KCOM Cuts Price and Makes Broadband Social Tariff More Accessible

Hull-based ISP KCOM, which serves 250,000 premises across East Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire in England with their full fibre (FTTP) network, has today announced that they’re making it “easier and quicker” for struggling families to access its low-cost “Flex” social tariff by moving the application online and reducing the price.

The operator states that customers searching for their Flex tariff will now be able to apply online and receive a decision if they are eligible within minutes – slashing up to 4 weeks off waiting for an answer from the previous system. As part of this, KCOM will become one of the first ISPs in the UK to use ‘Open Banking‘ technology to improve access for customers to its social tariffs.

On top of that, KCOM said they will also reduce the price of their Flex tariff by 25% to £14.99 per month from 1st June 2022, for an unlimited data 30Mbps (5Mbps upload) broadband package on a 30-day term with phone. You can also get a phone-only plan for just £5.10 per month on a 12-month term.

The positive move comes shortly after the operator’s other positive decision, which in January saw them move to scrap their contractual CPI + 3.9% price rise for this year to help customers with the cost-of-living crisis (most of the other big ISPs have massively hiked prices).

Tim Shaw, KCOM Chief Executive, said:

“With so many people struggling with the cost of living right now we’re determined to help our customers keep control of their household budgets.

By moving our Flex application online leveraging developments in Open Banking we are making it far easier and quicker for our customers to be accepted onto our Flex social tariff.

And by reducing the price of our tariff we’re also reinforcing our commitment to making sure everyone has access to high quality, reliable broadband. It’s never been more important for our customers to have access to all the things that matter to them online – whether that’s working, doing homework, staying in touch with friends or family or just being able to pay bills or make appointments.”

Digital Secretary, Nadine Dorries, said:

“We have been calling on broadband providers to do more to help with the global rise in the cost of living and it’s fantastic to see KCOM cutting prices and helping families switch and save more quickly.

Following our discussions with telecoms firms many have launched new social tariff deals, but we know fewer than two per cent of eligible people have taken them up. We want to make it as easy as possible for those in need to access the help that is due to them.”

KCOM added that they’ve joined forces with the digital journey specialists at PrinSIX, who created the online system to check applicants’ eligibility using their Software as a Service (SaaS) technology.