| In light of new guidelines due to be brought into | | | | they are getting. If it's significantly lower than the |
| force early in 2008, broadband providers could face | | | | speed originally quoted, the customer has the option |
| legal action if they do not give accurate information | | | | of switching free to a different package or backing |
| to customers when they sign up. This welcome ruling | | | | out of the deal with no penalties incurred. |
| was put into motion by Ofcom, the technology | | | | For most of the broadband users in the UK, this ruling |
| watchdog. | | | | could not have come too soon. When |
| The rule mainly covers the question of the | | | | Computeractive magazine did a study back in |
| connection speeds, which there has been some | | | | September 2007 it found that 62% of people who |
| controversy over in recent months. It was | | | | used its speed-testing software were getting less |
| discovered that customers were paying for speeds | | | | than half the speed advertised by their ISP. For |
| advertised as 'up to' 8MB, 16MB or even 24MB, when | | | | example, on an '8MB' connection, the actual average |
| in some cases were only getting perhaps a quarter | | | | speed is 2.7Mbps. That's just a third of the speed the |
| of that. | | | | customer would be paying for. |
| Providers argued that the 'up to' wording indicated | | | | It can sometimes make a difference if you pay a |
| that the advertised speed were only a maximum and | | | | higher price. cheap broadband packages tend to have |
| not a guarantee, but Ofcom's stance was that it was | | | | a higher contention rate, which means you're sharing |
| misleading, and there was too much difference | | | | your bandwidth with more people and therefore |
| between advertised and actual. They have called for | | | | getting a slower speed. Paying a higher tariff can |
| a 'typical' speed to be shown instead - much like the | | | | sometimes get you a lower contention, but you may |
| typical APR on credit cards. | | | | need to ask about this as not all providers advertise |
| The new code states that broadband providers must | | | | it. |
| assess a customers line and give accurate, clear data | | | | If you're unhappy with your current connection |
| as to what speed they can expect from their line, | | | | speed, try and wait until this new ruling comes into |
| provide information about things that can affect line | | | | force before switching ISP's. You may find you get a |
| speed, and also contact them two weeks after the | | | | faster speed and better deal. |
| service installation to let them know what speed | | | | |