What do the latest Ofcom complaints figures show?
The latest Ofcom complaints figures, published on Monday 26 October, cover April to June 2026. Ofcom says complaints fell compared with the previous quarter, but the drop came from pay TV. Complaints about broadband, landline and mobile stayed the same.
Every provider would like you to believe it is the nice one. Ofcom’s numbers are one of the few places you can check, because they count complaints made to the regulator, not a provider’s own marketing.
The details are in Ofcom’s Q2 2026 complaints announcement. Here is what matters for your broadband.
Key takeaways
- BT, EE, TalkTalk and Vodafone were the most complained about broadband providers in April to June.
- Plusnet, Sky and Virgin Media were the least complained about.
- Faults, service quality and getting connected were the biggest reasons for complaints.
- Ofcom’s charts count complaints per 100,000 subscribers, so size alone does not decide the ranking.
Which broadband providers got the most Ofcom complaints?
BT, EE, TalkTalk and Vodafone were the most complained about broadband providers in the second quarter. Compared with the previous quarter, BT’s figures stayed the same, EE saw an increase, and TalkTalk and Vodafone saw a fall.
The least complained about were Plusnet, Sky and Virgin Media. That is a snapshot of one quarter, not a verdict on how any provider will treat you.
It also helps to know what the figures are. Ofcom says they cover complaints it has received, and it cannot help with individual complaints. Its charts show complaints per 100,000 subscribers, which means a big provider is not marked down just for having more customers.
If you want the earlier picture, our earlier post on Ofcom’s broadband complaints data is the place to start. Ofcom also noted a deal announced earlier this month for BT Group to acquire TalkTalk Group, which happened after the period these figures cover. Our BT and TalkTalk takeover post explains what it means for customers.
Why do people complain to Ofcom about broadband?
People complain about broadband mainly because of faults, service quality and getting the service connected. Those were the biggest reasons across broadband, landline and mobile in April to June, according to Ofcom.
Notice what is missing. Price is not named in Ofcom’s list of the biggest reasons. Think of a line that keeps dropping out, or an install date that keeps slipping.
That is useful when you are choosing a deal. A cheap headline price is only cheap if the line works and arrives when it is supposed to. Look at what real customers say about faults and installs, not just the monthly price.
What about landline, mobile and pay TV complaints?
Ofcom’s figures cover more than broadband, and the picture changes by service. Here is what it reported for the second quarter, using its own wording.
- Landline: Plusnet generated the most complaints, up on the previous quarter. Sky, Utility Warehouse, Virgin Media and Vodafone generated the fewest.
- Pay monthly mobile: O2 and Sky Mobile generated the most. EE, Giffgaff, Tesco Mobile, Three, Vodafone and iD Mobile generated the fewest.
- Pay TV: EE and Virgin Media were the most complained about, and TalkTalk the least.
The same provider can sit at opposite ends of different tables. Vodafone, for example, is among the most complained about for broadband and among the fewest for landline and pay monthly mobile. That is why “which provider is best” never has one answer.
Our mobile network complaints post goes deeper on the mobile side if you are weighing up a phone contract as well.
Should the Ofcom complaints table decide which provider you pick?
It should be one input, not the whole decision. The Ofcom complaints table tells you how often customers of a provider went to the regulator in one quarter. It does not tell you how good the network is where you live, and it cannot tell you about your own install.
Ofcom’s own findings show why one quarter is not the whole story. It says Plusnet’s landline complaints were mainly about how its complaints were handled, O2’s mobile complaints were mainly about faults, service and connections, and Sky Mobile’s were about changing provider. The reasons differ as much as the numbers.
Read the Ofcom complaints figures as a prompt to ask better questions, not as a ranking to follow blindly. A provider near the top of a complaints table might have improved since. One near the bottom might have had a bad quarter.
Three things are worth doing before you sign for 18 or 24 months. First, check the contract length and what it costs to leave early. Second, check how and when any price rises apply. Third, ask yourself what you will do if the line fails, because that is the thing people complain about most.
Use the Ofcom complaints numbers alongside what you can check yourself: the speeds offered at your address, the contract length, the price rise terms and the exit fees. Sitting still on a deal you do not trust is the Do-Nothing Default, and it can cost you more than a few minutes of checking.
If something does go wrong, our broadband compensation guide and broadband ombudsman guide explain what you can ask for and where to go next.
Frequently asked questions about Ofcom complaints
- Which broadband provider had the fewest Ofcom complaints?
- Ofcom named Plusnet, Sky and Virgin Media as the least complained about broadband providers in April to June 2026.
- Which broadband providers had the most Ofcom complaints?
- BT, EE, TalkTalk and Vodafone were the most complained about, according to Ofcom’s figures for the second quarter of 2026.
- Are Ofcom complaints figures counted per customer?
- Ofcom’s charts show complaints per 100,000 subscribers for each provider, so a larger provider is not ranked worse just for having more customers.
- Can Ofcom resolve my own complaint?
- No. Ofcom says it cannot help with individual customer complaints. It publishes the figures to help people choose providers and services.
- What are the main reasons people complain about broadband?
- Ofcom says the biggest reasons for broadband, landline and mobile complaints were faults, service quality and getting services connected.
