The providers use all sorts of tricks, they claim to know when you are on a peer2peer run, and video download and slow you down during peak hours. I found access on dial-up was abysmal during the Olympics, and noise about broadband seemed to concur. Maybe they are upgrading locally or they know what you are doing.

My dial-up is infinitely better now but I have all but stopped using one except to send e-mails. They answer all e-mails with irrelavent questions until you finally get a blank e-mail. It is the trend nowadays. My Waitrose payasyougo has a free support line and I get good service from it.

But all cheap broadband (say less than £20/mth) has a 50:1 sharing ratio. Go rip-out yer neighbour's line and re-test. Mind you it may take 49 angry residents before you find the one.