How to Lower Your TV Bill

Lowering you TV bill often involves negotiation with several companies.

Keeping your current cable or satellite package but making a lower monthly payment might seem illogical, but it's possible. Cable and satellite companies want to keep you as a customer; they often won’t let prices get in the way of that goal. By engaging in negotiations, considering downgrading your package or leaving for another cable or satellite company, your current company will often give in and meet your demands.

Instructions

1. Determine the maximum payment you want to make each month. Keep the difference between what you want to pay and what you’re currently paying to about 20 percent or less; anything more and the cable or satellite company is unlikely to agree to your terms.

2. Call your satellite or cable company. Explain that while you want to keep your service as is, you can’t realistically afford it. State the maximum price you’re willing to pay.

3. Ask if the company is offering any promotions or deals to help you keep the same service but at a lower price. Prepare for the company representative to offer a deal that’s lower than your current payment but higher than your stated maximum.

4. Explain that you can't pay more than the maximum payment you mentioned. Tell the representative that you'll have to downgrade your service if he can't give you a deal. Most of the time, the representative will attempt to meet your price if you show that you’re willing to downgrade. If he doesn't, explain that you’ll have to think it over.

5. Call a competing cable or satellite company. Ask for a quote for the same service you receive from your current company. Cable and satellite companies typically have numerous promotions for new customers; the payment you’re quoted will likely be lower than your current payment. If not, tell the prospective company about the company you’re currently with; doing so usually prompts the representative to lower your price to entice you to leave.

6. Place a call to your current company and say that you would like to stay, but were offered a better monthly payment by the other company. If your current company refuses to match it, cancel your account and join the other company as a new customer. Your current company will likely do everything it can to either match or beat the monthly payment the other company offered.

Tips & Warnings

• Consider subscribing to streaming services if you want to watch TV shows but downgrade your service. Doing so is usually cheaper than keeping your current package, however, you might not have the same selection of shows.

References

• Get Rich Slowly; How I Cut my Comcast Cable Bill by 33% (Without Losing Any Service); J.D. Roth; December 2009
• "USA Today"; Negotiate Your Way to Lower Cable TV, Cellphone Bills; Jillian Berman; July 2010