How to reduce cable internet bill?

[jeffrey]

Doesn't work with Comcast in my neighborhood. If you ask for the cancellation desk,they give it to you and the cancellation is started. No offers except less channels for less money if that's the issue.

If you can live a month without it you will be considered a new customer and can get it again for promo prices.

[bUU]

Do keep in mind that the cable companies are getting wise to the tactics, and so they have started saying 'no' to customers that have played the "threaten to cancel" game a few times. Increasingly you actually do have to cancel/disconnection, and become a new customer (sometimes 90 days later, not just 30).

We've dumped HBO and Showtime to save money. We try to catch up with their series through Netflix, though sometimes their shows (i.e., Meadowlands) never make it to Netflix, and other shows may take a lot longer to do so than we'd like.

[swapnil]

This technique of threatening them to leave the service is effective in most of the cases, they can not afford to loose a customer just because of the high rates or charges of the connection so they will definitely try and convince you to keep in touch with them by giving you low rate offers, but if you have to go beyond that you have to stay reluctant on your decision to get service from a new Service Provider, if they value their customers, they will definitely produce some cheaper plans for you to stick to them. Otherwise make some alternative plan to switch with some other service provider, so that you have a stand by with you if in case they do not give any proper offer to you.

[bUU]

Also remember that there are just as many of the competitors' customers playing the same game as you, so the service providers know that they'll generally gain as many customers as they lose in these things, which gives them a stronger position from which to draw a line in the sand to protect profits. Always be prepared to cancel your service, when you threaten to do so - increasingly, switching to another provider will be the way to get the best discounts.

[segmond]

cancel

[Rainbow Traveller]

I think these will work:

1 Compare: Unless you agreed to an extended contract, you should have the ability to change internet service providers at any time. If that is the case, compare. Unless you live in a very rural area, you should have multiple internet service providers to choose from. Compare rates to find the cheapest.

2 Talk to a Customer Service Representative: If you want to switch internet service providers, first contact your provider and speak with a representative. Most do not want to lose business; therefore, you may be offered a small discount.

3 Reduce Your Internet Speed: Unfortunately, this is something that many internet users do not want to do, but first consider your activity. Many high-speed internet providers, like Verizon, have different packages available. After a close examination, you will see that webpage viewing is not significantly impacted, only download times.

So, if you only use the internet to stream videos or view webpages, you may not notice a difference at all, expect for the savings on your bill.

[wilddeuce]

Twice in the last year or so, I've seen my Time Warner Cable TV/Internet bill reduced.

Around June 2012, I was paying $101 for cable TV and Internet. I called TW to see if the bill could be reduced by $10 as DirecTV gave my parents $10 discount. TW refused to budge, so I told them to cancel my cable TV. I need the Internet for work, so can't cancel that. However, Internet was $30/month. Instead of scheduling a technician to pick up my equipment, I told them I'll bring the cable box to their store (10 minutes walk from me). Within 24 hours, a retention rep called me and offered to connect me back for for $72 (cable and internet), with fees/tax, I ended up paying $75.15. On top of this, he offered free DVR, and he sent out a technician ON THAT day, to swap my regular cable box (which I hadn't returned) for the DVR box. So first tip, always be ready to disconnect. You might get them to concede to give you lower rate. Second tip, if you do cancel, don't return equipment right away and wait for them to call you back.

Fast forward to late Jan, 2013. At our apartment co-op board meeting, it was announced that TW has lowered our rate to $65/month with faster internet. I jumped all over this. I did have to swapp the DVR cable box for a regular one, but that's fine by me. We've recorded a total of maybe 4 shows the past 6 months. Apparently TW has been losing customers in our apt building. In addition, the threat of FIOS here in NYC is forcing TW to become more competitive pricewise. Another tip, if you live in an apartment building, get the management to talk to cable company to lower the rate.

