Question about saving on cable bills.

[andijean]

We currently have Time Warner Cable and are looking to save on our monthly bills. I am tired of the continual raises on our rates every year. So, I am looking at satellite, but every time I look into I feel as though I am being mislead on the rates.

I was really annoyed today when I called on a direct tv mailing I received and I felt as though the guy was reading from a sales script every time I asked a question. I was trying to compare pricing to my cable service and he kept on giving me sales speak answers instead of direct answers. Then, we when I finally asked for the price he gave me song and dance about how he needed by SS number to run a credit check. HUH? I don't think so! When I told him I was not going to give that to him I could tell he was annoyed and just rattled off prices. When I asked a few more questions about pricing after the initial offer he just rattled things off. Am I unusual that I want to know the specifics of a contract I am signing for 2 years? Here is the crazy part. Then, he hung up on me and I don't think it was coincidental. Now, I really have a bad taste in my mouth about these dish companies. What are all of your experiences and are you really saving on your tv service after the 12mth intro? I would love some more info on other's experiences and how much your are paying/saving. I would like a small to med package with HD and DVR service. Also, in your experience do they have to run a credit check? I don't get that and certainly don't just let anyone do that. Thanks for your info!

 

[a1tinkfans]

i am in NY, on LI, have cablevision......I have their triple play package....and after a year they always try and bounce me up, I call, we "discuss" I tell them I will cancel everything and they then get me back to the original promo price
SO, ASK away, call and ask again, I go straight thru the phone prompts to the cancel dept....and it always seems to work...........and seriously, I would cancel......no way that I will pay more for being a Loyal,. long term customer.......
Call your company back....good luck!

 

[disneyfans95]

Yup.. We have cablevision triple play and we just called and got the promo for another full year after telling them we were leaving.

 

[andijean]

Tried negotiating with my current cable company and got no where, so I am exploring my options.

 

[undertheradar]

Go to directv's website and you can find your pricing for your area. You can see what package works best.

 

[Tina]

I was a Directv customer for 13+ years, but recently switched to cable. I loved Directv, but my cable is included in the HOA in my neighborhood now. That being said, I was shocked that when I called to cancel, it was very obvious that the woman was reading a script (monotone voice) and then she offered me $10 off my bill per month to stay. Um what? 13 years and you offer me $10? I literally could not stop laughing. I don't think Directv is working very hard to get new or keep current customers. You'd think they would be, considering the economy.

 

[cookies]

We dropped all premium channels and got netflix. Our Cable bill, the triple play from Comcast, went from $260 to $109.00 a month. We have an xbox and watch videos for $8.99 a month. We also get movies in the mail and can watchthem online.

 

[sam_gordon]

We have Dish network. 1 HD receiver and 1 HD w/DVR receiver. I agree with the PP who said go to the website(s) and check prices. However, as you already know, don't forget you might be getting a "teaser" rate for 6-12 months then your rate could go up.

Whether going to Dish or Direct will save you any money, you'll need to calculate that.

 

[csharpwv]

HAHA That's funny - we dropped Netflix and picked up HBO!

Anyway - I was hoping you had Time Warner! Here is what I did!

We weren't using out Netflix - movies where just sitting - so I said let's see how much more HBO is a month - and at the time it was only $8.00 for a few HBO Channels. So they added them - and said our box would update - it didn't - so we called back.

OH they said - you are on a really old tier - you have to step into one of the new tiers to get premium channels. I said - OH - OK - let's do that - how much will it be after we go to the new tier? I almost lost my stomach! It was going to be almost $300 (Phone, Internet, Cable) I said - uh - no thanks and checked out Fios from Verizon - (knowing full well that I wouldn't switch because Verizon was in the process of selling all of their WV operations to Frontier Communications) But I called Time Warner back armed with a much lower number.

Tell them you are going to switch - and when they offer to send you to their retention department - I said OK!

In the end - I got Showtime free for a year - HBO for $8.00 extra a month - and I got our bill lowered to $170 a month for phone, internet, and cable with premium channels with DVR.

In the end I calculated that we saved almost $700 or some outlandish figure.

DO IT! The "Cable Company" is losing a lot of customers to the "Phone Company" and they are willing to lower your bill.

I think it's disgusting that you have to call and negotiate your rate with a utility company. Anyway - CALL THEM ASAP!

You have to ask for Showtime - they won't offer it. They only offered it after I said that Verizon had it free for a year - which they did.

Do it with your other bills as well - some cell companies will negotiate!

GOOD LUCK!

GO SAVE $$$$

 

[mrsmav]

I agree - go to the DirectTV site and you get get pricing for your area as well as info on any "promo" they might be running.

If you know anyone that has DirectTV you can sign up and give their acct # and get $10 off your bill for 10 months. We did that when we switched to Direct TV from cable a few months ago.

If you don't know anyone who has DirectTV, send me a PM and I can send you info on how to get the $10 bill credit for 10 months.

 

[firsttimer2007]

Hi OP

Try www.billshrink.com

You can compare your bills to what is available in your area.

 

[usnuzuloose]

I was a Directv customer for 13+ years, but recently switched to cable. I loved Directv, but my cable is included in the HOA in my neighborhood now. That being said, I was shocked that when I called to cancel, it was very obvious that the woman was reading a script (monotone voice) and then she offered me $10 off my bill per month to stay. Um what? 13 years and you offer me $10? I literally could not stop laughing. I don't think Directv is working very hard to get new or keep current customers. You'd think they would be, considering the economy.

I hear you I was with comcast and all the time I was with them all I got was a 10.00 offer. Told them to cancel, I will give the 10.00 to netflix.