Charged for data on XT network when data turned off

Forums › Spark New Zealand (including Skinny and BigPipe) › Charged for data on XT network when data turned off

onetapu

242 posts

Master Geek

#120892 17-Jun-2013 14:33

We have 2 iphones - both being used for phone calls only (ie no data being downloaded). One is a Vodafone prepay - 3G and data are both turned off and charges are as expected ie for phone calls only.

The other phone is connected to the Telecom XT network and is on a monthly account. 3G is turned on (as I understand it has to be, to be on the XT network) and data is turned off. Although we are only making phone calls on this phone, we are also being charged for data on the account (at $1 per day 10MB).

Can someone please explain to me why we are being charged for data when our intention is to use it for calls only, and what are we doing to incur the data charges? How can we stop the data being used?

I have trolled the forum for an answer to my problem - please forgive me if this has already been covered.

1 | 2

1948 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#838108 17-Jun-2013 14:37

If you don't want to use data then ring up the mobile help desk on 0800 800 163 to get them to turn off data.

Otherwise iPhone's in particular can be very finicky in regards to their data use.

onetapu

242 posts

Master Geek

#838114 17-Jun-2013 14:46

Can I not turn it off on the phone settings, and what are we doing that is incurring the data use?

plambrechtsen

1948 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#838121 17-Jun-2013 14:52

onetapu: Can I not turn it off on the phone settings, and what are we doing that is incurring the data use?

I can get you a breakdown of how much you used and when. As to the what, we only store the bytes in and out. So can't find out where you were going.

As I said before. IPhone's can be extremely finicky when it comes to data usage. Even if you turn off everything it still for some reason consumes data.

NonprayingMantis

6434 posts

Uber Geek

#838127 17-Jun-2013 15:06

if you are on a monthly plan that doesnt include data, then, even if you dont want data, it is almost certianly more expensive than any of the current plans. the plans that dont include data would be at least 2 years old, and the market has improved value considerably since then.
I suggest you see if you can change plans. I bet you can get one for less money, that gives you more minutes and txts AND some data.

Also, I'm curious, why would you buy iphones but only use them for calls and txts? 2 x ipod touch and 2 x cheapo any-phone would do the same thing, but much much cheaper.

johnr

19282 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#838140 17-Jun-2013 15:18

This would not be possible

onetapu

242 posts

Master Geek

#838166 17-Jun-2013 15:57

It's a complicated story! We didn't buy the phones - we were given them by our kids who upgraded! We don't have mobile coverage where we live so only use the phones when we are away from home, so they have limited use. We don't need data cos we have an ipad on Vodafone which I use at home via Farmside and when away via 3G. Welcome to rural NZ - we have no mobile coverage and no broadband coverage! I am going to change the plan but that's not my point. I am trying to understand how we are using data when we are not meaning to! Could it have something to do with the GPS thingey??

plambrechtsen

1948 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#838182 17-Jun-2013 16:09

onetapu: It's a complicated story! We didn't buy the phones - we were given them by our kids who upgraded! We don't have mobile coverage where we live so only use the phones when we are away from home, so they have limited use. We don't need data cos we have an ipad on Vodafone which I use at home via Farmside and when away via 3G. Welcome to rural NZ - we have no mobile coverage and no broadband coverage! I am going to change the plan but that's not my point. I am trying to understand how we are using data when we are not meaning to! Could it have something to do with the GPS thingey??

I would just ring up the mobile helpdesk on 0800 800 163 and ask them to turn off mobile data. If you are on smart onebill ie a zero monthly cost you are on a telecom landline. Otherwise the $19 prepaid plan you can get on postpaid which gives you 60 mins per month and 500mb.

Equinox IT

Cloud spending continues to surge globally, but most organisations haven’t made the changes necessary to maximise the value and cost-efficiency benefits of their cloud investments. Download the whitepaper From Overspend to Advantage now.

linw

2849 posts

Uber Geek

#838399 17-Jun-2013 22:29

I got caught with this as well on my Android P500. Even if you turn off data, the XT phone sends a few bytes out at least once a day (calling home?) and this triggers the kerching sound with a dollar attached.

So, you end up with $30 per month with data turned off!

I'm now on the $19 per month plan. At least you get something for the money spent!

surfisup1000

5288 posts

Uber Geek

#838469 18-Jun-2013 07:32

linw: I got caught with this as well on my Android P500. Even if you turn off data, the XT phone sends a few bytes out at least once a day (calling home?) and this triggers the kerching sound with a dollar attached.

So, you end up with $30 per month with data turned off!

I'm now on the $19 per month plan. At least you get something for the money spent!

How much data does it use?

Maybe the ISP's could ignore less than 1kb data in one day. Although, maybe this would cut off revenue from wireless data aquisition devices which seem more common these days.

Batman

Mad Scientist
29760 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#838471 18-Jun-2013 07:34

Go onto the $19 telecom prepay ... It's worth evry cent

plambrechtsen

1948 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#838473 18-Jun-2013 08:02

joker97: Go onto the $19 telecom prepay ... It's worth evry cent

And you can get it on postpaid too with your Telecom landline. Which IMHO is the cheapest postpaid plan on the market right now.

linw

2849 posts

Uber Geek

#838482 18-Jun-2013 08:35

surfisup1000:
linw: I got caught with this as well on my Android P500. Even if you turn off data, the XT phone sends a few bytes out at least once a day (calling home?) and this triggers the kerching sound with a dollar attached.

So, you end up with $30 per month with data turned off!

I'm now on the $19 per month plan. At least you get something for the money spent!

How much data does it use?

Maybe the ISP's could ignore less than 1kb data in one day. Although, maybe this would cut off revenue from wireless data aquisition devices which seem more common these days.

Can't say exactly, but it was VERY little. As I said, it looked like a short, "Hello, I'm here" sort of thing. Only a few bytes. Yes, it would be much more civil to have a small allowance to cover this before the $1 applied.

onetapu

242 posts

Master Geek

#838515 18-Jun-2013 09:30

This is an absolute rort (sp?) then, because we have not used the phone at all on the days the data has been charged - which has been over most days in the month. I don't want to have to call Telecom to turn the data off - if I have it turned off on the phone, then I should be able to rely on it to be off. I am not happy.

plambrechtsen

1948 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#838547 18-Jun-2013 09:59

onetapu: This is an absolute rort (sp?) then, because we have not used the phone at all on the days the data has been charged - which has been over most days in the month. I don't want to have to call Telecom to turn the data off - if I have it turned off on the phone, then I should be able to rely on it to be off. I am not happy.

I assume by not using the phone you left the phone switched off? And that you don't have any email accounts or any other services setuo that may poll for data.

I would suspect that it is the check for any app updates or os updates.

Probably worth logging a fault with Apple as it is their device that is inadvertently using the data. I know I don't have the problem with my Samsung S4 when I switch off all data.

johnr

19282 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#838554 18-Jun-2013 10:05

onetapu: This is an absolute rort (sp?) then, because we have not used the phone at all on the days the data has been charged - which has been over most days in the month. I don't want to have to call Telecom to turn the data off - if I have it turned off on the phone, then I should be able to rely on it to be off. I am not happy.

Smart phones use data in the back ground they don't need the end user to do anything on the handset

Turn off mobile data in the menu of the handset then

1 | 2