How can I stop an iPhone from going over the data plan MB limits?

[hhallal]

Is there a way to prevent my kids iPhones from going over their 300MB data limits?

I tried the "Smart Limits" feature that ATT advertises, but it turned out to be a service to limit content/hours/Phone numbers/SMS. I could not find a way to prevent a line from going over their data plan limits, without having to manually check usage every day, and turning off “Cellular Data” on the device.

On a side note, I think it’s ridiculous that ATT allows phones to go over their allotted data plans, without a “free” way to turn off the additional "MB block" overchange.  #SneakyBusinessPractice

[gphipps]

I used to use the AT&T smart limits and it had an option to limit amount of data. I've not used it in a while so maybe it's changed.

[wingrider01 ACE - Geek]

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hhallal wrote:

Is there a way to prevent my kids iPhones from going over their 300MB data limits?

I tried the "Smart Limits" feature that ATT advertises, but it turned out to be a service to limit content/hours/Phone numbers/SMS. I could not find a way to prevent a line from going over their data plan limits, without having to manually check usage every day, and turning off “Cellular Data” on the device.

On a side note, I think it’s ridiculous that ATT allows phones to go over their allotted data plans, without a “free” way to turn off the additional "MB block" overchange.  #SneakyBusinessPractice

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I do it the easy way - the self police thier usage themselves, I pay for the base amount, if they have overages it comes out of their allowance. Works really well, if they want a smartphone then they have to learn to control their usage themselves. By that note, on the oldest, I pay for thte 300MB plan, she pays the additional for the 3GB plan out of her allowance.

[brainwaver]

There is nothing "sneaky" about it!! Kids will be kids and if they (or you) can not self limit their usage then they don't need an iPhone or any other smart phone for that matter. We ALL have to monitor our usage and know what apps, etc, are data hogs. 

For me personally, this is what is wrong with this generation of kids (and parents). They expect and are allowed to have super expensive "toys" but then parents want to blame the companies for how their kids use their phones.

I want to give a big thumbs up to wingrider! Great solution!

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hhallal wrote:

On a side note, I think it’s ridiculous that ATT allows phones to go over their allotted data plans, without a “free” way to turn off the additional "MB block" overchange.  #SneakyBusinessPractice

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[johninsj ACE - Wizard]

smartphones with 300mb of data are really just asking for trouble, but if you must limit them to such low amounts you will really need the kids to basically turn off cellular data except for rare cases when they MUST do something with data while mobile.

[Facci]

All of my kids have iphones and I monitor their data use and if they do get close I turn off their cellular data. I don't blame AT&T but take responsibility for what I have chosen. I also feel that Smart Limits is a joke and have tried it and there are to many ways around it.

[Snickers457]

Well, I'm an adult, and I'd like to approve or decline additional data. Even if you monitor your usage every day, it's still not exact or current. Att added 200mb to our iPhone two days before the end of the month, so all our rationing and precautions were wasted as was the 200mb. I'm not complaining as we need and will upgrade, just agreeing with OP.

[wingrider01 ACE - Geek]

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Snickers457 wrote:
Well, I'm an adult, and I'd like to approve or decline additional data. Even if you monitor your usage every day, it's still not exact or current. Att added 200mb to our iPhone two days before the end of the month, so all our rationing and precautions were wasted as was the 200mb. I'm not complaining as we need and will upgrade, just agreeing with OP.

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I stay away from the one att has and utilize a 3rd party app, it has been pretty much in line with what I have been billed for

[Snickers457]

Great idea...thanks. I didn't mean to imply the usage figures were wrong, just not the best tool for keeping yourself from going over. It didn't occur to me that I could track data usage with an app. Any recommendations for a good app to use until we upgrade our data plan?

[JulienPDX]

To the original poster; I understand what you are asking for, but there isn't currently a service that AT&T sells or offers that will "cap out" or "disallow" a phone from going over its allotted data plan.  If you think about it, it doesn't make sense from a business perspective as it would inhibit potential revenue. 

[JulienPDX]

SmartLimits for Wireless will block data usage but only on feature phones and not on Smartphones :-(

Data Usage:

• Smart Limits for Wireless does not work for blocking, restricting or filtering data usage on Smartphones, iPads, or Tablets, or while user is in WiFi mode.