Has anyone renegotiated their cable bill lately?

[jhoannam]

They want to put everyone on Direct since they own it. Was told they want to faze out U-verse.

If that is their goal I will need to switch to Cable. I live in Tornado Alley, satellite goes out during storms.

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

We tired to renegotiate with Direct TV and no dice.

So we cancelled.

They sent us to their retention department and tried like crazy to lower the price to our satisfaction. Sorry, but not after you basically told us to go fly a kite when we asked for a lower cost.

We are perfectly happy with Hulu. We also get Amazon Prime, because we already subscribe to it.

 

[Pandabear41]

I tried to renegotiate with Comcast a few months ago. They will only offer another introductory offer if I add more features to my plan (like adding phone, mobile, or getting more channels).
I cancelled tv with Comcast.
Decided to get PS Vue w/HBO+Cinemax instead. Saving over $80 compared to cable.
Very happy with it.

 

[LYSE]

I got it down to $0 by dumping their over priced garbage that can be had for free elsewhere.

Previously the best we could hope for was with retention (direct tv) and they would only offer a little off for a short period or offer whatever the current sign up offer was.

 

[scard192]

They sent us to their retention department and tried like crazy to lower the price to our satisfaction. Sorry, but not after you basically told us to go fly a kite when we asked for a lower cost.

same thing when I left RCN. I had been with them a long time. had negotiated a lower price several times before. e-mailed, did a chat, called twice. the last phone call I said when I hang up I am gone, calling Comcast. No dice.

a week after the cancellation RCN starts calling me. Really? I tried to stay with them and they were not interested. had Comcast setup and installed, not switching back now.

 

[bushdianee]

We have no cable competition here. I have cable with no premium channels, internet and land line phone. I do have 2 extra TVs which I pay $5 a month for each and 1 DVR. My bill went up to almost $230. I went in to the store and they managed to "find" me a deal for 2 years that took it down to $193 a month. I have to pay $5 a month extra for HD which I don't want but if I cancel that I lose the DVR.

 

[Eureka]

I did this summer. Our promo was ending and I wanted the same (if not better) price. We have Comcast. I just called and I always say I am not interested in changing my services but I want the same price. I had to go through two different people but got it for another year. I overheard DH saying to someone soon after this that I am good at negotiating these things. I never really thought of myself as such, but I'll take it. Now I need to call Comcast though bc our displays are pixelating way too much and resetting the boxes/having them resend the signals isn't working. I may be good at these things but I still don't like having to deal with them.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

I swap companies every two years after my contract is up. Usually Comcast will work a deal with me and I stay but last year they refused so I went with Fios. Once I canceled they had everyone and their mom call me to try and give me a better deal. I told them Fios was already connected and the last person didn't care that I was going to cancel. She basically told me Good Luck.

I'm afraid to give up cable because of live sports. Where can you get Redzone? My guys have this one ALL DAY Sunday once football season starts. They watch lots of basketball and baseball too.

 

[CrankyDad]

I'm afraid to give up cable because of live sports. Where can you get Redzone? My guys have this one ALL DAY Sunday once football season starts. They watch lots of basketball and baseball too.

Redzone is not pretty common on streaming apps. I know both Direct TV and PS Vue offers it.

We are HUGE football fans.. We did PS Vue.. That got us ESPN/2, Redzone, live local , nfl network. We don't miss a game

 

[dclpluto]

I got Comcast. I called about 6 months ago. I'm saving 46.50 a month with a 2 year agreement.

 

[DisneyHardin]

I used to negotiate with Time Warner ever year. Now that they have changed to Spectrum it is a no go. Two different reps told me that they don't negotiate - they don't have different promotions - the price is the price.

 

[Bianca and Bernard]

hi everyone,

We just got hit with a cable increase (From Spectrum).

We have tried to negotiate this down, but so far, haven't had any success.

Has anyone been successful lately? And if you do not mind sharing your action p,an, I would appreciate it!

Thank you!!!

I was hit with an increase from Comcast of almost $75. Plus the $50 unlimited internet usage fee. UGH
They wouldn't budge lower than $50 more + $25 usage fee.
We would get hit with outages at least twice a week. It's not our wiring here; it either spazs out between the hub and our house or the whole area goes down.

