VODAFONE is offering a bill discount to struggling customers of its Voxi network.
The mobile company is expanding eligibility for its social tariff amid the cost of living crisis.
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Voxi customers will be able to get unlimited 5G data, calls and texts for £10 a month for up to six months if they are getting certain benefits.
You usually pay £35 for these sim-only services at full price, meaning you could save £25 a month – or £150 over the full six months.
Voxi, which has around half a million customers and is part of Vodafone, first offered the tariff in 2020 to help those who lost their job during the pandemic.
People getting Universal Credit, Jobseeker’s Allowance, Employment and Support Allowance have already been able to take advantage of the tariff in the past.
It’s now available to them again and to people getting getting disability allowance and Personal Independent Payment too.
Anyone getting the Voxi for Now Tariff won’t need to sign up to a contract, and they can pause or cancel the plan at any time.
There’s also no credit check and you’ll need to show evidence of getting benefits when you signing up.
Social tariffs are offered by several broadband providers and are designed to help out hard-up households on low incomes stay connected.
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Sky yesterday became the latest provider to offer the special deals and comes as bills rise for millions of people.
The new £20 a month deal is called Sky Broadband Basics and will be for existing Sky customers who are getting Universal Credit or Pension Credit.
TalkTalk, BT, Virgin Media and Hyperoptic are among the firms already offering them.
An estimated 4million households are estimated to be missing out on cheaper bills and savings of £144 a year on average via social tariffs for broadband.
It’s up to each broadband or mobile provider whether it offers a social tariff or not.
And each deal is different, so it still pays to shop around to make sure you’re getting the cheapest one.
For instance, TalkTalk is offering jobseekers free broadband for six months, and the social packages from BT and Virgin are £15 per month, though speeds and eligibility can vary.
Ofcom keeps a handy list of the broadband social tariffs on offer on its website.
We’ve also asked if it has the same for mobile social tariffs and will update when we hear back.
Catherine Hiley, telecoms expert at Uswitch.com, said: “The cost-of-living crisis has made it harder than ever for those financially struggling to stay connected to their mobile service.
“Hopefully today’s announcement by Vodafone, for an unlimited data SIM-only deal on its Voxi network, will help spread the word and also encourage more providers to follow suit in offering these tariffs.
“Remember, if you are currently out of contract on a pay-monthly mobile plan, switching to a SIM-only deal is likely to be a significant cost saver, with some deals available from just £3.95 a month.”
Martin Lewis has urged everyone to do broadband and mobile bill checks – and you could save £200 a year.
How to save money on your mobile broadband bill
Martin Lewis has urged everyone to do broadband and mobile bill checks – and you could save £200 a year.
Using a comparison site helps you check all the deals available in one place.
MSE has a broadband comparison tool and there’s also sites like Uswitch, Broadbandchoices and ComparetheMarket.
When comparing what’s on offer check it’s the right speeds and data for your needs.
You don’t want to end up going over data allowances and paying more than expected, for example, but equally you don’t want to spend money on data you don’t use.
You might also want to check you get signal where you are and you can do that using Ofcom’s coverage checker.
Companies often do introductory offers for new customers too and that could lower the price even further.
You can also try haggling with your current provider to match the cheaper deal you have found elsewhere.
Martin Lewis has previously advised those haggling should be polite and charming to boost your chances of getting your bills lowered.
A Virgin Media customer recently got £264 a year knocked off their bill just by asking for a discount.
They don’t have to match it but it’s worth a try, and if they don’t you can always switch to the better deal.
But note that moving when you’re still in a contract can cost you money in exit fees, so check first.
Off course the exact amount you can save depends on how much you’re paying now and the new deal you get – but you won’t know until you check.
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