How to save on internet service?

jaksilee · #1 (**permalink**) 03-06-2007, 11:05 AM

Ok I have been trying to find ways to reduce my home phone/internet bill. I currently use my cell phone for all calls incoming and outgoing so I have a home phone line only for my DLS which is one thing I refuse to give up. I know it is a splurge, but it is one thing I will not cut off.

My question is what can I do to cut costs on it?

My current Plan costs $65 a month that is DSL internet, a basic phone line, call waiting and caller id along with a long distance plan that costs $.10 a min + $3.00 a month that is never used. I called AT&T to see if I could take off the LD, call waiting and caller id and was told that if I do that it will cost me more to do what. Right now because I have those 3 items I am getting a "bundled" rate which makes my DSL cost $19.99 a month. If I take them off it goes to $49.99 a month! I do not have cable so I can't add it to that. Any tips?

th_tan · #2 (**permalink**) 03-07-2007, 03:24 PM

One thing I did, I managed to save almost $20 a month on our cell bill, was taking off insurance, and AAA service. I think there was something else, but I forgot what it was. I like living on the edge, live cheaper, save more.

mstrohm · #3 (**permalink**) 03-07-2007, 07:10 PM

I always figure you are doing well when between cable, phone and high speed internet you are able to keep total cost down to under $100. Many bundled packages are out there. If you take one off such as cable, you would do well to keep the total below $67. Looks like you are able to do that.

markusk · #4 (**permalink**) 03-09-2007, 11:07 AM

Sprint dsl, Verizon dsl, and Comcast are the local providers I've had to deal with. Try threatening to switch providers. They may give you an "intro rate" for 3 - 6 months.

Also, my understanding is that you don't need a "land line" to have dsl. In otherwords, if you don't use/need your land line because you have a cell phone, just disconnect your phone and just pay the $49.00 for dsl (saving money on the call waiting, caller id, etc).

tinapbeana · #5 (**permalink**) 03-09-2007, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markusk

Also, my understanding is that you don't need a "land line" to have dsl. In otherwords, if you don't use/need your land line because you have a cell phone, just disconnect your phone and just pay the $49.00 for dsl (saving money on the call waiting, caller id, etc).

this depends on where you live. some areas have legislation requiring land-line phone companies who provide DSL offer said DSL service to customer's who DON'T use the land line service. others, such as the case in my area, will not offer any DSL service unless you have an active land line.

sweeps · #6 (**permalink**) 03-09-2007, 01:40 PM

Tina's right. My phone company (AT&T) won't let you have DSL service without landline service.

Watch out for those cable deals by the way. Comcast, for example, offers that 3 for $99 deal (cable, phone, internet) but you pay extra for equipment and fees, and it's only an introductory offer on top of that.

th_tan · #7 (**permalink**) 03-10-2007, 10:30 AM

Also, Verizon has a cable service now as well, they probally give you some sort of discount if you have a phone/internet/cable with them. This would also reduce your bills, and save more money possibly.

Fern · #8 (**permalink**) 03-22-2007, 12:57 PM

I currently pay les than $50 a month for phone, internet and cable, all unbundled.

1. cable, basic at $17 a month
2. land line phone at $25 a month; i use for local calls only; if i have long distance calls, i use prepaid calling cards at .02 a minute
3. Interenet: i recently git it down to $6.95 a month when i told NetZero i was going to cancel cus my dial up service was too slow. I never use it anyway, always use computer here at work so i just kept it.

JustinH · #9 (**permalink**) 03-22-2007, 01:44 PM

You can ditch the landline, and get a service such as Skype.

We got it when it was on sale, I paid 14.99 for unlimited calls outgoing in the USA for 1 year, now its 29 bucks I think.

I paid 34 bucks for a local number that friends can call on.

Its been great. 45 bucks a year for unlimited calls.

PetMom · #10 (**permalink**) 03-22-2007, 02:48 PM

We were paying for a bundle service for cable tv, phone and internet
with an intro fee of HBO for one year free. I knew the bill would go
up after one but they slyly raised the rates of several more premium
channels.

Worse, their quality of service was awful. I spent many minutes
on hold and had several service calls (once they tried to charge
me for one too and I found that on the bill, and they billed me for
wiring service when I had the 'wiring insurance' on my plan).

The service calls could not figure out why my computer connection
would fail a lot of times and why our tv kept getting pixeling on
the screen. Finally a serviceman discovered we had one cable
wire for all three services.

