Fun with the cable bill

[The Guard]

Is there a proven way to get your cable company to reduce your monthly bill? I'm just curious, but I'm also getting annoyed. I've had cable and internet for about six months now through a particular provider, and am paying about $110 for digital cable, DVR, internet, etc. The SAME company keeps sending me flyers for internet, cable and phone at $80-90 a month with free this or that, and I was recently told it's possible to get a $40 discount if you take the right approach. Anyone have any tips? I'm basically just tired of the company I have cable through constantly offering me lower rates even though I'm already locked into a contract. Anyone who works at a cable company have any input? Anyone tried this?

 

[WompuM]

What company/city?

 

[Specter313]

Have you have any major trouble with your service? At my last apartment, there was something screwy with the wiring, and when they finally checked it out, they said there was something wrong with the wiring in the wall, so they'd schedule someone to come out and run a new line, but it took them two months before I heard anything from them, and during that time I had to deal with my internet constantly going out and terrible tv reception. If you have something you can hang over their head, or are just frustrated to the point you want to switch, call them up and threaten them with that. Nothing gets them to take notice quicker then someone threatening to stop sending them money. After my complaint, I got my rates lowered for a year, a credit put on my account to make up for the time of terrible reception, and a free dvr. I know someone else who did something similar, threatening to switch to a different company, and they got similar results.

 

[Scarlet spidey]

Take the flier. Circle the price with a big sharpie marker put a question mark next to it, send it in with your next payment for the bill.

 

[Majic Walrus]

Is there a proven way to get your cable company to reduce your monthly bill? I'm just curious, but I'm also getting annoyed. I've had cable and internet for about six months now through a particular provider, and am paying about $110 for digital cable, DVR, internet, etc. The SAME company keeps sending me flyers for internet, cable and phone at $80-90 a month with free this or that, and I was recently told it's possible to get a $40 discount if you take the right approach. Anyone have any tips? I'm basically just tired of the company I have cable through constantly offering me lower rates even though I'm already locked into a contract. Anyone who works at a cable company have any input? Anyone tried this?

Switch companies. Go with a satellite provider that will almost always cost less, provide more, and have better technology.

 

[Darthphere]

Is there a proven way to get your cable company to reduce your monthly bill? I'm just curious, but I'm also getting annoyed. I've had cable and internet for about six months now through a particular provider, and am paying about $110 for digital cable, DVR, internet, etc. The SAME company keeps sending me flyers for internet, cable and phone at $80-90 a month with free this or that, and I was recently told it's possible to get a $40 discount if you take the right approach. Anyone have any tips? I'm basically just tired of the company I have cable through constantly offering me lower rates even though I'm already locked into a contract. Anyone who works at a cable company have any input? Anyone tried this?

*****ing and complaining helps. I have Comcast, I called and said I was unhappy with my service and was going to switch companies, they talked me out of it by doing just that, lowering my bill for 6 months.

 

[The Squirrel]

*****ing and complaining helps. I have Comcast, I called and said I was unhappy with my service and was going to switch companies, they talked me out of it by doing just that, lowering my bill for 6 months.

That's what my mom does.

 

[Scarlet spidey]

Switch companies. Go with a satellite provider that will almost always cost less, provide more, and have better technology.

Lol, assuming it's not raining/snowing/windy out.
I have Dish Network and I hate it.

 

[Majic Walrus]

Lol, assuming it's not raining/snowing/windy out.
I have Dish Network and I hate it.

Each installation is different. You probably have low signal in your area already which is exacerbated by poor weather.

 

[Kable24]

*****ing and complaining helps. I have Comcast, I called and said I was unhappy with my service and was going to switch companies, they talked me out of it by doing just that, lowering my bill for 6 months.

yup..my wife and I do that with Verizon FIOS too. We had 6 months of HBO and Cinemax for free now too.

 

[AndThePickles]

*****ing and complaining helps. I have Comcast, I called and said I was unhappy with my service and was going to switch companies, they talked me out of it by doing just that, lowering my bill for 6 months.

Hmm, I need to do that. I have cable, internet, and phone through them at my house, and the bill is really starting to get ridiculous. I've had problems with my On Demand service before...should call and complain

 

[Darthphere]

Hmm, I need to do that. I have cable, internet, and phone through them at my house, and the bill is really starting to get ridiculous. I've had problems with my On Demand service before...should call and complain

My On demand hardly ever works. It's annoying.

