Virgin Media O2 is today reminding eligible pensioners to claim discounted broadband and mobile services following research commissioned by the company showing that a third of pensioners feel more isolated in the past year, and the vast majority worry about the cost of living.
Social Tariffs
The company offers discounted social tariffs including the Virgin Media Essential Broadband and the O2 Essential Plan mobile tariff to those receiving Pension Credit, Universal credit and other benefit.
We only list broadband not mobile services. Virgin Media’s social tariffs can be found here:
| Provider | Package | Download speed (average) | Monthly (inc. VAT) | First year cost(inc. VAT) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading ISP Packages. | ||||||
O2 offers its Essential Plan, a mobile plan with 10GB data allowance with unlimited UK minutes and tests for £10/month for eligible users
Research
Key findings from the research:
- 33% of pensioners feeling increasingly isolated in the past 12 months
- 58% regard staying in touch with friend and family through calls and messages the highlight of their day
- 82% regard reliable Internet access as a ‘vital lifeline’
- 54% use the Internet to manage finances
- 44% use the Internet to book doctor appointments
- 48% are unaware of social tariffs
- 46% say the rising cost of living has made them feel more isolated from their community
- 48% say they can’t afford to socialist as much as they used to
- 42% say they visit friends and family less due to travel costs
- 28% worry about money so much they feel anxious in social situations
- 42% shop online
- 55% keep up with current affairs online
- 62% believe digital technology will help them keep their independence
- 72% worry about not being able to contact someone in an emergency if their Internet/mobile service was down.
Although Internet access goes a long way to bring people together, there are many social issues this raises.
Awareness of social tariffs
Virgin highlight a key problem with social tariffs, namely awareness with about half of respondents now aware of these.
However, that makes this worse is that most broadband providers hide information about social tariffs as we covered in our broadband report in January 2024.
To be fair to Virgin Media they had a ‘B’ grade from us with their social tariffs featured in the broadband menu or easily visible on broadband pages, whilst some providers made it so you couldn’t locate it through the menu structure, or had to read small print to find it.
VMO2 point out that they offer services from £10/month (in this case relating to the O2 mobile service; Virgin Media fixed Internet is from £12.50/month)
Looking at O2’s website, we’re pleased to see this is in the menu, although we wonder if the term “essential” is sufficient to signpost it. The term “social tariff” has been widely used, and it’s on search engines for “O2 social tariff” but it would be nice to see it more clearly signposted.
“With today’s research revealing pensioners feel increasingly isolated due to the rising cost of living, Virgin Media O2 is proud to offer a range of comprehensive measures to help people on low incomes to get online and stay in touch with loved ones.
Anyone who is receiving Pension Credit or a range of additional benefits are able to access our cut-price tariffs that offering broadband and mobile services starting from as little as £10.
We want to raise the profile of our broad range of support for people experiencing financial difficulties, helping to combat loneliness and keep the nation connected.”
Dana Haidan, Chief Sustainability Officer, Virgin Media O2
How to switch to a social tariff
VMO2 advises users to contact them:
- O2 Essential Plan — If you’re already with O2 and eligible to upgrade, start a live chat or call them on 202 from an O2 mobile. If you’re a new customer, you’ll need to call on 03448 090 202; or you can start a live chat on their website.
- Virgin Media Essential Broadband — Start a live chat on their website.
You’ll need to have the bill in the name of the recipient of the qualifying benefit. With some basic information they will be able to verify you eligibility with the Department for Work and Pensions.
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Those tariffs are poor why would anyone choose those when other providers offer more.
A lot of pensions may want a landline from my experience.
A lot of older people struggle with tech, my mother (81) last year had to start using a iphone my sister had spare for her blood sugar monitor after she started losing her eyesight due to cataracts (she’s on the waiting list) then she had a minor stroke and now her hands shake all the time, so she went from having to learn how to use the phone to take the readings to struggling to press the right button due to trembling.
She’s also very proud and doesn’t like to ask for help from outside the family, the company’s know the age of the customers due to always asking for DoB on signing up so could easily send letters to them advertising these plans as a option.
She has both virgin media tv/bb and O2 mobile, they are very good at contacting when they want money but crap at helping or when there is a problem.
It’s amazing how quick they are to take your money but it’s a difficult task to get a saving from virgin.i too am a pensioner and to get a special discount you need to be on pension credit but in lots of cases people on pension credit are on more pension than those on standard pension but can’t get the discount ???