A spokesman for Carphone Warehouse-owned TalkTalk told us the firm would look on requests to escape binding 12-month arrangements "favourably" if it had failed to keep its service commitments in their case.

Another well-placed source told us it was unofficial policy to let anyone go who was unhappy at the level of service TalkTalk had provided.

TalkTalk's "free" broadband service, which offered punters who signed a 12-month landline contract a broadband connection at no extra charge, has been beset by problems from the outset. Industry watchers have claimed the firm rushed its launch, and has suffered bad press and let down customers because of it.