 

[Specter313]

Hmm, I need to do that. I have cable, internet, and phone through them at my house, and the bill is really starting to get ridiculous. I've had problems with my On Demand service before...should call and complain

Yep, see my post. Calling and complaining, especially if you have something you can hang over their heads for not working, can really work with those jerks.

 

[AndThePickles]

Sadly, whenever I've had to call Comcast for help with anything, they've been SO nice and helpful. I'll have to suck it up and act mean and irrational

 

[enterthemadness]

I don't pay for cable/internet, yet. But when I do and that happens to me, I'll do the following.

1. Be nice.

2. Act like a WWE/TNA Heel.

3. Prank phone call them with Bruce Willis or Arnold soundboards.

 

[Specter313]

Sadly, whenever I've had to call Comcast for help with anything, they've been SO nice and helpful. I'll have to suck it up and act mean and irrational

Heh, oh, I suck at being mean too. One thing that I tried is I really tried to sound like a victim and saddened in it all to try and play a sympathy card against them or something, lol.

 

[AndThePickles]

Heh, oh, I suck at being mean too. One thing that I tried is I really tried to sound like a victim and saddened in it all to try and play a sympathy card against them or something, lol.

My mother loves to complain; I'll have her call.

 

[Majic Walrus]

I don't pay for cable/internet, yet. But when I do and that happens to me, I'll do the following.

1. Be nice.

2. Act like a WWE/TNA Heel.

3. Prank phone call them with Bruce Willis or Arnold soundboards.

4. ?????

5. Profit

 

[enterthemadness]

4. ?????

5. Profit

4 would be take a nice nap.


I should call the cable company here (Time Warner) It is sometimes a pain to watch WWE Friday Night Smackdown. The reception/signal is bad. It can be clear outside, or at least no rain, and the damn channel acts like DISH/DIREC TV during a thunderstorm.

 

[Majic Walrus]

Fun Fact: All television programming is broadcast on satellites. The difference between Cable and Satellite is that Cable has one satellite that they pick up the programming with and broadcast it through cable to people's homes. Satellite broadcasts the satellite signal directly to the customer instead of running it through cable.

Satellite picture is also the clearest picture.

I'm a big fan of satellite.

 

[enterthemadness]

Fun Fact: All television programming is broadcast on satellites. The difference between Cable and Satellite is that Cable has one satellite that they pick up the programming with and broadcast it through cable to people's homes. Satellite broadcasts the satellite signal directly to the customer instead of running it through cable.

Satellite picture is also the clearest picture.

I'm a big fan of satellite.

Yet sat's have issues with storms and rain and clouds.

And why would one channel have trouble coming through? ON cable?

 

[Nell2ThaIzzay]

Is there a proven way to get your cable company to reduce your monthly bill? I'm just curious, but I'm also getting annoyed. I've had cable and internet for about six months now through a particular provider, and am paying about $110 for digital cable, DVR, internet, etc. The SAME company keeps sending me flyers for internet, cable and phone at $80-90 a month with free this or that, and I was recently told it's possible to get a $40 discount if you take the right approach. Anyone have any tips? I'm basically just tired of the company I have cable through constantly offering me lower rates even though I'm already locked into a contract. Anyone who works at a cable company have any input? Anyone tried this?

The approach my sister-in-law uses is to get all the information you can about what the competition can provide - look it up online, call them, tell them who you currently have, what service you have, and what they can do better.

Take that information, call YOUR cable company, and tell them what the other providers are offering to do better than your current provider.

Then her current provider starts to hand out deals to her, so she ends up getting discount and free stuff.

She's really good at haggling, but it takes time to gather up all of the info. Plus, you have to be respectful and courteous, don't be a dick or anything.

 

[Majic Walrus]

Yet sat's have issues with storms and rain and clouds.

And why would one channel have trouble coming through? ON cable?

Um... ...Cuz... ...It sucks?

 

[enterthemadness]

Um... ...Cuz... ...It sucks?

Damn, TW sucks.

 

[amazingfantasy15]

Hmm, I need to do that. I have cable, internet, and phone through them at my house, and the bill is really starting to get ridiculous. I've had problems with my On Demand service before...should call and complain

I'm not sure if it'll be the same in your area, but right now Comcast in Chicago will reduce your monthly bill by $30-40/month and give you free HBO if you sign a contract saying you will keep Comcast for a year. They're doing it because they keep losing costumers to other services. I was skeptical at first, but it's legit, the past 3 months I've paid less and am getting free HBO. I also had trouble getting my service transfered when I moved and they gave me free Starz for a year.