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Thursday, July 11th, 2024 2:02 AM

Suspicious Internet Usage Spike by Xfinity

I have texted, called, and spent hours with agents and nothing has been resolved. I have been told many other users have reported the same issue to Xfinity and that Xfinity was investigating an internal problem that has affected users. After being assured that my case would be thoroughly investigated based on Xfinity's accepted fault, I haven't received an email or a phone call. I'm told that the agents have tried calling me and the calls go to voicemail. I can screenshot my phone log and show there have not been any inbound calls from Xfinity or voicemails left. The only Xfinity phone numbers in my phone are outbound. This further adds to my distrust of what's currently going on. 

This is made even more frustrating because I haven't changed my behavior at my residence I'm not taking summer classes so my time online has reduced while Xfinity's usage meter has massively increased. 

It's illogical that I would go two months now exceeding 1.2TB when I never reached 200GB in the past two years. In these two years I had my equipment and not until I used Xfinity's equipment did my usage meter suddenly react as if I were a gamer or insomniac watching 5 TVS  24/7. I have the same amount of devices attached, I've changed my password twice now and know there are no outside users of the home wifi. Even with this, somehow the usage goes up and Xfinity has lost my trust and confidence. I do not believe these readings to be true and yet I cannot get an honest answer as to what is causing it, because they didn't keep track of records with their equipment and since I now have my own, they treat me like a village idiot still uses the password that came with the router.

I am frustrated and feel this is a money-grab situation perpetrated by Xfinity. Each time I contact, whether by text or phone, the agent attempts to upsell the Unlimited plan plus a Samsung watch (of which I already have and if the internet usage is as illogically high now, why would I want to upgrade a watch that would be using my internet data?).  The Unlimited Plan itself has the same 1.2TB cap, so I'm stuck - either I'm charged for going 1.2TB or I am forced to upgrade and the company can't even explain why.

1 Message

4 months ago

I'm having the exact same issue! This is my past usage: Dec '24 29GB, Jan '24 11GB, Feb '24 11GB, March '24 43GB, April '24 416GB, May '24 897GB, and June '24 1222GB. So far for this month they're showing I've already used 363GB. I also get the 'we'll check into it and call you back' speech, but only crickets!

Official Employee

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2.2K Messages

Hi there, user_fwjzm4! Thanks for taking the time out of your day to reach out about the data usage. The Xfinity app is a great place to start tracking that down. It will show any connected devices and the percentage of daily usage.

Have you been in touch with our Customer Security Assurance Team (CSA) regarding the issue? They handle any data disputes for our company. You can file a claim at their website, or by calling 1-800-Xfinity (1-800-934-6489) and asking for the CSA Team.

I am an Official Xfinity Employee.
Official Employees are from multiple teams within Xfinity: CARE, Product, Leadership.
We ask that you post publicly so people with similar questions may benefit from the conversation.
Was your question answered? Please, mark a reply as the Accepted Answer.tick

6 Messages

@user_fwjzm4​ It's sad that they can't give an honest answer. I simply don't trust in what has suddenly occurred in either of our cases, and Xfinity's actions or lack thereof doesn't help the matter.

Retired Employee

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729 Messages

 

BambooDragon Please send a direct message with your name and address, we will be happy to take a look into this for you. Thanks! 
Here's the detailed steps to direct message us:

• Click "Sign In" if necessary

• Click the "Direct Message” icon (upper right corner of this page)

• Click the "New message" (pencil and paper) icon

• Type "Xfinity Support" in the to line and select "Xfinity Support" from the drop-down list

• Type your message in the text area near the bottom of the window

• Press Enter to send your message

 

6 Messages

@XfinityRuben​ I've done this and I hope to receive an answer and insight instead of the run around that's been happening for several months now. Thank you.

3 Messages

@user_fwjzm4​ We literally have the exact same spike in data you show, even the same months. When I check my router, it shows 1/7th the data that Xfinity claims. That includes both Wi-Fi and Ethernet combined. Today is the first day of the month (August 2024) and Xfinity already claims 37 gigs in about 18 hours. My router shows 3 gigs total. This includes the house being empty for nine of those hours. So, Xfinity believes that we are essentially using 4.1 gigs per hour? This is not true. I have also change my password and verified that the only things connected to my Wi-Fi are my devices. 

