Hull’s leading broadband provider is to reduce the price of its social tariff for hard-up families, while making it easier and quicker to connect.
The amount paid for KCom’s Flex tariff is to be slashed by 25 per cent - to £14.99 from next month - while eligibility will be able to be checked in minutes.
Previously potential customers have had to wait for up to four weeks to find out if they can come on board.
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The move to increase connectivity was highlighted in Tim Shaw’s first interview as new CEO, with details now revealed - and it has won praise from Secretary of State Nadine Dorries.
It will make KCom one of the first internet providers in the UK to use cutting edge Open Banking technology, and comes at a crucial time.
Mr Shaw 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.”
The company's Flex tariff is an unlimited data 30Mbps broadband package.
Government lead on broadband, Digital Secretary Nadine Dorries, said: “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, but we know fewer than two per cent of eligible people have taken them up. We want to make it as easy as possible for those in need to access the help that is due to them.”
KCom is currently expanding its award-winning full fibre network to take in more of East Yorkshire and northern Lincolnshire, with a further expansion phase being finalised.
Earlier this year the £99.6 million turnover business became the first UK broadband provider to announce it was scrapping its annual CPI price increase to help families struggling with rising prices.
Leeds-based digital journey specialists PrinSix has created the online system to check applicants’ eligibility, using its state-of-the-art software as a sService technology.
Julian Graham-Rack, chief executive of PrinSix, said: “We are delighted to support KCom in offering affordable access to the internet for many more people, meeting their day to day needs in the new digital world.
“The PrinSix approach treats each applicant as an individual, by making the process completely personalised and relevant to them. Our technology is very different to traditional assessment journeys, which create barriers for those in our communities that need most help, because they fail to understand the complexity of individuals’ circumstances quickly and simply.”
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