Broadband limits slammed by site

23/10/2008

Many UK broadband users are left out of pocket due to potentially misleading advertising from providers, uSwitch has suggested.

According to research from the financial website, 6.2 million users wrongly believe that they can go online to an unlimited extent.

In fact, almost six in ten broadband providers remain ready to disconnect those who use their connections "to excess" - despite many labelling their products as "unlimited".

This is partly because the Advertising Standards Authority allows firms to impose a "fair usage" cap - but only requires them to detail these limitations in the small print of media campaigns.

Tim Wolfenden, head of communications at uSwitch, commented: "The solution is easy, broadband companies should not be allowed to class their packages as unlimited if they are not. Providers are confusing consumers to the extent that broadband users do not even know if they are exceeding a user limit. Broadband usage levels have gone through the roof as more and more consumers are using things such as on-demand TV services."

He added: "With so much reliance on broadband, having the service disconnected could feel to someone as serious as having their electricity cut off."

Tags; Budgeting Advice, Recent Graduate Debt,

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