Exposing Other Internet Service Provider’s Gimmicks: Hidden Fees, Fake Gift Cards, and Price Hikes

We have all seen the promise: an ultra-low introductory rate for internet service. Maybe it is “$29.99/month for the first 12 months” or a generous gift card if you sign up. Sounds great, right? Until the introductory period ends and then the bill jumps. Or you try to redeem that gift card only to find conditions, delays, or fine print that make it practically impossible.

A recent CNET article, “Internet Providers With Shocking Post-Deal Price Hikes, Ranked”, examined exactly this behavior among other internet service providers. These ISPs offer low rates or bonuses up front, then significantly increase the price later. While NCWCOM cannot reproduce all CNET’s data, we did want to share the general patterns that CNET found and what we have also notice from our own experience in the industry. This article will discuss how you can guard yourself from being surprised when the deal ends!

What CNET Found: Key Takeaways

While NCWCOM cannot quote the full article verbatim, here are some of the major findings:

• Many internet providers offer promotional pricing for the first year (or shorter) as a way to acquire new customers. After that period ends, prices often increase by 30 to 100 percent, sometimes even more, especially for speed tiers that are initially offered at a discount.

• Gift card offers are frequent, but there are often caveats. You may have to stay subscribed for a long period, select a more expensive plan, or act within a short redemption window. Some customers report that even when they meet the requirements, the gift card is delayed or difficult to claim.

• CNET also ranked providers by how steep the post-deal increases are, with some plans nearly doubling in cost after the promotion ends.

These findings are important because they show that this is not an isolated problem. It is widespread among many ISPs (Internet Service Providers) that want to gain new customers with low upfront costs, then recoup much more once people are locked in.

How Other ISPs (Internet Service Providers) Deploy These Tactics

Here are the most common tricks NCWCOM has noticed our competitors use and how they turn what seems like a bargain into a hefty bill down the road:

1. Introductory Pricing / Promo Rates
   You get a low rate for 6 to 12 months. After that period, your monthly cost jumps. The notice about the increase is often buried in the fine print or in communications that are easy to miss.

2. Conditional Gift Cards
   The provider offers a gift card as a sign-up bonus. Redemption may require you to keep the service for a long time, choose a higher-tier plan, or follow several steps. Sometimes customers report that even when they fulfill the conditions, the gift card is difficult to obtain.

3. Steep Renewal Rates
The renewal price after your contract or introductory period usually resets to the standard rate, which can be much higher. Some ISPs have automatic renewal clauses, meaning you will be charged the higher rate unless you cancel or renegotiate.

4. Hidden or Buried Fees
Activation fees, modem rental charges, equipment costs, and other add-ons are often not included in the advertised rate. There may also be differences between the speeds advertised and the speeds actually delivered once the promotion ends.

Why This Is A Problem

• Budgeting Difficulty. It is hard to plan when your bill might nearly double without clear warning.

• Switching Friction. Even if you do notice, switching providers can be a hassle with contracts, installation requirements, or availability limitations. Many people simply absorb the higher cost.

• Trust Issues. These tactics erode consumer trust. When providers advertise a great deal but do not make the end costs clear, it feels misleading.

What You Can Do to Protect Yourself & Save Your Money

The best way to protect yourself is to use NCWCOM’s services but if you are out of our service area, here are strategies to avoid getting caught in post-deal traps:

• Read the fine print. Check for “after introductory period” prices so you know what your rate will be after 6 to 12 months.

• Set reminders. Mark your calendar for when the promotion ends. When that date arrives, check your bill and call or shop around if needed.

• Ask explicitly. When signing up, ask what the rate will be after the promotion, what fees are extra, and how gift cards work.

• Negotiate or lock in. Some providers may offer extensions, loyalty discounts, or allow you to keep a lower rate if you call and ask.

• Compare total cost, not just teaser rate. Always factor in fees, equipment rentals, and installation charges.

Example Scenarios

Here are hypothetical examples based on what NCWCOM has seen and what our customers have reported after leaving their previous ISPs:

• A plan advertised at $30 per month for the first year. After that, the price jumps to $60 or $65 per month. Over 24 months, you end up paying much more than expected.

• A customer signs up and is promised a $150 gift card. To receive it, they must stay subscribed for 12 months and select a higher-speed plan. If they downgrade or cancel early, the reward is forfeited.

• A provider promotes an “intro rate” plan that requires auto-renewal. Once it renews, the monthly cost doubles.

What CNET’s Data & NCWCOM’s First Hand Experience With Other ISPs Means for You

The “shocking post-deal price hikes” are real and affect many customers. The exact numbers vary by provider, location, and plan tier, but the trend is consistent. Lower upfront offers often come with much higher costs later or fine print that reduces the value of promotional deals.

Bottom Line

Great deals are only great if you know the full terms. When evaluating internet service offers, do not let the low “new customer” price or a flashy gift card distract you from what you will actually pay in 6 to 12 months. Always look at post-deal rates, fees, and expiration dates. Or if you want to skip the stress and hassle of dealing with these other ISPs, contact NCWCOM. We have not raised our prices in over TEN YEARS, but instead have increase our speeds and package options. We don’t believe in gimmicks or deceptive deals. We do believe in great customers service at fair prices with the fastest internet speeds possible.

You deserve to make informed choices and to pay what you expect, not what surprises you later. CALL NCWCOM TODAY!

Blog Post Title Three

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Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.

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Blog Post Title Four

It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.

Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.