Calling Your Provider to Ask for a Lower Bill: A Simple Step-by-Step Guide
Before you build a side income, it often makes sense to trim the bill you want to replace. A ten-minute phone call can sometimes lower an internet, cable or phone bill. Every dollar you save is a dollar your side income no longer has to earn. Savings vary, and some companies will say no.
Get ready first
NerdWallet suggests a few steps before you call. They are all easy:
- Look over your latest bill for fees, unused extras, or a rented modem you could replace with your own.
- Notice how long you have been a customer. More than a year of on-time payments may earn a loyalty discount.
- Look up what other companies in your area charge, so you know what a fair price looks like.
- Decide what you want, such as a lower rate or removing a service you do not use.
Equifax adds that you should pick your ideal price and the lowest price you would accept before you dial.
Making the call
- Call on a weekend morning, when lines may be less busy. If the company has online chat, that gives you a written record.
- Be polite. Say you would like help lowering your bill.
- Give one clear reason, such as a recent price increase, a better offer from another company, or your years as a customer.
- Ask for the retention department, which handles customers thinking of leaving. Equifax says this team can often offer deals on your current plan.
- Do not accept the first offer right away. Ask if anything better is available.
- Decline a new contract if you do not want one.
Before you hang up
Write down the new price, the date it starts, the name of the person helping you, and any reference number. Then check that your next bill matches. If the answer is no, thank them and try again another day. Results can depend on who answers.
Keep in mind that price rises after an introductory period are common, so some increases may be hard to avoid. Equifax also notes that if a company cannot lower your rate, you may need to compare other providers.
Stay safe
Only call the number printed on your bill or on the company’s official website. Never give your Social Security number or bank login to someone who calls you first offering a “special discount.”
More on Replace a Bill
- Trimming Your Home Internet Bill Before You Replace It
- Lowering Your Cell Phone Bill After 55
- Step 1: List Your Monthly Bills and Pick the First One to Replace
