Why is DD's phone eating money?

[Sheepwalker]

DD has a iphone with a prepaid sim. We were out and about yesterday and it spend the whole day in her bag - I was with her, we were travelling and she didn't take it out once. Yet all of her remaining credit was used up. If I look at her account it says "data services" and then a charge. I have no idea what is using this. Can anyone help?

My dad used to turn the mobile data on and off every time he wanted to use his phone, I thought it was cute

I'd say maybe background updates, OP. If both phones were doing it at the same time it could have been an iOS update or something that's used the data. But most apps ask if they can download using mobile data v wifi if it's big files. How much data does she have?

My dad used to turn the mobile data on and off every time he wanted to use his phone, I thought it was cute

It’s also a very sensible idea.

Your mobile data is being used even when you’re not using it.
So obviously just turn it off when you don’t need it.

Turning data on and off sounds like an enormous faff plus doesn't the phone automatically start doing all its updates when you turn it on anyway?

I can't see how it saves that much money anyway. If you're on PAYG you pay for every call and text at high rates so a couple of short calls a month or a few text's plus a bit of data is likely to cost nearly as much as the cheapest SIM only deals that buy so much more.

Definitely get changed to a SIM only package like Giffgaff, remembering to turn data on and off sounds like a pain (I've never heard anyone I know say they do this) and if its off and you lose it you won't be able to use Find My. Make sure spotify is downloading on wifi only and that downloads are made at home, turn off auto photo saving in whatsapp and discourage watching youtube while out and about. Also make sure the phone is set to only download or update apps on wifi.

Is there some kind of rule i'm unaware of that says children can't take phones out when with a parent? What are you on about?

There is no point keep turning data on or off it's pointless. Once you turn it on it will start to update anyway .
Just go into settings, apps and select Wi-Fi only. There is an option to always ask permission, download 200 or never update on data .
My phone only updates at home on Wi-Fi.

If you're on holiday, is it not eating data cause anything it's doing including updates are over roaming, not it's home data? I always switch off roaming when abroad and only use wifi

Turning data on and off sounds like an enormous faff plus doesn't the phone automatically start doing all its updates when you turn it on anyway?

No you just click the icon on and off.

I had set everything to wi-fi only and my data was still being used.

The only way it stopped is when I turned off my mobile data and then turned it on briefly when I need it.

No one really needs their mobile data on when they’re out and about shopping anyway.

I have unlimited data now so it’s not an issue but if you’re PAYG then it’s a big issue.

I need my data on while I’m out and about, I use whatsapp and FB messenger all the time. Hardly anyone I know uses texts any more. Then there are scanning apps in shops etc, I use these for all my supermarket shopping. I listen to the radio a lot too on my phone. I cannot imagine turning data off apart from if I was abroad with high roaming charges.

Does she have WiFi assist turned on? It uses data to boost a bad WiFi signal. It’s at the bottom of the data page, below the toggles for each app.

How would you know you had a WhatsApp if your data isn't on?
I would rather people texted me, but they seem to L love WhatsApp now.

No one really needs their mobile data on when they’re out and about shopping anyway

until you lose your phone, and can’t track it because the data is off.

I never come close to using my data so I am definitely not turning the data on and off repeatedly! I like to get my messages and emails when they are sent.

Not to mention satnav (for walking and driving), Find My functions, bus and train time apps, the list of things I use data for is endless and makes life so much easier.

Get her on a contract, pay as you go and data are not a good mix. If she leaves mobile data on it will just eat the funds and then some.
£30 a month and she can have all the data and calls she needs. Why are you not putting her on a contract? There will be no other charges from that.

£30 a month for a contract. Give over.

£8 a month for 3GB at giffgaff..
www.giffgaff.com/sim-only-deals

And that’s without even shopping around. I get 5GB for £7 on Vodafone. DD was getting 10GB for about £5 on a year long deal. both contracts are capped to prevent unexpected costs.

I definitely use data when I'm out but I didn't think DD would need to and I thought I'd turned off everything apart from what I thought she'd need. She rarely takes the phone so we decided prepaid was ok for now and are planning to upgrade for secondary.

wifi assist turned off.
music/updates are set to WiFi only.
Doesn't have WhatsApp or fb. Nor safari.
we're on holiday but not abroad.

I've take a screenshot of their current usage and turned off some from that list so I'll get one of them to take their phone out with us tomorrow.