Author Topic: Negotiated with AT&T  (Read 5453 times)

Chrissy

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Negotiated with AT&T
« on: April 09, 2015, 11:16:35 AM »
Now that we've decided to stay in our current apartment, I called to renegotiate our internet terms.  I got our high-speed internet down from $52/mo to $31/mo $38/mo with a significant increase in speed to 18 mbps.  It's a one-year contract, we're providing the modem not providing the modem (Huzz is an Tech dude and decided this is a no-go after some reseach), and no installation fee because we were existing customers though they have to send someone out.  I told them I was cancelling in favor of RCN's offer of 25 mbps @ $35/mo.  That's a real offer, but I was hoping AT&T would beat it.

If you're on the fence about trying to negotiate with your company, just do it!
« Last Edit: April 09, 2015, 11:26:15 AM by Chrissy »

Exflyboy

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Re: Negotiated with AT&T
« Reply #1 on: April 09, 2015, 11:36:02 AM »
Thats a great deal Chrissy!

I get about $1.4MPS  for $29.99... If I want to go faster I'm in the $40 range.

mandy_2002

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Re: Negotiated with AT&T
« Reply #2 on: April 09, 2015, 04:47:36 PM »
I did the same thing 7 months ago.  Another company had double the speed for $15 less, and AT&T matched it. 

One drawback to my deal was that it was a contract deal which was not disclosed to my by the person on the phone.  Now I'm moving and a little worried about the early termination fee.  They don't provide service in my future area, so cancelling was easy, but I'm still not completely sure if I'll be paying the fee.  Again, the CSR didn't mention the fee while I was cancelling, but that doesn't mean it won't pop up in my final bill.

Ricky

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Re: Negotiated with AT&T
« Reply #3 on: April 09, 2015, 04:52:09 PM »
Soooooo why didn't you just go with the new company since it's still cheaper and faster?

Chrissy

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Re: Negotiated with AT&T
« Reply #4 on: April 09, 2015, 10:50:18 PM »
Soooooo why didn't you just go with the new company since it's still cheaper and faster?

It's a $3/mo difference.  RCN's installation fee would've probably been $50, so I'm still coming out ahead.  Really, the point was to NOT pay $52/mo anymore.

As for speed, we're at 3 mbps right now, so the upgrade to 18 will be a vast improvement.  Would I notice I difference between 18 and 25?  Maybe.  Maybe not.

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Re: Negotiated with AT&T
« Reply #5 on: April 10, 2015, 01:40:21 AM »
Now that we've decided to stay in our current apartment, I called to renegotiate our internet terms.  I got our high-speed internet down from $52/mo to $31/mo $38/mo with a significant increase in speed to 18 mbps.  It's a one-year contract, we're providing the modem not providing the modem (Huzz is an Tech dude and decided this is a no-go after some reseach), and no installation fee because we were existing customers though they have to send someone out.  I told them I was cancelling in favor of RCN's offer of 25 mbps @ $35/mo.  That's a real offer, but I was hoping AT&T would beat it.

If you're on the fence about trying to negotiate with your company, just do it!

Well done, Chrissy!

I'm on my third year of annually negotiating with the cable company. This year I made $300 for fifteen minutes of work. I cut the internet bill (I don't have cable TV) from $65 monthly to $40.

I do the same with my trash pick up. Saved $180 annually there.

The key is to always have competitor's ads in hand when you call. Mention the competitor by name, and also the price. Then say you are thinking of switching.

The only one I have tried it with and failed was with my insurance company. Everyone else seems eager to keep a good prompt paying customer.

kaposzta

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Re: Negotiated with AT&T
« Reply #6 on: April 10, 2015, 04:00:38 AM »
$52 for 3 Mbps net? Wow, the Internet prices in the US always astonishes me! (I've just checked a net provider in Hungary, and the basic package (unlimited 50 Mbps net, 85 tv channels, almost free landline usage) costs $14. Biggest package (1000 Mbps net, 92 tv channels, even cheaper landline) is $26.)

Clean Shaven

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Re: Negotiated with AT&T
« Reply #7 on: April 10, 2015, 07:07:25 AM »
Where I live,  the only high speed Internet option is DSL, which here means AT&T.  To stream video (Netflix) requires the top option, a 6mbps plan. It's about $55/mo.

I'm on AT&T's introductory $35/mo 12-month plan...  for the third year in a row.  I have it calendared to contact them just before the expiration date and renew the intro rate. They'll do it, just talk to the retention department and tell them I'm thinking of switching to Charter Cable and a bundled package.  AT&T doesn't know that Charter doesn't work at my house.

forummm

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Re: Negotiated with AT&T
« Reply #8 on: April 10, 2015, 07:20:04 AM »
We get 3mbps for $20/mo with Comcast as a teaser rate. But we have both AT&T and Comcast available, so they have to compete a little.

midweststache

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Re: Negotiated with AT&T
« Reply #9 on: April 10, 2015, 07:25:27 AM »
Soooooo why didn't you just go with the new company since it's still cheaper and faster?

