Community

Jeremy_M · ‎05-10-2017

There are a few quick and easy ways for you to track how much data you use.

1. Public Mobile My Account

You can easily view your usage in your Public Mobile Self Serve account by clicking on the Plan and Add-Ons tab, then on Add-On Usage. Here, you will find a summary of your data usage for the current billing cycle. You can also conveniently select Usage History for a daily, weekly or monthly summary view.

Don’t have a Public Mobile My Account yet? No worries, you can register here.

2. Data Usage Notifications

Public Mobile will notify you via text message when you're close to using all of the data included in your rate plan. Data notifications indicate how much of your included plan data you have used, so you know when you’re approaching your limit. The default data notifications are set at 75%, 95% and 100% consumption of your data allotments.

Find out more about data notifications on our Community!

3. Data Manager Applications

Did you know? Most smartphones have a pre-installed data manager application which allows you to set cellular data usage notifications and data limit according to your Public Mobile expiry date?

For more information, please click on the link that corresponds with your handsets brand:

Apple

Android

Windows

BlackBerry > Select your device > Select Settings > Select Connections >Select monitor your wireless data usage

Can’t find a pre-installed data management app in your handset? Don’t worry, visit your mobile application store to find free data management applications:

@IWIK "Data Witness" for Android - complete setup guide can be found here

Managing your data usage

Now that you know how to track your data usage, we want to share some tips and tricks for managing features and applications.

1. Autoplay

Many of the most commonly used applications like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter & YouTube offer a neat feature called Autoplay. While using this app, the Autoplay feature will preload and play videos automatically in your “news” feed automatically as you progress through it.

While this is great for quickly watching videos, it can also consume a lot of data. (Did you know that watching a video over your mobile data varies from 0.21 Mbps (Megabytes per seconds) to 5.2 Mbps depending on its quality?)

If you’re finding that you’re going through your data really quickly or know that you’ve almost used your entire allotted amount, setting your Autoplay to work using Wi-Fi only or disabling it may be a good option for you. Learn how to below.

Facebook

Visit the Facebook “Autoplay” help page for more details.

Instagram

Visit the Instagram “Use Less Data” help page for more details.

Twitter

Visit the Twitter “How can I stop videos from autoplaying” help page for more details.

YouTube

Visit the YouTube “Turn-Off Autoplay” help page for more details.

2.GPS Navigation

GPS navigation is another feature that in fact, does require high mobile data. As a substitute, you could use Google Maps, which is a free navigation application that offers the ability to navigate offline. You can also purchase other navigation applications that will allow you to navigate without using data and quickly change spending into an investment.

3.Google Map

Visit the Google Map “Download areas and navigate offline” help page for more details.

Other Applications

Other applications like video games, weather, music streaming can consume a lot of data. The good news is that most smartphones will give you the ability to restrict background data for each application that you use on a daily basis. We invite you to visit your handset manufacturer website for more details.

You now have the tools to take control of your data usage. Have other questions? Be sure to check out our Community. It’s the place to get help, give help and share ideas!

-Public Mobile Community team

Someone_here · ‎05-10-2017

Great! Thanks!

@Jeremy_M, would it be possible to add, in point 1., something like "in the selfserve, if you used up all you data during a billing cycle, you won't see any data usage/allotment information at all; no worry this is normal, your data will reappear on your next billing cycle"

Also, you could add something like "If you used up all your data, you can add a data add-on (do it yourself in the selfserve) or you can renew the same plan that you currently have as of today and "reset" your data, losing the remaining days of your plan in pthe process (contact a moderator to do it. Click on this link to know how)."

BrrMcGrr · ‎05-10-2017

@Jeremy_M
Facebook App for Android now has a "Data Saver" Option that can be turned on as well.

Jeremy_M · ‎05-10-2017

Thank you @BrrMcGrr & @Someone_here! I will find a way to include the feedback in the article 🙂

will13am · ‎05-10-2017

Another way to save data is to browse mobile website where offered. Beyond saving data, it make for a better user experience given the relatively small screen size on a phone. Browsers like chrome offer data savings setting.

pop78 · ‎06-06-2017

"You can easily view your usage in your Public Mobile Self Serve account..."

