KCOM to cut rates for customers struggling with cost of living crisis
FIRM WILL SLASH ITS FLEX TARIFF RATE BY 25 PER CENT FOR PEOPLE ON BENEFITS
A HULL internet and phone company has announced its plans to slash its social tariff rate to help people struggling with the cost of living.
KCOM will cut its Flex Tariff rate by 25 per cent from June 1, from £19.99 to £14.99 a month. It will also move applications for the tariff online with a system designed to tell customers if they are eligible for the cheaper rate within minutes.
Nadine Dorries, the government’s digital secretary, said the KCOM announcement as “fantastic”.
KCOM, which dominates broadband services in Hull, offers 30 Mbps download speed in its Flex Tariff as well as 20 local calls and 60 minutes of calls to 0845 and 0870 numbers.
The new online system will be able to tell customers if they are eligible for the tariff within minutes, cutting up to four weeks waiting for an answer from the old system. KCOM has worked with PRINSIX to create an online system to check applicants’ eligibility.
On its website, KCOM says people who receive the following benefits are eligible for its Flex packages: Income Support. Pension Credit. Job Seekers Allowance. Housing Benefit. Personal Independence Payment. Attendance Allowance.
Universal Credit, with zero earnings.
Care home residents and Lifeline customers who are referred to us via Social Services.
Care Leavers.
Employment and Support Allowance (EAS)
Tim Shaw, KCOM chief executive, said: “With so many people struggling with the cost of living right now we’re determined to help our customers keep control of their household budgets.
“By moving our Flex application online leveraging developments in open banking we are making it far easier and quicker for our customers to be accepted onto our Flex social tariff. And by reducing the price of our tariff we’re also reinforcing our commitment to making sure everyone has access to high-quality, reliable broadband.
“It’s never been more important for our customers to have access to all the things that matter to them online – whether that’s working, doing homework, staying in touch with friends or family, or just being able to pay bills or make appointments.”
Earlier this year, the broadband company also scrapped its annual Consumer Price Index (CPI) increase plus 3.9 per cent, to save costs for customers. In 2021, nearly 147,000 customers used the company, formerly a council entity before it was floated and then bought out in 2019.
Digital secretary Nadine Dorries was full of praise for the move to cut the social tariff by 25 per cent, commenting: “We have been calling on broadband providers to do more to help with the global rise in the cost of living and it’s
fantastic to see KCOM cutting prices and helping families switch and save more quickly.
“Following our discussions with telecoms firms many have launched new social tariff deals. Social tariffs are an easy way for those in need to save up to hundreds of pounds on their broadband bills, but we know fewer than two per cent of eligible people have taken them up.
“It means only around 55,000 of almost five million eligible households are benefiting from cheaper broadband. We are working with broadband firms asking them to do more to raise awareness of their social tariffs and I’m glad KCOM is fully on board and following our calls.”
KCOM’S Flex Tariff options are only available to those on benefits, care leavers, care home residents and Lifeline customers referred to the company by social services, and people on the government’s Covid19 Shielded Patients List until such time as they no longer have to practice social shielding.