Martin Lewis reveals the best firms to haggle with and you could cut your bills by £100s a year
MARTIN Lewis’ MoneySavingExpert website has revealed the best firms to haggle with in 2025.
The consumer website unveiled its top 10 list in its latest newsletter – and households could save £100s on their bills.
The method involves speaking to customer service staff when renewing a contract to see if you can get a lower price than offered.
Virgin Media came out top of the list with customers having an 84% success rate at haggling down prices on broadband and TV deals.
In second was AA for breakdown cover – 83% of people who tried to barter prices down managed to.
RAC and AA came in third and fourth with 83% of customers haggling on breakdown cover, car and home insurance successful.
Then followed Policy Expert for car and home insurance, with a 79% success rate, TalkTalk for broadband and TV with a 76% success rate and Hastings on car and home insurance with a 75% success rate.
NOW TV, Sky Mobile and Green Flag came in eighth, ninth and tenth on broadband, TV, mobile and breakdown cover.
Customers haggling with these firms had 75%, 74% and 73% success rates, respectively.
Martin said in the newsletter: “When you’re at or past the end of your contract, you’re holstering a huge weapon… loyalty – make ’em pay for it.”
If you’re thinking about haggling on your next broadband, TV, breakdown or insurance deal, there is a method to it.
You’ll want to first do a price comparison and find out what other firms are offering for a similar deal.
So, for example, if you’re looking to get a new 10G SIM-only mobile phone deal, search the comparison websites for the best offers.
If your current phone provider is offering you a new deal at £10, but you find one on MoneySavingExpert, MoneySupermarket or another site for £7, you know you could be paying less.
You can then contact your current phone provider and ask for it to lower their price.
Bear in mind, companies won’t always budge on their prices – but there’s no harm in asking.
You can also threaten to leave if a provider or insurer refuses to offer you a better price.
Some firms will even get back in touch after you’ve left and offer you a better price than before.
Some will just let you go though and you will have to find another deal elsewhere.
Other ways to cut costs on essential bills
There are plenty of ways to save money on essential household bills, but how you can cut costs varies depending on which type.
When it comes to broadband and mobile phone tariffs, you might be able to get a “social tariff”.
These discounted tariffs are only available to those on certain benefits like Universal Credit.
The regulator Ofcom has a full list on its website of the firms that offer these tariffs which you can find here: www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-and-broadband/saving-money/social-tariffs.
You can also save money on your broadband or mobile phone tariffs by opting for bundle deals that combine multiple policies into one.
If you’re looking to save money on your mobile phone tariff, buying your phone outright if buying a handset deal could save you £100s as opposed to paying it off across the contract term.
When it comes to insurance, you’ll often save money by choosing a new home or car premium at the right time.
Comparison website Go Compare previously told The Sun locking in a new deal 29 days before your policy renewing could save you 44% compared to renewing on the day.
Meanwhile, you can save money on home insurance by paying up front rather than in instalments.
This is because insurers usually charge you interest on top of monthly payments as they are having to lend you the cash for the policy.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.
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