So...I went with AT&T/Uverse. I have fiber internet now, with unlimited internet usage and 2 DVR boxes (Comcast was only 1) for what I was paying before the increase, and a 2 year locked in price. Plus I have more channels, including Starz/Showtime/HBO/Cinemax. In 3 months, I'll have to choose to keep or drop HBO/Cinemax; $26 more a month.

 

[Micca]

When they raise my rates I tell 'em "You got a real nice family there, be a shame if something were to happen to 'em."

 

[colormegreen]

I still have Spectrum for internet (where I live I can get Verizon, but it isn't fios is high speed dsl) so I had to keep spectrum for the internet...wasn't happy. My bill with cable was 119$ and it didn't include much, but i had it for the hubby and child. My price went up and no thank you. They wouldn't negotiate therefore I cancelled the cable. Now I use sling for television it has give me more channels my kid and husband watch so it's a win. When I add my total of what o pay for sling and cable it's the same as before...but now I get the soccer channels I didn't before and other channels my kid likes...do it's actually being utilized now.

 

[DoraDoug]

I just went through this today. We had TWC but they are now Spectrum and I noticed each month my bill would go up by $1. When I got the most recent statement it went up $40 so I made a call. The lady I spoke with said she couldn't help me if I wanted to disconnect services and drop channels, that I would have to speak with a specialist which requires an appointment...for a phone call! The "specialist" called this morning and said he had no idea why the customer service rep said there were no available promos because he found 2 that gave me practically the same services except their internet is 60mb instead of the 20mb I currently had with TWC. He also offered "forever" pricing which means no more calling every single year and going through this hassle.

 

[skyywalker]

I prepaid for 3 months ($50/month) of the streaming service DirecTV Now and they sent me a free Apple TV. After using the DirecTV Now service for a couple of weeks I called AT&T with intent on canceling my U-verse TV and only keeping the internet. By the time I got off the phone with AT&T I saved $20 off my cell phone bill, was able to keep my internet and local channels for $60/month (which it's normally $60/month just for internet plus another $20 for local channels), and being I have a cell plan with AT&T they gave me $25 off my monthly subscription of DirecTV Now. When you first call to cancel they offer discounts but they really bend over backwards when you tell them you still want to cancel.

 

[NY Pirate Princess]

Our Fios bill went up to $229 with internet/phone/cable bundle and no pay channels. Husband called and got the run around, so I booked an installation with Spectrum and told him he has a year to figure out how to cut the cord. He called Fios to disconnect and got us back down to $164 plus HBO/Starz (I wanted Starz for Outlander Season 3!) Two year contract term to research cutting the cord. I watch very little tv, but the husband and child watch. Football and golf coverage are a must!

 

[MillauFr]

I got it down to $0 by dumping their over priced garbage that can be had for free elsewhere.

Previously the best we could hope for was with retention (direct tv) and they would only offer a little off for a short period or offer whatever the current sign up offer was.

The prices are outrageous plus you still have to watch 20 minutes of commercials for every 40 minutes of programming. I refuse to sit though any program that forces me to watch commercials. I just rely on streaming and DVDs. Sports have been destroyed by all of the commercials. They take a football game with 15 to 20 minutes of actions and stretch it out to 3 hours +.

 

[DisneyHardin]

I just went through this today. We had TWC but they are now Spectrum and I noticed each month my bill would go up by $1. When I got the most recent statement it went up $40 so I made a call. The lady I spoke with said she couldn't help me if I wanted to disconnect services and drop channels, that I would have to speak with a specialist which requires an appointment...for a phone call! The "specialist" called this morning and said he had no idea why the customer service rep said there were no available promos because he found 2 that gave me practically the same services except their internet is 60mb instead of the 20mb I currently had with TWC. He also offered "forever" pricing which means no more calling every single year and going through this hassle.

That's good to know. I had two different reps (one was a total *ss and the other a super nice lady) tell me that Spectrum doesn't do promos like TWC did. I will just have to push harder next time.

 

[sharonmickey]

I was also with TWC which is now Spectrum. My bill went up this month and I got nowhere when I called. Unfortunately there are no other cable options, no local channels near by so antenna doesn't work. The only internet options are with the local phone company (Verizon) or Spectrum. Some times living in a small town stinks. Looked into Direct TV, it would be about the same that I'm paying now for the first 12 months but then goes up for the next 12 months. Can't win.