# Let’s talk Social Tariffs – have you used one? **URL:** \ **Category:** Broadband Discussions\ **Created:** [19 June 2025 13:00 UTC](https://broadbandgenie.discourse.group/t/let-s-talk-social-tariffs-have-you-used-one/76 "2025-06-19T13:00:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Max\_BBG](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex006/user_avatar/broadbandgenie.discourse.group/max_bbg/32/70_2.png) [@Max\_BBG](https://broadbandgenie.discourse.group/u/Max_BBG)\ **Post date:** [19 June 2025 13:00 UTC](https://broadbandgenie.discourse.group/t/let-s-talk-social-tariffs-have-you-used-one/76/1 "2025-06-19T13:00:34Z")
Let’s talk about social tariffs. These are discounted broadband deals offered to people receiving certain benefits — a small step by providers to make internet access more affordable for everyone. We know broadband isn’t a luxury — it’s a necessity. From working at home to managing bills and staying connected, having reliable internet is non-negotiable. That’s why we’re glad to see more providers offering social tariffs in response to rising costs and everyday challenges. Have you ever used one? Or tried applying for one? We’d love to hear your experience — good or bad. If you want to learn more or check your eligibility, we’ve got a handy guide [here](https://www.broadband.co.uk/broadband/help/broadband-on-benefits) ---
**Author:** ![Juliandc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/71e660/32.png) [@Juliandc](https://broadbandgenie.discourse.group/u/Juliandc)\ **Post date:** [19 June 2025 19:06 UTC](https://broadbandgenie.discourse.group/t/let-s-talk-social-tariffs-have-you-used-one/76/2 "2025-06-19T19:06:15Z")
I’m not on a social tariff. But I’d recommend searching for the best price for the internet performance you need. No phone. No bundled landline. Just the internet speed -say 150Mb/s down from company xyz. Then discuss with your current provider as you approach the end of your contract to match or beat the deal. You’d be surprised what they will do to keep a customer. If they won’t match or beat, then switch to the new provider. Some, like Vodafone will even pay some of your exit fees. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_BBG](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex006/user_avatar/broadbandgenie.discourse.group/max_bbg/32/70_2.png) [@Max\_BBG](https://broadbandgenie.discourse.group/u/Max_BBG)\ **Post date:** [20 June 2025 09:31 UTC](https://broadbandgenie.discourse.group/t/let-s-talk-social-tariffs-have-you-used-one/76/3 "2025-06-20T09:31:00Z")
> [@Juliandc](#): > > u need. No phone. No bundled landline. Just the internet speed -say 150Mb/s down from company xyz. Then discuss with your current provider as you approach the end of your contract to match or beat the deal. You’d be surprised what they will do to k Welcome to the Broadband Genie community @Juliandc 🎉 You’re spot on about the power of negotiating with your provider near the end of your contract. It’s great advice and something a lot of people don’t realise they can do. Really interesting to hear about Vodafone covering some exit fees too — I hadn’t come across that before and I wonder if other providers do this? 👀 ---
**Author:** ![Emma](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex006/user_avatar/broadbandgenie.discourse.group/emma/32/30_2.png) [@Emma](https://broadbandgenie.discourse.group/u/Emma)\ **Post date:** [24 June 2025 13:40 UTC](https://broadbandgenie.discourse.group/t/let-s-talk-social-tariffs-have-you-used-one/76/4 "2025-06-24T13:40:31Z")
Yep. There are lots of providers who offer to pay exit fees @Max_BBG . We have a guide and a round up of those on the site: > **[Sky Switch Credit and other broadband switch offers](https://www.broadband.co.uk/broadband/help/switching-credits)** > > Had enough of your current broadband service? Take a look at these switching deals. Sign up and these providers will pay off your early termination fees. ---
**Author:** ![christopher\_hutton](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex006/user_avatar/broadbandgenie.discourse.group/christopher_hutton/32/108_2.png) [@christopher\_hutton](https://broadbandgenie.discourse.group/u/christopher_hutton)\ **Post date:** [13 February 2026 20:03 UTC](https://broadbandgenie.discourse.group/t/let-s-talk-social-tariffs-have-you-used-one/76/5 "2026-02-13T20:03:38Z")
It’s a shame all the social tariffs are slow speed offerings ---
