[iOS] Wi-Fi Assist Costing A Small Fortune

Hey Ozbargainers,

So I recently updated to IOS 10, and knew I only had about 500mb of data left on my $67 per month plan as of 2 days ago- so I've been really carefully using wifi as much as possible ever since. Yesterday I get a message from Virgin Mobile saying I've reached 100% of my data allowance, so I log into my account (confused) and I've been charged a whole lot of excess usage even though I'd been connected to wifi all day.

Today I find out about this thing called "wifi assist", which has automatically turned itself on when I updated to IOS 10, and it basically activates mobile data even when wifi is on, if your connection is poor- so I deactivate it but it's already cost me nearly $25.

Do I have any rights of recourse here with Apple or Virgin because I was not notified that this setting would automatically turn on without my knowledge, or do I just have to suck it up? Virgin mobile has been maddeningly unhelpful, I got on a live chat with them yesterday to ask where the usage had gone and half way through the chat they dropped out…

Thoughts?

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Comments

  • +2

    No. There's probably a clause hidden away in the T&C when you first activated your iPhone and clicked "I agree" stating that cellular data may be used to improve WiFi connectivity blah blah blah.

    It's not Virgin's fault that Apple decided to enable something by default. You have to suck it up.

    • Figured that might be the case - guess it's a mistake you only make once… (buying an iPhone that is).

    • -2

      Come on.. how hard is it for Apple or Virgin if they bought their device from them to tell them this?
      How many stupid screens do you get for crap like iCloud, you can a prompt for location settings on setup..

      Don't blame reasonable users, it's the vendors responsibility.

  • +1

    Can you not set a hard data limit like Android phones?

    • +12

      iOS isn't that advanced
      Another reason why Android wins for me

  • This was an iOS 9 feature. It got a lot of noise at this time last year - see, for example, http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/mobiles/wifi-assist-the-i…

    I turned it off in iOS 9, and it didn't come back on when I upgraded to iOS 10.

    Did you go straight from iOS 8 (or lower) to iOS 10 by any chance?

    • I haven't updated in a while so It's actually very possible that I went straight from IOS 8 to 10. Not sure how to check that though.

    • Wouldn't be surprised if it did tbh. Bluetooth is turned on in every major iOS update.

  • yes, had exactly the same problem as you, when it first came out last year. i was wondering why the wifi at home kept cutting out , and i was on a 1.5gb mobile plan, used 3/4 worth in a day until i googled the problem.

  • I read recently that there's a class action lawsuit against Appple in US for this WiFi Assist. http://www.news.com.au/technology/gadgets/mobile-phones/ipho…

    Maybe ask around and see if anyone else wants to follow suit here in Au?

  • Give them a call and they might waive it for you as a goodwill gesture, if you can be bothered.

    I say might because I've tried this (and gotten waived) but it was a few years ago (2011) so their policy might have changed since then.

  • I would like to see Apply pay their customers billions of dollars to cover all the excess data charges due to wifi assist.

  • Gosh I had no idea about this issue so thanks OP for raising it. Scrolled all the way down the mobile apps under mobile data settings and there it is right at the end; WiFi Assist enabled. I hadn't been stung to date, lol

    • Only happens when your Wi-Fi connection is poor

      • +1

        I do understand that but thanks anyway. Out where I live in a rural area, the wifi connection is normally dodgy - Telstra MBB much quicker.

  • Just found this WiFi assist on the wife's phone and disabled it - thanks all

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