Thread: Incorrect data sessions after 8AM in Night unlimited plans

I have been using BSNL Broadband for the last 8 months. Earlier I was on 750UL plan before I shifted to 500C+ owing to its 2-8 Unlimited usage. I have been using NU plan for almost 6 months now and I'm facing these incorrect session issues from day 1.

I have type-4 UTSTARCOM WA3002G4 router which is connected via LAN to my Pc and I occasionally use three wifi devices viz iPod touch, 5800Xm and Samsung Galaxy Spica. Primarily I use PC for all the data needs so most of the usage is from PC.

My Auto download setup is like this.........

I use auto power on and shutdown to manage boot times and utorrent and IDM are scheduled to Download ONLY between 2-8 in utorrent and 2:30 - 7:45 in IDM. I have even scheduled a batch file to restart router at 2 am and 8 am. I save synchronized my pc and router with time.nist.gov and I have set my router in PPOE mode with 2 mins inactivity time out. And I monitor my pc traffic using NETWORX.

I use avast antivirus with Comodo firewall and I've blocked all the unwanted programs from using internet.

Earlier the Free timings itself was varying, like one day its from
2:10 to 8:10 and the next day it used to be from
2:23 to 8:23 like that.
I used to get random amount in billed usage and It never crossed my monthly limit so I used to ignore it.

This continued till January 2010. From JAN-10 Billing times suddenly became correct exact from 2:00 to 8:00 AM, but the catch is only the timings are mentioned as correct. But I have been getting some extra sessions after 8AM like 8:00:00 to 8:00:45 and sometimes as
8:00:00 to 8:23:30 and sometimes even more like
8:00:00 to 9:33:30 or even 8:00:00 to 10:30:00 AM

and I'm getting excess usage in these sessions when I'm quite sure that my PC is off. Those random excess usage never crossed >50MB.
But on April 11th I was charged excess usage of 600 odd MB. So I immediately called up the complaint cell here and informed them the same. They won't listen to me and even gave some ridiculous answers like some virus might have used the data. I didn't push them further so I ignored it again.

Five days later the same happened and this time I got an excess 70MB after 8AM. I was awake that day and I switched off PC at 7:45 myself. Yet I got a session till 8:23AM. Pissed off, I called my friends who are on same plan and asked them to look into their portal usage and see if they have got the same errors.
Infact they had similar issues so I asked them to forward me all those reports so that I can file a complaint to DE, BSNL.
Before that I called complaint cell again and mentioned the same to them, they tried to convince me with some bullshit answers.

DAY-1

So I went to the DE directly and showed him all my four month portal reports from JAN-10 till April 10 and also showed my friends usage reports with similar errors. I even gave them my four month hourly reports from NETWORX.
I explained to them about the erroneous sessions after 8AM, they told they'll study those reports and let me know in a couple of days.
They also said that billing system is outsourced from IBM and they have to contact them in case of conflicts.

Day-4

No one contacted me since Day-1 so I called them to know the status of my problem. I was surprised when told me they haven't even filed a complaint and they are still studying my reports.

I decided to make a complaint myself on the online grievance cell. So made a complaint in that site and then went to BSNL office and asked them about the progress. They showed me their internal reports for my number where in MAC address and port assigned for that session are shown.

I was surprised when I saw that mac number, coz that is not mine, but the sessions were correct, I argued about the same and they asked me to get my router to office so that they can check the same. I took my router to them and showed that my mac ended with XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:73 as shown on sticker and firmware.But it is reported as XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:73 in their internal reports. After a thorough check its weird that my mac is showing other number than indicated in firmware. Earlier when I didn't tell him about this mac conflict, he blabbered about the mac thing, that all my usage report depends on mac and hence forth. So when I asked him about that erroneous mac, he changes his stand and says mac is not that important, so it doesn't matter. Had a heated argument about that which was going no where.

And then when I asked him if mine is an isolated case then how come my friends are getting same error. He said its your complaint so lets talk about this, we will look into his matter if he complaints. Pissed off I called him immediately and asked him to come to BSNL office and file a complaint. By this time he started to escape us saying he has some work and I should talk about this with DE. But that DE has a single lame answer everytime. I asked them into look into your matter, I can't say anything about that until I get the reports and he insists there is a virus in my system which is using that data. HOW DUMB!!!!!!!!! And he is D.E. GOD save BSNL.

In the mean while I searched around and found several posts in various sites citing the same issue, even in this forum I came across numerous links about the same issue.

