Beat Sky price hike and get free treats
Beat Sky price hike, free money for Barclays and Co-op customers, £18 Soap and Glory and free soup, doughnut and cocktail. These are our Money Saving Expert Martin Lewis’ Deals of the Week.
Remember, deals can change quickly, even while I’m on the programme. So always double-check the terms and conditions before spending. Plus, while I hope these deals will save you cash, don’t spend if you can’t afford it, don’t need it, or won’t use it.
Beat the Sky price hike
In December Sky hiked its prices for home phone and broadband, and you’re usually entitled to leave the contract penalty free after it does that. Yet after intervention by the regulator, that’s now been extended until 31 January.
That provides a fantastic opportunity to haggle. As one of the key weapons in your negotiation arsenal is threatening to leave (and if the deal is poor, do leave) and as you can without penalty you’ve got strength. Then you get put forward to what they call disconnections but is internally called “customer retentions” and they have much greater discretion to give you deals.
In fact in my poll in December 88% of Sky customers who tried to haggle said they’d succeeded. And now’s a great moment, tweets I’ve had since suggesting this on my show include
Stuart, “@martinslewis rang sky and got my monthly bill reduced from £28 to £7 for the whole year!!! Result!!!
Jan, @martinslewis was paying over £70 for sky. Telephoned them last night and threatened to cancel, am now only paying £39. Thank you.
Free money for Barclays and Co-op bank account customers
Last week I told you about the bank switching price war where you can make up to £220 switching accounts (see Martin’s Top Bank Accounts for info). Yet if you’re not going to bother and be loyal, existing Barclays and Co-op Bank customers can at least get free money by upgrading to its new reward schemes.
Right now existing Barclays customers who upgrade to its ‘Blue Reward’ scheme get a £14 for the first month then £7 a month after that as a 'loyalty reward' – this costs £3 a month, so you’re at least £4 a month up. You need to have at least £800 paid in each month and two direct debits set up. Plus if you’ve a mortgage, home insurance or personal loan with it you can get a little more.
Existing Co-op customers can earn up to £5.50 a month by joining its new ‘Everyday Rewards’ scheme. You’ll automatically get £4 each month though to get it you must 1) pay in £800 a month 2) opt for paperless statements 3) log into the online banking or mobile app once 4) pay out at least four direct debits.
Martin’s quickies:
- £18 Soap and glory set - Yesterday Boots boosted its sale on Christmas gifts to up to 70% off, that’s the moment deals hunters wait for. Included is the famous Soap & Glory gift set at £18, its pre-Christmas deals price was £30 and full price is £60 – the contents would cost £68 standalone.
- Free New Covent Garden Soup: Register on the New Covent Garden Soup Co website and print the £1 off coupon while it’s around. Then at Sainsbury it’s on sale for £1 until Tuesday (Waitrose £1.05) so you can get it free.
- Free Krispy Kreme doughnut – 'Like' the Krispy Kreme UK Facebook page and it’ll ask you to sign up to its newsletter, do that and you’ll get a voucher for a free original glazed doughnut which is around £1.35ish (you can only use it in its standalone stores.)
- Free cocktail from Pitcher & Piano. Register with Pitcher & Piano and you’ll be emailed a code (existing members will already be emailed) for a free Appleton Estate Twisted Mojito cocktail, which is normally around £8. Or if you prefer you can get a soft drink instead. Please be Drinkaware.