Need bundling package advice - TV, 'Net, etc

[WoodysGirl]

I'm not interested in cord cutting, but anyone who has bundled their entertainment. Which seems to be the best way to do it?

TV and Internet. TV and Home Phone. Internet and Home Phone

I'm with ATT and DirecTV, so you would think it would be easy, but nah.

 

[Meat-O-Rama]

I've always had DirecTV by itself and FIOS for phone/internet as a bundle. They've always made it cheaper to bundle it than to get internet alone, which is the only reason I keep the phone part. I haven't actually plugged in the home phone in months.

Do you have AT&T for broadband or wireless also?

Lastly, if you work for a largish company, check and see if you get a corporate discount. I know I save something like 25% off wireless service through AT&T based on my employer and all you have to do is have a valid address. It was the same when i was with Verizon as well. Neither offers the option for TV or home internet that I've seen though, unfortunately.

Oh also, you're probably aware, but with DirecTV you can often call and threaten to leave to get discounts or upgraded service. I've gotten sunday ticket for free for the year, free HBO and other top tier channels for free, just by calling and saying another provider ha better prices.

Happy to help review the options with you and tell you which way I'd go. Looks like AT&T requires your address in order to give you pricing. So if you maybe want to input that into their form and share their offers here?

 

[Tabascocat]

I have UVerse and ATT phone and it is a major hassle. Anytime I need to call them for support, they mix the two accounts and all my passwords need reset. I think I have changed them about 25 times. I added the Sunday Ticket To Go in September and that added to the confusion on their end.

ATT can't seem to be able to juggle a few different accounts under the same name

I prefer ATT phone with the Comcast bundle minus the home phone.

 

[nobody]

For cheapest at relatively decent quality, see if you can get Charter Spectrum.

For a little more expensive but vastly better quality (once they got the bugs worked out) Frontier FIOS. I am not sure if they have them all worked out yet or not, but the quality even a little messed up was better than anything else I tried.

Both are relatively good price-wise for a home phone, internet, cable bundle.

Neither crap out in bad weather like DirectTV.


(I am currently using Charter Spectrum, but may well switch back to Frontier FIOS soon. It seems I have to reset the cable box and modem a little too often with Charter. Other than that, the quality is pretty good for the price.)

 

[WoodysGirl]

Forgot I posted this thread.. lol I actually like DTV. My dish rarely craps out and if it does, it's only for a couple mins.

I've threatened to leave and they've offered me nothing. But I let 'em know that I think it's crap that only new customers get deals. I shouldn't have to leave or even threaten for them to offer a special of some kind. I've been with them over 15 years. My position is if I threaten, then I'm leaving.

I have ATT u-verse for Internet only. ATT home phone and wireless. I'd prefer to keep my wireless separate. I have an old corp discount on my cell phone that I got when I worked for a large software company a few years back.

 

[nobody]

Forgot I posted this thread.. lol I actually like DTV. My dish rarely craps out and if it does, it's only for a couple mins.

I've threatened to leave and they've offered me nothing. But I let 'em know that I think it's crap that only new customers get deals. I shouldn't have to leave or even threaten for them to offer a special of some kind. I've been with them over 15 years. My position is if I threaten, then I'm leaving.

I have ATT u-verse for Internet only. ATT home phone and wireless. I'd prefer to keep my wireless separate. I have an old corp discount on my cell phone that I got when I worked for a large software company a few years back.

It is crap that companies "reward" sticking with them with higher bills and no deals. It's ridiculous. Because of this, I use Charter (which is no contract and they pay off early cancellation fees) to leave (FIOS in this instance) and after a month can come back to FIOS as a new customer with new customer deals. FIOS even knows I do it and would rather that than actually try to retain me. The only drawback is that your email address changes because they can't use your old account info (including the email address that comes with the account.). Most people use gmail or some other outside one now anyway.

 

[dogunwo]

Forgot I posted this thread.. lol I actually like DTV. My dish rarely craps out and if it does, it's only for a couple mins.

I've threatened to leave and they've offered me nothing. But I let 'em know that I think it's crap that only new customers get deals. I shouldn't have to leave or even threaten for them to offer a special of some kind. I've been with them over 15 years. My position is if I threaten, then I'm leaving.

