Exceeding data limit
Marsh
Newbie

My wife and I have Droid X's.  I have an unlimited data plan for work, and she has a 150 meg limited plan.  She has begun to exceed her monthly limit.  A few days before the billing period ended, she tried to cut back on her usage by 1) enabling data saver, 2)  trying to switch to wifi while at home and 3)  staying off the device except for calls.  She still ran over her limit for the period anyway, and has already run up more data time that she feels is correct.  Enabling data saver did not appear to work.  We thought enabling wifi while at home might also help limit her data useage, but we cannot get wifi to work.  Are there menu items we should enable/disable that would help reduce data use?

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Re: Exceeding data limit
budone
Legend

If you are basing your data usage on the My Verizon app, the problem with it is that it is not live. It lags by a few hours.

I would DL the app, 'My Data Manager Free, The app tracks data live and breaks it out by VZW network, WiFi and roaming.

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Re: Exceeding data limit
demmo86rt
Champion - Level 3

My suggestion would be to turn off mobile web all together, menu>settings>wireless & networks, uncheck mobile network box.  Obviously, this will limit what can be done with the phone, but it is the only way to prevent unintended data use.  For a reduction of data usage on a regular basis, you will have to go into each app and either shut off, or minimize any syncing it may do.  Facebook, for example has the ability to sync anywhere from every 30 min to every 4 hrs, or be completely turned off, so that it only updates when you open the app.  Using WiFi whenever possible is also a great idea, so hopefully you can get that working.

Also, keep in mind that you can always upgrade the data plan if you find yourself going over, then take it back down at the beginning of your next billing cycle (provided you will still be able to get the 150MB plan, which may not be the case).  Of course, you have to judge whether or not the higher data plan for the month will be more than your current plan plus any overages.

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Re: Exceeding data limit
rcschnoor
Legend

demmo86rt wrote:

Also, keep in mind that you can always upgrade the data plan if you find yourself going over, then take it back down at the beginning of your next billing cycle (provided you will still be able to get the 150MB plan, which may not be the case).  Of course, you have to judge whether or not the higher data plan for the month will be more than your current plan plus any overages.

If I remember correctly when I had the 150MB plan, the monthly cost was $15. If you went over, the overage charge was another $15 for another 150MB of data. If the OP is nearing the end of her cycle AND the end of her allowance, increasing the data plan is NOT going to do anything UNLESS she intends to really up the data usage for the last couple of days of the billing cycle. Unless she plans to increase data usage for the remainder of the cycle, she will still be paying the same amount($30 total for the month) for the same data(somewhere between 150MB and 300MB). Additionally, if the OP does increase her data plan and wants to go back to the 150MB plan, she may not be able to do so. Unless she thinks she will continue to use more than 150MB/month, she would probably be better off just paying for the overage.

In hindsight, it is too bad she did not upgrade to the plan they had out a month or so ago. I believe Verizon was offering a 300MB/month plan for $20/month. This might have been a good plan for the OP.

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Re: Exceeding data limit
mortb
Specialist - Level 3

First, I would stop receiving email automatically. Every email eats data. Next, I would stay far away from market. Downloading an apps eats data, but worse, the upgrades they create also eats data. Next, I would go to Settings>Battery and data manager>Data saver and check it off. You might also click on Data delivery and uncheck Background data. Than I would go to Email and corporate sync (in the same screen) and click on Sync over Wi-fi only. Finally, and most important, I would get my wi-fi operating and connected to my cell phone.

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Re: Exceeding data limit
demmo86rt
Champion - Level 3

I'm sure you're right, I was just throwing out options, with a suggestion to check things out and see what works.

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Re: Exceeding data limit
commonsense101
Specialist - Level 2

Try adding a data package

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Re: Exceeding data limit
xxspellboundxx

I have an unlimited data plan that I am letting go of.  Verizon told me I can transfer it to someone else if I'd like without having to close the line.  I know that the new data plans are now tiered.  My unlimited data plan is grandfathered in.  If you want my data plan email me at j_lun@hotmail.com.  Or if you or anyone know of someone wanting to upgrade or sign up with verizon. 

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Re: Exceeding data limit
Tidbits
Legend

You should say how long until your contract ends Smiley Happy Depending on time you may get some bites.

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Re: Exceeding data limit
xxspellboundxx

My contract ends in 8 months but it doesn't matter.  Verizon told me they would transfer my unlimited data account to someone else if I liked to since their new data plans are tiered.  The only thing the person would have to do is give me their name and phone number ( and if they're an existing verizon customer, their account number as well).  I contact Verizon and tell them to transfer my unlimited data plan to whomever and verizon will generate a new phone number.  The person taking over will have unlimited data for as long as they keep the account. 

It would be a waste for me to close out my unlimited plan and not give it to someone else to enjoy.  Once I close it, Verizon will never activate it ever again and therefore one less unlimited plan that someone else can use.

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