Millions of UK households are missing out on £200 a year in savings through not signing up to cheaper social tariffs.
According to the regulator Ofcom, more than half of low-income households are in the dark about the offers with just 5.1% of eligible households signed up to a discounted package.
The social tariffs are available to an estimated 4.3 million households that received one of a range of government benefits.
Since the tariffs first emerged in 2020, the number of providers offering a broadband social tariff increased significantly. Around 85% of customers are now able to switch to one with their existing provider without paying a fee.
Ofcom is concerned that broadband providers aren’t sufficiently publicising their social tariffs and has joined forces with the consumer organisation Which? To urge anyone on a government benefit to contact their provider today to seek out a cheaper deal.
Of eligible customers that are aware of social tariffs, most had heard about them through social media (26%) and television (21%). But just 9% found out about social tariffs through their provider, highlighting how the industry needs to go further to promote their social tariffs effectively and make them easier to find.
In its review of provider websites, Ofcom found that information about social tariffs remains challenging to locate in some cases and we discovered examples of incorrect information about the deals on webpages.
The regulator is urging providers to review their social tariff webpages as a matter of urgency, to ensure the information is accurate, clear and understandable for consumers.
