Mobile balance keeps getting deducted at LTE/4G connection

[Android Central Question]

Hi. I am using TELENOR SIM on Samsung Galaxy S5 since 2010 and recently they called me saying my SIM isn't 4G and they have FREE 4G SIM Upgrade promotion going on. They gave me New 4G SIM and blocked my previous one.

Now I'm facing a really annoying issue.
I haven't turned on Data but my SIM balance automatically gets deducted randomly throughout the day. I tracked through Telenor's app and it showed usage of kbs multiple times in a day. I further installed multiple apps that check the apps data usage but no app could determine it.

Next, I contacted Telenor through their Online Support customer care multiple times but they said that it's nothing from our side, you turned on DATA that is causing balance deduction.

Currently after some research I deleted my APN settings to disable the Internet activation. This way my balance is safe but I'm not able to use Internet when required.

Also, another option I tried. In Settings>Data Usage>Mobile Networks>Network Mode, I found LTE or 3G connection option. I observed when Network is selected to LTE the balance is deducted but if I set it to 3G only then the problem is resolved.

Please help as I cannot use LTE without loosing balance even though data is turned off.

 

[mustang7757]

If you go to settings >connection >data does it show any day usage there or can restrict apps on data ?


I'll leave a link to register so you can communicate here , as a guest account you can't.

https://forums.androidcentral.com/showthread.php?t=409154

 

[B. Diddy]

Welcome to Android Central! When you say you have't turned on data, do you mean that you use a mobile data toggle and only turn that one when you need to use it?

 

[Rukbat]

1. "blocked my previous one" No, they associated your phone number with the number of the new SIM (it's a 20 digit number - it's not your phone number). You can't have 2 SIM cards associated with your phone number at the same time.

2. If their app is using mobile data when you're on 4G, even when mobile data is turned off, there's nothing you can do about it except uninstall the app or freeze it (either of which will probably require rooting the phone).

 

[RogueOggy]

@mustang7757:
Let me tell it this way.
1) I let my mobile unused for 3 days, no wifi, no data usage, no calls, no sms, no internet usage, just idling for 3 days. I check it after that and find that the data was used. No app showed data usage before and after the test, still the balance is deducted.
2) Not every app can be restricted, like "ANDROID OS" uses data/wifi but it cannot be restricted. 3rd party apps like facebook can be restricted, i tried restricting them but the balance is still deducted.
@B. Diddy:
Yes brother the only option for me to use DATA is to turn it ON by the toggle button. But like I said above, I did not turn ON data for 3 days but still it said I used data.
@Rukbat:
No their app didn't use the data, it only shows if the data is being used in a day. I check the app stats with WiFi, not data.

Also, I tried Factory Reset of the mobile, did not install any app at all, still test it for 3 days with no mobile usage at all but the balance was deducted.

The only thing which stops data usage is turning down 4G connection to 3G from mobile settings.

Hope this helps in diagnosing the cause.

 

[B. Diddy]

Are you sending MMS messages (i.e., picture texts, group texts, or texts with emojis)? If so, those use mobile data. Carriers typically don't count the mobile data used for MMS messages against your monthly data allotment, but perhaps this one does. Ask them what their policy is regarding this.

 

[mustang7757]

@mustang7757:
Let me tell it this way.
1) I let my mobile unused for 3 days, no wifi, no data usage, no calls, no sms, no internet usage, just idling for 3 days. I check it after that and find that the data was used. No app showed data usage before and after the test, still the balance is deducted.
2) Not every app can be restricted, like "ANDROID OS" uses data/wifi but it cannot be restricted. 3rd party apps like facebook can be restricted, i tried restricting them but the balance is still deducted.
@B. Diddy:
Yes brother the only option for me to use DATA is to turn it ON by the toggle button. But like I said above, I did not turn ON data for 3 days but still it said I used data.
@Rukbat:
No their app didn't use the data, it only shows if the data is being used in a day. I check the app stats with WiFi, not data.

Also, I tried Factory Reset of the mobile, did not install any app at all, still test it for 3 days with no mobile usage at all but the balance was deducted.

The only thing which stops data usage is turning down 4G connection to 3G from mobile settings.

Hope this helps in diagnosing the cause.

Hi , welcome !
Look into this thread :https://forums.androidcentral.com/showthread.php?t=361183

Turn location off completely not even GPS

 

[mustang7757]

If this doesn't work for you , you have to consider the s5 is very old phone with a very outdated software and could have hardware/software malfunction.

 

[RogueOggy]

No, I did not send any MMS nor use any DATA usage activity. In fact I turned off GPS, uninstall every app i could and then let it idle for 3 days, yet Data was used.

Does your 4G phone uses data like that?

 

[B. Diddy]

To be honest, I never pay attention to that, since I've had an unlimited plan for a long time.

At this point, I'd agree with mustang7757 -- it may be time to upgrade to a newer phone, in case something with your current phone is causing this. It might be a hardware malfunction, but it might also be related to how outdated the firmware is.