Not Eligible for $10 Comcast Internet Service? Try These Tips Instead

^{Photo courtesy of Sh4rp_i, via Flickr}

This week Comcast announced plans to roll out a $10 per month Internet service for low income families. But don't be too quick to celebrate--this service is limited to families with children who receive free lunches through the National School Lunch Program. You could be as broke as can be, but if you're childless, you're out of luck.

If you're not eligible for the program, you can still negotiate your way into cheaper internet access. Since the announcement there has been a flurry of discussion on the best ways to get ISPs to cut you a deal. (See this Reddit post on cheap internet, for example.) Read on to discover a collection of the best tips for talking your way into a lower monthly Internet bill.

Just Ask

As Stella touched on in her post on general tips for negotiation, often times the only thing you need to do to get a better deal is just ask for one. The worst that can happen is the customer service rep will say no.

If you do ask, be sure to ask nicely. These reps are just ordinary people and they're more likely to cut you a break if you're polite and reasonable. It also doesn't hurt to tug at their heartstrings with a compelling story of financial hardship.

Timing is Everything

If you're in the middle of a two-year Internet service contract, you're less likely to get a lowered monthly rate. In this case, the ISP understands that you're not really free to take your business elsewhere. (Unless, of course, you're willing to pay a hefty early-termination fee.)

The best time to negotiate is when you're free to walk away, either when you're shopping around for a new provider or when your contract is up. Often times, these companies have special departments devoted to keeping customers who threaten to walk. Just call and ask to speak to "customer retention." They'll know where to direct you.

Research is Also Everything

Before you call the ISP in question, make sure you have your story straight. It's best to do some homework and find out what their competitors are charging. DSLReports.com is a great resource for comparing available DSL rates. Or, if your friend three towns over is getting a better deal, be sure to let the rep know about it. There's a chance they'll match it.

But you're not limited to what you find online. If you invent this friend, along with this friend's amazing deal on Internet service, the ISP is just about guaranteed to never find out about it.

Avoid Resellers

When shopping for an ISP, you might come across "resellers" for Internet service. These companies act as middlemen, signing you up for a service that might actually come from Comcast, Time Warner, or whoever. While it's possible that they could negotiate a good rate, more often than not these companies are marking up the service so they can make a little money, too. Be wary of them, and always find out the actual Internet service providers in your area.

Be Careful with Promotional Rates

You might find a great bargain in an ISP's "promotional rates," but like all good things, these rates come to an end. When they do you might be slapped with a rate that's double what you budgeted for.

This doesn't mean you should avoid these promotions-- quite the contrary, actually. It just means you should make sure the promotion isn't attached to a lengthy contract with a high termination fee. If it isn't, you're free to cancel or renegotiate as soon as the promotional pricing period ends.

Look at Bundles

If the ISP also offers cell phone service, land line service, cable television, or anything else, you can sometimes save money by combining them into one package. Though your mileage with this tip might vary. If you're in the market for the cheapest possible Internet service, it isn't likely that you're also shopping around for a top-of-the-line cable package.

Outside Assistance

While you may not qualify for Comcast's offer, that doesn't mean you won't find help elsewhere. Many states have government assistance programs for landline telephone service, which is a prerequisite for DSL. If you find a reasonably low-priced DSL service provider, these programs will help keep the cost low. Just Google around to see what's available where you live.

Call Early and Often

It's important to ask, and it's important to ask nicely. It's also important to ask frequently. When you talk to a customer service rep, to some degree you are at the mercy of their mood and discretion, as much as to what they're actually allowed to offer. If you call up an ISP and have a bad experience or hit a dead end, just call back and talk to the next rep you're randomly assigned to. You might have better luck, and, again, the worst that can happen is they say no.

Have your own tips for finding and keeping low-cost Internet service? Please let us know in the comments.