In this post:
- 1. Review the Bill for Hidden Fees
- 2. Get Your Own Equipment
- 3. Check Spectrum Promotion for Existing Customers
- 4. Apply for an Applicable Spectrum Discount
- 5. Negotiate with Customer Support
- 6. Sign Up a New Account (On Someone Else’s Name)
- 7. Try a Bill Negotiation Service
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Conclusion
Did you receive a bill that is higher than you anticipated? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. I also experienced this when testing Spectrum Internet. I found additional service charges on my invoice, which significantly increased the total amount.
I went on to research the ways to lower it, and the good news is, I got many. I could reduce payment by almost $50. If you, too want it, you’re in the right place.
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1. Review the Bill for Hidden Fees
Hidden charges can hurt your wallet badly, but the good part is Spectrum Internet won’t hit you with many of these. That said, the modem, however, is free, but a $5 monthly charge for a WiFi gateway isn’t particularly I like.
Providers like Google Fiber and Verizon are giving out for free. But unlike Xfinity & Cox, they aren’t trying to surprise with fees or hidden costs.
The above bill I got from one of my clients who was concerned about the $193 monthly fee he needed to pay the provider. I recommended a few changes to lower the amount due from the next month.
If you’ve got a similar invoice, here’s what you can do:
Remove WiFi Service Charge
As mentioned earlier, Spectrum doesn’t charge for its modem, but there’s a $5 charge for the WiFi gateway, which can be avoided just by purchasing a third-party router.
Bundle the Services You Need
Many users opt for a separate plan for TV and internet, where they could’ve got the same plans in a package at lower rates.
For instance, Mr. X opted for the Internet Ultra and TV select plan, which cost him around $165, which taking up the package would’ve reduced to around $130. That’s a $35 saving at the start.
Or, simply, you can downgrade the plan to further cut off the cost.
Review Channel Package
If you want to stick with the separate TV plan, as the bundle doesn’t offer your favorite channel, then I would ask you to review the channel packages you’re subscribed to and check if you’re getting your money’s worth.
For example, if you’re paying for an HBO channel package that you never watch, get it removed.
Look for TV Service Promotions
There isn’t any way to waive this charge completely if you want to continue Spectrum’s pay-TV service. But as this resulted in a significant increase in customer costs, I have seen Spectrum offer a lot of discounts to customers to partially offset this charge.
You won’t find these discounts on their site. Call their technical team and negotiate with them to get these $20-$30 monthly promotions. But make sure to persist with them and even threaten them to leave the service, if needed.
Taxes, Fees, and Charges
These are some unavoidable things in your bill, which can only be avoided if you apply for any applicable discount (student, teacher, senior, and others) or ask for any promotions from the customer agent.
2. Get Your Own Equipment
The $5 monthly fee for the WiFi gateway translates to $60 a year and $120 for two years. You can save it all by getting your own router for Spectrum.
Over time, they cost less, are more usable, and work with any provider in case you wish to switch in the future. If you decide to get a third-party router, you must consider the following factors:
- Make sure the maximum speeds of the router correlate with your existing Spectrum Internet plan.
- Check the warranty on the device.
- Decide whether you want a traditional wireless router or a mesh WiFi system. The latter is suitable for homes larger than 3,000 Sq Ft or with multiple dead zones.
- Ensure the included features align well with your household needs.
- 802.11ax (WiFi 6/WiFi 6E) or 802.11ac (WiFi 5), decide on the standard that fits your internet needs.
- Price at which it’s available.
If you’re able to invest more, I recommend getting a modem that works with Spectrum for a much better internet experience.
3. Check Spectrum Promotion for Existing Customers
Spectrum doesn’t come up with many promotions or discounts often, so you must keep checking their website if they have any deals for existing customers. A few of the famous deals I came across are as follows:
Free Peacock Premium Subscription
Existing and new customers can avail of the Peacock premium subscription for free. For cable TV customers, it’s valid for a year, while it’s 90 days for internet users.
You can stream the available shows on your smart TVs, smartphones, tablets, computers, and other media streaming devices like Apple TV.
