Do You Negotiate Your Cell Phone, Internet, Cable, and/or Medical Bills

Been learning about these possibilities lately and it's pretty neat you can negotiate them.

Anyone here done it before and have any tips or stories?

For me, I'm looking into getting a cell phone plan with a major carrier that has data, text, and unlimited calling (for those non-peak/blackout times) for less than the $45.00/month I play now (T-MOBILE).

I know Verizon Fios internet will negotiate and I plan to call them too to try to get a lower rate.

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We have tried to negotiate with the cable/internet company but didn't have any luck. We do. However, bounce back and forth between the major carriers here to get promotional rates.

Happiness is not a goal; it is a by-product. Eleanor Roosevelt

My husband does bill negotiating. He recently was on the phone with our cable company during the course of a few days to whittle down our bill. He ended up saving us around $700 a year. I only negotiate with schedulers. I once had to negotiate with my children, but they grew up finally, LOL.

I negotiated with my cable/internet provider and got the introductory rate for 2.5 years. At a doctor's office, I was handed a bill for $175 when the doctor saw me for less than 2 minutes. I said, "I'll give you $50" and he agreed. That shocked me!

@KathyG wrote:

We have tried to negotiate with the cable/internet company but didn't have any luck. We do. However, bounce back and forth between the major carriers here to get promotional rates.

I actually got a lower rate with Verizon internet service from asking about a deal I saw. The deal wasn't something I was allowed to get (technical reasons), but the representative surprisingly offered a lower monthly rate. It was a while ago and I don't remember all the phone convo details, but I think I might have slipped in there that I was aware of other company bargains (as in competitors)....can't remember the specifics, but I didn't ever request a special deal. I only asked if I qualified for a rate in a news ad and I didn't because it was for first-time customers only. I remember sounding really bummed out. But I also know I never pushed her for any other rates. She just volunteered a discount for me.

The woman said she could lower my rate for having had their service for years and being loyal. I took it!

In doing some research, this is not unusual at all. One consultant even said that you can ask several times a year (as her friend did) and actually get discounts every time if things go well.

Even medical bills can surprisingly be negotiated!

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/14/2017 02:40AM by shoptastic.

everything is negotiable.

I have negotiated with cable TV, many times. I receive $33 dollars off every months bill because I am a long term customer, that's what they tell me. I just got $150 off because one of my cable boxes hasn't worked properly for a year. (Just in my office, which I hardly ever watch.) I renew my cable every two years to get the best deals. It does take a lot of negotiating with the right person, always a supervisor.

The best company to negotiate with is the one you already do business with, in my experience. It's called "customer retention." They spend millions getting you to sign up, they will spend a few bucks to keep you.

I happen to also be a customer of T-Mobile, and I routinely get free extra data, I've gotten a free signal booster (boyfriend's company would not budge on $200 for that), $50 bonus for trading in an obsolete phone, all because they see I've been loyal since 2003. Over those years, they've been stricter or looser as times change, but a reminder that "all these other companies are throwing cheap offers at me." And ask for customer retention.

I used to do the same thing with ATT until I cut the cord.

Medical bills, luckily I haven't had to deal with, but I've heard you can ask for an audit of a hospital bill and they will take off many of their bogus or inflated charges. Wait, come to think of it, I have sort of negotiated with chiropractors and massage therapists, but more at their prompting when I was about to quit.

I think the word negotiate is a little business like, however, my Allergist put me on a new aggressive eye drop that cost 250.00...I flat out told him I couldn't afford it.....he gave me a sample and said he'd take care of it....
i go to the Pharmacy to pick it up and my bill was 6.50,whew, don't need to know how or why, always speak up.
I have a good relationship with my medical, always polite and appreciate their advice.....and lately they are my constant friends (if you know what i mean)

Live consciously....

@Irene_L.A. wrote:

I think the word negotiate is a little business like, however, my Allergist put me on a new aggressive eye drop that cost 250.00...I flat out told him I couldn't afford it.....he gave me a sample and said he'd take care of it....
i go to the Pharmacy to pick it up and my bill was 6.50,whew, don't need to know how or why, always speak up.
I have a good relationship with my medical, always polite and appreciate their advice.....and lately they are my constant friends (if you know what i mean)

Sounds like you are being well taken care of Irene !

@7star wrote:

@Irene_L.A. wrote:

I think the word negotiate is a little business like, however, my Allergist put me on a new aggressive eye drop that cost 250.00...I flat out told him I couldn't afford it.....he gave me a sample and said he'd take care of it....
i go to the Pharmacy to pick it up and my bill was 6.50,whew, don't need to know how or why, always speak up.
I have a good relationship with my medical, always polite and appreciate their advice.....and lately they are my constant friends (if you know what I mean)

Sounds like you are being well taken care of Irene !

yes, I am (thank G--)....I am aware of what's going on and am an active participant , my head is definitely not in the sand. My Dr. will see me same day if needed. Don't ignore your health.

Live consciously....

Things I have recently negotiated...
Home insurance
Home security
Car insurance
Home equity line rate
Cable.. cut the cord. Wasn't worth $120+per month.
Next up is cell phone bill.

AT@T recently negotiated with me, saying if i set up auto pay , I will have 5.00 off my monthly bill.... my phone bill is low, but I don't use many app's. and keeping it that way.

Live consciously....

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Do You Negotiate Your Cell Phone, Internet, Cable, and/or Medical Bills

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