Over one in ten hitting monthly data limits
Many mobile users in the UK do not realise the extent of their use, with over 10% exceeding their plan limit every month.
According to a survey of 1,097 users of mobile devices conducted by the comparison site Broadband Genie between 27th March and 9th April, 31% exceed their data allowance at least once during three consecutive months, while 14% do so every month.
Approaching caps on mobile data plans is a major concern for those surveyed, with 54% feeling discomfort, 35% feeling frustration, 18% feeling anxiety and 7% feeling panic.
The survey noted that some mobile carriers do not automatically block data access when customers approach their limit. About 22% of the respondents said that they wouldn’t take any action when they approach their limit, while 58% indicated that they’d stop using mobile data when they hit their cap to avoid incurring charges.
Mobile data users have an option to activate a bolt-on when they reach their cap, and 17% of the respondents stated that they would do that if necessary.
Rob Hilborn, Head of Strategy at Broadband Genie, said: “It’s so easy to blitz even large data packages these days, what with auto-play videos, ads, streaming services and other data-heavy activities.
“In most cases, users can quite easily track this information by accessing their account online or downloading their mobile network’s smartphone app.
“For those regularly hitting a data limit, it’s worth investigating what activities are causing this, as you may be able to take action to reduce your usage. If this is proving difficult, consider a contract upgrade, as it will often be better value than paying for add-ons or penalty charges.”