Internet Assist
The Internet Assist by Spectrum is specially catered to low-income families who at least participate in either National School Lunch, Supplemental Security Income, or Supplemental Security Income Program.
Coming at $17.99 per month, it provides 30 Mbps download & 4 Mbps upload speed, and there isn’t any hard data cap or contract. But keep in mind you still have to pay a $5 WiFi fee unless you purchase your own hardware.
4. Apply for an Applicable Spectrum Discount
Student Discount
K-12 and college students aren’t eligible to avail discounts on Spectrum phones, services, or accessories. They can look into the offers mentioned in the previous section. But you can call them anyway and ask about their student discount.
Teacher Discount
Similar to students, Spectrum doesn’t offer any special discounts for teachers or faculties of any educational institution.
Seniors Discount
Seniors aged 65 or above also don’t get any special discounts on TV or internet plans. However, they can save a few dollars every month by applying for Spectrum Internet Assist if they’re willing to live by 30 Mbps download speeds with no data cap.
Also, I have seen customer agents offer special discounts to them if requested, so make sure to ask politely.
Military Discount
Military personnel, veterans, disabled veterans, and gold star families don’t get special deals on any Spectrum services and products.
Employee Discount
Some Spectrum employers offer sponsored services, so if you’re an employee, make sure to ask your HR for any available corporate discounts.
Spectrum Mobile Employee Discount
Charter Spectrum offers free or discounted Spectrum voice services to its employees, depending on where they live. But if you live outside the service area, have TV essentials or Internet for deep discounts on Mobile service.
ACP (Affordable Connectivity Program)
The government offers a $30 monthly internet credit to customers who live in Tribal lands or participate in one of the following programs: Reduced Price Lunch program, Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).
5. Negotiate with Customer Support
Well, the ultimate method is to ring 1-833-970-2469, get in touch with customer service, and ask for a Spectrum discount. Here are a few tips to do that:
- Be polite and respectful whenever you call customer service. Friendliness is a key to big and better discounts for your internet/mobile connection.
- Whenever you ask for a discount, keep them updated about your situation. For example, if you’re a loyal customer, a senior, or belong to a low-income family struggling to pay your internet bills.
- Before you get on a call with an agent, make sure to do your homework. You should compare the plan prices and services from different providers. This would keep you in a better spot when negotiating.
- Finally, many agents can be a tough nut to crack, so prepare yourself to negotiate. You can always opt out of the conversation if you don’t like the offer they provide.
6. Sign Up a New Account (On Someone Else’s Name)
If you can’t manage to get discounts from any of my aforementioned methods, you can always sign up for a new account under a partner, roommate, or family member’s name. Spectrum offers up to 30% discount for a year to its new customers.
7. Try a Bill Negotiation Service
You can try hiring a Bill negotiation service like Billshark to negotiate and lower your Spectrum bill for TV, phone, and internet. If they can’t save your money, no fees are applicable, but they charge around 39% of your total savings.
- Reduce equipment fees by getting your own equipment
- Review the plan and check if you’re paying for what’s not needed
- Remove unnecessary services
- Qualify as a new customer
- Call and negotiate a lower rate
- Qualify for a low-income subsidy
- Try a bill negotiation service
- Ask for a discount if you’re an employee
Lastly, if none of my provided methods work and the bills are putting strain on your pocket and mind, here’s a bonus way: switch to a new service provider.
I’ve compared Spectrum with some of the most popular ISPs. You can check out the detailed comparisons below and choose the one that suits your needs and budget.
Frequently Asked Questions
Apparently No. There’s no special discount for senior citizens, but check if you qualify for an internet subsidy through the Affordable Connectivity program. Also, you can ask customer services to levy a certain deal.
Spectrum doesn’t offer a military discount, but asking customer service for one is always an option.
Yes, the ACP program is still running, and qualified personnel are provided a $30 subsidy on the internet bill.
Yes, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients are eligible to receive the internet subsidy under the government’s Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP).
Conclusion
Spectrum doesn’t offer much flexibility regarding lowering your costs, but there are a few ways to save some money. They have limited deals on their websites, so keep an eye out and avoid leasing their equipment.
Saying that I’d like to bid adieu. See you soon in another such article!
