Anyone sucessful in reducing bills?

[squirrel]

Has anyone tried to pretend to cancel cable, internet, satelite to get lower monthly rates?

I know of one person last year that was able to lower some of their bills. I guess I'm chicken, I don't want to switch any of my services.

Shaw is offering a great deal for 12 months on digital cable, but I don't want to loose Playhouse Disney (which Bell seems to only have). But is that one channel worth an extra $480 yr? Then what do I do after that one year with Shaw? Their rates will be higher after the 12 months.

 

[scboyd]

I have successfully reduced numerous bills this way. Rogers reduced my total package (cell, internet, and cable) by $50 dollars for 24 months the first time I tried it and then after the 24 months they continued it for another 24 months. I have also successfully reduced expenses in my business the same way. Banking fees, supplies, maintenance and repair charges these are all fees that can be negotiated for a better rate. The most successful line that I use when negotiating is "if you want me to be loyal to your company then you have to be loyal to me and offer me your best rate." and its also important to remember to NOT have an entitlement attitude when talking to the CSR. I have changed companies on a few incidences where the company wouldnt match the price but when it comes to the big players they have always matched or beat the offer.

One last note dont make up an offer. Always quote an actual offer that is current, these companies know what their competition is offering so don't try to BS. What will occur then is "Ok when would you like me to cancel/terminate your service"...

Hopefully this helps.

 

[RainbowsMist]

Funny....DH and I were just talking about this last night. I opened my bill from Bell (express vu) and it was $132! That's JUST for Satellite...(we pay our local cable company for internet and phone. We can't get bell internet here).

Anyhoo....I think it's absolutely ridiculous that amount is just for TV....and TV that we hardly ever watch mind you. Perhaps it's time to check the local cable company's rates again....

Good luck to us all..

 

[TwMuise]

I hear you Rainbow, we hardly ever watch and usually PVR what we watch, Bell is expensive and with alot of the same channels.

Wendy

 

[canadian_mouse]

We cancelled cable TV and we are using just an antenna. We get the major Canadian networks (CTV, Global, CBC) plus a few smaller ones and it costs us zero, zip, nothing other than the less than $10 that my husband spent to make a homemade antenna. I miss the PVR but there's really only a few shows that I watch and if I miss them, I can usually watch them online.

 

[Jareds_mommy]

Has anyone tried to pretend to cancel cable, internet, satelite to get lower monthly rates?

I know of one person last year that was able to lower some of their bills. I guess I'm chicken, I don't want to switch any of my services.

Shaw is offering a great deal for 12 months on digital cable, but I don't want to loose Playhouse Disney (which Bell seems to only have). But is that one channel worth an extra $480 yr? Then what do I do after that one year with Shaw? Their rates will be higher after the 12 months.

I did with telus for internet, we had a deal for $20 a yr for extream high speed and it ended so I called them up and said I was going to go to shaw now it was over they extended the price for another year, I tild him I would probably call back in a year then because I am loyal to my pocket book, he said no problem they would try and look after me then too

 

[Nicki828]

We just switched off of Bell and now have internet, cable and home phone through Rogers. There was a bit of a screw up - so we got a better than average deal. We are saving about $50/month - and we now have long distance included.

 

[mickilee]

I havent had "paid tv for years. I build one of those coat hanger antennas. Added an amp, now i get FREE digital tv and analog tv, from Toronto, Bufflalo and other parts of NY.
I also have a 1 meter dish, and motor and get tons of channels.

Also *L* i have a broken screen on a laptop, so i hooked it up to my tv. And just download movies or watch live streaming.

If anyone is interested in the antenna or how to install the dish /motor.. pm me. I can help. I adm at website for it.

For my home phone, I went with a small company in my town. free long distance ..and high speed for 75$ a month.

 

[aristocat65]

Has anyone had any luck with Telus doing this?

I have cable through Shaw, and phone and internet with Telus. My 3 year sentence (contract) expired in Feb 2010 with Telus. I had originally got a free laptop for signing the 3 year contract.

I would LOVE to switch to Shaw for Telephone and internet and they keep offering bargain rates for the first year, but I have wifi built into the telus modem, and if I switch I need to get my own router. I am also afraid to switch, because Telus messes up everything! My 3 years with them have been a comedy of errors from double charging me to replace a faulty modem, to accidentally canceling my service and then levying me a $600 charge for their mistake (which took 4 months and about 6 service agents to fix). So, I am sure that if I cancel with them they will manage to mess that up too and overcharge me for something, and as a non customer I will less leverage to get anything fixed.

I think I should try to get them to lower my rates and at least I will be paying less for their ineptness.

 

[rainyday77]

We switched from bell to shaw with a receiver swap program they have (we heard about it from a friend though I don't think it's on their website). we swapped 2 old bell receivers we haven't been using are were given a high def pvr and a digital box for free (they are refurbished but still work). All we had to do was hand over the receivers and a bill showing we were paying for satellite through bell.

We were going to switch our phone and internet to shaw. Telus offered us some good rates on phone and internet. Not quite as good as Shaw's, but Shaw's internet needs a router which telus provides. We would have also had to pay $120 to get out of our internet contract which made the two offers similar.

As stated above, make sure you look at other companies and can give them the cheaper offer of another company. Telus also matched a competetors cell phone plan which has lowered that bill as well. Overall, we are saving $120 a month now!!!