I have called the number they keep suggestion in the threads three times. Each time they say they will escalate the matter to a higher group, give me a ticket number, then claim they will call back in 24-48 hours. They have never called back. 

I have been an Xfinity customer for the better part of 20 years. I even used to work for them under a previous company name. In the past we only had one choice for service, now I have three other options. If Xfinity does not contact me back, I will change service.

Official Employee

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2.4K Messages

4 months ago

Hey there, BambooDragon, thanks for reaching out through Xfinity Forums regarding your internet data usage. I appreciate all the time you spent working on this issue and I can understand how important it is to ensure your data is correct. Have you been in contact with our Customer Security Assurance Team regarding the issue? They would handle any data disputes on their end as they have more tools to look deeper into the issue. You can file a claim at their website, https://internet-security-site-web.as-g7.cf.comcast.net/help/report-abuse or by calling 1-800-Xfinity (800.934.6489) and asking for the CSA Team.  

 

6 Messages

I've been in contact with the CSA team and they've not been of any help. They give empty promises of investigation then when I call back as they lied about calling me, they tell me to change my wifi password. I've worked in tech, I know the basic troubleshooting and basic security measures to take. If Xfinity is lying about calling me back, and can't give me a reason as to why the data usuage is astronomical, then they're lying about what the usage is showing. How can an internet company not provide any insight into what is suddenly going on after consistent usage over 2 years? Why is the immediate remedy given by any agent that I upgrade to Unlimited? I can file a claim, but I'd be filing each month. The point I'm trying to make that Xfinity isn't understanding, is that I need this issue looked into, found out, and resolved. Going to these forums is my last resort.

6 Messages

@XfinityJeniece​ You can close this thread. I work in Customer Service myself at a tech company and the run around I've received has simply been disrespectful. I'm tired and I'm done.

Official Employee

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2.4K Messages

I definitely apologize for the customer experience you have had and our CSA Team would be the only team who can assist with data disputes. If you do need anything else in the future, we are here on this platform 7 days a week. I really appreciate the time you have spent on this as I know your time is valuable and your time in reaching out.

I am an Official Xfinity Employee.
Official Employees are from multiple teams within Xfinity: CARE, Product, Leadership.
We ask that you post publicly so people with similar questions may benefit from the conversation.
Was your question answered? Please, mark a reply as the Accepted Answer.tick

Visitor

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7 Messages

4 months ago

I can't claim to be an expert on anything Xfinity but I'll throw a suggestion out there.  You noted that the increase happened when you went to Xfinity equipment.  Can you determine if MOCA is active on your Xfinity gateway?  Do you have a POE (point of entry) filter where the Xfinity line enters you home (or directly connected to the gateway IF you don't need MOCA for Xfinity TV boxes or to extend your home network)?   I think you can get one from Xfinity or from Amazon for about $10-$15.  

I use MOCA to expand my internal network butI  have my own cable modem which is not MOCA capable.  I still installed a POE filter where the line enters the house.   My understanding is that Xfinity has limited (maybe no) security on their MOCA implementation so it would be possible that MOCA data from neighbor without POE filters is going through your gateway and not theirs. Maybe you are supporting their streaming habits?   I would think Xfinity would exempt MOCA communications between cable boxes and I'm guessing they can identify that somehow but that's way above my networking knowledge.

6 Messages

I'm going to contact Netgear about your comments with MOCA. I was just fine with the 3.0 DOCSIS modem/router and never had to do anything or think about anything other than connecting it and going about my day. I'm so frustrated with this situation especially since I received a email that I've now used 75% of my monthly allotment and there was a backend error with Xfinity that didn't allow for accurate tracking. If there was an alternative company, I would have switched yesterday. 

1 Message

2 months ago

I had the same issue, sudden spike with no explanation and no change in consumption pattern. After 3 hrs of calls with six people at Xfinity nobody could fix the problem. 

Official Employee

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1.6K Messages

 

user_dvhwsk Hello! Are you still having issues with your Data Usage when you look at your usage in your Xfinity App? Please let us know and we'll be happy to investigate this further.

