getting 3x faster internet for same price

    My Dad is moving to the area, and asked me to look into high speed
internet for him.  About 8 months ago, I had signed up for "cable
internet light" through Earthlink. (which uses Time Warner)  At the
time, that was the best deal around here - a rural area - for $29.95.
It gives me 0.7 megabits per second.  Previously I was on dialup, so it
seemed fast.

   However, when I looked a couple of days ago, I saw that the Earthlink
prices had been upped a few dollars for new signups, so I went to look
at the Time Warner cable internet pages directly.  Interestingly, I saw
that they offered the same thing I currently have for $19.95 a month for
12 months.  They also had 2 megabits per second, around 3x my current
speed, for the same $29.95 a month I'm currently paying - also for 12
months.

   I can't seem to find anything about what their regular prices are,
what they might jump up to after 12 months, or if this just means the
price is guaranteed at that level for 12 months, with no increases.

   Can anyone shed any light on this?  I am wondering if it might be
worth it for me to cancel for 3 weeks, then sign up again for a year
with the 3x faster speed.

   Thanks!

 

Call Time Warner and ask about their rates now, don't cancel and wait.
Go with the special and when it's over, ask about other specials.
Sometimes you can lower your rate by adding services, like HBO.  

We saved a bundle on a recent cruise.  It was a great deal through the
cruise line, then my husband found a better deal through an online
travel agency.  They transferred the room we'd already reserved, we
got the better price plus an earlybird discount and free travel
insurance.  It doesn't hurt to ask, the worst they will say is "no".

We had a minor billing issue with our cable provider a few months ago.
It was settled with one phone call.  My husband called them the
following day to confirm what had been agreed to... and when he got
off the phone, our account had a $600 credit.  I listened to the
conversation on my end, there was no complaining, arguing, or voice
raising and we ended up with a big credit that we didn't turn down.

--

Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground.

 
Sher.... call 'em and ask.

It worked with my cable company.  Why not?

--
We are becoming a country that believes the rich have earned their money but the
well educated have not
earned their intellectual superiority.  This leads to a nation that idolizes
Kardashians.  
Joel Stein, TIME, 8/23/10