Call your service provider and ask them if you're getting the best rate.
I know most of you will say - waste of time. I'll share 2 quick incidents - one a few years ago & one current:
- Several years ago, the phone companies (AT&T, MCI, Sprint, etc) were offering money if you switched to them for long distance. Typically they offered $25 or $50 and other than a minor inconvenience of switching companies, there was no downside. I did it a few times. It eventually got old so I found the one w/ the lowest rates and stayed w/ them. Several months later, I started to see TV ads listing the price per minute for my phone company as the lowest. I assumed that I was given the new lower rate. After a few months of seeing these ads and noticing that my calls seemed to be more expensive than the rates on TV - I called. Turns out that I wasn't close to the lowest rate (I was close to double). After I switched plans to their new, lowest rate - I asked the rep how I can be sure that it's current. Bottom line - she recommended calling every 6 months and ask for a review. They will never proactively review your account and lower your rate.
- Fast forward to last month. My broadband modem developed some intermittant issues. After several calls to techs, they decided to send me a new one. While talking w/ the last tech, he mentioned my 'speed' and asked if I ever considered upgrading. I told him that I had the fastest speed they offered (which I did as of 12-18 months before). He chuckled and said I wasn't close. He said he would check my account & my line & assorted stuff. I chuckled and said - "yup - I probably have the lowest speed at the highest cost". Well - wouldn't you know - I was right? I was paying $20/mo more than the current speed I was receiving. Literally, I was paying for the fastest speed they offered but was getting their slowest. After getting my account straightened out - I asked them how to avoid this. Again - the only answer is to call and have them check your account. They will not do it for you....
I know most of you will say - waste of time. I'll share 2 quick incidents - one a few years ago & one current:
- Several years ago, the phone companies (AT&T, MCI, Sprint, etc) were offering money if you switched to them for long distance. Typically they offered $25 or $50 and other than a minor inconvenience of switching companies, there was no downside. I did it a few times. It eventually got old so I found the one w/ the lowest rates and stayed w/ them. Several months later, I started to see TV ads listing the price per minute for my phone company as the lowest. I assumed that I was given the new lower rate. After a few months of seeing these ads and noticing that my calls seemed to be more expensive than the rates on TV - I called. Turns out that I wasn't close to the lowest rate (I was close to double). After I switched plans to their new, lowest rate - I asked the rep how I can be sure that it's current. Bottom line - she recommended calling every 6 months and ask for a review. They will never proactively review your account and lower your rate.
- Fast forward to last month. My broadband modem developed some intermittant issues. After several calls to techs, they decided to send me a new one. While talking w/ the last tech, he mentioned my 'speed' and asked if I ever considered upgrading. I told him that I had the fastest speed they offered (which I did as of 12-18 months before). He chuckled and said I wasn't close. He said he would check my account & my line & assorted stuff. I chuckled and said - "yup - I probably have the lowest speed at the highest cost". Well - wouldn't you know - I was right? I was paying $20/mo more than the current speed I was receiving. Literally, I was paying for the fastest speed they offered but was getting their slowest. After getting my account straightened out - I asked them how to avoid this. Again - the only answer is to call and have them check your account. They will not do it for you....
