With mobile phone contract prices set to rise in April, it’s a good time to shop around for a better deal. Follow these tips to help secure a lower rate with your provider:
ASK FOR A BETTER PACKAGE: First, simply call your provider and tell them that you’re thinking of moving as the tariff is too expensive. What can they offer you? Will that include more minutes and data? Will it include a phone upgrade? Doing a quick comparison of deals currently available on the marketplace will help give weight to your request. Money Saving Expert has a free tool to allow you to search the mobile phone marketplace If you’re not given what you want during this call, ask to speak to the cancellation team.
THREATEN TO CANCEL: Once you’re through to this team, explain the situation again and ask the same questions. If you don’t already know the terms of your contract with your current provider, this is a good opportunity to check those terms – Are you still in a contract? When does that contract expire? What is the charge for leaving the contract early? The main objective of this team will be to keep you as a customer, so they will be far more inclined to help. You’ll be in a stronger position to get what you want if your current contract has ended, or is due to end. Again, doing some research on the best deals currently available on the marketplace will also help. Stay calm and polite during this call, and don’t feel pressured into saying yes to the first deal that you’re offered.
IF THIS DOESN’T WORK: If they call your bluff and you don’t get a better offer, don’t feel pushed into cancelling – just tell them that you will think about cancelling and call back later. When you do call back, there’s a good chance that a different member of the team will give you a different response. If that fails too, there are so many companies battling to win customers that you’ll probably find a much better deal elsewhere if you’re willing to shop around.