Ofcom’s Consumer Panel Slaps Broadband Providers Wrists over Broadband Speeds

We’ve all seen the adverts (and paid the price) for broadband speeds of 24Meg, 8Meg etc etc when in fact you are more likely to get 4 or at best 5MB ADSL broadband depending on your location – well at last, someone is here to protect us (kind of!). Ofcom’s Consumer Panel have suggested that ISPs should adhere to a mandatory code of practice to prevent customers from being misled over broadband speeds.  Early this year they wrote to six of the top Internet Service Providers asking them to explain why customers weren’t receiving the broadband speeds that are advertised and they pay for. The  phrase “up to” in adverts e.g. up to 24Meg was a cause for particular concern when describing the speed of connections.

Following the meetings with the ISP’s the Consumer Panel has asked Ofcom to implement a code of practice that will demand ISPs to :

• make clear the maximum speed available to a customer on their actual line during the sales process
• offer concise information about limiting factors that can harm line speeds
• contact customers within two of installation to inform them of their actual broadband download speeds
• enable customers to move to a different broadband package, or even let them out of their contract for free, if the actual broadband speeds they receive are significantly lower than the package they purchased

Both the Consumer Panel and ISP’s were concerned that the public were so dissatisfied over broadband speeds and the Panel has also called upon the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) to review the way broadband speeds are advertised.

The Consumer Panel – which is independent of the regulator itself – can’t force Ofcom to abide by its recommendations.

Please Note - All Prices Quoted Are Correct at Time of Posting

Vonage targets Skype 0207 customers

Vonage have reacted quickly to news that voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) provider Skype’s announcement that 0207 (central London) numbers would not be supported after December 20th by offering affected users the chance to continue using their 0207 number. The decision is reported to impact as many as 10,000 Skype users within the UK. 

Vonage call plans start from £5.99 a month for unlimited calls to UK and Ireland landline calls and £7.99 for international call packages. Vonage are also in the process of relaunching their website on the back of a usability study which will make their cheap international phone calls packages easier to understand for prospective customers. 

>> Visit Vonage’s website to see their cheap phone call packages

Please Note - All Prices Quoted Are Correct at Time of Posting

FREE PlayStation 3 when you sign up to AOL Broadband

AOL broadband have added to their excellent FREE Dell laptop offer by giving you the choice of a PlayStation 3 instead for the gamers out there. If you make an order by 5pm today (Monday 17th December) the PS3 will arrive in time for Christmas!

You will recieve up to 8Meg broadband from AOL for £19.99 a month as well as the following :

• Super-fast broadband with up to 8Mbps download speed.
• Subscription to AOL Talk Pay As You Go. 
• FREE PlayStation® 3 with a 40gb hard drive to store photos, music, and video content.
• The PlayStation® 3 acts as blu-ray player as well. Blu-ray is the next generation of DVD.
• Includes wireless Sixaxis(tm) controller for PS3
• Ratchet & Clank(tm): Tools of Destruction game and Stealth movie on Blu-ray(tm) disc.
• Wireless router included (worth £50).
• Full Wireless Security and 24 hour online support.
• Free calls to the Technical Support Team.

That’s a pretty impressive broadband package!

>> Sign up for AOL broadband and get a FREE PS3 or Dell Laptop

Please Note - All Prices Quoted Are Correct at Time of Posting