Today I called Comcast to 'downgrade' our cable and internet plan. We don't watch the channels we do have (thanks to netflix and various re-runs we have on x-box etc.) and we wanted to try the slower internet for awhile to see if we hated it or couldn't tell a difference. Here is how my call went [the short version]:
me: "I would like to downgrade my cable tv please"
woman: "ok. looks like you are paying 41.95 now since we've already taken $10 off monthly for the next 4 months (thanks to Tim calling and trying to downgrade before). So, you'd like to go to the next lower at 15.99?"
me: "yes, that is correct"
woman:"ok, hold please while I get your information"
me thinking: didn't she just pull up my information? hmmm...owell.
woman: "mam, i am just showing now that i can offer you extended cable (what we have now) for 26.99 a month for the next 12 months."
me:"what? really? we pay 41.95, which is a discounted price, for that same package now?"
woman: "yes, mam. that is correct. in a few months your price will go from 41.95 to 51.95"
me thinking: wow! i would've been paying 41.95 monthly without knowing about this great deal that just "came" to this woman in a breaking news type thing accross her computer screen at the exact time I called? So i basically just made money (ok, saved money) just making this call at all?
me: "um, yes, i would like to pay 26.99 instead of 41.95 (soon to be 51.95) for what we have now for the next year, thank you."
woman:"no problem, mam."
blah blah blah....I did downgrade internet from 41.95 (which should be 61.95, but Tim got them to take off 20 dollars with his last phone call) to 24.95 and in just a brief second she was able to downgrade my speed while talking to me! amazing! AND this time they offered me a credit for the payment i've already made for the services I currently have. last time i called they told me i have to call on the day of the billing cycle change in order to get my money's worth and not lose money. Hmmmm....interesting.
Fof those of you that think, that's a nice and swell story but too much of a hassle and not that great of savings----I wanted to illustrate it a little more....so, to really drive the point home, here is what I would have potentially spent in 12 months on cable and internet if I would have been happy with the status quo: (yes, i really did the math, my mom will tell you that I always calculate my savings on any sale...it gives me warm fuzzies)
STATUS QUO: $1,298.68 before tax
and what I will be spending now for the next 12 months..............$623.28 before tax, which is a SAVINGS of: $675.40!
I can think of a lot that I'd rather be spending that money on than getting ripped off by cable/internet company!!!! It all adds up, friends. And, I am using the new speed of internet now and notice NO difference! And note, I would be the first to be skeptical! We were only going to try this speed out, but I think I love it! She--the'woman' --said the difference is only noticed if you down load a lot of 'gaming' and 'heavy files'. I do neither. I shop, blog, surf, and email. I am happy as a clam.
moral of the story, my friends, it never hurts to call up the cable/internet company every now and then and let them know they are ripping you completely off and try, or 'threaten', to downgrade. you're just sure to end up with cheaper prices. Tim got 30 dollars off our bill just by calling and saying we weren't happy with what we were paying and wanted to downgrade a couple months ago. So, it never ever hurts. You could basically make money making this important call TODAY! Ok, ok, SAVE money not make. Sometimes, though, i like to think of it as making money :)
Happy savings!
8 comments:
question... I thought you didnt end up downgrading the speed of the internet because she offered you the lower price for the current services you have. So why would there be a different speed? Maybe I read wrong. hehe
But my favorit thing in the world is the fuzzy feeling after saving. My newest thing is going to like tj max or something and trying on lots of stuff and then buying something and then not even taking it out of the bag and goin back the next week and returning it. that way i have fulfilled my need to buy something but end up breaking even and not adding anymore junk to my closet. ha
i do that too, jac! ha! and i down graded internet but not cable tv. stayed with current plan for much cheaper. :)
Wow! That is a great savings. Good luck with the slower connection.
so far i haven't really noticed a diff with slower connection! hope it stays that way!
just wanted to note that my mama saved money by making a call after reading my blog! :) if you're debating, don't wait, just do it!
Way to stick it to the man, Melissa!
Glad you are feeling more positive! Sounds like an awful shopping experience in your last post, that is the worst because you were so looking forward to it! Hope the rest of your Easter was better and the Bean liked your surprises.
New post, please. I've almost got this one memorized. I'm sure you've lived all sorts of exciting/interesting/funny stories since this post and we'd all love to hear about them. :)
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