If you have comcast, CANCEL your internet service and drop your TV service down to basic, analog cable.
Have the ending date of your current service be a month or so away.
Comcast has a very aggressive customer-retention staff that will make you a "deal" to stay with them. If you cancel, the CSR will likely transfer you to the customer retention department to "verify" your cancellation, and they will try to convince you to stay. You don't have to lie. Just tell them the rates are too high and you are going to switch to DirectTV and/or DSL service. If you don't get transferred, someone will call you in the next couple days. If they don't for some reason, you always have time to reinstate your service.
I used to cancel every time the rates rise in my area or each time my "promotional offer" expires. The last time I did this (about a year and a half ago), I just skipped the whole cancellation thing, and just asked to be transferred to someone who could give me a better deal. It had to talk to a few different people before I got what I wanted, but I have been paying the same low rates for a year & a half. They are, however, more likely to deal on the TV service than they are on internet, unless they happen to have a special promotion going for new customers or something, then they may offer the same price to you.
My charges:
Full Digital Cable w/ box, 12 channels of HBO for $29.99 (Normally $65+ here....analog basic cable is $36)
Internet Service w/ Modem for $39.99 (Normally $45 here)
Total bill is $71.51, I think.
I got a thing in the mail a few weeks ago saying they did a system audit and found a number of customers who were being incorrectly billed and that it would be adjusted, so I figured my time was up (and rates have raised since my last change). However, I called and asked about it, and the CSR told me that my rates had been reduced because one of the "fees" was lowered. Go figure.
They are more than willing to give you a lower price, you just have to be willing to ask for it.
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