HowardForums users and Prepaid Phone News have both reported that Target’s MVNO, Brightspot Mobile, has been throttling users’ data incorrectly due to a glitch in the data tracking. From what it sounds like, this problem is mostly effecting the $35 plan users but might be might be effecting others as well, so I thought I would help spread the word.
The $35 plan includes 3 GB of high speed data, but with the glitch, the data counters are not being reset when the plan renews. This means that that data counter for the month is including data used in previous months, causing the carrier to treat customers as if they had exceeded the 3GB limit and throttling their data to 128 kbps. Prepaid Phone News also reports that the bug is effecting the text counter but not the minute counter.
On HowardForums, the reports first started at the end of July and only a few users have managed to get the problem fixed–mostly by calling Brightspot and demanding it be fixed immediately. One user even had to resort to filing an FCC complaint and writing letters to Brightspot and Target in order to get any sort of response. The customer service has been reported to be clueless and unhelpful. Several users have reported that they got a supervisor to reset the counter by pitching a fit, but it doesn’t seem to be universal–just depends on which supervisor you catch. Several users have filed ‘tickets’ with an engineering department or sent letters, but no resolution seems to be coming.
If there are any developments, I’ll keep everyone informed. For now, Brightspot users should be sure to keep an eye on their data and text counters and contact Brightspot (for what little it’s worth) if you notice anything odd.
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