Confused by BT broadband over usage.....

Beebop

Been with BT broadband (10GB monthly usage) since Oct 2012. Have had broadband for several years with different providers, all with capped usage, never had any excess charges from overuse.
Since we've been with BT (6 months) we've had 3 emails from them in random months saying we're about to exceed our usage and we will be charged extra. We spoke to BT who said they couldn't tell us what was eating up our allowance!?! They however have not yet charged us.
Any suggestions what to do? Before anyone says anything I can say we are very light users of the internet - just surfing the web, maybe 2 songs downloaded per month (how rock and roll!), watching a couple of youtube clips but that's it - no films downloaded, no adult entertainment if you know what I mean!!
I've done a little search on the router admin thingy (sorry for my technical speak there!) and two things I don't understand show - ADSL uptime and a section that says Data sent / received. Do these help me in somehow seeing usage?
Spent hours looking into this now but really thing someone may have hijacked our wifi connection
(And please no overly technical terms - this is frying my brain already!)
Thanks in advance for any help
Beebop

nearlyrich

If it's any consolation I had one warning and then they charged £10, they can't tell you why you would go from using less than half of the allowance for years to suddenly using a GB more than your allowance for 2 random months. I argued and got the £10 back but they can throw the odd £10 charge on a bill and won't and /or can't tell you why. If you have never given out your password argue that their equipment must be faulty ....

Bradfield

The BT usage monitor is sometimes just plain wrong. I once logged my data usage for a month and found that they added on over 3 GB on just one day. No way did I use over three Gig in one day.

If you challenge them they will give you a dozen reasons why you are wrong. You were watching on-line video, downloading; uploading; or whatever, or your username and password has been hacked. They have the meter and you dont. They are in control.

You can carry on and live in perpetual fear that they are going to hammer you unjustly for data that you have not used or you can upgrade to the "Unlimited" package. Some cynical folk say that this is why BT "up the data" and send out the emails telling customers they are going over their data limit.

Like you, I was on the 10 Gig package. Like you I got the warning email telling me I was going over the limit when I knew very well I was not.

In the end I chickened out and upgraded to the unlimited package. I simply could not stand the hassle. The problem is that you get roped in to the 10 Gig package with a very attractive deal and then find that it is a lot more trouble than it is worth.

Jamie_Carter

If you still have a default password on your wifi router, or no password at all, then it is possible that a neighbour is using your wifi.

macman

What wireless encryption method are you using, and which Hub version-the 3?
I'd start by changing your wi-fi password immediately.

peterwot

<someone may have hijacked our wifi connection >

BT have now made a (limited) admission that in certain circumtances they have been recording external use of wifi by others as personal use triggering excess charges in error.