High-speed broadband internet service has quickly gone from a luxury to a necessity for most people in recent years. Because of this, providers are highly competitive and will do and say pretty much anything to get your service. Don’t let them make you empty promises or trick you out of unnecessary money. Check out some great tips from Jason at Money Crashers for getting your high-speed internet at the lowest possible price:

• Don’t Accept Offers Unless They Are in Writing: broadband services are so competitive that sales people will say anything to get you to sign up. The problem, however, is that the promised discounted plans or savings can disappear when the first bill arrives. If there is nothing in writing, the billing department can easily claim ignorance.

  Here’s what Jason did when he switched providers:

  The last time I switched my service to a different provider, I conducted the transaction via a web chat. When a promised rebate was denied I was able to email a transcript of the chat to a customer service agent showing the rebate I was promised. I quickly received a statement credit.

• Ask for the Economy Service: most times, paying for a higher speed of broadband internet service is pointless. Broadband is always on and always faster than dial-up, so if your provider offers you a lower price for a slightly slower speed, give it a try. You may not even notice a difference in the speed, and if you do, you can easily switch back.
• Do Not Rent Your Modem: modems could cost anywhere in the area of $7 a month to rent while you can find modems for sale on eBay for $10-$20. If you are renting a modem, turn it over and write down the model number. Enter that number into a product search on eBay or Amazon. You should easily be able to buy a modem for the cost of a few months of rental fees.

For more great savings ideas, head over to Money Crashers’ Cheap High-Speed Internet Service Providers.