With BT Mobile’s top package including a generous 20GB of data for just £20 per month, it seems many planned to hook up their mobile to their laptop or tablet so they could browse the web on a bigger screen.
Alas, those trying to do so have found that their smartphone’s ‘personal hotspot’ or ‘tethering’ options have been disabled by the ISP’s network settings.
As well a 4G data allowance, BT’s mobile plans also include unlimited use of the ISP’s 5 million WiFi hotspots but some users, especially those wanting to work while commuting, don’t see this as a viable alternative.
A number have been in touch to express their disquiet, with several saying they considered tethering to be a “standard” feature which they never expected would be blocked.
BT’s own customer forums include similar complaints, with some potential subscribers describing the lack of tethering as “a deal-breaker”.
In response the firm points out that the restriction is clearly stated in their terms and conditions which customers must confirm they’ve read as part of the sign-up process.
Asked why the feature wasn’t supported, a BT spokesperson told SEENIT: “The reason for this exclusion is that using many devices on one mobile service quickly uses up the allowance and can lead to out of plan charges.
“We want to make sure customers are always connected on their mobile, and have the right plan for their mobile needs.”