What with all this talk of a credit crunch, many small businesses, mine included, would like to save money on essentials. It’s not that we’re in trouble; it’s just that casting a cursory eye over expenses is always a good thing to do. And something has to pay for my long lunches- something I’m just not going to sacrifice…
So I’m a big fan of Martin Lewis, the one-man consumer watchdog and rightly self-styled Money Saving Expert. His site is full of handy tips to reduce the basic outgoings that individuals and businesses have to worry about.
I’d like to add one of my own.
Call up one of your utilities suppliers- mobile phones, utilities, that sort of thing.
Don’t wait in a queue. Don’t press 1 to speak to an adviser. Go straight for the option which says “If you are thinking of leaving [supplier's name], press [number]. Most of these companies have this simple option, because they don’t want to lose your custom.
You will be put through to a special we-love-you-really department, who are not only there to prevent you waiting on hold for ages, but also authorsied to give you discounts. They’ll bend over backwards to find the best tariff for your needs, especially if you’re a long-standing customer. I have just saved £35 per month using this technique (it helps if you can say that you’ve been offered a better deal elsewhere), with no more effort than three phone calls.
It’s not a huge amount of money, but I feel quite proud of myself, and all the better for knowing that I can spend it on something else. Lunch anyone?
Filed under: finance, service, tips | Tagged: credit crunch, customer service, expenses, money saving, money saving expert, save money, saving
