Tired of Overpaying for Internet? Here's How I Negotiated a Better Deal

Internet service isn’t cheap with the average monthly bill coming to around $63. And that's without counting equipment rental fees. Yet, with everything from work and school to staying connected relying on a solid connection, it’s a necessary expense many of us just accept.

But what happens when your bill starts creeping up and you don’t qualify for low-income internet programs like Lifeline? One way to fight back is by negotiating with your provider, an old-school tactic that can still save you money.

My wife is the champion negotiator and dealmaker of our household. Before we met, she'd already crushed significant life moments, including buying a house, hammering out a great deal on a new car, and getting the best possible salary offer for a new job. So when it came time to gather guidance for negotiating with your internet service provider, you'd better believe I started with her.

"Kindness is key," she said. "Always be friendly and courteous." Why? Because the person on the other end of the phone (or online chat, as the case may be) is much more likely to work with you if met with decency and patience. Your customer service rep isn't doing an easy job and they want to help, so why not start on the right foot?

I could fill a whole column with my wife's negotiating tips and tricks, but I've also sought professional advice from internet provider employees. As you might imagine, some gave me standard company lines about how every customer gets the same high-value offers or how each agent works tirelessly to ensure everyone gets the best possible price daily. You know the drill.

We all know that's not 100% true, or providers wouldn't constantly be changing their promotions and deals. So, after sifting through the best ideas from the pros, here are five steps you should take when negotiating with your internet service provider.

1. Take the time to do your research

"I think the first thing is to try to be knowledgeable before you make the call," according to EarthLink CEO Glenn Goad. From his perspective, most people aren't familiar enough with their options when contacting an ISP. That puts them at a disadvantage and can lead to getting roped into add-ons or more speed than they actually need. Here's how you can avoid pitfalls like that.

Look in the mirror

Spend part of your preparation building a case for yourself as a desirable customer. How long have you been with your ISP? If you're two months into a 24-month contract, you're less likely to get any traction on carving out a better deal: Providers often collect an early termination fee if you bail on your existing contract.

On the other hand, if you've been with the same ISP for several years, there's a much better chance of finding a flexible attitude. In that case, the provider should be much more motivated to keep you as a subscriber because there's no financial benefit claimed from your loss. Either way, having this basic information handy will help you better make your claim.

You can also do yourself a favor and set the stage for a more profitable exchange by paying your bills on time. Once you've built up months or years of steady, on-time payments, the sales agent will likely see you as a valuable customer and one worth keeping happy.

Decide what you actually need

Don't be an impulsive internet shopper. Before negotiating with your ISP, determine your goals for the call. Keep in mind it's not always just about cutting a deal for a lower monthly bill.

Yes, knocking a few bucks off each month's bill is great, but it might not ultimately be the best approach to your household internet needs. For instance, many of us discovered that our previous internet plan was insufficient for increased work-from-home or remote schooling duties during the pandemic. To keep more people (and devices) online simultaneously, a faster internet option is the way to go.

An AT&T spokesperson said she advises customers to turn to a fiber network if possible to deal with bandwidth-heavy applications. "However, when fiber isn't available, we recommend choosing the fastest option available based on the customer's need," she said. "With the average number of connected devices continuing to grow, most households would benefit from fast and more reliable speeds."

Keep in mind that, according to findings from OpenVault, the average household uses 564Mbps a month. If you signed up for a plan with less speed with that, but you have a fair number of devices and moderate internet users in the house, you should consider an upgrade.

Guidance like this CNET speed test tutorial can help determine how much internet speed you really need, so start there. Perhaps when you signed on with your provider, you chose a starter plan with 50Mbps download speed, but now your family needs more than that. Focus on securing a faster speed — maybe more like 300Mbps — and aim to get more for your money and decrease your cost per Mbps.

On the flip side, perhaps you signed up for a multi-gigabit speed plan because your ISP touted it as the fastest residential plan available. But do you and the rest of your household really use that much? You might find significant savings by downgrading to a plan that lets you do all the same activities without any discernible difference in performance. For instance, many homes won't notice much difference between a gigabit plan and 500Mbps.

2. Craving the speediest plan? Not so fast

While download speed is undoubtedly essential in figuring out what type of plan best fits you, it's not the only factor. An Xfinity spokesperson said it's best to look into the total value of their internet service rather than simply stopping at speed. Ccan you get mobile service included? How about access to Wi-Fi hotspots? Value can come in multiple ways, not just in your download speed.

