With all the commercials for pay TV flying around the airwaves, it’s hard to know which service is best for your pocketbook. But it’s easy to see that consumers are frustrated by all of them.
For the second year in a row, cable and satellite TV providers made Angie’s List’s “Most Complained about Categories” for 2009. Most of the members said they got sub-par service for their monthly fees, cited the providers for poor responsiveness and professionalism.
Angie's List, the nation's premiere provider of consumer reviews on local service companies, including cable and satellite TV services, found a quarter of those responding to a recent nationwide poll are not happy with their TV service.
“We heard from members who were disappointed with channel lineups and programming, as well as customer service. But the most common frustration was that TV service is too expensive,” said Angie's List Founder Angie Hicks. “One of the best ways consumers can save these days is by looking for opportunities to bundle multiple services, like high-speed Internet, TV and telephone. Also, keep an eye out for special promotions. By being a savvy consumer, you may be able to negotiate a better deal.”
The poll found nearly one-third of respondents pay $100-$150 for their monthly TV service, while nearly 20 percent pay $151-$200 a month.
“It’s important that consumers get back to the basics as they are trying to determine what plans and providers are right for them,” Hicks says. “What do you watch? How much TV do you watch? What stations are most important to you? Then check with each of the providers and see what they offer and what it will cost for you to get the service you want.”
According to the nationwide Angie’s List member poll:
- 54 percent are cable subscribers
- 25 percent are satellite subscribers
- 14 percent are fiber optic/Internet-based (i.e. AT&T U-verse; Verizon FIOS)
- 6 percent use an antenna
- 1 percent don’t own a TV
Good research is the key to getting the best pay TV deal. While it may seem tedious, you’ll maximize both your savings and your TV offerings.
Angie’s List steps to negotiation for the best pay TV deal:
- Check availability: Some areas don’t yet have a full array of pay TV options. Check out all that’s available to you and then fully research each one so you can more easily use the different offerings to your best advantage.
- Know the details: Some basic packages start as low as $20 but there may also be fees for receiver boxes, DVR’s and installation and other things that could escape your notice. As you are comparing service providers, ask for an itemized listing of charges, equipment rental fees, etc… so you’re comparing fairly.
- Read the fine print on promotional offers: That free DVR or low, low price for a few months may be great, but read the fine print so that you understand what your costs will be when that promotional period has expired.
- Contract or contract-free service: Cable and fiber optic companies often tout contract-free service, while most satellite companies require a 1-2 year commitments, depending on the programming package you choose. Know when your contract ends and any early termination fees associated with canceling it.
- Bundle the services: While pricing for cable and satellite service are fairly comparable, one of the best ways consumers can save these days is by looking for opportunities to bundle multiple services, like high-speed Internet, TV and telephone. You’ll have to know what getting out of existing contracts will cost you to determine savings.
- Channel choice: What do you want from your television? How much TV do you really watch? Do you watch premium movies or follow a certain sports team that requires you to buy a special package? Figure that out first and then choose the tier or package that matches your actual viewing habits. If you don’t watch many movies, it might be cheaper to skip those channels and either rent or go out to a movie rather than paying every month for something you never use.
- Don’t be afraid to negotiate a better deal: Keep an eye out for special promotions. Have examples of one or more competitor’s lower prices or better service deals and call the company’s consumer retention department. Record the name of the person you’re speaking with and note the date and time you called. These details will increase your credibility if you need to follow up later. Be prepared to end your service if you can’t get a better deal.
*1,571 Angie’s List members took our poll. Responses are representative of Angie’s List members, but not the general public.
Angie’s List collects consumer reviews on local contractors and doctors in more than 500 service categories. Currently, more than 1 million consumers across the U.S. and Canada rely on Angie’s List to help them make the best hiring decisions. Members get unlimited access to local ratings via Internet or phone, exclusive discounts, the Angie’s List magazine and help from the Angie’s List complaint resolution service. Take a quick tour of Angie’s List and view the latest Angie’s List news releases.