This happened a few years ago. Where I lived I had the choice of a DSL/Satellite package through my phone company, or a Cable Internet/TV package through my cable company. I chose the cable company, and had been with them for several years. But wasn't the happiest with them for several reasons. At the time this occurred, another company was running the fiber optic lines for their FiOS service in my neighborhood, and I knew that they planned to start offering the service within the next 2 months. I also knew that their introductory pricing was VERY good.

So I called up my cable company looking for a better price. The initial CS rep sent me to a customer retention specialist. I talked to that guy for like 10 minutes and he actually did lower my cost by about $20 bucks a month. I told him that he would have to do better than that because FiOS was coming and their initial prices were a lot lower. He said that I could accept the new pricing and that I would need to sign a contract they would mail to me, and send it back within 90 days, to keep the pricing, or I could keep my existing pricing and cancel if I got a better deal. He said that he doubted that FiOS would offer me a better deal. I said OK, and agreed to the new pricing. He said he would mail the contract. A few days later I got the contract in the mail, but I knew I had 90 days for them to get it, so I sat on it. When I get my bill, the discount is already applied though.

About 45 days later I get a visit at my door from FiOS. They are wondering if I want to sign up, and show me their pricing. Its going to save me about 50 bucks a month. Much better than the 20 that cable is dropping my price to be. So I sign up.

About 2 weeks later, they come and install, and everything is working great, much better than Cable. So I pack up my cable equipment and bring it down to the local Cable company office. I let them know that I want to cancel my service, and here is all my equipment.

The CS rep says "Sir, I show here that you signed up for a new package, so you agreed to a minimum of a 1 year service agreement with us. So if you cancel now there will be a (some amount) cancellation fee."

I replied, "Actually, I never signed the contract. As I have it right here" and I handed it to her (unsigned). "You guys gave me 90 days to sign it, and I found a better deal with FiOS, so since I never agreed to the new contract terms and signed it, I'm not legally under contract, and you cant' charge me."

She went and got her manager and showed her the unsigned contract, and he agreed, that they couldn't penalize me because I never signed the contract.

So in the end, I did exactly what the customer retention guy told me, I got the 20 cheaper price for about 2 months, until FiOS was installed, then got rid of my service because I never signed the contract they sent me. And, he had dared me to see if FiOS could get me a better price, and I did, and they could.

The same customer retention guy ended up calling me like 2 weeks later and asking me what happened. I guess he got notified that I canceled my account. I told him "I did just what you told me to do, and found a cheaper price with my new FiOS service! Thanks for the advice." He wasn't happy, but there was nothing he could do about it.