Easily is not very accurate.

Use case 1:

I still have data left for this billing cycle. Looking at the "Add-On Usage" tab, it tells me I have unlimited data left.

Add-on Name	*Data Limit (MB)**	Data Used (MB)**	Remaining Data (MB)	Status
12GB Data	Unlimited	2674.375	Unlimited	Active

Kinda misleading there...

Use case 2:

My daughter has used up her alloted data. Looking at the "Add-On Usage" tab, there is no mention of even having a data plan. There's simply no entry. So was data removed from her plan or did she use it up? I can't verify as it's simply gone! Why have a "Status" field if the add-on is removed when not active for any reason?

srlawren · ‎06-06-2017

@pop78 yes, those are known issues. I know #2 is being looked at, though I have no idea when a fix may go live. You can always check your plan details if you're worried that data was somehow removed, but yes this absolutely needs to get fixed as it's very confusing. For #1, that's also a known issue, though I haven't heard much about it. Rest assured that you do not actually have unlimited data, and subtracting your 2674.375 MB data used from your 12,288 MB (12 * 1024 MB) plan amount will give you the correct 9,613.625 MB (9.388 gb) amount remaining.

pamorin · ‎08-09-2017

My data doesn't appear in Add-On Usage ? , so I have no way to know?

pop78 · ‎08-09-2017

@pamorin

If it's not listed, means you used it all up. It's what I refer to in my second use case and what @srlawren says is being looked at.

srlawren · ‎08-09-2017

@pop78 correct. @pamorin sounds like you have indeed ehxausted your plan data.

pamorin · ‎08-09-2017

@srlawren , @pop78 ok thanks, that would explain it.

floorit · ‎09-28-2017

Daily, weekly or monthly summary view? I don't see it. I only see 7, 30 and 90 Day history. I just finished my first 90 days, and would like to see the summary of what I used xxx minutes xxx text and xx.x MB

srlawren · ‎09-28-2017

@floorit unfortunately no such summaries exist currently. They have been asked for. I'm not holding my breath.

Curtis · ‎10-21-2017

God almighty, why is this such a hard thing to find out with PM???!!!!!!

Simple request: I want to see how much data I have used on my plan. When I go to check my usage I get two different pages, neither of which show what my total usage to date is. And I know I HAVE had this available to me in the past. Why is it not available now?!!!!!!!!!

Someone_here · ‎10-21-2017

@Curtis

You can see usage on the main page of the selfserve, the one you land on after signing in, in the "My Data & Add-Ons" section.

Only exception, if you used all your data for the current billing cycle you won't see anything.

Curtis · ‎10-21-2017

^^. Would it be too much to ask that PM simply put this explanation somewhere on the page?!! Instead of forcing a customer to spend half an hour and wait for a response online in a forum? Christ. No other provider makes it this difficult to see where you are in your data usage.

And further to this...how do I go about adding more data? Is there not some sort of "flex plan"? Whereby you get charged extra for extra data? Which leads me to a third question. My credit card was charged a $20 charge a few days ago, with no explanation as to what it is. If it IS a charge for more data, why do I not have any data? I have almost two weeks to go before my plan renewal, and I have no data, and can't seem to figure out how to add data.

Seems a very amateurish way to run a service.

Someone_here · ‎10-21-2017

@Curtis wrote:
Would it be too much to ask that PM simply put this explanation somewhere on the page?!!

Go to "Knowledge base" > "Managing your data usage": https://productioncommunity.publicmobile.ca/t5/Knowledge-Base/Managing-your-data-usage/ta-p/152760

@Curtis wrote:
how do I go about adding more data? Is there not some sort of "flex plan"? Whereby you get charged extra for extra data?

Two options to add data:

1. Add an add-on, $30 for 1fb of data that never expires. So for example, you are out of data for your billing cycle, you add this add-on, and then use 700mb until your next cycle starts. Then your cycle data is reset, and you use them first, and then if you use them all before the end of your cycle, you still have 324mb (1024-700) left from your add-on. To add this add-on, go in your selfserve, make a one time payment of $30, and then go in the adds-on section and chose 1gb for $30.

