Fun with the cable bill

[The Guard]

I'm in Columbus Ohio, Time Warner.

No service issues at all, actually. Ever, cable or net. And I don't just want to ***** and complain (though I don't mind a good natured haggle), I just want a fair price based on what apparently is fair market price.

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.

Good idea.

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.

This also sounds like a good idea, and I've definitely considered this.

 

[huskerwebhead]

The people suggesting calling and saying you are switching to a different provider is the way to go. They will throw all kinds of offers at you to get you to stay.

I've never been a fan of satellite myself. At my last house our neighbor had DirecTV and consistently had issues, especially during stormy or cloudy weather. And once he got all the additional boxes and HD channels it was more expensive than my cable anyways. So : to Sat from me.

 

[Silicon Surfer]

I have had DirectTV for several years and the only problems I have ever had were when the boxes wore out which they do after a while. I have never had an interruption of service and only short periods where weather interfered and that was less than half an hour at the longest. When I had Cable before that it was out about three days a month every month.

 

[Majic Walrus]

I have had DirectTV for several years and the only problems I have ever had were when the boxes wore out which they do after a while. I have never had an interruption of service and only short periods where weather interfered and that was less than half an hour at the longest. When I had Cable before that it was out about three days a month every month.

Sat > Cable.

Every time. Better technology, better company policies, better customer service.