A new online survey of 1,134 ISPreview.co.uk readers has found that 43.2% of fixed line broadband and 47.3% of Mobile using respondents have never tried to cut their bills by negotiating a lower price with their provider, with many being discouraged by concerns over time and call centres etc.
Sometimes the easiest way to save money on your broadband and phone service, especially if you’re happy with your current provider, isn’t by switching to a different ISP. Many of the United Kingdom’s largest broadband and mobile providers also run a dedicated retentions department and if you know what you’re doing then a simple phone call is often all it takes to save money.
Clearly a lot of our readers have tried this, although many have not and the reasons for not doing so are quite diverse.
Have you ever saved money by negotiating a lower price with your broadband ISP?
Yes – 56.7%
No – 43.2%Have you ever saved money by negotiating a lower price with your Mobile operator?
Yes – 52.6%
No – 47.3%What discourages you most from trying to negotiate a better deal?
Nothing! – 32.8%
Time consuming – 16.9%
Dislike ISP call centres – 16%
Negotiating feels awkward – 15.6%
Easier to switch ISP – 14.2%
Fear of failure – 3.1%
Other fear – 1%
Most of today’s headline deals and discounts only focus on attracting new customers, while existing subscribers can easily be left to feel neglected and forced to face a frustrating future of annual price rises that move further and further away from what new users seem able to get.
Some ISPs do offer discounted upgrades but even if they don’t then you’ve certainly nothing to lose by calling the provider and trying for a discount. One call could save you a fair bit of money and a lot of hassle, as opposed to switching ISP every other year. In keeping with this we’ve written up a short and simple guide: Retentions – Tips for Cutting Your Broadband Bill Without Switching ISP.
Meanwhile this month’s new survey asks whether your home broadband ISP router ever been hacked and what related security precautions you take? Vote Here.
NOTE: ISPreview.co.uk surveys are likely to receive a higher proportion of tech-savvys respondents, although the majority of our visitors are normal consumers (i.e. they come to this site for help and assistance with basic broadband problems / questions or finding a new ISP).
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