Extreme Data Usage

Monitoring and verifying are two different actions.  My usage has not increased 300-400% in one day and the usage when I am out of town should be less than 50-60.  to refuse to send out a tech to investigate the problem is a great lack of customer service and concern. 

hdavis71, 

Data usage reflects the amount of data used by online activities, not the amount of time spent online. If you have any devices online even while you are away from home, they can receive updates automatically. I suggest checking your Anti-Virus settings and check for any programs running in the background automatic operating system updates. 

Sending a tech to the house would not determine your individual data usage. The Data Usage Meter is the best way to check your Data Usage. You may also use the Cox App: https://www.cox.com/residential/learn/cox-app.html  

I recommend checking daily, keeping in mind the usage updates up to 24 hours later. 

Hi Hdavis71, CurtB brings up a very good point. Changing the password to your home network to a password that you've never used before is my very first suggestion. Also, what MichaelJ said about automatic updates is very important. Automatic uploads to back up files to cloud-based storage services, automatic syncs between tablets and other mobile devices, and internet-connected security cameras all drive data usage. Streaming video is typically the largest driver of usage for many customers. Updates to streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Hulu can sometimes alter the default video settings. I also suggest to check each of your devices for viruses and malware. These programs may run in the background and increase data usage. If you have a Cox Panoramic Wifi Gateway, you can use the Cox Panoramic Gateway App to view your network devices, view your Data Usage Meter, and see the type of data activities are generating the most data usage in your household.

According to the forum this is happening to many cox customers.  Cox has to own the problem and fix it.  I did not start using 300-400% more data in one day.

I just got off the phone with them. They can see the huge increase in data and agree watching 6 hours of tv shouldn't be over 40gbs. All I got was they will send it to network engineering and get back to me and told me to keep my wifi unplugged when not in use. Which is kind of a pain. 

hdavis71 wrote:

I did not start using 300-400% more data in one day.

People are trying to help you and you're still venting for Likes.  Read Becky's post.

Since your increase just started recently, look for any changes you've made to your network.  Even if you haven't changed anything, your neighbors may have.  They may have recently begun pirating your WiFi.  Have you changed your home network password yet?

Requesting Cox perform a service call and investigate the problem is not venting.  I had a service call today from a specialist and he checked all ports and access points.  Nothing was found to be using excessive data.  PW was changed.   It's a technical issue that many others using COX have experienced.  Not as simple as changing your PW.

Your previous post I referenced wasn't a request for a service call. 

hdavis71 wrote:

It's a technical issue that many others using COX have experienced.

It could be a Cox issue.  But what you're calling "many others" is a very small percentage of Cox customers that could be affected by a change that affects you. 

Changing your password is a good thing, but when did you change it?  Was it today?  Becky mentioned a number of other things that could affect your data usage.  Have you or the tech checked for them?    

Yeah maybe that's what their doing. I never heard back from network engineering but magically now my data usage seems to have gone back done to normal usage but still seems a little high. Also now it's saying 60% of my usage is in the Other category when previously it was streaming that was using the most. I have only been watching my tv, nothing else. Still seems fishy

Hi SabC. This appears as if you may need someone to look into your account personally. We would definitely be able to assist you with this. Please reach out to us on Twitter at CoxHelp via DM, visit us on Facebook via private message, or email us at cox.help@cox.com. Provide us the name on the account with the complete service address with a link to this thread so we can get started. - Lisa, Cox Support Forums Moderator

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