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Britons with major broadband providers like Sky, BT, and EE have seen automatic compensation for service issues go up this month. 10 major providers are signed up to a scheme by Ofcom, committing to provide "compensation for delayed repairs following a loss of service, missed repairs or provision appointments, and delays to the start of a new service", the regulator's website explains.

The level of compensation customers receive rises annually in line with inflation, with payments upped from April 1 each year based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) as of October 31 in the year before. The compensation for a delayed repair following a loss of service is now £10.34 per calendar day the service is not repaired, up from £9.98 previously. You'll be entitled to it if your service stops working and it is not fully fixed after 2 full working days.

The automatic payment for missed appointments has been boosted from £31.19 to £32.31 per missed appointment. This is paid out when an engineer fails to turn up for a scheduled appointment, or it is cancelled with less than 24 hours' notice.

Meanwhile, the payment for delays in the start of a new service has also been increased from £6.24 to £6.46 per calendar day of delay, including the missed start date.

You'll get this if your provider promises to start a new service on a particular date, but doesn't.

Signatories to the Ofcom code include BT, EE, Hyperoptic, Plusnet, Sky (including NOW Broadband), TalkTalk (restrictions apply for customers not on the Openreach network), Utility Warehouse, Virgin Media, Vodafone, and Zen Internet.

However, it's worth noting that smaller providers may not be included. The compensation boosts apply to any new service issues that occur with the major providers that are part of the scheme from the start of this month.

It covers all residential fixed broadband and landline products, but you will only get one compensation payment if your landline and broadband both lose service at the same time.

Payment should be paid no later than 30 days after:

• a delayed start of a new service is resolved or the service is cancelled
• the loss of service is resolved or the service is terminated
• the date of the missed appointment

How compensation will be a credit on your bill unless you agree otherwise. And while the credit will appear on your account within these timeframes, it may show on your bill at a later date.

Providers can offer alternative forms of compensation of the same or higher value, but must make you aware of how much you could receive in the form of a credit on your bill.

There are circumstances in which providers may not be obligated to pay out, such as if the loss in service is caused by equipment or activity within your home, or if you breach your contract, cause the service failure, or prevent it from being fully resolved.

You can find out more on the Ofcom website.

Customers who don't get the compensation you believe they're entitled to under the scheme are told to contact their provider. For unresolved complaints, there is an Ofcom-approved alternative dispute resolution (ADR) service.