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Asian markets fluctuate as rate-hope rally fades
Asian markets fluctuate as rate-hope rally fades
Asian markets struggled for direction on Tuesday as investors weighed signs of a slowing US economy against hopes the Federal Reserve's interest rate hiking cycle...
2023-07-04 11:20
IAEA chief in Japan ahead of Fukushima water release
IAEA chief in Japan ahead of Fukushima water release
UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi arrived in Japan on Tuesday to present a review of Tokyo's plans to release treated water from the Fukushima...
2023-07-04 11:16
Medical, but hold the marijuana: new CBD source found in Brazil
Medical, but hold the marijuana: new CBD source found in Brazil
In a laboratory tucked away on a sprawling university campus in Rio de Janeiro, Brazilian molecular biologist Rodrigo Moura Neto is running tests on a seemingly...
2023-07-04 10:28
Green economy, security in focus as Indonesia, Australia leaders meet in Sydney
Green economy, security in focus as Indonesia, Australia leaders meet in Sydney
By Kirsty Needham SYDNEY The green economy, an easing of business visas for Indonesians, and regional security will
2023-07-04 08:50
Broadband customers plagued by issues despite inflation-busting price hikes
Broadband customers plagued by issues despite inflation-busting price hikes
More than half of broadband customers have experienced problems with their connection over the past year, despite providers inflicting inflation-busting price hikes, a survey suggests. The latest “broadband satisfaction survey” by Which? found that 53% of the nearly 4,000 broadband customers polled had experienced connection issues in the year to January, most commonly frequent connection dropouts, “very” slow speeds and slow uploads and downloads. The issues were “persistent” across all the providers, with narrow margins between the best and worst offenders for poor customer experiences. It's completely unacceptable that customers who have faced these eye-watering increases are also experiencing so many problems with their connection Which? The watchdog noted that the scale of problems added “insult to injury” as many customers saw their bills jump by more than 14% after many providers chose to impose inflation-based price increases earlier this year. Providers often link their annual price rises to January’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) or the Retail Price Index (RPI), which were 10.5% and 13.4% respectively – an amount which would have been unforeseeable for customers signing up to their contract 18 or 24 months previously. The current system forces millions of customers to choose between paying more each month or exorbitant exit fees, which can exceed £200. Industry watchdog Ofcom is currently investigating whether inflation-linked, mid-contract price rises give customers sufficient certainty and clarity when signing up to new contracts. Of the UK’s biggest providers, Sky, Virgin Media, and EE had the lowest proportion of customers who had not experienced any issues, with just 32%, 35% and 37% of their customers not reporting any problems. Of the major providers, BT fared best with 49% of its customers not experiencing a performance issue in the past year. Hyperoptic, Shell Energy Broadband and Utility Warehouse performed better, with half or more of their customers not experiencing any performance issue over the 12 months. However, even with these providers, at least four in 10 customers said they had experienced at least one problem. Frequent connection drop outs were the most common broadband issue, experienced by 19% of those who had suffered a problem. Some 17% suffered slow speeds, while 15% experienced slow uploads and downloads. One in seven (14%) said they had been left without a connection for at least an hour. One in 10 (12%) experienced slow or disrupted streaming when listening to music or watching videos and 8% said they were left without connection for more than a day. Overall, around four in 10 (44%) said they had experienced some kind of customer service issue and 11% said they had either found it difficult to get in touch with their provider or struggled to get their issue resolved. It’s absolutely critical that Ofcom’s review of inflation linked mid-contract hikes results in changes that ensure customers are never trapped in this situation again Rocio Concha, Which? Rocio Concha, Which? director of policy and advocacy, said: “A reliable connection is essential to modern life. Earlier this year, many broadband consumers were hit with mid-contract price hikes of more than 14% – meaning that it’s more important than ever that their provider offers a reliable connection and good customer service. “It’s completely unacceptable that customers who have faced these eye-watering increases are also experiencing so many problems with their connection. Broadband firms need to work harder to resolve these issues and offer a better service. “While some customers are able to switch away to better service and prices, many are trapped in contracts where they either have to accept above inflation price hikes in the spring or pay exorbitant exit fees to leave the contract early. “It’s absolutely critical that Ofcom’s review of inflation linked mid-contract hikes results in changes that ensure customers are never trapped in this situation again.” A Sky spokeswoman said: “We are committed to providing the best service to our customers. “We do not believe this is a representative survey – Ofcom’s quarterly complaints data shows we are consistently one of the least complained about broadband providers and, in Ofcom’s latest report, we received the fewest complaints out of all broadband providers.” A Virgin Media spokesman said: “While these findings are only taken from a small sample of customers, the latest, fuller data from Ofcom shows that our customers benefit from the fastest download speeds, and customer complaints on our broadband services fell by 22% in the first quarter of this year.” EE said: “Ofcom’s latest complaints report shows that we remain one of the least complained about broadband providers, with complaints remaining well below the industry average throughout recent years. “We have proudly led the way with social tariffs since 2008, with around 80% of the total market being supported on BT social tariffs. “Customers who are struggling financially and are eligible for our social tariffs can move penalty-free at any point in their contract, this also includes EE and Plusnet customers. “ Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Will.i.am hails AI technology as ‘new renaissance’ in music Heart transplant woman’s daughter twice saved her life using Alexa Dolly Parton on AI and not wanting to leave her soul ‘here on earth’
2023-07-04 07:26
Oil prices fall despite output cuts, equities wobble
Oil prices fall despite output cuts, equities wobble
Oil prices reversed into the red Monday on global growth concerns, despite fresh output cuts by key producers Saudi Arabia and Russia...
2023-07-04 04:50
Biden names two nominees for FTC commissioner, White House says
Biden names two nominees for FTC commissioner, White House says
WASHINGTON U.S. President Joe Biden has nominated Virginia Solicitor General Andrew Ferguson and Utah Solicitor General Melissa Holyoak
2023-07-04 03:22
Mercosur calls for 'update' to draft EU trade agreement
Mercosur calls for 'update' to draft EU trade agreement
South American trade block Mercosur opened a two-day summit on Monday with host Argentina calling for an "update" to a long-paused trade deal with the European Union which it said...
2023-07-04 01:55
Senate committee to hear from two PGA tour officials about merger with Saudi-backed LIV
Senate committee to hear from two PGA tour officials about merger with Saudi-backed LIV
WASHINGTON Two officials from the PGA Tour have agreed to testify on July 11 about its merger with
2023-07-03 23:22
Hamburgers and steaks are a big climate problem. Could new grazing practices be the answer?
Hamburgers and steaks are a big climate problem. Could new grazing practices be the answer?
It sounds like clickbait: How this one weird cow trick can improve soil, water, wildlife, and farmer wealth while pulling tons of planet-cooking carbon from the sky. But research has found grazing like buffalo has plenty of benefits.
2023-07-03 22:15
Activists protest over ship pollution at maritime meet
Activists protest over ship pollution at maritime meet
Environmental campaigners protested Monday outside the London-based International Maritime Organization, which is meeting to discuss curbing carbon dioxide emissions from...
2023-07-03 21:21
Troubled retailer Tesco picks Burberry boss as chair
Troubled retailer Tesco picks Burberry boss as chair
Britain's biggest retailer Tesco on Monday named Burberry boss Gerry Murphy as chairman, replacing John Allan who stepped down after...
2023-07-03 20:24
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