Data drained from my account in minutes

[AlexEve]

So today I got a text message saying I had used 100% of the data in my 15GB plan. I found that strange because my data had been refilled 4 days ago. When I looked at the message I realized another one had been sent 25 minutes before the last one that said I was at 75% data. I had maybe gone on my phone for about a minute or two in that time frame. My question is, why was almost 4 gigs drained from my account in 25 minutes, and can i get that data back? Any help is appreciated, thanks

[softech]

@AlexEve 

if it shows on Usage log only 1.5GB was used since 27th, something was not right

please engage support by direct message, send them all the screenshots about the usage since 27th and have them to double check

           https://productioncommunity.publicmobile.ca/t5/notes/composepage/note-to-user-id/22437

**Monitor your Community inbox (envelope icon on top right) after the ticket is opened.  CS Agent will reply to you there

[AlexEve]

Since the 27th it says I've used about 1.5 gb. My usage updated last night and says I only used 4 MB yesterday, meaning theres 13 gb unaccounted for. Is that similar to the drain you're talking about?

[dust2dust]

Regardless of usage in the last 12 or so hours, in the usage details in your account (not phone) do you see the amounts of data consumption since your last renewal?
There was a freebie given a couple years ago where some people experienced rapid depletion of that data bucket, so it's not unheard of around here.

[AlexEve]

So just took a look in settings and low data mode is on (which doesn't allow automatic updates on cellular), pretty sure I haven't changed that at all. Usually I'm pretty cognisant about turning my data on only when I need it, but I think it had been left on when I got these texts (was in the car away from wifi). Hoping to figure this out because this is just bizarre 😅

[dust2dust]

So there's a bunch of data used there. Your phone used your cell data to download the update. Now it's waiting for you to say go ahead and install it.
So obviously now you'd want to nail down all your data usage options for the future. There would be a setting to do OS and app updates only via wifi. Also turning off a setting for using data automatically when no or weak wifi. Settings for each app to let it use data. And finally, do you really need to leave data on all the time especially when you have available wifi? Just turn off data when you don't need it. Unless you're one of those that have to have every possible app notification while you're out and about. 🙂

But still, 15 gigs in 4 days is a crap ton of data.

[AlexEve]

Looks like my phone has an update ready to install, but I'm not sure if it had previously been downloaded yet. Will try tracking data from now on and resetting stats, thanks!

[softech]

HI @AlexEve 

could be some iCloud backup or could be iOS update

Yes, usually the usage will be posted shortly after 12 midnight EST.  And make sure you check using Incognito mode

and since you are now tracking your usage activtely, I suggest you to reset your iPhone data usage now, and do the same on day 1 of every cycle (of course you can try to download some app to track it for you automatically, but you need some that are able to track 30 days cycle, not monthly)

go to Settings > Cellular or Settings > Mobile Data, and tap Reset Statistic

[AlexEve]

Subscription usage is showing that I've used all 15 gigs

[AlexEve]

Looks like whatever my data usage was for today hasn't been posted yet, based on my history I'm assuming it will be posted sometime around 12:00 am. My cycle day 1 was October 27, not sure what I could have done to drain that much data in 4 days let alone 25 minutes

[softech]

@AlexEve 

iPhone data tracking is not very user friendly, it needs to reset manually and track from that day on.  Since you likely don't remember when was the last time you reset the data counter, so what iPhone data tracking won't be very useful

But check My Account.  Login using Incognito mode, go to usage page, https://myaccount.publicmobile.ca/en/account/plan/usage-details , see if the usage make sense

But please note, PM usage is posted twice a day and usually delayed by 12 hours.  The time stamps shows is not the time your data actually used but a TOTAL data usage between the timestamp of that entry and the timestamp of the previous entry

Also, check the cycle date on your My Account.  PM is running on 30 days cycle, so, make sure you know which day was the day 1 of your current cycle

[AlexEve]

Not sure, I'm guessing theres somewhere in my iPhone settings I can check for that?

[AlexEve]

The minute or two I was on my phone I watched a 30 second youtube video, nothing I haven't done before. That would have been after the 75% text but before the 100%.

[hairbag1]

@AlexEve 

were you or anyone else streaming music or vids during that period ?

added..

log in to your account..you should see the Subscription Usage dashboard with the current status of your account usage. Click the little spinner icon on bottom to make sure you're seeing the most current info.

[dust2dust]

So almost 4 gigs in 25 minutes. Online backup? Cloud storage syncing? Online OS update?