Vodafone UK Relaunches 5G Ready VOXI For Now Social Tariff

Contract-free UK mobile operator VOXI, a brand of Vodafone, has today relaunched their cheaper £10 VOXI For Now “social tariff” for anyone claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance, Disability Allowance, Personal Independent Payment, Employment and Support Allowance, or employment-based Universal Credit.

The original tariff, which “usually costs £35 per month” and was the only one of its type on the UK’s mobile market, was only made available for a limited period during the pandemic and thus has not been available to new customers to take for a good few months, until now.

The tariff itself offers unlimited 5G or 4G data (mobile broadband), calls and texts for just £10 a month to anyone receiving benefits (not just the under 25s). But this only lasts for up to 6 months and after that they’ll switch you over to their standard £10 a month plan, where you’ll still have access to “Endless” Social Media as well as “Endless” calls, texts and the flexibility to change, pause, or cancel at anytime.

Max Taylor, Consumer Director, Vodafone UK, said:

“By enhancing VOXI for Now and extending it to anyone experiencing financial hardship, we hope to keep as many people as possible connected, both to family and friends, as well as to vital online services. If you can’t afford your current plan, or you know someone who is struggling, we can help.”

Digital Secretary, Nadine Dorries, said:

“At a time when family budgets are under pressure from global price rises it is brilliant to see Vodafone offering support for those struggling the most.

“We’ve successfully worked with mobile and broadband companies to broker a range of social tariffs and this new offer means five million people are now able to make savings on their mobile phone bill. I urge those eligible to speak to their provider and see if they can save by switching.”

The big problem with ‘For Now’ is that it doesn’t present like a real Social Tariff due to the unlimited data aspect only lasting for 6 months, before it simply drops back to being a regular VOXI plan. As a result, ‘For Now’ ends up feeling more like a time limited special offer, which is much more common across the wider market.

Ofcom recently told ISPreview.co.uk (here) that they require social tariffs to offer pricing stability, avoid early termination charges and have minimal initial upfront costs. The regulator said that a provider cannot merely convert an existing package and call it comparable to a ‘social tariff’ without factoring this in first. Suffice to say, there’s a question over whether dropping a material feature like unlimited data after 6 months, while keeping the price the same, should still qualify.