The key to this approach is making sure you don't get yourself stuck in something you do not want. I know some of these deals offer you six months free as long as you sign up for a minimum of two years. So, while this can be a very useful approach, make sure you are clear about the terms of the deal, such as whether or not you will be able to cancel after the trial period.
Want Free HBO or Showtime? Just Ask.
Premium channels come with premium prices. Usually, between $10 and $20 a month, depending on the channel and your cable/satellite company. But here's something that applies across the board. They're usually available for free.
I used to be employed by one of the big premium channels, and I can tell you right now that there are ALWAYS deals going on. The basic idea is one that drug dealers and razor blade companies alike will use time and again — get you hooked with a free sample, and then hope you come back for more later on, at full price of course. So, they'll do deals with you, via your cable/satellite company, to try them for free. Many people will cancel after the free period (this is called "churn" in the biz) but a good percentage will stick around because they like it, or they forget to cancel it. The latter is the most common reason.
Right now in my zip code all FIVE premium channels have something special going on. I just got my mother-in-law a great deal — six months of HBO for free from Comcast. And all I had to do was call and ask for it. In this digital day and age, activation is instant and can be done remotely. Ten minutes after reading this article, you'll almost certainly have a free premium channel that you didn't have before.
Just give your service provider a call, or use live chat if you prefer, and ask what special offers are currently available for the premium channels. If you're met with any kind of resistance, simply tell them that someone you know in the area got a deal for 6 months of free HBO, or Showtime, and then see what happens. As these deals are always going on, you will get offered something.
If that fails, then the good old fallback is to say you'd like to cancel your cable or satellite service and go elsewhere. The customer service rep is usually authorized to give you a special offer as part of a "save sale," which can also net the customer service rep some extra cash for keeping you around as a customer. And it makes good sense. It's far less costly to retain a current customer than to try and find a new one, and it doesn't really cost the service provider, like Comcast, anything to do this. They're already piping the feed through, they just have to turn it on at your end.
Give it a try today and see how you do. Remember, insistence and determination is the key. No one wants to give you something for free at the drop of a hat. But a few minutes of your time can get you a few months of free entertainment.
Senior Writer
Paul Michael
An adman with inside knowledge, I'll steer you to wiser choices.
Best of Wise Bread
DirecTV offered me 3 free months of Starz back in November and I accepted. I was NOT told that I would have to cancel it once the 3 months passed. Well, last Thursday was 3 months and on Friday I noticed I was still receiving the channels. Lo and behold my most recent bill (dated 02/11) contained a charge for the service. I called DirecTV immediately but was only given a $9.03 credit (for a $12.99/month service). I questioned the amount, (seeing I only had it for one day over the 3 month time), but was told that's what the credit was.
ALSO, even though the service was free (a $12.99/month value), the taxes were NOT. What DirecTV does is charge you the $12.99/month (which gets taxed - in CT, that's 6% sales tax and a 5.25% gross earnings tax) and then credits you $12.99 on your bill...BUT THE CREDIT DOESN'T remove the taxes on the charged/credited amount! Sure, it's only $1-$2, but still, it's not free.
So be leary and watchful with how it's done!
I have to big issues with my service provider in the last six months. Both times I said I was fed up and ready to leave and both times I was offered Showtime for a year. The first time I held out for a month free of service. You want to speak with the retentions dept.
Just yesterday I called my cable company for the 3rd time in 2 weeks to say I was leaving. The first 2 times resulted in bad customer service telling me the grass was not greener and to make sure I returned their equipment. Third time was a charm ( I was determined) and I am now paying $47 less a month with no added contract for the next 12 months. That is over $500 in savings.
So we tried getting a premium channel free for a sample period to try it out. Mentioned switching to U-Verse (since we have already been considering it due to the many issues we have had in the last year with Comcast).... to no avail. Bottom line - what they were willing to provide was a premium channel at a discounted rate per month.
DirecTV is currently running a 6 mos special on Showtime, with $5 off per month, reducing the cost to $7.99 per month.
Planning to upgrade from Standard Dish to High Definition? Pretty much do the exact same thing to what most people are doing with premium packages.
I saw an ad on TV regarding Dish Network offering free HD DVR Equipments and Free Installation. I called DirecTV if they are willing to upgrade my equipments for free or else i switch to Dish Network. 30mins on the phone with the rep, who was willing to lose me as a customer because she couldn't or no power to do so. Talked to Tier2 Customer Rep and finally offered a bargain. =) If i was willing to resign my contract for another 2 years they are willing to upgrade all my receivers to HD including 2 HD DVRs with free installation and no upfront costs. I do however have to pay the *HD Service in which to me having the equipments for free instead of paying over $1000 with the installation was successful bargain.
Hence being with DirecTV with another 2 years, Tier 2 Rep also added a 6mos free premium channels, STARz, HBO, Showtime, etc....
The moral of the story, don't talk to 1st responders, talk to their boss. =) Happy Hunting
Missed an episode? Watch them all at www.hboepisodes.com
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