This could be possible, but it's worth verifying the details.
This could be possible, but it's worth verifying the details.
Long story short, I'm paying 3 bucks a month to lease my current WiFi router off my ISP and I've been with them for 5 years now. The router still has 2.4ghz WiFi only and I saw they offer a 5ghz model to new customers by now so I thought I would call them and ask if they can hook me up with the 5ghz one too. In the process the woman on the phone said yeah they can do this, although they would have to reset my contract and classify me like a new contract then which is a one-time fee of 50 bucks but I would get a rebate for 10 months and only pay half of my monthly total-fee and then pay the full price again after. I was like sure yeah sounds good but that got me thinking, I might aswell upgrade my speeds from 50/10 to 100/100 then which is the next tier, that with the rebate would still be 20 bucks a month so still cheaper than what I usually pay. The thing is, she said aslong as I call in every 8-9 months and repeat the process I can effectively infinitely chain the rebate by paying 50 bucks each time aslong as I don't forget. If I do I'm locked in to the full-price of their 100/100 package. The last past got me wondering because that sounds too good to be true and I asked her three times if that really works and she assured me it does. For now I agreed to that and I have a 14-day recall safety as it was a over-the-phone contract but honestly what does my ISP get out of this? Even if I have to pay 50 bucks every 8 months, I'll effectively have them back in after 2 1/2 months with the rebate. I suppose the one thing they get, since my contract gets reset every time I get always locked in for the full 24 months and cannot change ISPs. The initial contract length is 24 months, then after it's 12 months auto-renewal and like this they ensure I have to stay a customer for atleast 2 years whenever I call but still, it sounds like I win more than they do, especially since in the 5 years I've never felt the need to switch ISPs, they have a rock-solid connection to my house aside from maybe 3-4 nights a year and the service is great too. Still I'll call the hotline again later and confirm with another rep. Am I being rightfully paranoid here or is that a common thing with ISP to offer these kind of things and the customer can win out aslong as they don't forget to call in every now and then to do the reset? I'm in Germany by the way.
They might be open to signing the agreement in writing. Recording a call where they explain it could help prove what was said. If they don’t keep the offer, switching ISPs is an option regardless of payment terms. If they refuse and insist, you can refuse further payments without much recourse, especially with documentation. If they start legal action, you can simply state you won’t pay. If they proceed and you have proof or a recorded call, they’d need to sue you to recover money, which is unlikely.
I switched from a 100/20 FTTC plan costing 35€ monthly to fiber FTTH at 1000/200 for 25€ monthly. Same provider, entirely different agreement, new router, etc. The only certainty comes from carefully reviewing the contract. Salespeople may mislead, but agreements are binding.
It's common for new clients to receive better deals than existing ones, though contracts usually specify a fixed term. Breaking early often adds extra charges. Switching customers doesn't change this—like when a tenant moves in and a new lease begins while the old one ends. If the sales rep can merge your agreements so the previous contract simply stops and the new one starts, that works perfectly. I've seen reps promise 20Mbit ADSL but later reduce it to 8Mbit. We stayed in touch for a month before the old contract ended and still managed 6Mbit with a month without service. What they say isn't always realistic. I keep notes of our conversations, just like they do, especially if they assure you won't charge extra over the phone. An app might need root access, but recording with a microphone is a simple alternative.
Since Android 10, phone recording has become quite problematic, even after rooting. Despite this, I still support recording features. That’s why I keep using an Android 9 device. Generally, these types of agreements are strictly for new clients in Canada, and they often decline if you try to join. You’re usually required to cancel the service for a few months before returning as a new client. Many people therefore opt to switch after a year, take another competitor’s offer, and then return later to claim the “new client” rebate. If they permit it and no better options exist, it might be worth taking advantage of it. Still, contracts can be intimidating. Personally, none of my services are locked in; I can leave anytime without paying extra. In fact, the company may still owe me for the cancellation period after I stop using them. These kinds of deals rarely offer huge discounts—often just a small percentage off—but for internet services, third-party resellers in Canada tend to be more affordable than major ISPs like Bell. For instance, I’m currently paying $37 for 30/10, while Bell’s best rate is $50 for the same. With Videotron, it’s $52 for 24 months and then $67 for 60/10. It’s much cheaper elsewhere, especially if you’re not locked into a long-term contract.
Don’t choose a plan you’re not prepared to pay for right away, since eventually you’ll have to. This might be an opening in their system and the timing is uncertain. Or it could be a mistake by a support staff member. Still, you remain tied to the pricier agreement (and you’ll likely adapt to the quicker speeds). The rebate seems aimed at newcomers, especially in places like Switzerland where they restrict existing users from accessing it. In your situation, I think you were just fortunate with the representative, and next time you’re unlikely to have the same luck. If the ISP notices people exploiting this loophole, they’ll stop using it to avoid losses and manage call volume. Be content with your favorable offer this time, but try not to expect it every time.
Thanks for the updates! I reached out again after receiving an email stating my offer was canceled because of a technical issue, even though my current contract remained unchanged. I wanted to confirm whether 100/40 was indeed unavailable at my connection. I stayed on the line to get clarity. A different representative took over and escalated the matter to the department manager. She listened to my explanation and reviewed my contract. It turned out my connection could reach up to 250 Mbps, but the initial offer was canceled due to an internal error. The first rep had mistakenly labeled me as a new customer, which wasn’t accurate. The original offer was impossible for me.
Feeling frustrated, I asked if I could get a new router while keeping my existing 50/10 plan. She agreed but noted that switching would cost an extra $3 per month since my old plan from 2015 no longer existed. I decided to go ahead and purchase a 5GHz router myself, as it seemed more worthwhile long-term. She also mentioned that if I ordered the new VDSL package with a 3GB SIM card, I could achieve 100/40 speeds for the same price as my previous plan for the first ten months—though I’d pay $50 extra each month afterward.
The final part was surprising: she assured me I could call again in eight months to choose a different offer and maintain the lower rate. At that point, I was being honest about my concerns. She seemed to understand and explained that they have the second-largest market share in Germany and provide excellent customer service. They believe customers often forget or don’t bother negotiating every eight months.
I’m ready to accept this approach but remain cautious.
The method seems to apply broadly across most plans. It’s cool when the provider turns a profit occasionally.