Base stations control the transmission rate that is used by UE (user equipment) to forward them information. A UE periodically forwards a rate request to a base station if the UE needs to have its data transmission rate to the base station increased or decreased, and the base station responds with a rate command. An error can occur in the transmission of the rate command, such that a rate Rnb transmitted by the base station and detected by the UE as Rue may not match. Various schemes are proposed for reducing and correcting such transmission errors. A first scheme involves periodically resetting the transmission rate of the base station and UE with a reference rate. Second to fourth schemes involve periodically comparing the transmission rates of the base station and UE, and replacing the rate of the UE if they differ. A fifth scheme involves a filtering of the feedback command in order to reduce the impact of error propagation. A sixth scheme, which may be used separately or in conjunction with any of the foregoing schemes, involves adjusting a power offset with a repetition factor. All of the schemes are modified during a soft handover of the UE from the base station to a new base station.