TalkTalk ranked worst for broadband – again

TALKTALK has been shamed as the worst broadband provider amid continuing anger over the country’s slow and failing online service.

It was the fifth time running the provider has finished bottom in the survey, which highlights how Britain lags behind much of the world in broadband speeds. Our ability to stream video, browse the web and use email remains frustrating, particularly at peak evening times.

Research from consumer group Which? found many providers are delivering woeful customer service.

Most broadband services are run through copper wires installed decades ago to carry telephone calls. This means that speed is inevitably poor and gets worse the further a property is away from a telephone exchange.

The Which? research, which surveyed more than 1,700 customers, shows that some of the biggest broadband providers ranked the poorest for customer service failings such as poor speeds and connection dropouts. TalkTalk’s customer satisfaction score was just 40 per cent in the biannual survey.

Sky’s broadband service suffered the biggest drop in approval since the last survey in April, earning an overall customer score of 45 per cent. And BT came third from the bottom on 46 per cent.

The small company Zen Internet, which is based in Rochdale, took the top spot once again with a score of 85 per cent, followed by Utility Warehouse (76 per cent) and SSE (68 per cent).

Which? managing director of home services Alex Neill said: ‘Far too many people are still getting a poor deal from their provider. Big players need to improve their service or expect their customers to take their business elsewhere.’

A TalkTalk spokesman said: ‘Our investment programme has already led to fewer faults and quicker repairs. We will continue investing to improve the service.’