Just Got Hit With an Internet Price Hike—Now What?

If you signed up for an internet plan with promo pricing and are now scrambling to figure out how to lower your bill after your promo came to an end—don’t worry, we have you covered. We’ve seen an increase in internet providers offering price locks and guarantees in the last few years, including major internet providers like Xfinity, Spectrum, and T-Mobile, so there’s a high chance you’ll encounter a promotion like this at some point.

Price locks usually come with incredibly low prices, but most providers are probably hoping you’ll just cave and pay the higher rate once your promo ends. But you don’t have to throw in the towel and take the hit. We’ll walk you through what you can do to lower your bill after getting hit with post-introductory prices.

Find a better deal in your area

We’ve seen price locks and guarantees lasting anywhere from one year all the way up to ten years. These promotions are typically aimed at new customers looking to switch and get a cheap introductory rate, so you’ll probably have an easier time finding a deal with a new provider. But a better deal might not come in the form of another price guarantee—it could just be a cheaper plan from another provider with similar speeds.

Always shop around and compare plans and providers in your area to find the best deal. We especially recommend finding a new internet provider if you aren’t happy with your current provider. Whether you’re looking for the cheapest, best customer service, or most reliable provider, you’ll need to scope out the competition.

Although getting a new internet provider is one of the best ways to secure a better deal, not everyone has the luxury of having multiple providers in their area to choose from. If you know switching providers isn’t an option, negotiating with your provider will be the next best option.

Most internet providers will be willing to give you a small discount if it means keeping you as a customer—especially if you’re jumping ship to another provider. Not interested in switching providers? No problem. You’ll just want to be ready to negotiate with your current provider. You can try to use local deals as leverage to negotiate a better price. Your provider might not be able to match a deal, but they could counteroffer with something in between.

Remember to ask if there are any discounts your provider can offer, since some providers offer discounts with certain payment methods or autopayments. Also, check for any extra fees you’re being charged to see if there’s any room for savings. If you’re paying equipment fees, you could look into purchasing your own modem or router and enjoy long-term savings.

Don’t get frustrated if you’re transferred a few times before a customer service rep can approve a deal for you—and be prepared to spend some time on the phone. A kind and respectful attitude with your customer service rep will go a long way, so don’t let price hike frustrations get the best of you.

Downgrade to slower speeds

If you don’t need crazy fast speeds, you could look into a slower plan from your provider or another provider. If your household doesn’t perform any extraordinary online activities, you can get away with slower speeds than you might expect for everyday browsing and online activities. You can learn more about what your household needs with our personalized internet speed recommendation tool.

You don’t need to live with a high internet price

Your internet provider might be banking on you not noticing an increase on your internet bill. You should always reach out to your internet provider to see if there’s any way to lower your bill. But luckily, there are a few things you can do before throwing in the towel and paying a higher price. If there are other providers in your area, use that to your advantage; swap to a different provider or try to use local offers to negotiate.

Usually, internet providers will do whatever they can to keep customers, so hopefully, you can end your phone call with at least some sort of discount on your bill. If not, time to get internet shopping and hunt down the best deals.