Best alternatives to cable and satellite tv. This article started out as the individual experience of one personal finance blogger as he successfully haggled with his cable company to reduce his bill by 3. Unfortunately, that sinking feeling you are overpaying for services such as cable is still alive and well in 2. But other things have changed dramatically. In 2. 00. 9, Netflix was still known by many as the company with the red and white DVD sleeves that came in the mail. Hulu didnt launch until 2. Was there life before Amazon Prime Not sure. So if you are here to find out how to cut the cord with cable entirely, take these exact steps in 2. If youd like to see how you can keep cable but pay less thanks to this great post by blogger G. E. Miller, jump to Cheaper Cable TVCut Cable Entirely in Four Simple Steps. First, figure out if you are willing to pay to leave cable. If you dont mind paying a fee, you dont need four steps. Simply call customer service and ask for your service to be canceled immediately. FedEx may also increase prices during the holiday season, according to The Wall Street Journal. Retailers, especially those that operate online like Amazon, may. Latest trending topics being covered on ZDNet including Reviews, Tech Industry, Security, Hardware, Apple, and Windows. Academy Awardwinning filmmaker Ron Howard is one of this generations most popular directors. From the critically acclaimed dramas A Beautiful Mind and Apollo 13. Find the latest sports news and articles on the NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, NCAA college football, NCAA college basketball and more at ABC News. Archives and past articles from the Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia Daily News, and Philly. Ignore all deals or efforts to retain your service. Return all equipment and dont forget a receipt showing you did. Important note If you get your Internet from your cable provider and dont want a service interruption, make sure you have your Internet only alternative already set up. If you dont want to pay an early exit fee, memorize the end of your contract date. In future calls you may hear this date repeated back to you incorrectly and extended far into the future based on some action you probably didnt take. Get the latest science news and technology news, read tech reviews and more at ABC News. Play the largest selection of free online games at Games on AOL. Including puzzle games, card games, casino games, strategy games and many more D23 is upon us this weekend, and with it, a new behindthescenes glimpse at the next chapter in the Star Wars saga. But although the movie didnt offer us a full. Optical communications online journal with significant optical MEMS technology focus. Insist they note the correct date and ask for this to be repeated back anytime you talk to your cable company. Dont forget to purchase a streaming device. Of course you can watch TV directly from the web on your laptop or tablet, but if you want to keep watching from the TV, plan for a Roku or similar device. Wake up on your cable free day ready to say so long. Who loves calling 1 8. Watch Zombi Holocaust Online. Staying on hold Resisting enticing deals to keep my business Me, when Ive done all my homework and look to save potentially 1. I recently went down to Internet only, cutting our cable subscription and phone. Monthly savings 1. U. S. President Donald Trump announced recently a new American strategy for the countrys longest war Afghanistan. The major change is a shift from the deadlines. Showtime Full Exit Strategy Online Free' title='Showtime Full Exit Strategy Online Free' />By the way, not a peep of complaint from the kids, who I suspect looked at the black cable box in the same quaint way I saw my familys last rotary dial phone in the 1. To read another tale of wrangling with cable TV providers, see contributor Rod Kellys post on the topic of cutting the cable cord. Cable TV Alternatives. Netflix, of course. Apple TVHulu Basically streaming cable at this point. Showtime Full Exit Strategy Online Free' title='Showtime Full Exit Strategy Online Free' />See more about Hulus plans in The Wall Street JournalAmazonAmazon Prime. Sling. These are all paid, but monthly subscriptions are significantly cheaper than cable. For free services, check out Cheaper Cable TVThis is the original post by G. E. Miller who gives a real life example of using negotiation to save money. For more from G. E., check out his personal finance blogs 2. For the third of the country who has no choice but to turn to Comcast for cable television, the thought of price haggling is about as appealing as a root canal. Comcast has a notorious reputation for being unwilling to make their customers happy. Customers of other