A service launched by BT which offers to improve broadband speeds or "your money back" has been branded expensive.

As part of its Home IT Support service, BT has pledged to improve broadband speeds by at least 0.5Mbps (megabits per second).

But with a price tag of £90, some industry watchers suggest users find alternative ways of upping speeds.

Broadband speeds vary for a variety of reasons, including distance from the telephone exchange.

Accurate speed

TOP TEN ISPS FOR SPEED* O2 - 6.4Mbps Be - 5.5Mbps Virgin Media - 4.1Mbps Sky - 3.8Mbps PlusNet - 3.2Mbps Post Office - 3.0Mbps TalkTalk - 2.9Mbps BT - 2.8Mbps Demon - 2.8Mbps Orange - 2.7Mbps *Average speeds. Data supplied by TopTenBroadband

The BT Broadband Accelerator service offers to investigate reasons for a slow connection, including tweaks to the performance of a PC, as well as more complex problems such as rewiring sockets or improving the general wiring in the home.

It promises to boost broadband by at least 0.5Mbps with the promise of a refund if that is not achieved.

The service will be offered by BT's Home IT Support service, which sends engineers to peoples' homes to sort out technical issues.

Speed, and the lack of it, remains an extremely hot topic among consumers.

The subject attracted more comment on the BBC's website than any other in its history when it was discussed last week.

Many consumers are disappointed that services promising speeds of up to 8Mbps are falling far short of this.

As a result of complaints, regulator Ofcom now wants companies to publish accurate estimates of the maximum connection speeds people can expect before they buy broadband packages.