Friends highlight new social tariffs
‘Are You Paying Too Much for Your Broadband?’
A Quaker from Malvern Meeting has highlighted the issue of high broadband costs and how Friends can get more help. Asking ‘Are You Paying Too Much for Your Broadband?’, Richard Bartholomew puts new social tariffs for broadband and mobile deals under the spotlight, in the Malvern Quaker newsletter.
The issue of affordability and accessibility of smart technology has come under increasing scrutiny amid the cost-of-living crisis. The UK telecoms regulator Ofcom has been calling for more companies to offer ‘social tariffs’, aimed at helping people on benefits.
Since August, a system introduced by the Department for Work and Pensions has meant that providers should be able to confirm which customers can access social tariffs, removing the need for them to prove their own eligibility each month.
New broadband social tariffs aimed at people on benefits can save people up to £200 a year, say campaigners. Due to lack of publicity, however, the new tariffs have not been widely taken up. Although the government has asked all broadband companies to offer and promote social tariffs, they are under no obligation to do so.
According to one analysis, at the end of October only about 120,000 of the more than four million people eligible were taking advantage of them. Yet, according to the consumer group Which?, many customers are facing unaffordable bills this winter with broadband companies expected to put their prices up, mid-contract, in 2023 by as much as fourteen per cent.
Writing in the Malvern Quaker newsletter, Richard Bartholomew says: ‘Several members of our Meeting have their broadband and phone services by Your Coop (part of the Mid-Counties Co-operative Society, and therefore not profit-making), and one has quoted as only paying £28.99 a month for broadband, phone line and all calls to landline and mobile. If that sounds a better option for you then contact Your Co-op Broadband Checker (yourcoop.coop).’
‘For those on Pension Credit, Universal Credit or Disability Benefits like Attendance Allowance they should also check if the following “social options” on broadband and phone prices can compete with Your Coop – see Cheaper broadband and phone packages – Ofcom.’
According to a report by The Guardian, there are around ten providers that offer social tariffs. These include Vodafone, Sky, BT, Virgin Media and Hyperoptic.
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