BROADBAND customers will get compensation for poor service more quickly under an Ofcom scheme announced yesterday that is expected to pay out £142 million a year.

Companies including BT, Sky, TalkTalk, Virgin Media and Zen Internet have agreed to automatically credit customers’ accounts if they experience slow repairs, missed appointments or delayed installations, so they do not have to chase companies.

The watchdog said currently only around 15 per cent of those who complain get a refund, mostly of small amounts.