Geico has become famous for their expression: "Save 15% in 15 minutes." Turns out that expression applies to more than just car insurance. Becasue you can easily save 15% in 15 minutes on something even more expensive: your pay-TV bill.
The average cable bill is now close to $100 bucks a month..an increase of nearly 80% in the last 10 years. But you may have more control over this bill than you think.
If you want to pay less for cable, it may be as simple as asking for a lower bill. Here’s exactly what you do.
Step one: Decide what you really want. If you’re not watching those expensive movie channels, dump em. If you’re a movie buff, a service like Netflix may offer more recent movies at a lower price anyway.
Step two: Do the research. Surf the web and see what deals are out there for new customers, both for cable and satellite.
Step three: Call your current provider and ask for the cancellation department. Tell them you’re thinking about cancelling becasue you can get a much better deal from their competitor. Then ask what they’re willing to do to keep you as a customer.
I tried this and it worked beautifully. I called Comcast’s cancellation department armed with deals to be had on satellite. They immediately offered me a $10 a month credit for 6 months…$15 when I asked for a supervisor. The call took 13 minutes total. Not bad to save $90.
Pay TV providers are getting more competitive because of the crummy economy, competition and free shows online. Not to mention the fact that they charge way too much to begin with. So this is a solution that will probably work for you.
Bottom line? Sometimes the best way to save money is also the easiest. You just find cheaper alternatives, then you call the expensive service on the phone and ask for a better deal. It works…if you work it.
Permalink | 13 comments | Stacy Johnson's blog | Channel: Consumer Affairs, General Tips
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This article is from Wise Bread.
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