Broadband: Looking for the best and worst of broadband providers
Broadband: PlusNet best, Orange worst provider
Tuesday, 18 Mar 2008 00:01
PlusNet has been named as the UK's best broadband provider with over 86 per cent of customers satisfied, while Orange has won the wooden spoon for worst provider.
Overall one in two customers unhappy with the customer service they receive.
Research by uSwitch.com shows BT was rated worst for value for money – for the second year running – with its service 50 per cent dearer than the cheapest broadband deal available over the length of a fixed contract.
PlusNet – bought by BT in 2006 but run independently – won nine of the 11 categories including best customer Service, best technical support and best quality of connection.
Second place overall was taken by Sky, moving ahead of Virgin Media.
Steve Weller, communications expert at uSwitch, said: “Once again PlusNet is putting its larger competitors to shame – it’s definitely a case of ‘small but perfectly formed’.
"The rest of the pack needs to seriously up their game. Issues can no longer be put down to ‘teething problems’ – broadband has been up and running for seven years so any flaws should have been well and truly ironed out by now."
PlusNet scored well for its technical support, competitive pricing and 24 hour UK customer service centre, something many others are still failing to do, with seven of the nine providers failing to satisfy more than half of their customers.
Mr Weller added: "Last year consumers spent £31 million on phone calls trying to fix problems with their broadband, and over £11 million of this was wasted on hold waiting to speak to someone.
"It’s still unacceptable that, when it comes to technical support, just two providers are managing to satisfy more than half of their customers."
Winners and losers of uSwitch.com's broadband awards:
| Winner | Loser |
| Best overall customer satisfaction | PlusNet | Orange |
| Most likely to be recommended | PlusNet | Orange |
| Best value for money | PlusNet / Sky | BT |
| Best customer service | PlusNet | Orange |
| Best technical support | PlusNet | Orange |
| Best for billing | TalkTalk | AOL |
| Best quality of connection | PlusNet | TalkTalk |
| Best for speed satisfaction | PlusNet | TalkTalk |
| Best ‘deal for you’ | Sky | Pipex |
| Best for ease of use | PlusNet | TalkTalk |
| Best for setup support | PlusNet | TalkTalk/Orange |