 

I am an Official Xfinity Employee.
Official Employees are from multiple teams within Xfinity: CARE, Product, Leadership.
We ask that you post publicly so people with similar questions may benefit from the conversation.
Was your question answered? Please, mark a reply as the Accepted Answer.tick

14 days ago

The same thing is happening in my household. There has been no change in data consumption all year. Very low usage in the beginning of the year according to the Xfinity app, nothing in April, then all of a sudden it starts to spike in late May leading to a more than 10x data increase registered by Xfinity, but no change in our habits. Similarly strange that another person in Denver has the exact same data profile and problem. We have already paid for data overages as a result, but I think this is linked to the MOCA filter the tech installed June 11.

3 Messages

13 days ago

After doing everything to troubleshoot this, making many calls that were "escalated" but then never hearing back, I switched service providers after having Xfinity for almost 20 years. I even used to work for the company back when it was called TCI.

We took a vacation and I disconnected my modem yet, somehow I used over 500 gigs of data while I wasn't home and my modem was unplugged. The techs I spoke with on the phone all said the data seemed out of the normal range for me and "escalated" the matter. This happened six times and I received zero calls back. 

Yes I checked all my devices, changed my password and everything they tell you to do. Nothing worked and Xfinity provided no assistance. Fortunately there were other service providers in my area and I switched to a great new provider that is unlimited and half the price with good speed. I was paying around $128 a month for internet only, now I pay about half of that. 

What Xfinity appears to be doing is suddenly pushing people to pay for unlimited plans by suddenly and unexplainably showing an increase in data usage. You can find countless examples on the internet with the exact same pattern.

Another pattern I see is in these forums. That pattern is some bot or poor person answering comments by telling to contact them for more help. 

The reality is once they start this data rush on you, there is nothing you can do. Unplugging your modem for two weeks will still get 500 gigs plus. Your data usage will increase a measure each month until you hit a limit. To me this feels sketchy and unethical and after 20 years it pushed me away from Xfinity. However, I wish I would have done it much sooner. It would have save me thousands over the years. Look around for what other options you have, even satellite connections. You may have better choices who won't pull this thing then never return any calls. 

Come back to this post and see if it ages well. I am happy to wager that you will experience the same pattern I did. 

2 Messages

14 hours ago

This was exactly the same experience I had.  I never went over the TB limit, not once, until last April/May when I wasn't even home.  No change in equipment or usage in our household.  I would get warnings that we were over the data a week or two into the month.  It's happened each month since.  April, May, June, July, August, and September I was paying $40 bucks more for NOTHING.  Customer service just told me to change my password.  Still an issue.  This is obviously a scam for more money and totally ethically repugnant.  I would drop Xfinity as fast as I can but the options in my area are poorly reviewed and I depend on Zoom for my business.  I hate giving them anything.  I am so disgusted and angry.

Contributor

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70 Messages

13 hours ago

I too experienced a sudden increase in data usage and rather than fight the battle of customer care and lies about call backs I just paid the extra$30 per month as I had my own modem and router.  The extra fee got to me and I explored other options.  As a Verizon phone customer they offer an unlimited plan, no cap, no throttling at speeds of about 400Mb/s, for $45/month.  It is 5G technology and I had good signal strength at my home.  I used it on a trial basis, it is a gateway device, modem and router, not unlike Xfinity xB8. It did not come close to having the WiFi coverage of my old router, so used it in bridge mode.  Happy with it, I went to my local xfinity store, to drop my internet service, and retain my X1 video service.  Bottom line is that due to bundling removing my 1.2Gb/s service and retaining the video service reduced my bill very little.  The agent then offered a plan, using their gateway that now came with unlimited data usage.  My greed took over and the numbers were better doing it that way maintaining X1 TV, and the now unlimited data.  

I am lamenting my change somewhat as I am now stuck with the xB8 Gateway, which too has very poor WiFi coverage, and I am now operating it in bridge mode with my old router. So now I am at the whim of xFinity, since they have access to the gateway, as opposed to my older system where I owned the modem, and they had no access to the router.  To make matters worse xFinity still has their "pirate" Wifi channels active even in bridge mode so this is just noise on the network with competing signals. Yes, I know others have "solved" this by putting gateway in faraday cage. 

I will live with it for a while as others in the home enjoy the xFinity X1 video services and are reluctant to change.  If other ISP's in your area are offering a 5G internet service it is worth taking a look at especially if you just use video streaming services. 

I just looked up who holds the baton for bottom rung customer service and it is Comcast still so don't look for them to change, however some other ISP's are not rated much better. 

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