Mobile giants Vodafone, EE named worst big providers in the UK

Mobile phone giants Vodafone and EE have been named the worst big brand providers in the UK by a consumer watchdog.

A Which? customer satisfaction survey placed two of the most popular smartphone companies at the bottom with scores of a poor 49 out of 100.

Both could notch up only two of five stars for value for money and easy access to technical staff when users faced problems.

EE could earn only one star for incentives to keep customers loyal and two for overall customer service.

While Vodafone earned two stars for trying to hang on to customers, it bagged three for customer service.

Contract-free mobile network GiffGaff topped with 79 out of 100, leaving behind big all the bigger brands including Three, O2 and Virgin Mobile for the second year running.

More than 4,000 consumers who participated, gave star ratings on a host of factors including customer service, ease of contacting, value for money and incentives.

Giffgaff scored on low prices plus flexible approach to selling pay-as-you-go (PAYG) Sim cards and unlocked handsets that could be used on any network.

Asda Mobile with 72 per cent led Tesco Mobile, which scored 70 per cent.

According to the survey, Asda's good standing might have been boosted by a PAYG service which was rated highly for value for money.

Rochdale-based Zen International, with 90,000 customers, topped the broadband provider table with a satisfaction rating of 83 per cent, ahead of Utility Warehouse at 80 per cent.

Plusnet took the third spot with 65 per cent, just ahead of John Lewis Broadband at 64 per cent, Post Office at 59 per cent, Vodafone at 58 per cent and Virgin Media at 54 per cent.

Customers gave Sky a 50 per cent satisfaction rating while EE Broadband got 49 per cent.

International calls specialist Lebara emerged as the worst mobile provider, but amongst the big pay-monthly brands Vodafone had the most complaints.