Vodafone rejecting applications for social tariff

beddo

Quick question - how are people actually getting the social tariff with Vodafone?

I applied a month ago and got told that I failed the credit checks - I have a good credit history and have never had any issues with credit cards or bank accounts or utilities. The reconsideration is a joke, they just say yes you failed and no we can't tell you why.

My partner has applied and today been told exactly the same. There is no reason either of us should have any credit issues and surely people applying for these kinds of accounts are going to often be reliant on benefits.

Is Vodafone using this as an excuse to get out of the obligations of providing the discounted service?

elsien

Have you double checked all the credit reference agencies to make sure that there isn’t anything on there that you’re not aware of, or which is there by mistake?

PartyOfFive

Do you actually meet the requirements of the Essentials Tariff?

Who can get Vodafone Essentials Broadband?

Anyone receiving one of the following state benefits can get the service:

• Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
• Universal Credit
• Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
• Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

beddo

Thanks for the replies, yes and yes.

We both have good credit across all three and have accounts that we've used to monitor them for some time.

The person on the phone confirmed it was the credit check not the eligibility requirements.

No one from Vodafone will divulge exactly what it is that they don't like. Their reassessment just says nope again. I filed a complaint and got a wishy washy non committal answer.

I'm pretty certain they'd let us have a full priced account if we had applied for it. We will certainly be getting something elsewhere when we've worked out the best deal.

elsien

You could always apply for the full price broadband, because there’s a 14 day cooling off period, then challenge the credit check decision if you are accepted. If you can be bothered going that far. 

iniltous

Isn’t it the case if someone is refused something due to a credit rating check that company if asked are supposed to provide the name of the credit rating business that they used , so that in cases where credit was incorrectly refused, the consumer could go to that credit rating agency and challenge what information they hold , basically find out what company raised the supposed default against their name is , and then approach that company about removing the marker against their name.
TBH , social tariffs are not compulsory, so it would be odd for a company to offer social tariffs then make the criteria so strict that no one would be eligible, it would be simpler in that case not to have a social tariff

Neil_Jones

BT seem to do credit checks as well:

https://www.bt.com/exp/broadband/home-essentials - "If you’re new to BT, we’ll carry out a credit check as part of your application. If you have a low credit score you may have to pay a security deposit."

Vodafone's details are here: https://www.vodafone.co.uk/privacy/credit-checks with detais of how to appeal.

d123

PartyOfFive said:

Do you actually meet the requirements of the Essentials Tariff?

Who can get Vodafone Essentials Broadband?

Anyone receiving one of the following state benefits can get the service:

• Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
• Universal Credit
• Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
• Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

There are more qualifying benefits that Vodafone accept that you haven't mentioned.

From the essentials broadband page:

https://www.vodafone.co.uk/broadband/essentials-broadband

wild666

If Vodafone say no then try with another provider for the social tariff.  

redbantam1

Anyone else unable to get this? They never call back after you fill out the form, even when chased via online chat. 

Owain_Moneysaver

I got it a few months ago. I don't know how the credit check (they did mention one) was involved as it seemed to be the only check for entitlement to benefits.