Households eligible for broadband social tariffs are not taking up the offer over concerns the speed offered will be too slow, a new report from Which? has found. Ofcom figures show that just 3.2 per cent or 136,000 of the 4.2 million households on Universal Credit who are entitled to the discounted deals have taken them up.
The consumer group surveyed more than 2,000 people eligible for fixed broadband social tariffs, finding that 39 per cent of those who could sign up and were aware of them did not intend to do so. The main reasons cited for not switching were fears that the social tariff speed offered was too slow (44%), not being able to leave a current contract (32%), the deal not being good enough (24%) and lacking information (24%).
Six in 10 eligible households (63%) said they were completely unaware social tariffs existed, with half of this group saying they were likely to switch after hearing about them.
