How to Negotiate Bills

With today's economy, we are all looking for ways to keep some extra money in our pockets. One way to accomplish that is to negotiate bills. Some bills that you might be able to negotiate include your doctor bill, your hotel bill, and your dry cleaning bill. Read on to learn how to negotiate these bills.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Offer to pay the doctor and hospital upfront in exchange for a 10 to 20% discount. This works best if you have to pay for a covered treatment. Why? Insurance companies can give hospitals a hard time so your doctor and hospital will often accept to avoid the hassle of dealing with your insurer.

2. Call the hotel directly and ask for a discount on the published rate. If they say no then suggest an upgrade to a suite or the concierge floor at no additional charge. If you're a member of the hotel's frequent stay program, mention it. Hotel occupancy is down by a large margin so hotels will do anything to get people to stay there.

3. Use your regular status as a lever for negotiating your dry cleaning bill. When no other customers are around, show your typical monthly tab to the owner. Ask for a 10 to 20 percent discount. Offer to pay in cash. You could also offer to drop and pick up your clothes on days of the week that are slower, business wise.