I lowered my car insurance by $1,255 with one phone call. So, I tried it for my other bills and saved even more.

"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."

"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."

A person questioned a high car insurance premium despite no claims, tickets, or changed driving habits and called their Farmers agent. The policy had not been reevaluated in over a decade; the insurer re-ran an improved credit score and reduced the rate, saving $1,255 annually with the same coverage and company. The person then reviewed other recurring bills and secured better deals for SiriusXM and a phone plan. Calls were brief and low-risk. Certified financial planner Filip Telibasa advised researching competitor pricing, leveraging cancellation threats, and using customer-retention departments to obtain discounts.

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