Supermarket giants Tesco and Asda are the UK’s top mobile phone providers, according to the results of a new survey by consumer watchdog Which?.
Tesco Mobile was voted the number one network provider for both pay monthly contract and SIM only deals, receiving a customer satisfaction score of 74 per cent.
Respondents were particular impressed by the company’s pay monthly costs, which were put down to the competitive and shorter, 12-month tariffs it offers.
Asda Mobile came first in the Pay as You Go (PAYG) category, with users giving it 78 per cent rating, followed by Tesco Mobile with 66 per cent and O2 (65 per cent).
T-Mobile and Virgin Media Mobile came bottom in this category with scores of just 51 and 52 per cent respectively.
However, scores for staff knowledge and helpfulness both in-store and online were “mediocre across the board”, according to Which?
Vodafone took top spot for in-store service, receiving a rating of just 58 per cent, while O2 topped the online retailer section with a similarly low score of 59 per cent.
Commenting on the findings, Which? chief executive Peter Vicary-Smith, said: “The vast differences in the network’s scores show that newer players, such as the supermarket giants, give consumers more choice and are offering affordable packages without sacrificing customer service.”
“People spend millions of pounds each year buying mobiles, and many people visit high street stores specifically to get advice on different tariffs or handsets. So it’s disappointing to hear that the shopping experience isn’t up to scratch.”
