Last year I saved $3,800 by making 8 phone calls and sending 3 emails. I lowered our cable bill, negotiated a medical bill, got a better car insurance rate, disputed a charge, and negotiated a raise. None of it was confrontational. All of it was scripted.
Most people don't negotiate because they don't know what to say. They imagine a hostile back-and-forth. In reality, most negotiations are just polite conversations with specific language that signals you're serious. The scripts below give you that language.
Download the negotiation script pack
8 word-for-word scripts. What to say, what they'll say back, and what to say next. Tested and refined.
Get the scripts (free)Script 1: Lower your cable/internet bill
Annual savings: $200-600
Call your provider. When you get a rep, say: "Hi, I've been a customer for [X] years. I just noticed my bill went up to [$amount]. I've been looking at what [competitor] offers for [$lower price] and I'm thinking about switching. But I'd prefer to stay with you if there's a loyalty offer or retention rate available. Can you check what promotions you have?"
What they'll say: "Let me check what's available." They'll either offer a discount immediately or transfer you to the retention department. Retention has more authority to offer deals.
If they say no: "I understand. Can you transfer me to the cancellation or retention department? I'd like to explore my options before I make a decision." The word "cancellation" unlocks better offers. They know it costs more to acquire a new customer than to keep you at a discount.
I've done this every 12 months for 5 years. Average savings: $30-50/month. Total effort: one 15-minute phone call per year.
Script 2: Negotiate a medical bill
Average savings: $200-2,000
Call the billing department. Say: "I received a bill for [$amount] for [service] on [date]. Before I pay, I have two questions. First, can you send me an itemized breakdown of the charges? Second, do you offer any prompt-pay discounts, financial assistance programs, or payment plans?"
Why this works: Itemized bills often contain errors (duplicate charges, incorrect codes). Asking for one signals you're paying attention. Many hospitals offer 10-30% discounts for paying in full within 30 days. And most have financial assistance programs they don't advertise.
If the bill is large: "This amount is higher than I expected. Based on my insurance and what I'm seeing as the average cost for this procedure in my area, I'd like to discuss a reduction. Would [$lower amount] be possible if I pay in full today?"
Hospitals negotiate more than people think. The sticker price is a starting point, not a final number.
Script 3: Get better car insurance rates
Annual savings: $300-800
Get 3 quotes from competitors (takes 20 minutes on comparison sites). Then call your current insurer: "I've been a customer for [X] years with no claims. I just got quotes from [competitor] and [competitor] for [$lower amounts] for equivalent coverage. I'd like to stay, but I need you to match or beat those rates. What can you do?"
Also ask about: Multi-policy discounts (home + auto). Low-mileage discounts if you work from home. Increasing your deductible from $500 to $1,000 (often saves $200-400/year with minimal real-world risk). Removing collision on older cars worth under $5,000.
Script 4: Negotiate a raise
Annual increase: $3,000-15,000+
Schedule a meeting with your manager. Don't ambush them. Say: "I'd like to schedule 20 minutes to discuss my compensation and career trajectory. Can we find a time this week?"
In the meeting: "Over the past [6/12] months, I've [specific accomplishment]. I [specific result with numbers if possible]. I've also taken on [additional responsibility]. Based on my contributions and what I'm seeing for similar roles in the market, I'd like to discuss adjusting my compensation to [$specific number]."
Key rules: Name a specific number. Don't say "I'd like a raise." Say "I believe $[X] reflects my current contributions." Anchor high but reasonable. Use data from Glassdoor, Levels.fyi, or Payscale to support your number. And ask at the right time: after a win, during review season, or when you've taken on new scope.
Full email template in our email swipe file.
Script 5: Dispute a billing error
Recovery: varies ($50-500 typical)
"I'm calling about a charge on my account dated [date] for [$amount]. I did not authorize this charge [or: this charge is incorrect because...]. I'd like this reversed and a confirmation email sent to me. Can you process that today?"
Be specific. Have dates, amounts, and account numbers ready. If the first rep can't help, ask for a supervisor. If they won't reverse it, file a dispute through your credit card company. For credit cards, you're protected under the Fair Credit Billing Act. You have 60 days to dispute unauthorized charges.
Script 6: Negotiate at a car dealership
Savings: $1,000-5,000
Do all research before you walk in. Know the invoice price (not MSRP) from sites like TrueCar or Edmunds. Know what others paid for the same car in your area. Then: "I've done my research. I know the invoice on this vehicle is [$X]. I'm prepared to buy today at [$X + $500-1000]. If we can agree on that, I'll sign today."
Rules: Never negotiate on monthly payment. Always negotiate on total price. Never mention a trade-in until the purchase price is agreed. Negotiate the trade-in separately. Say no to every add-on in the finance office (extended warranty, paint protection, VIN etching). These are pure profit for the dealer.
Script 7: Reduce your property tax assessment
Annual savings: $200-2,000
If your property tax assessment seems too high, you can appeal. Pull comparable sales (3-5 similar homes in your area that sold for less than your assessed value). File the appeal with your county assessor. The script for the hearing: "I believe my property's assessed value of [$X] is above fair market value. Here are [3-5] comparable properties that sold in the last 12 months for [$lower amounts]. I'm requesting the assessment be adjusted to [$amount] based on these comparables."
Success rates on property tax appeals range from 30-50%. It's worth the effort if your assessment jumped significantly.
Script 8: Negotiate a hotel rate or upgrade
Savings: $50-200 per stay
At check-in: "I noticed [competitor hotel] has a rate of [$X] for similar dates. Is there any flexibility on the rate, or any available upgrades for [loyalty members / returning guests / booking directly]?"
Call the hotel directly (not the national booking line) for the best flexibility. Ask for the manager on duty. Hotels have more room to negotiate during low-occupancy periods (midweek, off-season). The worst they can say is no. The best: you save $50/night or get bumped to a suite.
The underlying principle
Every script above follows the same pattern. State what you want clearly. Provide a reason (competitor pricing, market data, specific accomplishments). Make it easy for them to say yes. Be polite but firm. And be prepared to walk away (or at least imply you're prepared to).
Most people accept the first price they're given. Prices for almost everything are negotiable: bills, services, salaries, medical costs, even retail purchases. The people who save money aren't aggressive. They're just willing to ask.
Download the scripts. Pick the one that saves you the most money. Make the call this week. One call, 15 minutes, potentially hundreds in savings.
Get all 8 scripts
Word-for-word. What they'll say back. What to say next. Tested and refined.
Download the script pack (free)