I don't want to ignore this issue if they come up with some ridiculous answer and try to close the complaint. If they do so then I'm planning to take a legal action. I want to know the procedure to file a case in consumer court.

Also there aren't any guidelines or terms with BSNL about those free times like when they say 2AM-8AM, it never was accurate and there aren't any guidelines for this timings.

I want to know what Can I do further before filing a case, like can I take this matter to some higher officials. What pisses me off is that when they know about bugs in their billing system, why wont they accept??

You have no case.
metering showing start time stop time
without stopping your download , is a great improvement now.
Your case seems to be about the Time Synchronisation>
Better log in at usage Portal at about
1000 PM and synchronise /adjust your computer system clock with BSNL's at least once a week , if not daily.
Report difference to BSNL with supporting time from web.
Whose clock is accurate ? Your 'system's or Bsnl's ?
Usual advice here .

Switch off the modem at about 0155 AM
Restart at 0205 AM
again switch off at 0755 AM
restart at 0805 AM.
( using auto schedulers or manually .)

Thanks for the reply

Did you go through my reports???

Anyways if it is time sync problem, then it should not vary more than 5-10 mins right??
How come it varies from 1.5 hr to 2 hrs??

Are you saying I have nothing against them to file a case??

What about those short sessions that I've been getting daily, even after restarting router I've been getting those erroneous sessions.

Is there anything that I can do?

I have never downloaded that 600MB I was charged for, what can I do about that???
Should I be sitting duck and accept their mistakes

Because of your post I checked my System Clock and synchronised with
time.nist.gov.
Still there is a minor difference with Time shown in this forum.
Even if you don't download anything , keep the system/modem on and doing some other chores, the Internet connection is active and
exchange of Data whether modem is connected IDle etc is made during those times.
Also your Download Manager can pause the d/l and resume automatically.

Para two;
Now (A) time shown in BSNL usage portal.
(B) time shown here ( one web site)
Time in Mumbai
(C) Time shown in your Task Bar
(D) (C)whether automatically reset
(E) Time shown in this forum.
(F) the time clock in the Usage meter.
(G) Time Shown in BBC TV
All should tally. variation + - say 10 seconds.


Para three : TEST:
Disconnect all auto downloads / surfing say for about 30 minutes
Switch off the modem. restart again after 5 minutes.
Open LAN network: click Status
See the activity Up an Down data.
Check Bsnl portal next day. this time block.
(If 59.xx.xx.xx , it is immediately updated.)
Keep System On/
and MODEM ON
Feedback.

I have never downloaded that 600MB I was charged for

This is another subject.
probably you are comparing with NEtworX data.
Where it is not recorded )
Please extract details and post it here.

No I'm not just comparing the Networx Data,

My system is scheduled to shutdown at 7:59 AM and moreover utorrent stops downloading at 8AM and IDM is scheduled to stop at 7:45 AM.

So even if my PC somehow didn't shutdown properly( it did shutdown that day and infact everyday) then there is no chance of any downloads happening and since my router is set to inactivity timeout after 5 Mins, so all in all there shouldn't be any usage till 10AM or 11AM since that is the time when I switch on my PC daily.

Sessions might be there since router is on, but I'm talking about the data usage in those sessions which is impossible.

Anyways I'm attaching my networx hourly report for the last 4 months.

Ok here are timings

Mine - 11:42:00
Time in Mumbai - 11:42:12
Forum Time - 11:42:xx
Portal Time - 11:43:xx
BBC Time - 11:42:xx

Can you explain the Third test a bit more clearly

Anyways here's a few comparisons between networx data and portal data on the same day I got this error.

On that Day I had an exam so at 8:30 AM , I Checked system before going to college if it has properly shutdown or not. It was completely off.
Then I came back home at 1:30 PM and switched on pc at 2PM so I'm comparing that sessions

FROM PORTAL

Start Time (DD-MM-YYYY) Stop Time (DD-MM-YYYY) Download (KB) Upload (KB) Total Units (KB)
Duration (HH:MM:SS) Chargeable Units(KB) Excluding Night Unlimited

