On recent Time Warner Cable bill I noticed that our internet service had gone from $29.95 to $44.95. That’s a 50% increase. That’s a lot. So I called up Time Warner, guns blazing, ready for a prickly yet all too oft’ exchange with their customer service department.

The customer service rep told me that our introductory high speed internet deal of $29.95 per month had expired and that our bill had gone up to their standard rate. I explained to her that the increase made me unhappy…because it did. She said that she could downgrade us to a $29.95 package, but it would be slower – something like 512kbps up/1.5mbps down. Considering that the internetz is like my lifeline, I wasn’t about to settle for budget internet. I dropped the V-word, then the D-word…and then the S-word. Verizon…DSL…Switch. She says, “ok, hold on sec, I need to transfer you to a different department.”

After a 5 minute wait on hold, someone picks up: “This is Alicia in retention, can I have your account number?” Success. Alicia says very bluntly and without a fight, “I can give you your introductory deal price of $29.95 a month for 13 months, effective next billing cycle.”

“Sounds good, sign me up!”

So, if you want to save a some scrilla on your cable bill, all you have to do is ask. =)