To OP, I am not a good negotiator either. As others have mentioned, sometimes you just need to disconnect. That's what I did. I was ready to walk away. If I were you, I'd disconnect it around June when most of the shows are reruns. Besides, it's summer, go out and enjoy the outdoor. Cable companies have been losing subscribers recently, so you really have plenty of leverage right now.

[jerryco]

I was able to reduce my internet (Comcast) to total of $35 for 3 month (25MB plan) as I mentioned the representative my bill is much higher then my budget and I want to cancel.

I am using this useful tool RemindMe2Save.com to keep track of my payments to all my service providers ( XM radio, cable, gas..). When my promotion going to expire it will notify me its time to call them so I can keep the low price going.

Hope it helped.

[andyross]

You're definitely overpaying, and you're not alone: I've heard this lament from many people, up to and including my own mother.
Your easiest and first option should be to threaten to fire your current service, then see what kind of a discount it offers you to stay. If it isn't sufficiently generous — as in, compare its proposed price break to the deals its site touts for new subscribers — it's time to look for alternatives and then make good on your threat.

[fifocoralsea]

I would like to know that is your internet cable bill depends on your usage or the bill is monthly fixed?Please tell details so I can provide you any further solution.

[AlexSalvage]

Ugh. Recently signed up for one package with Comcast and they set me up for an upgraded one behind my back. Still, they gave me a $10 discount so I guess I'll stick with it for now but will definitely cite this incident when I go fishing for a better deal later on down the line.

[FLA]

I agree. Call and say that when you started you were paying X and now you are paying Y and really can't afford it. Ask if there isn't a promotional price that you are eligible for. If you don't get anywhere, ask for a supervisor and threaten to cancel.

I do this about once a year and save minimally . I still think we are paying too much but I'm not sure we can get Fios and I heard Fios doesn't work with Tivos. So we are in a bundle plan that I am not a fan of.

As an aside, now that I'm not driving, I called Progressive to say I'm driving less than 20 miles a week, could they lower my rate? Oh, of course they said and came back with a $13 credit. Per month, I asked? Nope, $13 for the entire year. That makes sense!

[Frugal_Cheap_Pants]

I recently found out that if I bought my own modem the internet company would give me a $5 discount each month. This was infuriating since I had the same modem the company hooked up over 10 years ago. The way I see it, I have wasted over $600. But it's one of those things they never mention. They weren't charging me monthly for it, it was included in my rate, so I never thought anything of it. But now that I have my own I get a discount.

I also get a $1 month discount for autopay. I'll take it!

Since there are no other cable modem/internet companies in my area I stay with them. My unlimited internet (speed: 20M down, 3M up) cost me $58.95/month.

[FLA]

in my other house, I had my own modem and router, saved me money but any time I had a service problem, they always blamed them and I was on my own. They really took advantage of that. Eventually I would threaten to cancel if they didn't send someone out.

here, we lease a combo modern/router, we live in a new construction home that was all set up for cable/internet, we live in a suburb, not the sticks. They have been here so many times and replaced the modem/router because our high speed internet was 4 instead of in the 20s. In two years they have to have been here at least 8 times and I have called for some type of problem probably every other month. You would think it was me, I'm not that tech-y but every time they come, they find a problem.

I just found out Fios is compatible with Tivo but you have to pay for set top boxes so I'm not sure it would be cheaper in the end. I'm not even sure it's come to our street yet. And at least I can kind of troubleshoot Time Warner problems a little bit before calling.

Does anyone have Fios and like it or hate it?

[freepricecompare]

Ask him for referral bonus

Does anyone have any tips on how to get my cable internet bill reduced? We only have one company here that provides cable internet, otherwise it's DSL or dial-up. I started out at an "introductory" rate, which they raised as soon as they could, and recently raised again.

I'm kind of a pushover and not so good at negotiating.

Ask your cable internet provider that is there any referral bonus or discount for you? If company is ready to cut your rate or give you one month free then you should refer to your friends and neighbors.