12-04-2010 02:06:24 AM 12-04-2010 02:11:35 AM 13 10 23 00:05:11 0

12-04-2010 01:23:46 AM 12-04-2010 01:41:11 AM 60 17 77 00:17:25 77

12-04-2010 01:05:44 AM 12-04-2010 01:18:15 AM 131 11 142 00:12:31 142

11-04-2010 02:26:19 PM 11-04-2010 02:31:59 PM 11 10 21 00:05:40 21

11-04-2010 02:03:39 PM 11-04-2010 02:23:58 PM 2615 461 3076 00:20:19 3076

11-04-2010 02:02:47 PM 11-04-2010 02:03:35 PM 1 0 1 00:00:48 1

11-04-2010 01:49:32 PM 11-04-2010 02:01:08 PM 665 131 796 00:11:36 796

11-04-2010 01:27:44 PM 11-04-2010 01:34:58 PM 26 12 38 00:07:14 38

11-04-2010 01:16:00 PM 11-04-2010 01:24:54 PM 12 14 26 00:08:54 26

11-04-2010 12:35:07 PM 11-04-2010 12:50:54 PM 94 26 120 00:15:47 120

11-04-2010 12:15:19 PM 11-04-2010 12:20:32 PM 27 11 38 00:05:13 38

11-04-2010 11:44:54 AM 11-04-2010 11:50:06 AM 8 11 19 00:05:12 19

11-04-2010 11:14:29 AM 11-04-2010 11:19:39 AM 8 11 19 00:05:10 19

11-04-2010 10:42:45 AM 11-04-2010 10:48:19 AM 23 9 32 00:05:34 32

11-04-2010 08:00:00 AM 11-04-2010 10:20:21 AM 446646 165978 612624 02:20:21 612624

11-04-2010 06:55:56 AM 11-04-2010 08:00:00 AM 203884 75765 279649 01:04:04 0

11-04-2010 01:38:56 AM 11-04-2010 01:54:59 AM 92 13 105 00:16:03 105


From Networx

Date Time Avg DL Rat Avg UL Rate DL Volume UL Volume Total

12-04-2010 2:00 - 2:59 91.3 KB/s 45.9 KB/s 320.94 MB 161.43 MB 482.37 MB

11-04-2010 14:00 - 14:59 755 bytes/s 150 bytes/s 2.60 MB 0.52 MB 3.11 MB

11-04-2010 7:00 - 7:59 170 KB/s 63.1 KB/s 596.24 MB 221.89 MB 818.14 MB

11-04-2010 6:00 - 6:59 149 KB/s 58.7 KB/s 523.28 MB 206.37 MB 729.65 MB

11-04-2010 5:00 - 5:59 194 KB/s 70.8 KB/s 681.51 MB 248.96 MB 930.46 MB

11-04-2010 4:00 - 4:59 196 KB/s 71.9 KB/s 689.05 MB 252.75 MB 941.80 MB

11-04-2010 3:00 - 3:59 165 KB/s 53.1 KB/s 578.56 MB 186.64 MB 765.20 MB

11-04-2010 2:00 - 2:59 116 KB/s 24.5 KB/s 409.15 MB 86.02 MB 495.17 MB

11-04-2010 1:00 - 1:59 0 bytes/s 0 bytes/s 0.00 MB 0.00 MB 0.00 MB

10-04-2010 21:00 - 21:59 4 bytes/s 5 bytes/s 0.01 MB 0.02 MB 0.03 MB

Also notice sessions from 2AM to 6:55AM are not even present in portal while my sytem was on and downloading at than time.

Now notice this session from networx
11-04-2010 14:00 - 14:59 755 bytes/s 150 bytes/s 2.60 MB 0.52 MB 3.11 MB

same session From Portal
11-04-2010 02:03:39 PM 11-04-2010 02:23:58 PM 2615 461 3076 00:20:19 3076

^^ I'm quoting this to verify that both are reporting same values.

This is when I started my Pc(2PM) again on that day, so where did that 600MB come from.

My point is if you look at the usage from portal after 6:55 to 10:20 AM where 279649 is under night unlimited and 612624 was under billed data,
If I add these sessions then 279649+612624 = 892273 or 871.36 MB

where 279649 is under night unlimited and 612624 was under billed data

Which is roughly the same amount in networx that I downloaded between 7-8 818.14 MB

Since networx reports hourly sessions,
the remaining ~50MB might have been downloaded between 6:55 to 7:00 And hence the difference. Adding that amount to networx data it now shows~870MB which is the same amount portal is showing between 6:55 to 10:20 AM i.e 892273KB or 871.36 MB

My point is they have considered the session between 6:55 AM to 10:20 AM as a single session, but in portal report they have just split the sessions exactly at 8:00AM which is suspicious an buggy.

This is just for one day. there are numerous such sessions over a period of 4 months.

Can't I prove the same if I file a case based on this that they have cheated me with wrong sessions.

