I'm going through the same thing with my daughter's phone. Previously usage between THREE iPhone 4s phones COMBINED totaled 4 GB a month at our HIGHEST usage. Upgraded from 4s to iPhone 5s on 9/13/14. Billing period started on 9/15. By 9/22/14, the phone had shot through 4 GB by itself. Verizon Tech Support said to shut off Apps Updating in Background to wi-fi only. By 9/26, another text message about data usage -- another 2 GB gone. Started researching -- there are THOUSANDS of complaints on Verizon Community Boards, as well as Apple Support Boards. The next day I returned the phone to the store (it was 14th and last day to return). Ordered the iPhone 6, and re-activated the 4s in the interim. Usage went back to normal (next to nothing).
Bought and activated iPhone 6 on 9/29/14, and have been watching carefully. Phone is still using data throughout the day, even when it's not POSSIBLE, because it's sitting in a time-out state and unused. There are data charges appearing every 6 hours to the minute, just like with the 5s. We did NOT have this with the 4s! This mysterious data usage is occurring in the middle of the night and then 6 hours later, etc. Phone shows ridiculous data usage for App Store 2.9 GB (to download ONE app?) and Instagram 2.5 GB. The kid has only had a minute or two on Instagram! Also showed usage on YouTube 2.5 GB but the phone was on wi-fi when that was used! Other strange things occurring. When my husband calls that phone, MY phone rings! Only does this when in my house. Tried it while we're both at work, and my phone does NOT ring. A strange text showed up, looking like she had written it, but I KNOW she did not!
I took possession of the phone and SHUT CELLULAR OFF COMPLETELY FOR OVER 2 DAYS. Data charges every 6 hours still occurred during the first day the CELLULAR WAS OFF. Phone continually draws data, even when it shows being on wi-fi. This past holiday weekend, the phone did not leave my house from Friday at 6:00 p.m. until Monday at 5:45 p.m. The phone still shows data being used throughout that time period.
Tried every possible "fix" on the Internet, and nothing has worked. No stuck email in the outbox, email account deleted, cellular shut off to multiple apps, iCloud turned off, apps deleted, and finally entire phone was factory reset via iTunes. No apps added to default setup, and data still being charged!!
Spoke to multiple Verizon reps, the last being the Executive Office. I spoke with their Technical Analyst, and sent them screenshots of all of the weird stuff occurring including a marked-up version of my data log, detailing which charges were cyclical (every 6 hours) and which just couldn't possibly be, including the periods when the phone had the cellular data SHUT OFF, and periods on wi-fi. Within 5 days, Verizon said nothing was wrong with the network. It was the phone. REALLY??? Because this happened with both the iPhone 5s AND the iPhone 6!!!
I called Apple on Tuesday 10/14. The Advisor was very nice and even follow-up with another call to collect information. I sent him a gazillion screenshots as asked. He supplied me with an upload link of additional pictures I had taken off the phone. I couldn't use the upload link at the time, but I had already sent those pictures to Verizon, so I forwarded the emails to my advisor at Apple. I was supposed to hear back from them YESTERDAY. So far, nothing. I did get a survey from Apple, asking how their Advisor did, though!
What a scam!! I swear Apple and the various carriers are all in cahoots. We spend big bucks for these phones and phone plans (I pay over $3,100 A YEAR for our phone plan!) and yet, the data just MYSTERIOUSLY occurs, and WE'RE paying for it!! Oh, and when I asked Verizon exactly what or who was actually using my data, she said she couldn't tell me. I said if I was the FBI, I'm sure you could tell me exactly where, when and who was using the data! She said, "Yes, but we can't divulge that information to you. We'd need a court order or a subpoena." I was like, "WHAT??!? It's MY phone, MY data, and MY money that's paying for it. Why would I need a court order to find out what I SUPPOSEDLY used??" She just kept saying that's how it worked. I would sue, except that by signing my contract with Verizon, I sign-away my right to bring or participate in a class-action lawsuit. If a carrier is HONEST, then why is that??!?
I have now returned the iPhone 6, and my daughter is back on the iPhone 4s. THE TOTAL USAGE FROM THE IPHONE 5S AND 6 THIS MONTH TOTALED ALMOST 9 GB. Her previous use was less than 1 GB even when she was on summer vacation. Now the kid is busy from 6:00 a.m. until 8:30 p.m., and she mysteriously shoots through 9 GB a day, even when the phone is off??? Since the return to the 4s (7:00 p.m. on 10/14), her usage is so low, that the is NO data is showing AT ALL for yesterday (10/15) -- with the 5s or 6, I would've seen continual data hits during that time!
P.S. I also upgraded from the 4s to the iPhone 6. I got my phone on 9/30/14. I can see data charges every 6 hours on my line too -- however, the amount of data being used for those are just a fraction of the data charged for those on my daughter's line. I use my phone off and on, ALL DAY LONG. I am on Facebook, emails, an app for my daughter's grades, etc. throughout my 20 hour day. I used 1 GB the ENTIRE MONTH. Now compare that to my daughter's supposed 9 GB, when she honestly gets 5 minutes a day to even look at her phone. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see there's a HUGE problem here!!
APPLE YOU NEED TO ADDRESS AND FIX THE PROBLEM THAT THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ALL HAVE!!!!!!
