The embodiments of the disclosure include methods and apparatus that provide back-off procedures for avoiding device/network resource depletion in bad network conditions. A device user may selectively enable an auxiliary back-off procedure that extends the time between network service requests. For example, the auxiliary back-off procedure may be used if the device determines an attach request is unsuccessful when a reject message is received from the network and the reject message indicates a reject cause for which the device has no defined back-off to follow. The auxiliary back-off procedure may be also be used if the device determines that a service request is unsuccessful when the service request is ignored, i.e. no response is received from the network, or, when a service request reject is received from the network and the reject message indicates a reject cause for which the device has no defined back-off to follow.