The "service provider" business model is pretty daft to begin with.

With old telephone ISPs, BT made the money, and then lots of "free" ISP services appeared - these were self-evidently flawed because someone had to pay metered bills. But like buffoons millions ran to them and then passed the onion "I can't get a CD from NTL boo hoo. Freeserve disconnects me all the time boo hoo. Red hot bollock's 0800 number is engaged boo hoo...please help me Anne Robinson" when the service failed to deliver.

Much like paying a variety of different companies for the same gas or electricity supply, it's bound to lead to bollocks like this - because the companies have no service to offer - the customer wants a telephone line, a gas supply, electricity, but these companies sell a logo and a bill using your typical British sales person, as seen on The Apprentice - a scumbag with no morals.

Bar the few quid a few BT pensioners made on the share save scheme, "privatising" BT meant we let the Government of the day piss BT up the wall.

Now we have one provider and a bunch of people that can give the same service a different logo and bill. What else are these companies to do other than stuff like this? As noted, charging less money - or laughably making it "Free" is just bollocks - although there are plenty still stupid enough to go for it.

More fool anyone who buys a service from a company that can't offer a service and just badges someone elses. If and when soon after their BB stops working what did they expect to happen?