Cell C - Possible Data Usage Inflation?

[renierp]

This is now the second month in a row that I have noticed my data usage being too high. My router has a built in bandwidth monitor which is quite nifty and accurate (I have used it with iBurst for a while too)
In January, my router claimed that I have used +-4.3GB of data (upload and download combined), when my connection ceased to work. Upon querying it, my bundle was depleted.

This month, I have used about 1.5-1.7GB of data, before we got topped up to 5GB again. (Thus meaning I should be able to download at least 6.5GB for the month).
I also used about 300MB with the stick plugged into my laptop
My router now shows that I have used a total of 5.4GB (up and down), and according to the Cell C website, I have used up all my data again.

Now, I do understand that Cell C charges 1kB for making a connection, so I do accept that my router might be out by a few megs if that much, but 700-1000MB?? I doubt it.

Is anyone else also experiencing data 'inflation'?

 

[Michaelbro]

There is No data role over with Cell C.

 

[renierp]

I know there is no rollover, during FEB, whilst Cell C was doing their network upgrades, there were many problems, so they topped up ALL 2gb and 5gb users back to 5GB in the middle of the month (I think round the 10th or so)

 

[ITCynic]

Is it possibly the way the data usage is calculated between the different usage monitors ? (Cell C vs your router)

ie. one source 1000 Mb = 1 Gb and the other 1024 Mb = 1 Gb

Based on using 1 Gb a day and assuming a daily difference of 24 Mb between the two, this would work out to a 720 Mb difference over a 30 day period. Possible ?

Using more than 1 Gb a day will obviously increase the difference between the two usage monitors.

 

[ginggs]

Based on using 1 Gb a day and assuming a daily difference of 24 Mb between the two, this would work out to a 720 Mb difference over a 30 day period. Possible ?

No, your calculation would account for a 720MB difference on 30GB of usage per month, OP only has 5GB.

Plus, Cell-C give us 5120MB per month, so we know they use real GB not metric GB.

 

[ITCynic]

No, your calculation would account for a 720MB difference on 30GB of usage per month, OP only has 5GB.

Plus, Cell-C give us 5120MB per month, so we know they use real GB not metric GB.

Ok, makes sense on the 30GB vs 5GB

 

[renierp]

No, your calculation would account for a 720MB difference on 30GB of usage per month, OP only has 5GB.

Plus, Cell-C give us 5120MB per month, so we know they use real GB not metric GB.

Was just about to say the same.
@ITCynic, the bandwidth monitor does real time monitoring so I don't think it's safe to assume that error. It has been very accurate on a different ISP as well


Sent from the MyBroadband iPhone App

 

[morkhans]

Previous months my counter has been very close to that of Cell C. February is however a different matter. My stats say that since the 8th (after the reset on the 7th), I've only used 2.62GB. Cell C thinks I've used almost 4.2GB. Looking through my balance history it looks like something went wrong round about the 14th. Where there is suddenly almost 700Mb worth of unaccounted data usage which then grows to over the days leading up to today.

 

[Keeper]

so they topped up ALL 2gb and 5gb users back to 5GB in the middle of the month

whut? :erm:

I really gotta jump on this CellC wagon soon

 

[The Voice]

Hmm, forgive me for being a bit of a n00b, but at the time of the 5GB data "top-up", my balance was at approximately 2GB. Since then, I've used (rather quickly) most of that data. Question is, once it's been depleted, will it revert to the original 2GB bundle, or will it hit zero? Not that it matters, mind you, with month-end on Monday and all.

I just want to know if I should get my download on this weekend!

 

[Madhawk]

Question is, once it's been depleted, will it revert to the original 2GB bundle, or will it hit zero?

You'll hit zero, you'll get your 2GBs on the 1st March.

 

[renierp]

Previous months my counter has been very close to that of Cell C. February is however a different matter. My stats say that since the 8th (after the reset on the 7th), I've only used 2.62GB. Cell C thinks I've used almost 4.2GB. Looking through my balance history it looks like something went wrong round about the 14th. Where there is suddenly almost 700Mb worth of unaccounted data usage which then grows to over the days leading up to today.

Ok, good to know that I'm not alone. Problem is, is there anything we can do about it? The cell providers (well vodacom at least) refuse to give you any detailed breakdown of Internet usage unless you have a court order. Now I understand it's a lot of data they need to process, but surely it can be done? And what proof is my router log or your dashboard to them? 700mb is a lot of data!


Sent from the MyBroadband iPhone App

 

[SUPERMAN89]

Me2, I did post something about cellc's billing lastweek

 

[ginggs]

Before connecting last night I checked the balance on *101#:

balance = R 4.76 Expiry date:16/08/2020.Bonus SMS= 37.Free Data = 912.00 MB.

I connected around 21:00 and disconnected about two hours later.

According to MDMA:

Previous Session 01:59:14
Sent 22.18MB
Received 127.0MB
Combined 149.2MB
Disconnected 2011/02/25 23:01:04

Shortly before disconnecting I checked the balance with *101# again:

balance = R 4.76 Expiry date:16/08/2020.Bonus SMS= 37.Free Data = 762.00 MB.

I checked the balance 7 minutes later and again this morning and got the identical result.

So according to MDMA I used 149.2MB and according to Cell-C I used 150.0MB.
I have noticed since February that my balance always ends in .00MB so Cell-C must have started rounding up to the nearest megabyte with the new system.

 

[ajax]

I have noticed since February that my balance always ends in .00MB so Cell-C must have started rounding up to the nearest megabyte with the new system.

Hopefully this doesn't mean that if I am dropped and have to reconnect that up to 1 MB of data gets lost?

 

[ginggs]

Hopefully this doesn't mean that if I am dropped and have to reconnect that up to 1 MB of data gets lost?

I'm sure it does.

 

[MaritzT]

Serious concern with the CellC Data Billing system integrity

Previous months my counter has been very close to that of Cell C. February is however a different matter. My stats say that since the 8th (after the reset on the 7th), I've only used 2.62GB. Cell C thinks I've used almost 4.2GB. Looking through my balance history it looks like something went wrong round about the 14th. Where there is suddenly almost 700Mb worth of unaccounted data usage which then grows to over the days leading up to today.

I've no previous experience with Cell C (been an ADSL man in the past), BUT have a very similar problem this month with close to x2 difference between my TP-LINK MR3420 Router total byte transfer counter (=210.2MB) and that shown on CellC's balance enquiry response over the same period (difference of 413MB).

Is there an effective way to lobby CellC for a serious look into their billing system?

 

[ginggs]

Is there an effective way to lobby CellC for a serious look into their billing system?

Before we get all excited, we know there were problems when the new system kicked in, and everybody got free data.

Let's keep a close eye on our usage in March and report any discrepancies here.

 

[renierp]

I'm sure it does.

According to their website they charge (well, supposed to) in 10kb increments. (if I remember correctly, can't find it from my phone now)
But the figures indicate otherwise


Sent from the MyBroadband iPhone App

 

[renierp]

Before we get all excited, we know there were problems when the new system kicked in, and everybody got free data.

Let's keep a close eye on our usage in March and report any discrepancies here.

That's why I haven't made a big fuss yet, and wanted to make sure I'm bot the only one. It's been the second consecutive month though. I will however try to monitor it more closely then


Sent from the MyBroadband iPhone App