Forum Discussion

walkerpliske's avatar
walkerpliske
New Contributor
4 months ago

Something is up with Cox's notifications

First off, my wife and I are not computer newbs. I'm a programmer, and her job revolves around computer knowledge a bit. We don't click on strange links, no BitTorrenting, etc.

Also, we had two boys living with us 2+ years ago, and only then did we 'occasionally' get a warning of using too much data, and that was typically because our youngest was downloading games.

It's been just the two of us since then, and it seems like every other month we're getting warnings.
Recently, my wife got a series of text alerts that were all over the place. (see screenshot she sent me)

So something is obviously up with their system. 

Anyway ... Cox folks! My peeps!
You guys gotta look into this!

Quit saying it's third-party verified ... look into your Panoramic devices a bit deeper, and see what's up.

Heck I'm even watching all my Suns game over the antenna for the past year.

Anyway, there's no way we should be going over, and we definitely shouldn't be forking out more money.

I completely get that you've got people out there still using AOL for their email, and people trusting every website or email they see ... leading to all sorts of "fun" ... but that that's not us.

 

  • soMos45's avatar
    soMos45
    New Contributor III
    3 months ago

    Walkerpliske this is the same issue I have been experiencing for over a year. Every month cox cable charges  me 20 to 40 more on my bill  because  of  going  over data and everytime I call them  they don't fix the issue and put me on hold for a long time . Cox  customer service really sucks .

  • Makbert68's avatar
    Makbert68
    New Contributor
    4 months ago

    Same text as yours. Cox did the same thing to me this month. My usage has changed in years. Cox charged a extra $100 which is the maximum charge on their data fee I called and was on the phone for hours, Cox just told me I was wrong and their system is right and I owe the extra $100 they said next time if you get the text call them and they shut my internet down so I don’t get charged extra or buy their unlimited plan for $50 extra a month. Sound like a scam if you ask me. According to cox I downloaded over 1000gb in one day when the average in a month is about 500gb or under. I know for sure nothing big was downloaded it’s just me and my wife. Starlink is about the same per month I’ll give them a shot and if they work good. I’m dumping cox.

    • soMos45's avatar
      soMos45
      New Contributor III
      3 months ago

      Makbert68  I am having the same issues with cox for over a year on a monthly basis and cox never finds a solution to the problem . Cox puts me on hold for long time ,their customer service is really awful. I have to pay more than my regular bill every month because of going over data and when I called it is always excuses.

      • Becky's avatar
        Becky
        Moderator
        3 months ago

        Hi Everyone, I understand how you feel about data caps, as we've all been impacted by high data usage at one time or another. If you're exceeding your data plan every month, it's important that we find out why. My first suggestion is to change your home network password to something brand new. Many customers—after noticing spikes in their data usage—were able to restore their usage to what they considered ‘normal’ for their household simply by changing their network password. All of the suggestions made in this thread are accurate in terms of things that use data. I'm not sure if spyware was mentioned in the previous suggestions. Spyware running in the background can cause spikes in data usage. Make sure you check all household devices for viruses and malware.
        Cox provides a Data Usage Meter to help you monitor your data usage. It is available in My Account (www.cox.com/datausage) and the Cox App. The Data Usage Meter is updated daily with usage from the prior day. If you disagree with the Data Usage Meter's calculations, using your own router and bandwidth meter is a good idea. Then we can compare your meter's usage numbers with the Cox Data Usage Meter. If you're constantly hitting your monthly data plan, we offer the Unlimited and 500 GB additional data plans to help you plan ahead for your household’s internet usage and avoid overage charges. You can learn more at https://www.cox.com/residential/support/unlimited-and-500-gb-additional-data-plans.html. If you see high spikes in data usage that you can't explain or you would like help in figuring out why your data usage is so high, please email my team at Cox.Help@cox.com. 

         

    • Darkatt's avatar
      Darkatt
      Honored Contributor
      4 months ago

      Cox's data monitoring system is checked and verified by a third party, and is 99.9% accurate. I have run tests using my RAXE300 router, and found all data monitoring to be spot on as well. 

      MOST routers are capable of monitoring data usage, if you have your own router, see if it can monitor your data usage. 

      That being said, there are many things that can use data, security cameras, streaming media, gaming, apps on phones, as well as an issue with amazon echo and their programs. They can go into a loop of sending everything it hears to amazon and trying to figure out if you are talking to it or not. Had someone a few years ago, turn off their amazon devices, and dropped over 700gb of data usage a month. ALSO, Amazon devices can SHARE your connection with neighbors amazon devices. They call it low level data sharing, but unless you can actually measure it, who knows. 

  • Darkatt's avatar
    Darkatt
    Honored Contributor
    4 months ago

    Make sure you don't have ONEDRIVE backing everything up DAILY. That can use a LOT of data, and I have found several people who found it on their phone as well, backing it up daily. 

    • CurtB's avatar
      CurtB
      Honored Contributor
      4 months ago

      Windows 11 OneDrive doesn't back up everything and is not done on a scheduled basis.  OneDrive directory files are backed up every time they're changed.  To prevent uploading heavy-use files multiple times daily, I created a corresponding non-OneDrive directory and a scheduled task to copy selected files from that location to the OneDrive directory once per day.  Those files are then uploaded but only if they've been changed since the last time they were copied.  If a restore is necessary, only changes made that day need to be re-applied.

      iPhone OneDrive for iPhone automatically backs up photos and videos when your phone has a power source, is locked, and connected to Wi-Fi.  You can turn off this automatic iPhone backup, but you can't change when it occurs.  Remaining photos and videos can be uploaded when your phone is plugged in overnight.  OneDrive uploads on an iPhone are one-time.  When all existing photos and videos on your phone have been uploaded to OneDrive, only new photos and videos will be uploaded. 

