind and enjoy all the internet you need on your smartphone, without worrying.

It's basically just what you can download if downloading nonstop for a month

.