Top 10 service companies to haggle with

HAGGLE WITH B T

Not a big user of broadband, but in this day and age, many Companies provide either web address or premium phone lines. So I opted for BT bog standard broadband which I have had for 9 years. Over recent years I have managed to get BB for below £10 but for some reason this year proved more difficult, but got there in the end.
Throughout the year BT have run campaigns for Basic BB and Infinity with bonus offers for new customers, like shopping vouchers etc.
When I came to renew mine, they could not offer the prices advertised, so I hinted I could leave them altogether and start again as a new customer, but they were not impressed. After calls to their sales team over several days, I managed to get the terms I wanted, which was below that for new customers. DOES pay persist.

I've been with Orange for a good few years now, and my contract was up this week.
So I phoned them on Friday, asking what they could do for me.

My previous 24 month contract consisted of 1GB data, 300 minutes and unlimited texts for £36 a month, plus £12 insurance for my iPhone (tried to cancel my insurance after a few months into the policy, but they couldn't do it for me. Gah!)

Anyway, I did a little research before phoning them up again.
As I'm quite happy with my iPhone still, I asked for a sim only plan.

The guy on the phone offered me unlimited texts and minutes and 500MB of data for £16 a month. Not bad. But I explained that I'm not fussed about unlimited minutes because I don't make phone calls very often and that it was the data that was a problem - I want at least 1GB. So he came back to me with unlimited texts & minutes again, with 1GB data for £21.

I rejected that again because I told him that 3 could offer me 600 minutes, unlimited text and unlimited data for just £16 a month. He said Orange they don't offer unlimited data, but he could do me 2000 minutes, unlimited texts and 1.5GB of data for £16 a month, for a 12 month contract and no insurance.

A done deal.

I know 3 had a better deal for the same price on data wise, but I've never gone over my 1GB of data allowance anyway - I just like to have the back up.
And by changing providers, I would have had to look into getting my phone unlocked, transferring all my pictures and messages onto the new sim card and transferring my phone number as well - a lot of hassle in my opinion.

So in short:
Old Contract - 24 months - £48pcm - 1GB Data, Unlimited Texts, 300 Mins
Offered Contract - 12 months - £16pcm - 500MB Data, Unlimited Texts, Unlimited Mins
New (Accepted) Contract - 12 months - £16pcm - 1.5GB Data, Unlimited Texts, 2000 Mins

A saving of £36pcm - that's £432 a year!

Joined Sky TV in 2009 with their half price offer for a year. Then called and said I need half price and have been enjoying it for four years! Each year they say sorry can't give you half price but a few days before cancellation they call me back and offer me half price year over year again!!!

Have been offered out of the blue, BT Broadband and Weekend Calls for £5.25 a month ( 18 month contract ) plus the usual £141 line rental, after having been with Tiscali for some years - first at £15 for the broadband and then reduced to £10 a month after three years ( I complained! ). Contacted Tiscali for my MAC code and was offered £126 line rental and £2.50 a month. Told them I thought they had had enough of my money over the years and hadn't offered me any special deals. He then offered to halve the line rental to £63 pounds and £2.50 a month. His last offer was for this deal for a three month trial period with no get out fee if I stayed.
I may, with hindsight, regret leaving now - but I've made up my mind. We'll see. It just shows what you can do though!