It's a $3/mo difference.  RCN's installation fee would've probably been $50, so I'm still coming out ahead.  Really, the point was to NOT pay $52/mo anymore.

As for speed, we're at 3 mbps right now, so the upgrade to 18 will be a vast improvement.  Would I notice I difference between 18 and 25?  Maybe.  Maybe not.

I'm on the opposite end; I called RCN earlier this year to negotiate our bill down. The problem with switching services is 1) the set up fees, like Chrissy said and 2) you may be switching to an inferior service. The unfortunate truth is I'm simply not willing to switch companies, since I've heard nothing but horror stories from both Comcast and AT&T users, and despite RCN's prices we've always had very good experiences with them. Since I'm not ACTUALLY willing to switch services, I never bring up competitors' plans in the negotiation process.

But then again, they don't have to know that. A nice "Our Internet bill had simply gotten too expensive; what can you do for us?" call usually ends up with some sort of price reduction...

Chrissy

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Re: Negotiated with AT&T
« Reply #10 on: April 10, 2015, 11:09:27 AM »
$52 for 3 Mbps net? Wow, the Internet prices in the US always astonishes me! (I've just checked a net provider in Hungary, and the basic package (unlimited 50 Mbps net, 85 tv channels, almost free landline usage) costs $14. Biggest package (1000 Mbps net, 92 tv channels, even cheaper landline) is $26.)

It started at ~$30 for 6 mbps for a year.  The contract ran out 3 months ago, and it jumped to $52.  About a month ago, my fiance moved in and tested it; it was only 3 mbps.  BUT, we were going to move, so who cares?  Decided last week that we were staying, so I called to renegotiate.


Since I'm not ACTUALLY willing to switch services, I never bring up competitors' plans in the negotiation process.

But then again, they don't have to know that. A nice "Our Internet bill had simply gotten too expensive; what can you do for us?" call usually ends up with some sort of price reduction...
 

Yeah, I wouldn't feel comfortable fibbing...  I said my neighbor had really awesome speeds through RCN, and I see they have a deal, so I'm cancelling.  I would've gone through with it had RCN come out favorably over AT&T's counteroffer.

mandy_2002

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Re: Negotiated with AT&T
« Reply #11 on: April 10, 2015, 11:28:23 AM »
$52 for 3 Mbps net? Wow, the Internet prices in the US always astonishes me! (I've just checked a net provider in Hungary, and the basic package (unlimited 50 Mbps net, 85 tv channels, almost free landline usage) costs $14. Biggest package (1000 Mbps net, 92 tv channels, even cheaper landline) is $26.)

And this is one of the many reasons I want to leave the USA for several different countries. 

Where I live,  the only high speed Internet option is DSL, which here means AT&T.  To stream video (Netflix) requires the top option, a 6mbps plan. It's about $55/mo.

I'm on AT&T's introductory $35/mo 12-month plan...  for the third year in a row.  I have it calendared to contact them just before the expiration date and renew the intro rate. They'll do it, just talk to the retention department and tell them I'm thinking of switching to Charter Cable and a bundled package.  AT&T doesn't know that Charter doesn't work at my house.

Your base assumptions may be different, but I was running 1.5 MBPS for a year while streaming from Netflix and Hulu.  The differences may be that I don't stream HD (the faster motion makes me sick) and it's only me using it.  Are you sure you need 6?

Chrissy

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Re: Negotiated with AT&T
« Reply #12 on: April 10, 2015, 11:36:38 AM »

Your base assumptions may be different, but I was running 1.5 MBPS for a year while streaming from Netflix and Hulu.  The differences may be that I don't stream HD (the faster motion makes me sick) and it's only me using it.  Are you sure you need 6?

Right.  Apparently, I only had 3, but no problem streaming Netflix.

Clean Shaven

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Re: Negotiated with AT&T
« Reply #13 on: April 10, 2015, 11:49:27 AM »
I tried the 3mbps tier -- it was barely adequate for HD streaming, and the additional $ to go to the 6 tier wasn't much more.

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Re: Negotiated with AT&T
« Reply #14 on: April 11, 2015, 08:33:24 AM »
I have a 5mbps package and I can stream Netflix in HD.  Hiccups begin if two users are streaming at the same time, but it still works (albeit in 480p which is fine by me).

I.P. Daley's guide addresses this, and argues why 3mbps is plenty for most folks.  Try not to confuse bandwidth too much with speed.