MARTIN Lewis’ MoneySavingExpert has shared how one fan managed to save £360 after haggling over his Sky bill.
The savings experts revealed in the latest newsletter that one reader called Dennis was able to reduce his bill from £109.50 to £79.50 per month via the method.
Dennis managed to shave £30 off his tariff per month, saving a grand total of £360 a year.
It comes as MoneySavingExpert.com (MSE) recently found that Virgin Media, RAC and Sky are the top firms to haggle with.
It shared tips and tricks on the best ways to haggle down your costs.
Sky announced a hike in fees for broadband and TV customers back in February, with customers facing a £43 a year rise.
Dennis emailed the savings experts after reading about the alternative way to cut down on the contract costs.
He said to MSE: “My Sky contract had expired and gone up to £109.50/month, so I phoned up to challenge the increase.
“Now my bill is £79.50/month for the next 18 months.
“Absolutely worth doing as the call was answered quickly and it was all sorted within 10 minutes.
“Thanks MSE for reminding me to haggle.”
Most savers know that switching provider can be the best way to cut down on costs especially when your current tariff sky rockets and you have an easy way out.
But switching mid-contract often means a fee, so it’s usually best to wait until your current deal ends before you swap to a new one.
Earlier this year The Sun revealed that Sky charges a maximum of almost £300 to exit its cheapest tariff.
If you can’t wait that long though, or you don’t want to leave the company you’re with, then haggling down the price is another great solution.
Essentially, you can take the opportunity to ask your provider to simply make your payments cheaper, or you’ll threaten to leave.
Usually providers will only tempt new customers with the best of their deals, but adopting this method could fast track you into the same position whilst remaining a loyal customer.
Sky in particular is supposedly one of the easiest providers to haggle with, according to MSE, as it says that 84% of people who tried succeeded in some way.
If you are out of contract you can simply call your provider and ask for a discount, and it’s likely that the company will want you to remain loyal, so it could reduce costs.
It’s not guaranteed that you’ll be able to shave anything off your bill, but there’s no harm in trying.
Dennis isn’t the only consumer who’s been met with success after haggling with the provider though.
The Sun previously reported that another Sky user was able to knock a huge £750 off his bill using MSE’s tips.
If you want to stick with your provider – or any early exit penalties mean it’s not worth switching away – haggling down your bill is easy and it shouldn’t affect your current contract.
Call the provider and say you’re unhappy with the price as your contract is due to roll over.
You can let them know you’ve found a better price somewhere else, or that as a loyal customer you want to know if you can get a better deal.
You can use comparison sites like Uswitch or Comparethemarket to do this, and find the best deals on the market.
Once you are armed with a better deal, speak to your provider and tell them you have found something new.
When they hear you’ve taken the initiative to look elsewhere, they may be more open to negotiation.
The worst they can say is no, and you’re no worse off, you’ll know then that it’s time to shop around for a cheaper deal.
If you are still in your fixed contract though and are struggling to make payments for your broadband service, it’s always worth speaking to your provider, in case you can move down to a more affordable package.
You should also take a look at what you actually watch or use as part of your contract, and cut out the add-ons you’re paying extra for.
For example if you’re happy with simple Freeview, let your provider know this, and don’t let them talk you into adding on extra elements you know you won’t use.
Part of MSE’s top tips is to approach your haggle calmly, not accept the first offer thrown your way, and don’t feel pressured to fill the silence.
Instead wait for the sales rep to come back with a better, cheaper offer.
Timing is also key, always set a diary reminder for 40 days before the end of a contract.
Once you’ve agreed to a deal, you have a 14-day cooling off period so you can always change your mind if you’re not happy or find a better deal.
Some internet firms including BT and Virgin Media offer social tariffs, allowing customers on Universal Credit to access cheaper broadband.
It’s worth haggling more than ever, since bills are rising across the board.
Vodafone, BT and EE customers were all hit by bill rises in April.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk
