Although if your are currently paying for an upto 8mb ADSL package and are getting a lot lower than that then it is due to your phone line and you won't get any faster even if you pay for it.
put you phone number in the link below and it will tell you what speed you should be able to get
Thanks to both of you for those answers, especially ChuckFickens, that was a very useful site to go on. It actually gave me all the answers I need. We are unable to get a faster speed broadband where we live cos we are in the middle of nowhere !