Tip: Bluff to cancel lawn service and cable

[Serling126]

Yep I have talked our cable company down on several occasions. We ended up cancelling all together about a year ago because our budget was super tight and it was not a necessity. It has been great saving $60 a month, but some days dealing with the rabbit ears we have frustrates me so much I want to sign back up!! However, they have instituted a $40 connection fee so there's no way I am going to pay that just to have the privilege of flipping thru hundreds of channels of garbage.

 

[Ericandjenng]

We cancelled Directv after suspending our account for 6 months when DH cut the wire during remodeling. We found we didn't miss it and just bought antennas for the tvs and have been fine. They aren't perfect but they work well enough that I don't spend $ every month.

Also, Directv has a family plan that is not advertised for $29.99 plus tax. It includes all the kids' channels, HGTV, Food Network, local channels and others.

 

[cm8]

Not trying to cause any problems, but do any of you feel bad about using this tactic? Would it be fair for the company to "lose" your business when you are just lying to actually getting more or the same of what you have for less?


Flame retardant suit _______ on and ready

 

[HHSTigerFan]

DVR's are nice, but they are killing our cable bills...

 

[princessmom29]

Not trying to cause any problems, but do any of you feel bad about using this tactic? Would it be fair for the company to "lose" your business when you are just lying to actually getting more or the same of what you have for less?


Flame retardant suit _______ on and ready

I thought the same thing. I don't like lieing to anyone, not even the cable company.

 

[Melrosgirl]

DH canceled Scott's lawnservice this month. They offered to reduce it by 15% for us. Dh still canceled.

Our neighbor called to cancel and they did not offer him the reduced fee. They just said "okay, you're canceled." He also canceled.

 

[Swimalie]

I call Comcast every Jan, before our anniversary date. I get them to either lower our bill for the next year or give us free channels for the next year. This time we got rid of channels we didn't watch and saved $15 for the year. In the mean time, Verizon is coming so by this time next year we'll be able to threaten them with switching to Verizon. Right now, they are the only non-dial-up service in this area so we're stuck with them.

As for our lawn service, I think having them is a blessing and I actually enjoy paying them since it saves me the time and effort and our lawn is the best looking one on the block. We have a local No VA service that is great!

 

[hsmamato2]

I've got a laptop hooked up to the TV acting as my DVR. .

How???? I've been wondering about this for some time.......

 

[wdwfan16]

Not trying to cause any problems, but do any of you feel bad about using this tactic? Would it be fair for the company to "lose" your business when you are just lying to actually getting more or the same of what you have for less?


Flame retardant suit _______ on and ready

When I did it when our HD was out more than it was on. We called complaining about the quality of the service and they reduced our bill. Six months later the rate was increased to more than the amount when I originally called. The HD was only marginally better. I called and told them it was not worth it. I never threatened to leave. DH had been wanting to go with DirecTV and I said lets do it. The next time I called Comcast was to disconnect.

I would not do this if I was not having a problem with the HD or really going to change. Lying to save yourself money is no better than a kid cheating on a test to get a better grade. The end does not justify the means.

 

[Liv2CdWorld]

How???? I've been wondering about this for some time.......

I've got a USB adapter that plugs into the cable. Look up WinTV and you'll see. I set up the software so it'll record by chanel and time (like old VCR's would do).

I've also got an external hard drive hooked up to accomodate the size of the files. A one hour show is approximately 3.5 gig.

 

[ceecee]

I called the paper to see if we could get a better rate (they advertise specials all the time). If I paid a year in advance it would only be $256.00 (I think that's high since 2 years ago it was $145.00) so I cancelled it and they said the best they could do would be thurs-sun paper for $140.00. We also tried it with our cable and it didn't work, they have raised it by $6.80 three times in one year! So it doesn't always work.

 

[cheshireqt]

In our neighborhood you are allowed to pick your own Trash and Recycle service. Our T&R service added many new charges, like gas surcharges, to the tune of almost $50. When gas prices came down they of course did not come back down on their price, those surcharges continued. A competitor walked through the neighborhood with a fantastic deal that many of us jumped on (about a third of the price!). When called to cancel the old service they offered to lower our bill to that price with a guarantee for a year. We did not take it because we had already signed up for the new service. It was not a bluff but netted positive results for all, including those who inquired but did not switch services.