The AT&T spokesperson agreed. "What discounts or special offers are available to you? There may be discount offers for qualifying customers that you should inquire about. Some providers may also offer subscriptions for streaming and other services that could make a package more enticing," she said.

You can help yourself out by putting in just a little work before the call. For instance, look beyond download speed and consider your data usage. Are you paying extra for unlimited data and not using it? Or, perhaps more commonly, do you tend to exceed your data limit and incur additional charges? Consider if there's an unlimited add-on option that'll save you money in the long run.

Also, gather your facts about what you're currently paying. Do you already have a promo rate? Are there any deals you're taking advantage of right now? You can check out our round-up of some of the best deals, TV bundles and mobile bundles for internet customers. Don't get caught flat-footed, or you'll risk losing a reasonable price in the hunt for a better bargain.

If you're not taking advantage of any deals or offers, look up the promotional discounts offered to new customers and ask your ISP to match that. It's also worthwhile to check for online-only deals so you can ask for the equivalent for your existing account.

3. Know your options before you call

Sorry to mix metaphors, but if you plan on playing hardball, don't bluff if you have no hand. Before you threaten to cancel your subscription, ensure your address is serviceable for other providers by using tools like the FCC broadband coverage map to see what internet options are available at your address. Otherwise, your ISP will know that you don't have other options.

On the other hand, you can politely but squarely use this to your advantage if you do have options. At face value, you might have a cheaper plan than what you found on a competitor's site. But as you consider that alternative option, you might discover it's a fiber connection with much faster upload and download speeds. You could get a faster, better online experience at a lower cost per Mbps for just slightly more per month.

But such a pivot might not be available to all. In addition to serviceability, you also have to answer another question. Is switching to another ISP even an option? For instance, if you live in an apartment complex, does your leasing company have an exclusivity agreement with your provider?

My wife and I learned this the hard way. We were excited by the idea of ditching our old ISP when we moved to the Charlotte area, but our hopes were dashed when we learned our housing development had a contract with the same provider, so we didn't have the same range of choices as other city residents.

Consider the different internet connection types available at your address. Is satellite internet an option? It's often cast as the only viable alternative for rural or suburban customers. Recent developments with Starlink promise faster speeds and more flexibility. But be aware of satellite dish installation regulations in your area, set by your homeowners association or in your lease rules.

Lastly, is 5G home internet an option at your address? Verizon and T-Mobile are aggressively expanding the coverage areas for their respective services and looking to lure new customers. These services offer better download speeds than satellite and much more affordable rates. (Unlike with satellite services, there are no equipment rental or purchase fees to add to your monthly costs.)

4. Ask for what you want before you give up

You've researched, collected your facts and jotted down your goals for the call. Preparation is the key to success, but now it's time to seal the deal. To get the best deal for your budget, you need to call and ask for what you want.

"Any customer has the right to seek changes to their plan if they choose to do so," the AT&T spokesperson said. "There's not really a specific time of year for deals, but customers should check ISPs' websites regularly for any new updates or offers they can take advantage of."

Goad offered that moving season from May to October is a prime time to find offers, incentives and promotions. That said, it's also a time when your customer experience might not be as good as if you called during a different time.

"If you think about it, if you're going to shop on Black Friday, it's a different experience than if you shop on March 12," Goad said. "So maybe you do your research in the first and second quarter of the year and do your buying in the third quarter when you're fully prepared."

If you decide to make your move during the busy season, strongly consider not calling during the busiest time of the day: the lunch hour. Whenever you decide to leap, it's worth repeating to always, always be courteous. This is foundational to having a good call. Try to be friendly, speak of your length of time with the provider, and highlight your excellent payment history.

5. If at first you don't succeed, try again

Here's another tip from my wife: If she gets an agent who doesn't seem willing to work with her or share the same courteous approach, she'll politely end the conversation and try again. If you forget the first four steps, don't get what you need and the conversation goes south, you can try again with a new customer service rep.

One colleague I spoke with echoed this advice and shared a story about her customer experience. She was so frustrated with her bill increases that she decided to get on the phone and threatened to cancel. Her hope was the provider would beg her to stay and offer a new promotion.

Instead, the provider canceled her service. She sheepishly called back later and spoke with a different representative. Figuring honesty was the best policy, she shared her story and ended up with a new deal and the advice to call and just ask next time.

Be prepared that it might not go your way the first time, but don't give up. You might need to call a few times to find an agent willing to work with you or find the right promotions to suit your goals. If it means a lower bill or a better plan, it's well worth the effort.