I have ATT u-verse for Internet only. ATT home phone and wireless. I'd prefer to keep my wireless separate. I have an old corp discount on my cell phone that I got when I worked for a large software company a few years back.

If you aren't actually using the home phone, you are getting robbed by having it as a part of your bundle. Don't know what your personal situation is, but if there's another adult living there you should have them call and get brand new service set up in there name for just DTV and ATT internet. Tell them the current person is moving out, and they are moving in. You will get MUCH better pricing and two year price guarantee, with Sunday Ticket for this year and next year.

 

[Trouty]

@WoodysGirl are you in an area with Time Warner Cable? If so, I can add to this discussion

 

[Bigdog]

Forgot I posted this thread.. lol I actually like DTV. My dish rarely craps out and if it does, it's only for a couple mins.

I've threatened to leave and they've offered me nothing. But I let 'em know that I think it's crap that only new customers get deals. I shouldn't have to leave or even threaten for them to offer a special of some kind. I've been with them over 15 years. My position is if I threaten, then I'm leaving.

I have ATT u-verse for Internet only. ATT home phone and wireless. I'd prefer to keep my wireless separate. I have an old corp discount on my cell phone that I got when I worked for a large software company a few years back.

I had ATT home phone, and combined it with my cell phone and tv. I got a $78 discount I believe by doing it. I could not put the ATT u verse that I have for internet on the bill for some reason. I did cut my home phone and only have cell phones with them but by doing that I lost the discount. Also I have Dish which use to be with ATT. Dish gives me monthly discount so I staying with them until they don't.

 

[WoodysGirl]

@WoodysGirl are you in an area with Time Warner Cable? If so, I can add to this discussion

Comcast and I've heard horror stories, so pass..

 

[WoodysGirl]

I had ATT home phone, and combined it with my cell phone and tv. I got a $78 discount I believe by doing it. I could not put the ATT u verse that I have for internet on the bill for some reason. I did cut my home phone and only have cell phones with them but by doing that I lost the discount. Also I have Dish which use to be with ATT. Dish gives me monthly discount so I staying with them until they don't.

Hmm... I need to actually calculate how much that would help. I'm keeping the house phone for emergency purposes, but it doesn't really cost that much. My DTV bill is out of control considering I have no premium channels or Sunday ticket.

 

[Trouty]

Comcast and I've heard horror stories, so pass..

Yeah, WG, generally Big Cable is a let down from DIRECTV. I suggest you do what you hinted at in your OP, threaten to leave for a local bundle and get the new contract from your satellite provider. They know consumers, in this day and age of penny pinchers and cord cutters, will do whatever they can to save money, and, thus, will get you as close to a 'new customer deal' as possible. Just ask to be patched straight to Customer Relations/Retention and advise them (not threaten them) that you plan to go to whichever service you've been talking to, that will save you money, and without lying.

This is my advice and what I will be doing with DIRECTV this upcomg February when my two years ends. I'm not one of these people that threatens the world to get "free Sunday Ticket, etc" but I will use the leverage I have as a consumer, especially as their numbers are declining. And as Time Warner Cable does have some interesting bundles (and I have their internet), I have some leverage,

I got Sunday Ticket for 120 without any threats (50% discount)

Hope this helps, WG.

 

[Bigdog]

Hmm... I need to actually calculate how much that would help. I'm keeping the house phone for emergency purposes, but it doesn't really cost that much. My DTV bill is out of control considering I have no premium channels or Sunday ticket.

If your DTV is high, I would try to negotiate with them if you have been a customer for a long time and pay your bill on time. Tell them you are thinking about canceling and they should send you to the rent mention dept.

 

[JohnnyTheFox]

Odd that you mention this, my contract with Uverse was up about 1 month ago and I did this. Call the main number then say I wanted to cancel service I was then given to the retention dept, I then asked for a manager who gave me a 2 year lock on a better TV/Internet/Phone bundle all for about 15 dollars a month less than I was paying before.

 

[Seven]

Man, WG. If all these responses don't scream "cut the cord"....maybe you should reconsider? It's soooooo much easier.

End the hassle. 15 years? You STILL have to threaten them?