Three words to save you hundreds of dollars

I won't keep you in suspense.

Customer Retention Department.

Those are the words that dropped my internet bill by $60 per month. $720 per year.

I was on a two-year plan with my internet provider getting great rates, and when I hit two years and a day, my rates skyrocketed, so I started doing research.

Their primary local competition had sent out a flyer advertising that new clients could get a bundle of cable and internet and home phone for less than what I was paying for internet alone.

I could have just called the new place and cancelled my old plans. But thanks to a friend's advice, armed with the competition's flyer, and my current providers rates for new customers (and the deal they were offering their own new clients) I called customer service and asked to speak to someone in the Customer Retention Department.

Okay, that's the one catch. You have to call and speak to a human. For $50 a month or more, take a breath and dial.

I told them that I was an existing customer and that my last bill had increased substantially. They gave me the standard "your plan expired".

Then I pounced. I told them the rates the other company was offering (and they know this, it wasn't a surprise, but you have to have accurate information) and said while I was happy with my current service, I would be stupid to stay at the higher rate. After putting me on hold, I was unsurprised when the customer service rep came back and said they could match the competition's rates. I said thank you.

Bang, $60 back in my pocket! Because it wasn't a full cycle, it took a couple bills to get the low rate consistently, but I knew it was coming. I'd also taken note of the date and time I made my call, and what my new rate was before and after taxes.

Don't be afraid to try this. They LITERALLY have a department set up for this. They want to keep you as a client, but they aren't going to advertise that they will match competitors and lower your bills if you don't complain.

And now you know.