The 6 Monthly Telecom Bills You Can Negotiate

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Opening and paying the monthly bills is usually something we dread. This is especially true if you feel you’re being gouged by your cable, phone, or wireless provider. But with just a little bit of knowledge on the proper way to call and negotiate a lower bill, you can easily save hundreds of dollars per year. Here are six telecom companies notorious for working with customers to lower their bill, along with some insider negotiation tips for each.

1. DirecTV

When it comes to negotiating a lower monthly bill with DirecTV, the first thing you have to do is analyze the competition, namely Dish Network. DirecTV is typically more expensive than Dish, which makes the “competition is cheaper” card great ammunition when making the phone call to DirecTV customer service. Find out what current specials Dish is offering and use those when explaining why you’re considering leaving DirecTV. This will typically only work when you’re not under contract, as they can’t do much for you when you’re locked into a specific rate for a set period of time.

When making the call, tell the first person you speak with that you’d like to cancel your service as it’s more than you can afford right now. They’ll then transfer you to the retention department, who are the folks who have the authority to actually lower your bill. Then explain why you’re considering switching to Dish Network and be as specific as possible. In other words, tell them exactly what Dish is offering new customers and ask if they can meet it, or at the very least get close to it. Be polite and conversational in tone, and you’ll be pleasantly surprised with the result of a lower monthly bill, in most cases.

2. Dish Network

Same drill with Dish Network. Tell the first person you speak with that you want to cancel your service, and they’ll get you to the customer loyalty or retention department. When it comes to negotiating a lower monthly bill with Dish, it’s important to understand that they’re already lower in price than DirecTV. This means that in most cases, you can’t say you’re switching to DirecTV, because they’re already cheaper.

Instead, you should tell them you’re considering cutting the cord entirely by switching to an over-the-air HD antennae and cheap streaming options like Netflix and Hulu. These “other” options serve as excellent ammunition when talking to Dish. Stick to the facts, don’t get emotionally involved, and remember that you can simply call back later if the person is having a bad day and not willing to work with you.

Once you‘ve told them why you want to leave, they should offer you something to stay on as a loyal customer. You can also take the bull by the horns and start the conversation by asking for $15–$25 off your monthly bill depending on what package you subscribe to. You can also ask for a few free movie channels if that means more to you. Remember that they’ve invested a lot to get and keep you as a customer, and are willing to throw you a bone to keep your business. Always be willing to take your business elsewhere if they can’t come close to what you want. If you actually don’t want to leave and they won’t budge, you can always say you want to reconsider other options before canceling.

3. Comcast

I recently had an anonymous Comcast retention employee give me the scoop on what to say to get your bill lowered. She told me that the worst thing you can do is tell the rep that you’re switching to a competitor. Instead, she said to tell them you want to stay with Comcast but can’t afford your monthly bill and will have to switch to a streaming service if the bill can’t be lowered. She even said that Sling TV was the best streaming option to use as ammunition. She said that in most cases this will work and get you up to 20% off your monthly bill, as that percentage is the biggest discount they can offer.

Lastly, she told me not to ask to speak to a supervisor as that will typically only get you a call-back request that rarely happens. Plus, they are authorized to offer the same discounts as the retention employee, so it’s not worth your time.

4. Verizon

Verizon can be a tricky company to convince to lower your bill. They have created a coverage map that beats the competition and they know that many customers are bluffing when playing the “cancel card” to try and negotiate a lower bill. Because of this, it’s important that you do ample research on the competition before making the call. What are Republic Wireless, T-Mobile, and Straight Talk currently offering, and how long will it take you to recoup your money, in terms of savings, if you have to pay to get out of your Verizon contract?

By having these numbers at your disposal when making the call, the Verizon rep will sense your seriousness and often offer you a lower rate in return. I recently did this and was able to secure $10 off my bill for 12 months. Not a huge savings, but I really didn’t want to leave Verizon as I live in a rural area where Verizon is my only coverage option.

5. AT&T Wireless

While you may not be able to negotiate a lower rate with AT&T the old-fashioned way, you can get rid of services you don’t need and look for little-known discounts. Start by analyzing your bill very carefully as AT&T is notorious for sneaking in add-on services like AT&T Navigator, Family Map, enhanced voicemail, and smart limits. If you don’t use them, get rid of them immediately. Also, check to see if you’re eligible for an employer discount. Many organizations work directly with AT&T to offer their employees a pretty sweet discount so be sure you’re not missing out.

6. Time Warner Cable

Time Warner is notorious for raising your rate without informing you as to why. So once you get a rate you’re happy with, be sure to keep it by calling them every 12 months. Simply call their customer service line, be polite, and get straight to the point by telling them you want to keep your low rate for another 12 months. If the operator is unwilling to extend your rate for another year, simply hang up and try back later. Be persistent and you’ll eventually get an employee willing to work with you and help you keep your low rate for another year.

What bills, if any, do you consistently try to negotiate a lower rate on?

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