monopolistic cable outfits across the nation know the feeling. However, the potential savings that can come from limiting a monthly subscription expense can be enormous thats money that goes straight to your online savings account. Whats a frugal person to do Dealing with your local cable superpower doesnt have to be an intimidating process. And as evidenced by the ease in which I recently cut my cableinternet costs by a third during a short online chat without losing any service whatsoever, you may have similar success. With television service competition increasing and unemployment rates still trending upward, consumers are looking to slice discretionary expenses and service providers may be feeling the pinch to keep them on board. Theres no better time to ask than now. Heres my actual chat with a Comcast rep whose name has been altered to Rizzo to preserve his anonymity. Afterward, well discuss some universal price haggling techniques to better prepare you for your interaction. My Comcast Chat Transcript. G. E. has entered room. Rizzo has entered room. Rizzo Hello G. E., Thank you for contacting Comcast Live Chat Support. My name is Rizzo. Please give me one moment to review your information. G. E. Hi Rizzo. Rizzo Hello G. E., I will be happy to assist you today. How are you G. E. Fine, you Rizzo How may I assist you todayIm good. Thanks for asking. G. E. I need to lower my bill. U Verse is much cheaper. Thinking of switching. Rizzo Alright. Let me check my resources for this. G. E. A buddy of mine was able to get 3. Rizzo Can I have your account number please. G. E. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXRizzo Thank you for that. I will now check on the account. Please bear with me. Watch Bobby Deerfield Full Movie more. Thanks. Rizzo G. E, I have checked the account. You have our Digital Preferred package for 7. DVR for 9. 9. 9, Internet 4. Modem Rent for 5. I will now check on my resources to lower your bill. Rizzo I have checked my resources. I can offer you Digital Preffered 5. Internet for 1. 9. G. E. Can you do 4. DVR and extend the internet to a year Rizzo With this your new monthly charge will be 8. Thats the best promotion available G. E. G. E. Rizzo, were so close Rizzo Thanks. Do you want me to process this one for you G. E. Can you extend the internet to a yearThat way the cable and internet are both a year. Rizzo The Internet Code is only good for 6 months. Thats the best price I can offer you for internet. However, you can check back on us again next quarter to check if theres another promotion available to you. Would that be okay G. E. Whats my TOTAL bill now, and what would it be after your offer Rizzo Your current monthly charge is 1. With this offer your monthly bill is 8. G. E. Preferred is what I presently have, correct Rizzo Yes, the offer that I have is also a Digital Preferred package. Do you want me to proceed and process this one G. E. Yes, can you send me an email confirmation Rizzo Unfortunately, I cannot. The process will take effect immediately. You will see this rates adjusted on your next bill. Rizzo Shall I process this nowG. E. yes. Rizzo Alright. G. E. thanks Rizzo, youre a good man. Rizzo Youre welcome. Im still processing. Please bear with me. Rizzo G. E., I already have processed the order. The new charges includes Preferred 5. DVR 9. 9. 9, Modem 5. Internet 1. 9. 9. Your new monthly charge is 8. Rizzo Do you have other concerns for todayI will be glad to assist you further. G. E. Nope, thats it. Rizzo Youre welcome. By the way, to properly close this chat room please click on the END SESSION button. Thank you. I hope that you can find time in answering the 3 question survey after this chat. Thanks. Rizzo Bye for now. So what can you take away from this chat transcript There are a few universal haggling techniques that are applicable to just about any price haggling scenario. Dont be afraid to ask. Asking to cut my bill worked. Amazed at how simple it was to cut more than I was aiming for from my bill immediately, I asked for an even bigger cut. That request was denied not to my surprise or dismay. Truth be told, Im not sure that any of the techniques I used triggered the better offer, but I do know one thing had I been afraid to simply ask for the price break, I would have never gotten one. Rule number one is to overcome your fear and just ask. Be pleasant. Congeniality is king when interacting with CSRs. Being rude only infuses CSRs with the desire to deny your request. CSRs arent paid near what they should be, and probably dont have the highest job satisfaction levels. If you can appeal to their gentler human side, you win. Spit fire at them, and they will slam the door on you with pleasure. 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