I have type-4 UTSTARCOM WA3002G4 router which is connected via LAN to my Pc and I occasionally use three wifi devices viz iPod touch, 5800Xm and Samsung Galaxy Spica. Primarily I use PC for all the data needs so most of the usage is from PC.

Your WIFI mode. Confirm it is having WPA security key. ( not disclosed to others )

How will you record the data exchange made in WIFI mode with other systems ?
Check in modem/router.

I use VOIP and cannot record the usage locally.
Shaplus/NetWorx/Tautology/Netmeter etc )
( Checking in Modem for particular time block not possible)

NetworX will measure only one Ethernet card or WIFI card.

Para three TEST:
In your Taskbar many application will appear, including Antivirus Firewall/ Windows Update/ Download Manager etc. If not properly set to update at a particular time, they can Upgrade data automatically.
When you complain a D/L is reported by BSNL
which you claim you never made,
all possibilities of auto download/ modem "talk"
use of WIFI mode by others have to be eliminated.
In spite of all this "EXTRA Faltu " usage charges , BSNL unable to make a profit
and Loss for the year is about 4000/= crores/.!!!!!

Originally Posted by essbebe

Your WIFI mode. Confirm it is having WPA security key. ( not disclosed to others )


















How will you record the data esxchange made in WIFI mode with other systems ?
NetworX will measure only one Ethernet card or WIFI card.

My wifi is in WPA2 secure mode with AP name hidden and MAC filter enabled.

Networx can record
all connections or
all dial up connections or
all Ethernet connections or
All wireless connections or
Individual network interfaces based on your setting.

I haven't used wifi that much in the last two months, ever since I bought my Spica I took a monthly GPRS data plan and I'm not using wifi on it and My dad is out of station on deputation so there goes another device and I can count on fingers how many times I have used my iPod touch in the last two months forget about using wifi on it. Even if I did then all the collective usage wouldn't cross ~100MB per month
BTW which networx version are you using

the version I am using now.NetworX 5.1.1
My laptop on WIFI mode.
I will test later another laptop in LAN mode, with connection from the WIFI router
and monitor the Traffic recorded by NetworX when VOIP session is on usually more than 30 minutes.

Originally Posted by essbebe

Your WIFI mode. Confirm it is having WPA security key. ( not disclosed to others )

How will you record the data exchange made in WIFI mode with other systems ?
Check in modem/router.

I use VOIP and cannot record the usage locally.
Shaplus/NetWorx/Tautology/Netmeter etc )
( Checking in Modem for particular time block not possible)

NetworX will measure only one Ethernet card or WIFI card.

Para three TEST:
In your Taskbar many application will appear, including Antivirus Firewall/ Windows Update/ Download Manager etc. If not properly set to update at a particular time, they can Upgrade data automatically.
When you complain a D/L is reported by BSNL
which you claim you never made,
all possibilities of auto download/ modem "talk"
use of WIFI mode by others have to be eliminated.
In spite of all this "EXTRA Faltu " usage charges , BSNL unable to make a profit
and Loss for the year is about 4000/= crores/.!!!!!

precisely to avoid such auto updates and background data, I configured Comodo for explicit access, Only those apps allowed by me have internet access from my PC.
All other requests are blocked by default if I didn't allow it and moreover When my PC itself is off then where is the chance of any auto updates??

If I set Networx to monitor all connections then the problem is that it records all the files I move via wifi to Phone/iPod touch. So I restricted it to monitor just my LAN interface.

So what's the solution now

In spite of all this "EXTRA Faltu " usage charges , BSNL unable to make a profit
and Loss for the year is about 4000/= crores/.!!!!!

When you got inconsistent procedures in place coupled with dumb jack ass employees,then loss are bound to happen right!!!!!!!!!

BTW do you work for BSNL or what

My point is if you look at the usage from portal after 6:55 to 10:20 AM where 279649 is under night unlimited and 612624 was under billed data,
If I add these sessions then 279649+612624 = 892273 or 871.36 MB

where 279649 is under night unlimited and 612624 was under billed data

Which is roughly the same amount in networx that I downloaded between 7-8 818.14 MB

Since networx reports hourly sessions,
the remaining ~50MB might have been downloaded between 6:55 to 7:00 And hence the difference. Adding that amount to networx data it now shows~870MB which is the same amount portal is showing between 6:55 to 10:20 AM i.e 892273KB or 871.36 MB

My point is they have considered the session between 6:55 AM to 10:20 AM as a single session, but in portal report they have just split the sessions exactly at 8:00AM which is suspicious an buggy.

