Thanks for your interest and offer to highlight the problem through other channels, Mixture. I appreciate that I might be an "edge" case, but by the look of various discussions online, I am far from the only one with the problem.
For now, I will try one of the two "work-rounds" that I have seen suggested, either making sure wifi is off any time I have it connected to mains power, or loading the devices so full that there is no room for the download.


(highflyer - if you read the previous posts, my problem is not with Updates, but with Update DOWNLOADS)

I don't have the problem!

I kept my iThings on iOS7, for a variety of reasons (mostly to do with a need to run a couple of software items that Apple doesn't approve of). That seems to have been a good decision, based on the reports and complaints from friends who've moved to iOS8.

However, the App Store "Update" function no longer works with anything as old as the v 7.0.4 that I have. The only disadvantage is the steadily increasing red number against the App Store on the face of the device.

Once every couple of weeks, I connect to iTunes and update the apps I reckon I need to update.

ya I did read it correctly. I have never had my iphone download an update without first asking if I accept the terms and conditions. just saying what I have experienced.