- I lowered my auto insurance bill by $1,255 after just one call. So, I called my other providers.
- Not all of my bills were lowered, but I was able to get a better SiriusXM deal and phone plan.
- The calls didn't take long, and I didn't lose anything by trying. I would definitely do this again.
A few months ago, I got a bee in my bonnet about why my car insurance was so darn expensive.
I hadn't filed a claim, hadn't gotten a ticket, and hadn't changed my driving habits. So why was I still paying such a high premium?
Instead of stewing about it, I called my Farmers agent to ask if there was anything I could do without reducing coverage or switching providers.
Turns out, we hadn't reevaluated my policy in more than a decade. Once a representative re-ran my credit score — which has improved since I first signed on — my rate dropped dramatically.
After a few minutes of paperwork, I was saving $1,255 a year. Same coverage, same company, just a better rate. That single phone call was all it took.
Emboldened, I looked at my other recurring bills to see where else I might be overpaying.
Before diving into other calls, I sought out some advice
I connected with certified financial planner Filip Telibasa, who told me the old-school method of calling billing companies is still one of the smartest ways to trim your budget.
He said the trick to getting a better deal is understanding your leverage.
"Before picking up the phone, research competitor pricing," he told me. "If you can say, 'Company X is offering the same plan for $30 less,' you've got ammo."
Also, many company representatives offer better deals when they're worried they may lose you as a customer. So, being transferred to the customer-retention department is a decent place to start when you're looking for a discount.
"Be ready to walk — or at least sound like you might," Telibasa said. "When you ask about the cancellation process, you'll often get routed to the real dealmakers."
With all of that in mind, I picked up the phone.
I tried my luck with Verizon and found a better deal
First up, I wanted to try to lower the cost of my Verizon phone plan.
After a quick call with a representative, I discovered I could get significantly more value for the exact same monthly cost just by changing my plan type.
My new plan includes international calling, texting, and data — features I'd been paying $12 a day for separately while traveling (on top of my monthly plan cost).
I spend about 150 nights a year traveling internationally, so I estimate that tweak alone could save me about $1,800 over the next year.
What's more, the representative was able to lock in my current price for the next three years.
Some of my calls went nowhere, but others paid off big time
Next, I called my internet provider, hopeful for another win.
Instead, the representative tried to upsell me on bundling cable or a home phone. I laughed at the thought of either of those products — it's 2025!
The conversation went nowhere, which was frustrating. But even Telibasa told me you won't always walk away with a win.
"Worst case scenario, you're right where you started. Best case? You've got a lower bill and a little more room in your budget," he said.
Fortunately, I had better luck with SiriusXM. My discounted promotional rate had expired, and the monthly cost had jumped to $23.05.
I called to tell them I'd like to cancel my service, and — predictably — got transferred to the customer-retention department. Suddenly, new offers appeared, and I locked in a full year for $101.83 instead of $276.60.
After this experience, I plan to pick up the phone a lot more often
Now I'm making a habit of reviewing my bills every few months and asking a simple question: Can I get a better deal? I may not always get a "yes," but the wins can really add up.
So far, I've saved well over a thousand dollars for less than an hour of total effort. No switching providers, no cutting services — just asking.
If you're looking for an easy financial win, start by picking up the phone.
