Did you know that you can negotiate your broadband contract to get a better deal? The idea of haggling over your bills might seem strange, but telecoms companies actually have a lot of wiggle room on their pricing.
If your broadband, TV or mobile contract is up for renewal, you could save £100s by negotiating a better price. Here’s our best advice for securing an amazing discount on your package.
Top tip! Want to have the experts handle the negotiation? Book a free call with Please Connect Me and let our team secure you a great deal on broadband with our exclusive partner offers.
How to negotiate your broadband contract and save!
1. Make the call
First things first – how to get in touch with your broadband provider. Most broadband companies have multiple ways to get in touch, with different methods for if you’re placing an order or raising a complaint.
To negotiate your broadband contract, reach out by phone to make sure you’re talking to a real person, rather than a chatbot. A phone call also means you’ll be able to negotiate in real time, rather than waiting for emails to be sent back and forth.
Check your broadband supplier’s website for their support phone line for existing customers and its opening hours. Avoid calling close to when the lines close as you might be cut off – lines are generally quietest first thing in the morning.
2. Time it right
The best time to negotiate your broadband contract is when your current contract is up for renewal. Most broadband contracts include a minimum contract period, during which you (usually) can’t leave the contract without penalty. At the end of this period, your monthly price will typically increase – a month before this happens is the perfect time to make the call.
3. Be ready to walk
The reason you want to wait until your initial contract period is over is to put a powerful tool in your negotiation kit – threatening to switch to another provider. Customer service teams are incentivised to keep you on board and renew your contract, so being ready to switch means they will go above and beyond to keep you happy. If you’re not having any luck negotiating with the customer support team, ask to be put through to the cancellations department.
4. Do your research
Threatening to leave is much more effective if you know which provider you would switch to. Find a supplier that’s currently offering a great deal for new customers, and use that price as an example while negotiating. Your current provider will be motivated to match or even beat that price to keep you on board.
5. Be firm but polite
The expression ‘you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar’ definitely applies to negotiating your broadband deal. Be direct about the price you would like to pay, and make it clear that you are willing to change suppliers, but don’t speak rudely or aggressively to customer support staff. Not only will the whole conversation be more pleasant for both of you, if you’re a problem customer, then your supplier might decide they don’t want to risk future troublesome interactions and be happy to let you leave without offering you a discount.
6. Don’t accept the first offer
The first price your supplier offers you is almost certainly not the best that they can offer. Stay firm and compare it to the cheapest packages you’ve researched. Even if the provider can’t cut the price further, they might offer other incentives like including a free Netflix subscription or giving your broadband speed a boost.
7. Mention any problems
Have you had problems with your broadband during your contract? Whether it’s speed dips during busy periods or that time a few months ago, your signal was down for the day, mention these issues during the negotiation. It will give more weight to your threats to switch providers, and your current company should try to make it up to you.
