Anyone Else Having Issues w/AT&T Off Network Data Usage?

[cyndikdb]

Off Network Issues

I have been having this issue since the first part of July. I have been calling into AT&T for almost 3 months now. I went on vacation in Montana (NOT in their network) for two weeks and within a week of being out there I was getting the nasty you are in violation text.

Once back home I talked to them and my iPhone was constantly showing "off network" now. Once my phone showed off network, I was no longer able to use the internet and when I tried to make calls they were either terribly scratchy or failed.

I have called numerous times and talked to an untold amount of representatives with varying amounts of knowledge. I have been made to jump my phone through all sorts of tech support hoops in the hopes of curing the connection issues. I have replaced my SIM card and restarted my phone more times than I could count. Most of the representatives have been helpful and tried their best to help given the information that they have on their screens.

FINALLY, I suggested that the tower techs check the signals of other cells companies, and lo and behold some other company had their signal wide open and not restricting. (Sucks to do your own tech support) So, apparently after some work - my connection should be only to AT&T towers. However, so far today - my phone seems to be off network as a default and then eventually switches to AT&T.

Keep pestering AT&T. I think the article in the NY Times spoke to their network being overwhelmed (duh) and we need to let them know how bad the service is over and over and over until they get it worked on.

What is frustrating is I was in NYC last weekend. I had solid 3G service the entire weekend. THAT is what I pay money for but don't get. I went back home and couldn't get a signal. But, I know it is possible. They just don't seem to care about those who live west of the Mississippi and east of California.

AT&T is crippling the iPhone for many people in this country. Until we can choose our carrier according to who has the better signal in our area and 3G capabilities, the iPhone will not be what it could be.

 

[Clete2]

Not to do a little thread 'necromancy,' but this is the only thread I found relating to the issues I have had since LAST YEAR.

I got another message today:

"Important AT&T Free Msg: Due to your off network data usage, your data service will be RESTRICTED soon. Please call 800-331-0500 for details."

I'm on the line now, but with my previous success, I'll have to give up hope.

Anyone successful getting them to let up? I got that little indicator last year and since then, I have been on AT&T's towers for a total of about 2 hours. No joke. It's ridiculous. At school, I get 1 bar of AT&T, so I'm always off-network and I'm not about to limit my usage. I pay $30/month... and for what?!? To be harassed!

Edit: On the phone and they gave me two options:
"Either stop using data or cancel your plan and switch to another carrier."

Faaannntaastic. I told her it wasn't an option, so she is sending me to the "Excessively high usage department" (her words) to see if I can pay for off-network data.

 

[fleeper]

I have this issue on my 3gs. I have off network thingy right this minute on my phone. AT&T has replaced the sim card twice and apple has replaced my phone.

Now here is the kicker; my wife has a 3g phone. We can be beside each other in our home and hers says AT&T while mine says off network. My daughter's 2g phone also says AT&T. Is this a 3gs issue? Or is there a fix?

 

[cyndikdb]

Keep trying

If you are sure you are in the AT&T network on the map, then keep going to the store or calling. It took me 4 months to get mine cleared up. My phone is a 3g. They will say you must be going outside where their map shows especially if they are telling you to get another carrier. I got it cleared up by going to the store, having them replace the sim card and looking for some kind of code or restriction on my account. The guys at the store took some code off and voilà my phone worked again. So whether it was the sim card or changing some code I don't know, but I haven't been off network since. Not even once.

 

[fleeper]

If you are sure you are in the AT&T network on the map, then keep going to the store or calling. It took me 4 months to get mine cleared up. My phone is a 3g. They will say you must be going outside where their map shows especially if they are telling you to get another carrier. I got it cleared up by going to the store, having them replace the sim card and looking for some kind of code or restriction on my account. The guys at the store took some code off and voilà my phone worked again. So whether it was the sim card or changing some code I don't know, but I haven't been off network since. Not even once.

Any way you can find out what type of code restriction so that I can use that info at the at&t store?

 

[Clete2]

If you are sure you are in the AT&T network on the map, then keep going to the store or calling. It took me 4 months to get mine cleared up. My phone is a 3g. They will say you must be going outside where their map shows especially if they are telling you to get another carrier. I got it cleared up by going to the store, having them replace the sim card and looking for some kind of code or restriction on my account. The guys at the store took some code off and voilà my phone worked again. So whether it was the sim card or changing some code I don't know, but I haven't been off network since. Not even once.

