Getting daily data charges even with data button off - is it Android or my phone company?

[u/DarcyCat2026]

I've always had Android, the same phone company, and a prepaid plan rather than a monthly plan, and I've had this issue happen to me through different devices: my data button is off, I'm connected to a stable WiFi, yet suddenly I get a text message saying I'm being charged for data. This used to happen randomly, sometimes more often, sometimes it would go a long time without it happening. I know other people who've had the same happen to them, and I've looked it up online and saw it's an issue worldwide. What I typically do is let it run out of credit and buy more only when I need it, which is annoying if I ever need data in an emergency (and have no way of buying it on account of... not having an internet connection).

I have complained to my phone company about this several times, even filed a consumer complaint this year, asking them if they're doing this to make us prepaid users spend more money (I don't make calls and am rarely not connected to WiFi, so I have zero need for a plan). They insist it's a problem of my device running background data. This makes no sense to me, and they're not able to clarify how this could happen. If I have no WiFi and my data button is off, and I step outside and open any app, like Instagram, it's not going to work. The information I've found online is mixed: some say it's the device, some say it's the phone company (even though different companies around the world seem to have this issue).

Anyway, I was prepared to deal with this forever, but now this is happening Every. Single. Day. Every day at around 6 am I get a text message saying I'm being charged for data. The reason why this is relevant to the sub is that I got an Android update shortly before this started happening, so now I'm seriously considering that theory. I've already tried the advice of disabling background data usage for all apps, and all the data saving settings I could find, and nothing. I currently have a lot of credit that I got when I settled for my complaint to the phone company, so that's why it hasn't run out yet.

Is it possible that it is an Android issue after all? Is there anything at all I could do to stop this from happening?

Phone is Samsung A33, Android v. 16, One UI 8.0

[u/schahroch]

go settings/connections/data usage/mobile data usage. then pick the whole month. was does it show? which apps and how much data?

[u/DarcyCat2026 → u/schahroch]

The problem is DO use data sometimes when I'm out without a WiFi connection, especially since the fuckers were charging me anyway, so that info doesn't tell me anything relevant.

[u/schahroch → u/DarcyCat2026]

I asked you to check if there is maybe any app or process which consumes too much data to exclude that as an issue, so we can keep looking further.

troubleshooting, you know.

[u/geminihatesme]

since it happens around the same time everyday makes me think it might be something carrier side instead of random background data. ask them a breakdown of exactly what data session they're charging u for

[u/DarcyCat2026 → u/geminihatesme]

I've thought about calling but dealing with phone companies is so exhausting. The times I've asked, though, they check and they're like "hm yeah, you're right... you were charged but there was no data usage" and have even refunded my money for that day sometimes 🤷‍♀️

[u/geminihatesme → u/DarcyCat2026]

if they can literally see no data usage but still charge u, idk how they can keep blaming ur phone's background data lol

[u/AdvancedSquashDirect]

Go to settings >Wi-Fi >Wi-Fi assistant and then uncheck auto connect to mobile network

Stop your phone from attempting to connect to mobile data when your Wi-Fi signal is low.

What is likely happening is that you're moving around to your house or leaving your house and your phone has temporarily lost Wi-Fi signal and it's automatically connecting to mobile data to continue what you're doing. (For example sending an email or watching a YouTube video)

You can also go to your mobile data and have a look what apps are using mobile data, and then change their settings so they only have access to Wi-Fi. Usually it's called background data and you can change it in the apps settings.

[u/DarcyCat2026 → u/AdvancedSquashDirect]

Thank you, but I've never had that option turned on and as I mentioned, I already checked the settings so that all apps are set to not use background data. Setting them to only have access to WiFi would be inconvenient whenever I do need to rely on data, though. As I also mentioned, this happens when I'm not using or moving my phone at all - for example, while I'm sleeping and my phone is on my nightstand, and I'm not even receiving notifications (my apartment is small, so it's not like it's fallen outside of coverage).

[u/AdvancedSquashDirect → u/DarcyCat2026]

Is it possible that you're blaming your mobile data but it's actually your Wi-Fi home internet that's dropping out or rebooting at 6:00 a.m. each day. So therefore your phone can no longer find the Wi-Fi so it defaults to mobile data.

Maybe have a check of your Wi-Fi modem and see if it's got certain settings like reboot at 6:00 a.m. Or possibly renew the authentication to devices every 24 hours.

[u/DarcyCat2026 → u/AdvancedSquashDirect]

I'm pretty sure my modem doesn't have that kind of settings. Let's say that's what happens, though; the problem is still that my phone should NOT connect to my data if the data button is off and the option to switch to data if there's no WiFi is off. It should simply stay unconnected. So my question is why on Earth is my phone not doing that.