MILLIONS of Brits are missing out on cheaper Wi-Fi, with many unaware they could be saving as much as £200 a year, according to a new report.
Communications regulator Ofcom has revealed that more than half of low income households in the UK are paying more than they should be for Wi-Fi.
As of today, around 4.3million households are currently paying more than they have to for Wi-FiAlamy
Customers on benefits are eligible for social tariffs, lower cost broadband deals which cost between £10 and £20 a month.
Families could save around £200 a year by switching to social tariffs, says Ofcom.
BT, EE, SMARTY, Community Fibre, NOW, Sky, Virgin Media, KCOM, Hyperoptic, G Network and VOXI all have social tariffs available to those receiving benefits.
This includes all UK households receiving Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Jobseeker’s Allowance and Income Support.
The watchdog has urged TalkTalk and O2 to consider introducing their own social tariffs for customers, in both broadband and mobile markets.
Social tariffs usually offer shorter term contracts.
There are also zero early exit fees, which means families aren’t tied to the contract and can leave without paying a fine.
Ofcom has cautioned that broadband providers aren’t advertising these packages enough.
Less than 10% of people on a social tariff heard about it from their provider, the watchdog’s research found.
As of today, around 4.3million households are currently paying more than they have to for Wi-Fi.
Just 220,000 people, or 5% of households, are currently signed up to the offer, according to Ofcom’s report.
Lindsey Fussell, Ofcom’s director of network and communication, said broadband providers should be more up front with these offers, “at a time when these savings could make a massive difference”.
“We’re urging anyone who thinks they could be eligible for a discount deal to contact their provider today and potentially save hundreds of pounds.”
Best Phone and Gadget tips and hacks
Looking for tips and hacks for your phone? Want to find those secret features within social media apps? We have you covered…
How to delete your Instagram account
What does pending mean on Snapchat?
How to check if you’ve been blocked on WhatsApp
How to drop a pin on Google Maps
How can I change my Facebook password?
How to go live on TikTok
How to clear the cache on an iPhone
What is NFT art?
What is OnlyFans?
What does Meta mean?
Get all the latest WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook and other tech gadget stories here.
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online Tech & Science team? Email us at [email protected]