How to bargain in shops How to bargain on the phone
Bargain with your mobile phone provider or insurance firm
Even if you’re happy with your insurance provider or mobile phone network, it pays to shop around to check out any offers or bargains – a lot could have changed in a year. Check out our reviews of mobile phone networks and car insurance for the best deals.
Knowledge is power, and by shopping around you can get your current provider to drop its price on your mobile phone contract or insurance – with one phone call. Simply tell them you can get a better deal elsewhere, and you could save yourself a significant amount of money.
You might also want to check that your current contract is serving your needs. Have you ever needed that free courtesy car? Do you use that many minutes on your mobile? All these extras that you’re paying for but don’t use could give you extra bargaining power – as a competitor could be offering you something much more suitable.
If you’re not successful in bartering the price down to the cheapest out there, don’t give up. Try for other free extras – a free courtesy car on your insurance, for example, or extra free minutes on your mobile phone contract.
Which? tips for renewing your contract over the phone
Here are some top tips from Which? to bargain down the price of your mobile phone contract or insurance renewal.
- Check that your current contract is still serving your needs.
- Look at prices and extras that other providers offer before you contact your current one – get quotes from rival insurance providers or mobile phone networks, and search online.
- Check out deals for new customers – prices can be lower than for a contract renewal.
- When you call your provider, make it clear that you can get a cheaper deal elsewhere – and are willing to make the switch to save money.
- If the provider won’t drop the price and you’re not sure you want to leave them, don’t give up. Try for bundles – can you get that latest must-have handset for nothing, for example? See the Which? mobile phone reviews for Best Buy handsets.
- Share your haggling success stories or tell us why you’re sceptical about it in our haggling debate
- Find out which are the best shops for buying electrical items
- Not sure what to do when something you've bought develops a fault? Learn your rights under the Sale of Goods Act