      Android By default, Android OneDrive backs up photos and videos only, unless other folders are also chosen.  Frequency is determined by OneDrive app settings.

      If you take a lot of photos and videos, you might consider disabling OneDrive on your phone.  If you're routinely close to or over the data cap, you should try to determine if data used when uploading new photos and videos for a month could be enough to push you over the data cap and cost you money.

  • ldrue1228314's avatar
    ldrue1228314
    New Contributor
    4 months ago

    here is something else you can check

    It sounds like you're receiving a notification from Cox Communications about nearing your data cap. Here's what you can do to manage your data usage and avoid overage fees:

    Immediate Actions:

    1. Check Current Usage:
      • Log into your Cox account via their website or app to see a detailed breakdown of your data usage.
      • Identify high-usage devices or activities (e.g., streaming, large downloads).
    2. Reduce Data Usage:
      • Streaming Services: Lower the quality settings (e.g., switch from HD to SD).
      • Automatic Updates: Pause or schedule software and app updates during off-peak hours or after your billing cycle resets.
      • Background Usage: Disable background data usage on devices where it’s unnecessary.
      • Gaming & Downloads: Delay large downloads or online gaming until the next billing cycle.
    3. Enable Data Notifications:
      • Ensure Cox notifications are turned on to alert you when you're at 100% usage.

    Long-Term Solutions:

    1. Upgrade Your Plan:
      • If you consistently exceed your data cap, consider upgrading to a higher-tier plan or an unlimited data option if available.
    2. Add Data Packs:
      • Purchase additional data for the current cycle if your usage is about to exceed the limit.
    3. Optimize Network Use:
      • Set Data Limits: Use your router's admin panel to set limits for devices or prioritize low-bandwidth activities.
      • Monitor Traffic: Use router tools or software to analyze which devices are consuming the most data.
    4. Switch Providers:
      • If Cox’s data caps don’t align with your needs, explore other ISPs in your area that offer unlimited data or higher caps.

    How to Monitor Usage on Cox's Platform:

    1. Log into My Account:
      • Visit Cox's website or use their app.
      • Go to the "Data Usage" section to see detailed information about your plan and consumption.
    2. Use the Panoramic WiFi App (if applicable):
      • If you use Cox’s Panoramic WiFi, you can monitor usage for each connected device.

    Would you like help optimizing your network or finding a solution for exceeding data limits?

    • ldrue1228314's avatar
      ldrue1228314
      New Contributor
      4 months ago

      check the information i provide before you gom ou and spend money and still have the same issues

      • ldrue1228314's avatar
        ldrue1228314
        New Contributor
        4 months ago

        check the information i have given you before you go out and spend money needlessly wheni may be a simple fix

  • ldrue1228314's avatar
    ldrue1228314
    New Contributor
    4 months ago

    The message from Cox stating, "Heads up. Looks like you have used 90% of the data in your plan," is typically triggered when your internet usage reaches 90% of your monthly data limit. This notification is generated by automated systems monitoring your data consumption, which Cox provides as part of their service to help you manage and avoid exceeding your data cap. Here are possible causes for such high usage:

    1. Data-Intensive Activities

    Certain activities consume large amounts of data quickly:

    • Streaming Video Content: Watching videos on platforms like Netflix, YouTube, Hulu, or Twitch, especially in HD or 4K resolution.
    • Online Gaming: Downloading large game updates or playing data-heavy online multiplayer games.
    • Cloud Backups: Automatic syncing or backing up files to cloud services like Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive.
    • Large File Downloads: Downloading movies, games, or software updates.

    2. Background Processes on Devices

    • Automatic Updates: Operating systems, apps, and games often update in the background, consuming significant data.
    • Unrestricted Streaming or Downloads: Devices or apps set to auto-play or auto-download may continuously consume bandwidth.

    3. Unauthorized Usage

    • Unsecured Wi-Fi: If your Wi-Fi network is not password-protected, others may be using your data.
    • Device Hacking: Malware or compromised devices could be using your network to send or receive large amounts of data.

    4. Multiple Devices

    • Homes with multiple devices connected to Wi-Fi (e.g., phones, tablets, smart TVs, IoT devices) can quickly rack up data usage.
    • Streaming on Smart TVs or Gaming Consoles: These are often overlooked but can contribute significantly to data consumption.

    5. Video Conferencing or Remote Work

    • High-quality video conferencing (Zoom, Microsoft Teams, etc.) consumes a lot of data, especially with prolonged use.

    6. Online Uploads

    • Uploading videos, streaming content, or sharing large files can also significantly contribute to data usage.

    What to Do Next

    • Review Your Usage:
      • Log in to your Cox account and check the data usage breakdown to identify what’s consuming the most data.
    • Audit Connected Devices:
      • Check your router's admin panel to see all connected devices and ensure only authorized devices are using your network.
    • Reduce High Data Consumption:
      • Adjust streaming settings, turn off auto-updates, and restrict unnecessary background processes.
    • Investigate Security:
      • Update your Wi-Fi password and enable WPA3/WPA2 encryption to prevent unauthorized access.

    Would you like assistance with auditing your network or identifying potential data drains?

  • WiderMouthOpen's avatar
    WiderMouthOpen
    Esteemed Contributor II
    4 months ago

    If your are computer literate, I suggest getting your own modem and router. If you get the gateway for free, put it in bridge mode so you just need a router. Get a router that has a bandwidth monitor so you can see if/what is using your bandwidth. If you don't know what is using your bandwidth consumption, how can you say "no way we should go over"? Have you even checked your Cox bandwidth meter?