Five Phone Calls That Can Save You A Bundle

Five Phone Calls That Can Save You A Bundle, One of these could knock hundreds of dollars a year off your cable TV bill. If you’re looking for a little extra money this month, forget the sofa cushions. The answer might be in your phone.From getting better rates on existing services to dickering over those great promotional deals, making the right call can save you a nice chunk of change.

Best of all, since you’re often looking at long-term, repeat savings — accumulating over months or years — it’s the gift that keeps on giving to your wallet.So before you search your old jacket pockets or raid that kitchen cookie jar for extra funds, here are five phone calls to try.

The call: Request a better deal on a service

How would you like to knock almost $900 a year off your cable TV bill?

In one instance, it took just one phone call, says Linda Sherry, director of national priorities for Consumer Action. The question she asked was simple: Do you have any deals or promotions at a better rate?

After digging around, the rep came up with a deal that would lower her bill from $130 to $58 — all while still giving Sherry the channels she wanted.

Sherry later had the same conversation with her Internet provider when her original promotional rate expired. So instead of an increase to $50 a month, she got a rate of $30 a month.

The call: Talk to the disconnection department

For deals on existing services like television, phone and Internet providers, sometimes the customer service department isn’t the best option, says Lynnette Khalfani-Cox, author of “Zero Debt: The Ultimate Guide to Financial Freedom” and founder of AskTheMoneyCoach.com. Customer service lines often deal primarily with new customers, she says.

Her tip: Call the cancellation department, and say you’ve been a customer for a number of years and need a better rate, says Khalfani-Cox. When they realize you’re ready to jump, “They start moving heaven and earth to give you a better deal,” she says.