2. Reset your cycle right know. Your plan will restart today, you pay for the whole plan, and your data is reset. Your next payment will be in 30 or 90 days from now, depending on your plan. To do this, you need to contact the moderators and ask them to do it, because the selfserve won't allow you to do it.

@Curtis wrote:
My credit card was charged a $20 charge a few days ago, with no explanation as to what it is. If it IS a charge for more data, why do I not have any data?

I can't tell for sure, but I know that data (or anything) is NOT added automatically. This is a prepaid service, so there is never extra charges for going "over" your allowance; if you don't have data anymore, or if you run out of international minutes, they WON'T renew automatically. The only automatic renewal is your plan if you chose to enable autopay.

Can you go in your selfserve, and then on your payment history, and post a screenshot of the last transactions (don't show your account number or personal information in the screenshot...) It'll help to tell you what was that $20...

Curtis · ‎11-06-2017

Someone_here wrote:

I can't tell for sure, but I know that data (or anything) is NOT added automatically. This is a prepaid service, so there is never extra charges for going "over" your allowance; if you don't have data anymore, or if you run out of international minutes, they WON'T renew automatically. The only automatic renewal is your plan if you chose to enable autopay.
Can you go in your selfserve, and then on your payment history, and post a screenshot of the last transactions (don't show your account number or personal information in the screenshot...) It'll help to tell you what was that $20...

Here is a screenshot of the $20 payment. It was done automatically. It says I have a balance of $20 in my account. So why was this done automatically? My plan doesn't renew until November 11.

Screen Shot 11-06-17 at 01.49 PM.JPG

srlawren · ‎11-06-2017

@Curtis PM does not randomly make top ups to people's accounts other than (a) during a renewal when you have AutoPay enabled and less than the full renewal cost in available funds credit on your account, or (b) as the first of the 2-step process when purhcasing an add-on. Are you 100% sure that you didn't do this, and that nobody else that may have access to your account did this, by mistake or on purpose?

If you're 100% sure, then I suggest you reach out to the @CS_Agent via private mesage, using this link.

Alissa · ‎12-08-2017

Would it be possible to add an alert at 50% data usage? 75% is so close to being done that it would be nice to have an alert at 50% so that I can space out my data over the 90 days a little more efficiently. @Jeremy_M

halifmike · ‎03-10-2018

"You can also conveniently select Usage History for a daily, weekly or monthly summary view."

Last 7 days and Last 30 Days, or the ability to select by a date range. I see nothing about a weeky or monthly summary view.

soaringhawk · ‎03-28-2018

Under data and add-on usage, there is no information on my account: https://selfserve.publicmobile.ca/Overview/plan-and-Add-ons/Add-on-Usage/ After using this service for ~6 months, take my advice and stay away from Public Mobile. Last cycle, all my data was suddenly used up for no reason in the first couple weeks. What passes for "support" was eventually able to resolve this error, and restore my data. But the same thing appears to have happened again. Public Mobile is telling me I used up 5GB data in just a few weeks, despite NEVER having used this much with any other service provider EVER (e.g. Telus, Fido, Rogers). I urge consumers NOT to use this company - it's a freaking disaster, and either blatantly dishonest but more likely totally inept.

srlawren · ‎03-29-2018

@soaringhawk do you have a "3G" speed data plan? (Here's how to tell if you're not sure: https://productioncommunity.publicmobile.ca/t5/Plans-Add-Ons/How-to-tell-data-plan-speed/m-p/173079/...) If so then yes, there is a known issue that affects at least some "3G" data plans where the data used does not reset after a renewal. You may want to make a habit of checking every renewal morning (or the day after), and if you spot that your usage hasn't reset, send the moderators a private message and ask them to reset it. I do hope they fix this issue soon, but as it's been around for many months now (since the introduction of the 3G plans), I have no idea if or when that will happen, unfortunately. On the bright side, the moderator team is nice and helpful, and they're well aware of the manual reset procedure to resolve it manually as needed.

soaringhawk · ‎03-30-2018

Thanks for your reply!

srlawren · ‎03-30-2018

My pleasure