BT BROADBAND: 7GB IN 6 DAYS?

[rara67]

We finally got BT broadband at midnight on 24th Oct after it was promised to us on 12th and 19th. I got an email this evening saying that I had used 7GB out of the 10GB allowance. Please can someone kindly explain how this can be? I only use the PC for email and MN and a bit of shopping. I dont listen to music, watch films etc. The DS's have not used it. DH may have logged on twice. On this basis I need 30-40GB per month. Is it me? Is it the PC set up? Is it BT?? Thanks

I would ask them for a breakdown of how that's made up. I'm with Plusnet and can access how much I've used each day and what sort of thing it's been used on.

Using iplayer uses up a bit and also watching streamed things. Something like spotify also uses some up. Mine is 10gb a month too and think it may once have gone over that in a month over the past couple of years.

Your wifi network is secured I presume. Just wondering if someone else could be accessing it?

Thanks ASG. I dont use iplayer and dont know what spotify is. Could my neighbours be using it? (Can you tell I dont know if my wifi network is secure?!) Will call BT and ask for breakdown. BT offer this service on line but I cant get to it (so long between order and delivery that I cant remember password) I guess I sound like the type of person who shouldn't be allowed to use a PC!

I dont know, but your situation struck a chord with me as we had an email to say we were almost at our 10Gb limit - first time ever, and we dont do anything much except email, mn, ebay. And we are definitely secure. I'm really wondering if they made it up to get us to increase our package

I had this and it turned out to be outlook

I have alot of files for work in my email and it was downloading them all the time, used our limit up in no time.

Could it be that?

I'll ask dh later what he did to change the settings

Outlook is really rubbish at working remotely, it always has been. It's a very chatty application when connected to a proper Exchange email server. But even then that many GB in those few days, it doesn't sound right...

When you connected new computers onto the wireless network did you have to enter any passwords or did they go straight on? If they went straight on the network is unsecured and any neighbour could be stealing movies and music off of the internet for "free" while leaving you to pay the bill...

Thanks all. It gets better....by the end of the evening I was up to 9.33GB!!! Bearing in mind the only thing I think I did was go onto MN to start this thread and maybe check email. How could I use 2.33GB in a few hours when most of the time I was cooking tea and sorting the DS's out!?!
When we got the package I did have to put in some pin numbers/passwords/ wireless network /SSID. Could it be my neighbour? Should I delete all my email? I am scared to do too mcuh as it will take up the space! The BT usage guide is a bit basic in that it just shows the amount I have used by no breakdown by type - surely I should be entitled to more data? Thanks again.

I think it would help if you either checked your documentation or spoke to BT about how to check if your router is secured, it should also be able to show what is connected to it, which would help track down if anyone is doing something dodgy on it. It sounds like it is secure (you mention passwords for the wireless network) but it's worth checking.

I would also check every Windows PC in your house to malware, something might be using the internet connection to do all sorts of very bad things. Try this utility:
www.malwarebytes.org/products/malwarebytes_free

Also ban everyone in the house from using the internet on every gadget (not sure if you have just the one computer). Check the current usage then turn the machine off. Some period later check again and see if the usage has changed. That will help show if there is another device chewing up your bandwidth.

"The BT usage guide is a bit basic in that it just shows the amount I have used by no breakdown by type - surely I should be entitled to more data?"

No, you really really don't want BT to be monitoring your internet activity in that sort of detail. They did try to do this once before with the express intention of selling your browsing habits to advertisers. So all they can really tell you is that X amount of traffic is coming out of your house and X amount going in. Some of that traffic might also be encryped so they have absolutely no way of knowing what it is, again this is a good thing, think of doing online banking...

Thanks BadgersPaws. I used another 2.33 GB in one day so BT have taken it seriously and reset something (even too scared to mention what it is!). After the reset I logged onto the Internet it was so quick that hopefully it has either solved the problem or kicked some hacker off. I will still be checking my usage daily... Thanks again everyone!

Badger - I need you!!!

So we got an i-pad thingummy doodah (I am so technical) and have BT (the bastards who I hate as they still havent fixed my broadband hence I am sitting on the floor with a slipped disk).

Anyhoo, whats all this BT Fon malerky? It looks like you have the BT free hotspots (fine by me) when you are out and about but the BT Fon means that you use other peoples wireless and they can use yours. This can't be right? I also got an e-mail saying that we were nearing our 10Gb limit (I assumed its the new toy eating it up). I assume I have to download something onto the i-pad to get them working?

I really hate BT and have told them so.

"Anyhoo, whats all this BT Fon malarky"

It's pretty much as you describe. You can use other FON WIFI hotspots and in return they can use yours. You do need to download the BT FON app for your iPad to use it, instructions for this are here:
www.btlife.bt.com/btcustomers/the-new-bt-fon-ipad-app/

As to the broadband usage follow the hints above. In short:

1. Make sure your WIFI access point is secure
2. If your using a Windows PC on the network make sure that it's been scanned for malware.
3. See if the usage goes up when you're very sure that no one in the house is connected.

I dont want people using mine!

"I dont want people using mine!"

It appears that new customers are automatically signed up to FON, you can get out of it (alledgedly) by following the instructions here:
btsupport.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/12958/c/1812

I don't think that other people using your FON WIFI point uses up your download limit (if indeed there is when) but I'm not totally sure.

Stupid buggery BT. Have fiddled the doo-dash and disconnected the BT FON (which apparently takes 48 hours). Decided to do a test run at home and I am still having to sit in the hallway to connect to the open zone. Is someone zapping my living room so that wifi doesn't work they're in the afternoons?

It's possible.... There might be some other WIFI networks around that are interfering with your one and stopping it from working. Think of it as lots of people talking. If someone else is talking loudly enough you can't hear what someone else is saying even if they're closer.

So if you can you want to try changing the channel that your wireless network uses. And how to do that depends on your piece of kit. If it's not obvious then it might be worth a call to BT and say "someone's suggested that I change the channel that this wireless network operates on, how do I do that then?"

Tried it! They have even sent me a little dangly white box to plug into the phone socket but that has made no change at all. Maybe I need a new broadband box. We do have a hotel next door and some swanky flats have just been done up opposite and I think they have their own satellite (think Russian metal barons).

I can't keep sitting onto the floor. I will get splinters in me bum! Maybe I could sue BT for a bum-lift, as I am sure I am getting a flat rear as a result.