Companies that hire IT support complain that some techies turning up are patronising, suffer from BO and halitosis and are dressed in "scruffy trainers" and "heavy metal t-shirts".

This rather uncomplimentary picture of tech support staff comes courtesy of Surrey-based IT services outfit Blue Screen, which quizzed around 100 SMEs to find out their biggest gripes about IT support.

There was also a tendency for helpdesk staff to deal with problems in a "patronising and over-simplified manner", said the survey, while others complained that the services on offer were simply not value for money.

Of course, the eye-grabber in this "top ten gripes survey" is the notion that companies are hacked off with a "lack of personal hygiene and understanding of on-site dress codes and protocols".

Said the survey: "Many companies highlighted body odour, halitosis, and inappropriate dress such as 'scruffy trainers' and 'heavy metal t-shirts' as reasons for dissatisfaction with the technicians that their IT support firms had sent."

Oh dear, one senses that Blue Screen's "Contact us" button could be in great demand this afternoon … ®