Saving on Internet bill at home

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LearnMS

Level 2 Member
I don't have cable because I am using antenna and usually get DVDs from libraries if we were to watch something on TV.

I have ATT Uverse internet only package which I pay $40/month now. In 2 weeks it'll jump to $75. I heard about switching back and forth with other providers and bring the bill down. But how feasible is that? Time warner is the other provider.

I tried retention calls, but no dice already. Any tips on how else to cut down on internet bills? We don't go beyond 80GB per month data usage.
 
Matt

Matt

Administrator
Staff member
You have to check the terms, sometimes it pops up in Year 2 and requires a two year contract.. but generally speaking, what you can do is the same as when hunting for a high signup CC... google $29.99 internet from TWC and things like that... you will probably hit a promo.
 
fpguy

fpguy

Level 2 Member
Not sure if you have roommates but I've been paying 29.99 for 25 down 12 up through Comcast for the last 6 years or so.

You apply for promo in January, then when the 6 months are up you close your account and your roommate puts it his name for the next 6 months. Rinse and repeat. Ink + also gets 5x points for paying your ISP.
 
PurpleSquirrel

PurpleSquirrel

MS Nuts
Usually, you can get on the promo rate and stay on it for 1 year. Next year, you can call them and ask them to extend the promo rate. They do it if you have not already availed this rate before. That's 2 years.
End of 2nd year, cancel the service and let your spouse/room mate register on their name. Rinse and repeat every 2 years.
 
L

LearnMS

Level 2 Member
PurpleSquirrel said:
Usually, you can get on the promo rate and stay on it for 1 year. Next year, you can call them and ask them to extend the promo rate. They do it if you have not already availed this rate before. That's 2 years.
End of 2nd year, cancel the service and let your spouse/room mate register on their name. Rinse and repeat every 2 years.
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How do you figure out the gap between when you cancel and when to have your spouse/roommate register to the same address? Guess the ISP folks would be curious to know if we belong to same household?
 
PurpleSquirrel

PurpleSquirrel

MS Nuts
There is no gap. The account holder cancels the service the same day when the 2nd person transfers it to their name. ISP technicians like that.
 
MickiSue

MickiSue

Level 2 Member
The roommate solution could work, possibly, for us: Husband and I have different last names.

I HATE changing the ISP, because that means changing the email address. Hmmmm. Will have to try that. Does anyone know if it works for Centurylink?
 
MickiSue

MickiSue

Level 2 Member
ZC: I graduated from college, I'm guessing, before you were born. The internet wasn't even yet a twinkle in Al Gore's eye.

I have other email accounts for my businesses, but this is the one that I use for personal things.
 
zceuxbhjutf

zceuxbhjutf

Panel 3 Member
Me, too. But 99% of every alumni association offers their alumni an address ending in, for example, faber.edu

Google yours, you'll see.
 
MickiSue

MickiSue

Level 2 Member
Interesting. I did not know that. Of course, it would still mean the dreaded changing the email addy.

Maybe we should have done what the ILs did. They've had AOL addresses since forever and ever. :D
 
L

LearnMS

Level 2 Member
LearnMS said:
Great...I will give TW a call and see if they really do have any local promotions. Thanks.
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Update - no dice from current ATT. So will switch to Time Warner internet. Again, no local special offers from TW either but decent start.

The thing is I need t buy my own modem and also a one-time installment charge. Checking out to see if they can waive these charges.
 
W

WavyCEO

Level 2 Member
LearnMS said:
Update - no dice from current ATT. So will switch to Time Warner internet. Again, no local special offers from TW either but decent start.

The thing is I need t buy my own modem and also a one-time installment charge. Checking out to see if they can waive these charges.
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Look on Amazon for the modem, they have been having deals on them regularly and they are compatible with TWC.
 
HariOm

HariOm

Transcendent Level
LearnMS said:
Update - no dice from current ATT.
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Just for sharing, I faced the same situation a few months ago. Called AT&T and, inspired by a thread somewhere here, kept pushing, telling them the deals they were offering were unacceptable, spent some time on hold, and finally got sent to a specialist and ended up with a $200 gift card and discounted plan for internet only plus VOIP phone line, paying a little less than we were before, and for a faster speed (45 mpbs that clocked at 49 last week)..
 
L

LearnMS

Level 2 Member
HariOm said:
Just for sharing, I faced the same situation a few months ago. Called AT&T and, inspired by a thread somewhere here, kept pushing, telling them the deals they were offering were unacceptable, spent some time on hold, and finally got sent to a specialist and ended up with a $200 gift card and discounted plan for internet only plus VOIP phone line, paying a little less than we were before, and for a faster speed (45 mpbs that clocked at 49 last week)..
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That's great!
I have been doing that for the last 3 yrs. But I paid for the price I was offered with increasing speed. I am in the verge of assuming ATT will give up this time. One agent said to wait until it actually expires and look for the deals then. 7 more days to go.
 
HariOm

HariOm

Transcendent Level
LearnMS said:
One agent said to wait until it actually expires and look for the deals then. 7 more days to go.
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Yes, that refreshed my memory. Actually what we did was cancel AT&T and then came back 1-2 days later. That's how the good deal was available.
 
L

LearnMS

Level 2 Member
ATT finally said they can't give me 50% this time back to back. So shell out more stuff or leave the service.

I will now switch to TWC. I will have to buy a modem and a 1-time installation fee though...
 
P

Pinkeleph

Level 2 Member
HariOm said:
Just for sharing, I faced the same situation a few months ago. Called AT&T and, inspired by a thread somewhere here, kept pushing, telling them the deals they were offering were unacceptable, spent some time on hold, and finally got sent to a specialist and ended up with a $200 gift card and discounted plan for internet only plus VOIP phone line, paying a little less than we were before, and for a faster speed (45 mpbs that clocked at 49 last week)..
Click to expand...
^ This. I set a reminder every 6 months to call AT&T and threaten to cancel. About a month before I save all the crappy promotional offers that come in the mail from Comcast, Verizon, et al. If they say they can't do anything I tell them that company X is offering virtually identical service for Y dollars less a month and I have a flyer to prove it. and "As much as I'd hate to leave AT&T (cough) it's so much cheaper." They've always worked something out for me going this route.

Also worth noting - usually the first person they pass you off to is a level 1 CSR who can't do anything but change your package. I can't remember what the PC/corporate-ized word is for it now but I'll call them a retention specialist. After threatening to cancel they send me to said retention specialist who in my experience has always been an American (a plus) and is actually empowered to do something about your bill.
 
M

mathlete

Level 2 Member
Note that the "call and threaten to cancel" applies to most other services as well. I use it for DirecTV, SiriusXM, and Comcast and have saved hundreds if not thousands.

Water and gas...not so much. :)
 
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