WARNING! Vodafone Essentials Broadband Social Tariff

d123

LouLou1974 said:

I am not sure if I am happy to find this thread or not but after years of struggling and being on benefits I didn't realise there was even a social tariff option until a friend who has the same cancer as me told me about it. 

Illness by itself doesn’t qualify for their social tariff, do you receive any of these benefits? 

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

cozzer

I've been trying to take out this social tarrif but I'm not expecting to be successful, it appears that it actually can take over one month to set up.
I completed the relevant Vodafone online form but didn't receive a call back within 5 working days as per the email I received, so I chatted online to their CS to follow up and see if I could take out the contract over the phone or in store. I was told I could not, and would need to complete the form again and wait up to 33 days to receive the social tarrif broadband service, OR I could take out a higher priced contract for the same broadband speed and have the service set up immediately. I declined this offer as I am able to get a similar priced contract with my existing provider and feel that the Social Tarrif offer is perhaps a gimmick to draw customers in and then offer them a higher priced contract which they may struggle to afford. They also tried to sell me a mobile contract (which was not part of my enquiry, and I do not need) at the same time. It will be interesting to see if I do ever receive a call back after completing the form twice.

AndyPK

They are very busy at the moment, as you can imagine. 

The relevant phone number is in this thread, if you get board of waiting. 

RipleyG

I'm another one who's had major problems with this tariff, I've just raised my third complaint in 3 years

In the first year, their processes weren't properly in place, and they spent 5 months passing us back and forth between 2 teams before finally getting it switched to the correct tariff. It took a complaint to resolve this. 

During the first year, at around month 8, they randomly increased our direct debit to the amount of the standard tariff. It took a further complaint to resolve this. 

At the end of the first year we received no notification of needing to reapply, and at that point their published policy proudly announced they'd removed the 12 month limit. It took a complaint, and another 3 months to resolve this.

We've just reached the end of the second year. Vodafone have updated their policy to say it's back to lasting 12 months, but can be renewed, and they will communicate with customers before the end of each 12 month period to see if they are still eligible. We've had no contact from them, and on checking I can see our direct debit has stepped up in each of the last 4 months of this 12 month period, and they are now charging us the full amount for the standard tariff. 

Third complaint raised 3 days ago, no acknowledgement so far. 

If I could, I'd change providers, but we are victims of a quirk in the national database that means only BT and Vodafone can 'see' our line and we can't get a quote from anyone else!