What do you say about this??

My point is they have considered the session between 6:55 AM to 10:20 AM as a single session, but in portal report they have just split
the sessions exactly at 8:00AM which is suspicious and buggy.

Exactly what users wanted. ( tried and implemented from Jan 2011).
Same way stopping the meter at 0159AM
and starting at 0200 AM seems to be working , with exceptions .
Earlier if you start a d/l at about 1205AM and continue till say 0900 AM the complete
d/l/ U/l was shown as Chargeable.
Suggestion :

Usual advice here .
Quote:
Switch off the MODEM at about 0155 AM
Restart at 0205 AM
again switch off at 0755 AM
restart at 0805 AM.
( using auto schedulers or manually .)

BTW do you work for BSNL or what

BSNL staff have more serious things to do in Life, rather than wasting time here with persons like you.
If you have the qualification/age to get a job in BSNL , appear for a competitive examination for J.T.O etc , and see whether you qualify at least !

It is immaterial, who says what, in this forum, and "privacy" is maintained as per the member's wish. and no need to provide personal details.


Give your side of the problem , and anyone can give suggestions/ comments etc. It is upto you to accept/reject any or all. and there is no
compulsion/obligation to give a reply to satisfy you

Now Where do you go from here ?

See Post No 2 >
You have no case !!!!

sriharsa,even i have the same problem
i use the same procedure that you use->utorrent->scheduler;networx
try using bridge mode instead of pppoe
anyways,how do you set the inactivity timeout in the modem?

Originally Posted by essbebe

Exactly what users wanted. ( tried and implemented from Jan 2011).
Same way stopping the meter at 0159AM
and starting at 0200 AM seems to be working , with exceptions .
Earlier if you start a d/l at about 1205AM and continue till say 0900 AM the complete
d/l/ U/l was shown as Chargeable.
Suggestion :

Usual advice here .
Quote:
Switch off the MODEM at about 0155 AM
Restart at 0205 AM
again switch off at 0755 AM
restart at 0805 AM.
( using auto schedulers or manually .)

I told you I have been restarting my router at those times, infact I mentioned this in my first post itself!!!

So you mean to say it is perfectly OK for BSNL to charge customers for data they haven't used, just because of their shortcomings and bugs in billing systems.

This is not an isolated issue as well. Coz I'm not the only one facing this issue, both my friends in the same town have same issue and some from other circles as well.

Searching just this forum would has yielded same exact problems for many users.

Anyways I'm going ahead with that case, All I wanted was advice that's it.

I didn't expect this from a senior person from a forum.
Now that you have started this let me answer you in your way.

BSNL staff have more serious things to do in Life, rather than wasting time here with persons like you.

So what are you then, if you are wasting time with people like me in this forum for so many years. How retarded are you then?? May be your post count is a mark of your retardness.

If you have the qualification/age to get a job in BSNL , appear for a competitive examination for J.T.O etc , and see whether you qualify at least !

Don't worry my friend, I have more than enough age/qualification for that job and I've cleared much better competitive exams and You don't have to worry about me. Worry about yourself rather than wasting your time with so called persons.

I don't want to lick someone's shoes and Pay bribe to get a JTO post even after faring well in all rounds.

I'm sorry it had to end like this. Please keep your retarded attitude for yourself, Don't try to rub it on others.

Originally Posted by getanshub4u

sriharsa,even i have the same problem
i use the same procedure that you use->utorrent->scheduler;networx
try using bridge mode instead of pppoe
anyways,how do you set the inactivity timeout in the modem?

Getanshu, You have to be in PPPOE mode to set inactivity timer.

Considering you are in PPPOE mode and you are using the same router as mine, goto router interface 192.168.1.1,
then Advanced-> WAN -> Edit under PPPOE Protocol, after navigating the next two pages you'll end up in PPP username and Password page, There you'll find this option below 'Dial On demand'.

Can someone point me to terms and conditions or guidelines followed by BSNL regarding the server timings and billing of data plan 500C Plus and the whole billing procedures.

Also I would like to know do they specify any guidelines for complaint processing, like what is the time frame within which the problem is resovled... like that.

My mobile service provider gives me a time frame of 48Hrs to resovle any filed complaint, but I haven't been given any time frame as such by BSNL, It's already over a week and there's no progress regarding the complaint.

go to:
CONSUMER GRIEVANCE REDRESSAL MECHANISM IN BSNL

Thank you getanshub