How to negotiate your internet bill

Have you ever been surprised by an increase on your monthly internet bill? Seen a hike in monthly fees or other extra charges? Well, we’re not surprised if this has been your experience at one point or another. Internet providers are somewhat notorious for having unsatisfied customers, mainly because they sneak in extra charges or increase your internet price seemingly with no notice.

Luckily, you may be able to negotiate with your internet service provider (ISP) when something like this happens, and it could save you money in the long run. Here are some tips on how to negotiate your internet bill with your ISP so you can save money on internet.

First, check your performance

First things first, it’s wise to know what speeds you’re getting before you talk to your ISP. The speeds advertised on your ISP’s website are likely faster than what you’re getting at home, but it’s necessary to identify if that gap is larger than expected.

Take our internet speed test to determine your upload and download speeds. Compare your results to your internet plan’s speeds and consider what you actually want out of your internet connection.

Do you find your connection inconsistent? Your plan may be too slow for what your household requires. Pinpointing what you want from your internet provider is an important first step in the negotiating process — lowering your bill for your current plan may not actually be the best move for you, and upgrading your speed could be the wiser decision.

Learn more about why your internet is slow.

Do your research

After you determine what you want out of your negotiation with your ISP, it’s time to actually do some research so you are knowledgeable about what offers may be available to you.

If you plan on telling your ISP that you will cancel your subscription if they don’t accommodate you, but there are no other providers available at your location, then your provider will likely know you have no other option than to stick with them.

If other providers are available at your address, explore their plan options, prices and new customer offers to use as leverage when negotiating with your current ISP. This is also useful if your negotiations don’t go as planned — at least you know if you have an option for a great deal with another provider, with potentially better speeds.

Aside from external research about providers available in your area, look a bit closer at your own internet bill and provider before you talk to your current ISP. Note what the price of your internet was when you signed up for your plan, and what that price is now. Are there any additional fees that have been tacked on to your bill? Do you have a contract that could penalize you if you cancel early? Do you feel like you’re paying too much for lackluster service? What are the current deals and promotions offered by your ISP? These are all important questions you need to ask yourself before you pick up the phone to call your ISP.

Look at other options with your same provider

After you’ve done your initial research, dig a little deeper into the other plans your provider offers. You may be unhappy with your current plan’s performance for the price, but if your provider offers a faster speed tier for a similar price or with a promotional offer, it could end up being the better option anyway.

Bundles are another factor to consider. Many ISPs offer bundling options that can save you money if you combine services. T-Mobile and Verizon are great examples. Both providers offer a discount on internet service if you bundle an internet plan with a mobile line. Since these are two of the top mobile carriers in the country, this is a deal worth considering, especially if you have multiple phone lines in your household.

Spectrum also recently released new bundling offers that can save you money on your internet service. Instead of paying full price for internet, bundling your internet plan with a TV plan can save you up to $20/mo. on internet service.

Come into your negotiations knowing what your provider offers so you can use this to your advantage when trying to get a better deal on your internet service.

Ask for what you want

It’s time to actually call your provider and start your negotiations. This step may seem simple, but just asking for what you want can give you a positive result more often than not. ISPs don’t want to lose customers and will likely try to help you out with your current situation. Always be friendly and respectful, too. You’d be surprised how much of a difference this makes. 

If your initial request doesn’t get the result you were hoping for, don’t automatically threaten to cancel your service — they just may end up letting you. You can always try calling again later and speaking with a different agent that may offer you a solution.

Change providers

If you’ve tried and failed to negotiate with your ISP, there comes a point where you have to bite the bullet and consider switching to a different provider if you truly want a better price or service. If you don’t have any additional options at your address, the best thing you can do is keep trying to negotiate.

If other ISPs are available to you, explore their plans, prices and new customer offers — many ISPs provide some pretty great deals for new subscribers, like discounts, free equipment and subscriptions.

While this may not have been your end goal, sometimes changing providers can provide you with better service and value than before.

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