**Author:** ![Max\_BBG](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex006/user_avatar/broadbandgenie.discourse.group/max_bbg/32/70_2.png) [@Max\_BBG](https://broadbandgenie.discourse.group/u/Max_BBG)\ **Post date:** [16 February 2026 09:32 UTC](https://broadbandgenie.discourse.group/t/let-s-talk-social-tariffs-have-you-used-one/76/6 "2026-02-16T09:32:57Z")
Welcome @christopher_hutton - it looks like things are changing, the BBG team recently spoke to [Community Fibre, Hyperoptic and Vodafone about their social tariffs](https://www.broadband.co.uk/blog/20260206-1bn-broadband-benefit-nobodys-claiming) - maybe the innovation of the smaller companies will put some pressure on the bigger providers to step up? The government currently considers 10mb to be “decent” although that is, hopefully, under review, as people increasingly need higher speeds just to access basic services, work and education. ---
**Author:** ![christopher\_hutton](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex006/user_avatar/broadbandgenie.discourse.group/christopher_hutton/32/108_2.png) [@christopher\_hutton](https://broadbandgenie.discourse.group/u/christopher_hutton)\ **Post date:** [16 February 2026 20:27 UTC](https://broadbandgenie.discourse.group/t/let-s-talk-social-tariffs-have-you-used-one/76/7 "2026-02-16T20:27:10Z")
I’m eligible for the social tariffs but the speed is just too slow for a smart home now-a-days. When do you see changes coming and what sort of thing will we see? ---
**Author:** ![Max\_BBG](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex006/user_avatar/broadbandgenie.discourse.group/max_bbg/32/70_2.png) [@Max\_BBG](https://broadbandgenie.discourse.group/u/Max_BBG)\ **Post date:** [19 February 2026 12:48 UTC](https://broadbandgenie.discourse.group/t/let-s-talk-social-tariffs-have-you-used-one/76/8 "2026-02-19T12:48:36Z")
Hard to predict but the [government has just announced a new charter](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/end-to-surprise-phone-and-broadband-bill-hikes-to-help-with-cost-of-living) with telecoms companies, one aspect of which is making social tariffs more visible - which might mean more pressure to make them fit for purpose for modern living? The full charter is on [Telecoms Consumer Charter - GOV.UK](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/telecoms-consumer-charter/telecoms-consumer-charter) with initial signatories - - BT Group - VMO2 - VodafoneThree - Sky - TalkTalk - KCOM ---
**Author:** ![greenwellys](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex006/user_avatar/broadbandgenie.discourse.group/greenwellys/32/75_2.png) [@greenwellys](https://broadbandgenie.discourse.group/u/greenwellys)\ **Post date:** [20 July 2026 09:16 UTC](https://broadbandgenie.discourse.group/t/let-s-talk-social-tariffs-have-you-used-one/76/9 "2026-07-20T09:16:39Z")
I have to admit that I didn’t know about social tariffs, but now I do, I’ll make sure that people know that they are eligible. Every little helps these days. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_BBG](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex006/user_avatar/broadbandgenie.discourse.group/max_bbg/32/70_2.png) [@Max\_BBG](https://broadbandgenie.discourse.group/u/Max_BBG)\ **Post date:** [21 July 2026 08:26 UTC](https://broadbandgenie.discourse.group/t/let-s-talk-social-tariffs-have-you-used-one/76/10 "2026-07-21T08:26:39Z")
Community Fibre has an interesting initiative with “no questions asked” social tariff - i.e. available to all, at a live-with-able 35Mbps. Of course, it’s limited as to area but perhaps other providers will be influenced to offer more options in future. As we saw on another conversation here recently some of us just need a reliable basic connection for daily needs. ---
**Author:** ![whyMore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecccb3/32.png) [@whyMore](https://broadbandgenie.discourse.group/u/whyMore)\ **Post date:** [22 September 2026 13:46 UTC](https://broadbandgenie.discourse.group/t/let-s-talk-social-tariffs-have-you-used-one/76/11 "2026-09-22T13:46:57Z")
Lets talk about “what is a social tariff for?”. A photo straight off a modern mobile phone, as gets bandied about on social media, can occupy 10 Mb. The human eye on a large screen can just about see less than 4Mb at best. On a medium sized screen, 0.1Mb is all that you can see. Movies take up even more. So would it be useful to have an ultra-low-bandwidth social tariff which does safely and economically do banking online, news with a caption replacing the pictures, weather with icons and comparable graphics, One Gov login, CV and cover letter job application, but is by design utterly useless for looking at cute videos of fluffy cats? Useful to this would be for the network backend to have a gateway to strip large images and videos as early as possible in transmission, replacing with the caption or transcript if there was one. That way 50 or more cv documents or school homework essays can be sent instead of one photo of one cat.