Neighbour has higher broadband speed than me!

@walter,

It seems to me that much of this problem stems from ISPs mis-understanding the way in which BT have implemented the 'estimator' and, specifically, they don't understand that for an established service it just seems to indicate the current line speeds, regadless of whether the line is capable of much better.

So the speed estimator won't increase it's estimate as long as it's on a fixed rate, but the ISP won't lift the fixed rate til the 'estimator' increases its estimate. Catch 22.

But upon long-term power off, the estimator would need to find someting else upon which to base its estimate, which may well be the postcode-average, thus breaking free of the 'catch 22'. Mike could then approach his ISP and point out the estimator now shows (say) 5 or 6 Mbps, whereup the ISP's script would allow them to take an interest.

It's just a theory, and I've very little evidence for it, don't count on it.