Internet speeds often do not live up to the expectations detailed in advertising and web users have been urged to check their own services to see how they measure up.
Broadband Genie offers its own speed test, so that internet users can find out if their service really is as fast as it claims to be.
Chris Marling, editor of the independent broadband comparison site, commented that in the current economic climate, it is especially hard to justify paying for a service not being adequately provided.
"Factors such as closeness to your nearest telephone exchange and the quality of your ISP's equipment (or network coverage if you're using mobile broadband) can hugely affect your broadband speeds," he said.
"It is up to the individual to reach their own conclusions. It takes about one minute to run the Broadband Genie speed test; what have you got to lose?"
Recent research from Ofcom found that less than half of respondents to the watchdog's survey actually received the speed their service was advertised at.
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