this post was submitted on 10 Apr 2026
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[–] TheAlbatross@lemmy.blahaj.zone 53 points 2 weeks ago (3 children)

Every year, call your insurance/internet/phone/TV etc. provider and tell them one of their competitors gave you a lower quote and you want them to match it or come close.

They will often give you a better rate just for asking. It's easier if you do have an actual quote to compare it against but you don't need one. Everything is made up. Just ask to pay less and threaten to stop paying them and they'll often just give it to you.

Even if they refuse, just say, "Okay. I need some time to think about whether or not I want to continue our relationship or switch." Hang up and do nothing.

[–] SaneMartigan@lemmy.world 8 points 1 week ago

Tell your boss too. I told a boss that I'd been offered 25% more elsewhere which was enough for me to take it unless he wanted to match it, he did.

[–] toynbee@piefed.social 1 points 1 week ago

My ISP charges $15/mo for gigabit. I don't really anticipate beating that.

They charge another $15/mo for a static IP, which they apparently require to allow port forwarding, but if I called annually about it they'd probably catch on. They already know me by name because, despite being several states away, they provide internet access exclusively to my city in my state and I'm apparently the only person here who wants port forwarding.

[–] breadsmasher@lemmy.world 0 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (5 children)

USA centric.

This is known as policy walking and has been banned in the UK by the FCA.

(edit - specifically for insurance)

——

@nondescripthandle@lemmy.dbzer0.com

@Chippys_mittens@lemmy.world

Why the downvote with zero engagement?

[–] TheAlbatross@lemmy.blahaj.zone 18 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (2 children)

Wait what??

The consumer is barred from swapping providers annually to get better rates? Or are they barred from lying about fake quotes to get a better rate from their current provider?

Edit: By chance did you mean "price walking"? I did some searching online and I couldn't find anything about the UK forbidding consumers from changing insurance companies to seek lower prices by searching for "policy walking" but I did find something about insurers slowly increasing prices on customers (thus creating the need for the behavior I suggested) called "price walking", though I didn't see anything about it's legality. Admittedly, I'm just skimming while working.

[–] breadsmasher@lemmy.world 19 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (2 children)

A new customer and a renewing customer should get the same price.

If you go to an insurance company to get a quote, as a brand new customer or a renewal, the price should be the same.

Historically, its to prevent companies giving lower prices for the first year and then raising it for the second year.

Youre not allowed to increase the price just because its not a new customer.

Its nothing to do with regulating the customer - its regulating how insurance companies price their products for new vs existing customers.

I said policy walking, but price walking might be the more accurate term

[–] TheAlbatross@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 points 2 weeks ago

Oooooooh that makes sense! Thanks for explaining. Yeah I wish we had legislation around it here, it's stupid that I have to play games to get lower prices on things.

[–] bamboo@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 2 weeks ago

Wish that were the case where I live. Still I've noticed that what they're now doing is offering the same price to everyone, but then giving the option of free Netflix for 1 year as a sign up bonus or the equivalent credit towards your service for that year, which effectively is the same practice.

[–] markz@suppo.fi 4 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

To me the it sounds a bit more likely that they're regulating insurance companies and not the customers.

[–] voidsignal@lemmy.world 3 points 2 weeks ago

I’m downvoting specifically because you took the time to return to your comment and ping users with a mention, just to complain about downvotes.

[–] Multiplexer@discuss.tchncs.de 10 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Not USA centric.

It is also solid advice here in Germany and probably many other countries.

Your comment might be UK centric...

[–] breadsmasher@lemmy.world 3 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

You may notice I specifically called out my comment as UK centric.

[–] bhamlin@lemmy.world 1 points 1 week ago
[–] Paper_Phrog@lemmy.world 2 points 1 week ago

Worked for me in Europe. Do this yearly now.