I connect via USB, numerous attempts to connect via Ethernet have failed although I haven't got around to sticking in a replacement Ethernet card yet (the current Ethernet card certainly isn't entirely at fault since I've used it recently for local networking successfully). I don't see how the USB connection can be the cause though: this slowness just started a couple of weeks ago, I've had a USB connection happily since I got NTL over a year ago; the STB (Pace 4000) hasn't changed; and I was running quite happily on 1mbps for some time after upgrading. This is all what makes me think it's a problem on the network rather than on the PC or STB.
Yes, I will keep pestering them
It's either that or switch to another supplier and I'm keen to avoid the upheaval ...