Tiscali has hit out at Moneysupermarket.com, alleging that the price comparison website is failing to provide complete or balanced information.

The price comparision site reported that broadband providers are charging rural customers up to £15 a month extra for living in their 'blackspots' or outside their Local Loop Unbundling (LLU) areas.

"We are astounded by Moneysupermarket’s press release of 7 July," Tiscali said in a statement.

"We would also like to point out that their information is far from complete and doesn’t feature BSkyB or Virgin Media; both companies have significant price and product differentials for non-LLU and non-cable customers respectively," said Tiscali.

"It is a shame that they have chosen to communicate in this way, as this is surely failing in their duty to provide consumers with complete and balanced information and, in doing so, helping them to find the best deals.”

In response, Moneysupermarket today issued a subsequent release, which stated that Sky charges non-LLU customers in 8.4m homes £17 a month compared with £5 a month for the LLU equivalent. Moneysupermarket also pointed out that this difference is clearly shown on Sky's web site.