Using third party mail accounts through BT Broadband

BT have security features to stop spam, but this can make it a little difficult to send emails from your PC.

There is a common problem with sending mail through BT, which several of our customers have encountered. This issue is caused by BT implementing a system to prevent spam from being sent through their system. These anti-spam features built into the server which are designed to stop you from sending mail through third party addresses until you verify the address with their server. This would include any emails set up on domains which we manage for you.

Unfortunately BT do not actually tell you this, nor do the tech support people at BT explain and will simply blame the owner of the mail service you are attempting to use. It takes some searching on the internet to find the solution to this problem BT actually do list the solution themselves, but don't make it obvious.

Please bear in mind that you can always send and receive mail through the webmail service that we offer, details of this will be sent with the email settings. This webmail service is available from anywhere with your email address and password.

To get BT to allow you to send email from a third party address go to the BT/Yahoo Webmail service. This is all a bit tiresome, but on the upside, you only have to do it once for each address you need to use.

https://login.yahoo.com/config/login?.intl=uk&.partner=bt-1

You will need to log in using your BTInternet username (usually your BT email address) and password. Within here is the ability to verify a third party email address. You will have to do this with every email address you use. Once you have logged in, click the 'options' link, then 'mail options', then 'accounts', then 'add or edit an account'.

Click the 'add' button. You now have to enter an identity for the address (this is just so that you can recognise the address). Click next and enter your name and the email address. You can click 'skip this step' when it asks you to set up the mail servers (this is only necessary for if you want to collect your mail through the BT webmail service).

Then click the 'send verification' link. A 'verify account' window opens. You need to check your mail in outlook express or through our webmail (this may take a few minutes to come through). BT will send you an email with a verification code, you need to enter this code in the 'verify account' window which you ended up on in the BT website.

Once you have verified the mail address on the website, you will have to tell Outlook Express to route outgoing mail through the BT mail server.

>From the 'Tools' menu in Outlook Express, choose 'Accounts' and select the 'Mail' tab
Double-click on the account to be changed.
Click on the 'Servers' tab. The incoming mail server (POP3) needs to be the mail server settings we sent to you (usually mail.yourdomain.co.uk
Change the Outgoing mail (SMTP) to mail.btinternet.com

Do not change the username and password.
Next to the "My server requires authentication" check-box (which should be ticked), click on the Settings button.

Select the 'Log on using' option and here enter your BT Internet Mail account username and password. Tick the 'Remember password' option. Click OK, OK again and Close.

Once this is done you should be able to send and receive mail correctly.

If you have any problems, double check the settings in the Mail Account properties window, if these are all correct then do call and I will be happy to help.