They wanted to charge us to add an amp to our electric box.

I still put up with this service because I had been a loyal customer
for 20 years. When we found out they had raised our cable tv
bill to a whopping $110.00 per month we quit them. (Charter).

we had already gone to phone and internet with another company
and liked them so added the cable/satelitte service. The quality
of picture and connection is excellent. I have not had to make one
call for service on problems.

Always read your bill though very carefully to quickly find any
'mistakes'.

shelbylovesmelby · #11 (**permalink**) 03-25-2007, 06:55 AM

This is why I only have dial up! I think we pay $42 for landline + internet mnjktri

I don't have the $ for those insane bundle pkg's that are only an intro offer + we watch enough tv as it is & my kids are happy w/ PBS

Frugal Father (tm) · #12 (**permalink**) 03-25-2008, 08:15 AM

I pay 7.95 for dial up and added the free firefox browser whihc makes it work even better plus added a software called phonetray which noticfies me of
phone calls and lets me take for call for 3 minutes without logging off. I would like dsl however...but I can;t beat my deal..landline in 63.00 monthly though

kork13 · #13 (**permalink**) 03-25-2008, 11:08 AM

I was just looking at that, and AT&T offers 4 different DSL speeds for between $20-$43, based solely on speed, with no strings attached. Feel free to QC me on that, but if that's correct, I'll probably go with that when I move in about 2 months...

sweeps · #14 (**permalink**) 03-25-2008, 11:53 AM

AT&T has their "basic" DSL for $10/mo in some areas if you (a) are an AT&T residential phone customer, (b) are not currently a DSL customer and (c) sign up online. Compared to dial-up, it's a slam dunk. My MIL finally quit MSN dialup at $22/month and got DSL at 10-15 times the speed at $10/month.

project15 · #15 (**permalink**) 03-25-2008, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweeps

Tina's right. My phone company (AT&T) won't let you have DSL service without landline service.

Watch out for those cable deals by the way. Comcast, for example, offers that 3 for $99 deal (cable, phone, internet) but you pay extra for equipment and fees, and it's only an introductory offer on top of that.

i have at&t dsl without a landline in the suburbs of chicago. I dropped the landline about 3 months ago. $23.99 a month for the slowest speed which isnt too bad at all. Call them up and ask about "dry dsl"

sweeps · #16 (**permalink**) 03-25-2008, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by project15

i have at&t dsl without a landline in the suburbs of chicago. I dropped the landline about 3 months ago. $23.99 a month for the slowest speed which isnt too bad at all. Call them up and ask about "dry dsl"

Agreed. Learned about this from Consumerist since I posted that message a year ago.

project15 · #17 (**permalink**) 03-25-2008, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweeps

Agreed. Learned about this from Consumerist since I posted that message a year ago.

Haha, didn't even look at the time stamp. I probably learned about it from you in a post here.

project15 · #18 (**permalink**) 03-25-2008, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frugal Father (tm)

I pay 7.95 for dial up and added the free firefox browser whihc makes it work even better plus added a software called phonetray which noticfies me of
phone calls and lets me take for call for 3 minutes without logging off. I would like dsl however...but I can;t beat my deal..landline in 63.00 monthly though

Woah, you should get DSL for 23.99 and then a VoIP service for around $15 for unlimited calles. That's a total of $39 a month for DSL and phone.

tabbycat31 · #19 (**permalink**) 03-27-2008, 11:29 AM

I wish I had an alternative for internet service. I am paying Cablevision $90/month for cable and internet that dosent work all the time.

I have no landline, and have no desire for one.

Seeker · #20 (**permalink**) 03-27-2008, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by project15

Woah, you should get DSL for 23.99 and then a VoIP service for around $15 for unlimited calles. That's a total of $39 a month for DSL and phone.

We pay $19.99 for high-speed DSL through the local phone company and only have local calling ability (VoIP will not work in our area due to the age of the equipment in our complex) -- the total phone bill is approx $42/month. And we use cell phones for emergency and long-distance calls.

Not all areas are VoIP capable and if you're not careful in reasearching whether your area is, you can be without services for awhile. Sometimes companies will charge you fees to get out of a non-working situation that they claimed would work just fine....

Best option is to check with local people in your neighborhoor and find out what they use and whether or not it's been reliable for them.