Whenever I go on network, I get 1-2 bars of service. It is imperative that I roam while I am at school.

 

[cyndikdb]

Any way you can find out what type of code restriction so that I can use that info at the at&t store?

I have no idea what it was. Sorry. I told them I was in an AT&T town and constantly off network. They just looked at the screen and talked amongst themselves... Sometimes it's just doing it over and over until someone gets it.

 

[cyndikdb]

Whenever I go on network, I get 1-2 bars of service. It is imperative that I roam while I am at school.

If more than 1/2 of your time is off network - then they will tell you to get another carrier.....

I was on a two-week vacation to a place they actually mention in their commercial as an AT&T town and I got dinged for going off network too much.

 

[jarebear]

Off Network Data Usage

Hi there. I have had this problem before with the "Off Network" data usage. Luckily after about the fifth representative I finally got a straight answer. Yes the "o" in replacement of the "E" or "3G" is in fact GPRS. There is a way (if you talk to representative who knows how) to get them to turn on, where it normally says AT&T to say Off Network. Like stated by the poster, it is because AT&T rents towers. The limit of data usage is somewhere between 20 MB and 30 MB a month (stupid I know). Hope this helps sorting out some issues.

*I apologize for any possible errors. This was done on my iPhone.

 

[bradahj]

Data vs. Voice

So, will ATT also hassle you in this regard for Voice service? Or is it only for data.

I live in an out-of-coverage area which has kept me from getting an iphone. A colleague says she's not had any problems with the off-network usage, but she didn't mention whether she does a lot of data. She may just be referring to voice calls.

 

[robiya]

problems with AT&T off network data usage

HI,i have totaly restrict my off network data usage becouse i went over the limit ,but i have unlimited internet acces with iphone,i been restrict for two monts now and they told me they put my acount on watch and they will decide what to do after 120 days,and they will let me go without any early terminations fee becouse i cost them a lot of money,so is anyone know ara they have right to do that even if i have sign contract and unlimited data usage?

 

[brightsidebrian]

"roaming"

so the "limits" to excessive usage off network is as follows:

100 MB of Data
1000 talk time (minutes)
3000 text messaging (text only)

if you go over any of those thats when the "red flag" goes up
despite whatever plan u have or unlimited data and text you have the listed above is for your usage Off network, you can call AT&T and if u have the iPhone they can make it where you normally see "AT&T" by the signal bar it will tell you that or "off network" I travel a lot and a lot of areas I travel to are not covered under AT&T so that helps out to tell me when i should or should not use my iPhone, for me my resolution was just getting another phone on a different network yes it means everyone has to have 2 numbers but oh well its better then loosing a number I have had for years and losing my iPhone.

so in the end if your going to leave any Metropolitan area or live, work, travel along the City limits check the Coverage map on AT&T's website or see if AT&T Can put that "off network" feature on your phone

 

[jim0123r]

2011 - AT&T restriction on off network iPhone

Just got the text message about the restriction. Spent over an hour with three persons at AT&T, including a supervisor. This is what I learned:
1) limit for off-network use is 24MB/month
2) phone now displays Off Network but did not do this until recently...up until recently it would just display AT&T. This fact was admitted to by the supervisor. Yes, I was off network, but indeed I would have had no way of knowing. For the record, my off network use was in August and September of 2011. I was on an iPhone 4, and recently upgraded to IOS 5. MNaybe that all has something to do with this change in AT&T/Off Network disply...don't know. The important fact is that I am about to be restricted (unable to access at all when off network) because I was off network at a time when I would not even have known it! Wow.
3) There are indeed only two options - take it or leave it. Take the restriction or leave AT&T. "No one can stop this restriction" taking effect, the supervisor told me. I told them pay them over $5000/year - did they really want me to leave? They stuck to their story that no one can stop the restriction - even though it was based on using other networks when that fact would not even have been displayed for me.

I am going to try the cancellation line and see if they can do anything about it.

I know tVerizon has better coverage but the phone does not allow multitasking through other apps when on the phone. Wonder how Sprint is....

If you have any info to share, please email me at j i m 0 1 2 3 r @ g m a i l . c o m

Thanks!