I spend a lot of time looking through magazines, watching TV and looking through newspapers. While doing this I happen to see all the newest rates for cell phones, cable, satellite and so forth. It makes me mad when I realize, that I got the bum deal.

Well most people may not realize that all you have to do is call up your company and ask to get the lower rate, sometimes they will do it when you ask nicely. But more often you have to escalate the issue and tell the company that your looking into switching companies in order to secure that better rate held only for 'new customers'.

In my particular experience I saw a deal in my paper for Fido (cell phone) that had an unlimited incoming calls package, and told them I was thinking of switching. I'm on a month to month plan for those who want to know. Anyhow, I then saw an ad for my currently company that was comparable and asked about that deal. I told him about this, and he said that, that particular promotion was limited to new customers only, but he said he'd see what he could do. He then put me on hold, and came back and said, yes we can hold that deal for you. (At the time I was on vacation service for my phone, and I was talking to him about switching to a cheaper provider). After all this he put a note on the system, so when I came off 'vaca

tion disconnect' I would automatically get this new plan. Best plan I ever had with them.

Why does this work? Well most companies have some sort of department that specializes in keeping current clients, and in order to call you a client they have to keep you satisfied. Truth is, it's best to have a deal in mind when mentioning you are looking at switching, and make it look like you've done some research into it. If you just go into it not prepared, you could just end up accepting nothing and hang up, if this happens to you. Call again when you get the nerve.

In my experience though it has never taken so much coaxing, it's like telling a company that you recently switched to another brand for one particular reason or another and then them compensating you by giving you a free product or coupons. It's customer service, and being and educated consumer can save you money and lots of it.

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