If you’re not careful about your mobile phone plan, you could easily get locked into a contract that will have you digging deeper into your pockets. In fact, you are likely to pay more than you should for what you really need. It helps to take note of a few tips on how to score a better deal as an existing customer.
Mobile phone providers are always happy to keep their customers, and one of the ways they do so it by giving discounts when you get another service from them. For instance, you’re likely to be charged a lower monthly rate on a mobile phone deal if you’re an existing customer who signs up to a new one.
If you’re coming to the end of a mobile plan, providers will usually have exclusive customer-only deals to encourage you to stay on their network. Some of these deals are exclusive to customers, so you might as well take advantage of that. Also, existing customer deals are a lot cheaper. There’s often more limited choice on handsets and tariffs, but if you find a deal you want, it’s certainly going to be worth it.
Don’t Shy Away From Haggling
You will be surprised at how much a simple phone call can save you on your mobile phone contract. By making a quick phone call, you can haggle for a better deal. However, it’s crucial to do some market research before even attempting to haggle.
Prepare Yourself
Find out what the market has to offer, as that will be your main bargaining chip. Quote some of the deals offered by rival companies and make it clear that you’re thinking about switching providers. Nonetheless, the timing of your call is critical.
Bear in mind how much you’ll have to part with for early termination of your contract before approaching your provider. Therefore, you want to time your call when cancellation, if need be, will not be uneconomical. You will have higher bargaining power when you’re at the end of the contract, when it’s free to switch.
Know What to Say
You can always boost your chances of getting a better deal if you know what to say. Haggling is an art. When talking to your provider’s customer representative, it helps to stress the point that you’re not certain you’re getting the best value for your money. You can also mention that you have a friend who has a much better phone with more minutes and or data.
Mobile phone providers often have specialist cancellation teams that will offer some incentives. Well, depending on what they offer, in relation to what you think is fair, you may decide to accept or keep pushing a little harder. Mentioning that you were hoping for bigger savings has proved to work for many customers.
More often than not, your provider will offer something other than a discount. It’s common to be offered say extra data or minutes. Weigh your options carefully and make sure you’re not being short-changed.
Don’t Give Up
If you hit a brick wall over the phone, don’t call it quits. Give it a few days or about a week and try again. Who knows, maybe the second time you might get a rep who is easier to convince. Alternatively, you can start a conversation with a customer service representative on social media, and they’re likely to address your issue ASAP. For instance, consider a social media post about a competitor’s better offer to switch.
Research has established that you have higher chances of scoring a better deal if you haggle online or over the phone, rather than in person. In this day and age, social media has a huge impact, so it’s not surprising that social media teams will be eager to offer special discounts. Moreover, customer retention teams will often have access to rate plans that aren’t publicly advertised.
Consider a Prepaid Plan
Most mobile phone carriers offer a wide variety of prepaid plans that are worth considering. Prepaid plans will rarely come with as many perks as long term contracts, but you can make significant savings. It’s highly likely that your provider has prepaid plans with unlimited talk and text, which makes it easy to cut your bill without signing up for a new contract.
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