You've probably seen the ads. Huge "New Customer Only" banners screaming about free Xboxes, $200 Target gift cards, or a brand new Nintendo Switch just for signing up. It’s annoying. You've been paying your bill on time for three years, yet it feels like Verizon treats loyalty like a liability rather than an asset. Most people assume the best deals for existing Verizon Fios customers simply don't exist, but that's not actually true. You just have to know where the trapdoors are located in their system.
Honestly, the "New Customer" price is a ghost you’re chasing. But you can get close to it.
Verizon changed the game a few years ago with their "Mix & Match" pricing. This was supposed to end the haggling. No more two-year contracts, no more "gotcha" expiration dates. In theory, you just pick a speed and pay a flat rate. But if you’re still on an old "Legacy" plan—maybe a Triple Play bundle with a phone line you haven't used since 2014—you are almost certainly overpaying by $30 to $60 a month.
The "Mix & Match" Migration Hack
The single most effective way to grab deals for existing Verizon Fios customers is to force a plan migration. If you haven't touched your account settings in over two years, you are likely sitting on a "Legacy" plan. These plans have base prices that creep up every year via "Regional Sports Network" fees or "Fios TV Broadcast" surcharges.
When you move to the current Mix & Match v3 or v4 structure, those specific hidden fees often vanish or get rolled into a more transparent base price.
Here is the kicker: you don't even have to call anyone to do this. If you log into the My Fios app or the website and go to "Manage Plan," the system will often show you a side-by-side comparison. Sometimes, upgrading your speed from 300 Mbps to 500 Mbps actually lowers your bill because the newer plan structure is more efficient than the bloated 2019-era bundle you're currently trapped in.
It feels counterintuitive. Why would they give you more for less? Because Verizon wants everyone off their old billing systems. Maintaining those legacy databases is expensive for them. They’d rather have you on a modern, simplified plan even if it means losing $10 of your monthly revenue.
Mobile + Home Rewards: The Real Money Saver
If you have a Verizon Wireless plan, stop reading this and go check if your accounts are linked. This is the "big one."
Verizon is desperate to keep you in their "ecosystem." If you have a 5G Unlimited mobile plan and Fios internet, you can get the Mobile + Home Discount. This isn't just a couple of bucks. Depending on your mobile tier, you can shave $25 off your internet bill every single month.
- Level 1: You get $5 or $10 off just for having both.
- Level 2: If you're on a premium mobile plan (like 5G Get More or the newer Unlimited Ultimate), that discount often jumps.
- The Catch: You have to manually enroll in the "Mobile + Home Rewards" program via the Verizon Up section of the mobile app. It is not automatic. They won't just give it to you because you're a nice person. You have to click the button.
Moving Beyond the "Threaten to Cancel" Cliche
We've all heard the advice: call up, ask for the retention department, and threaten to switch to Xfinity or T-Mobile Home Internet.
Sometimes it works. Often, it doesn't.
Verizon's customer service reps now have very strict "Offer Matrix" tools. If the computer doesn't generate a discount code for your specific account, the rep literally cannot type one in. They aren't holding out on you; they’re just locked out.
Instead of a vague threat, use "Price Matching Logic." Check the current "New Customer" offer in your zip code. If it’s $49.99 for 300 Mbps and you’re paying $64.99, tell the rep: "I see the 300 Mbps plan is currently $49.99 for new users. I want to move to the Mix & Match pricing to align my bill with the current market rate."
This is a specific request. It signals you know how their billing works.
The Auto-Pay "Tax"
If you aren't using Auto-Pay with a debit card or a bank account, you are paying a $10 monthly penalty. Period.
Verizon stopped giving the $10 Auto-Pay discount for credit card users a while back (unless you use the specific Verizon Visa Card). If you're paying via a standard Visa or Mastercard, you're leaving $120 a year on the table. Switch it to a debit card. It sucks for your points strategy, but a guaranteed $10/month return is better than the 1.5% cashback you're getting on that $80 bill.
Equipment Fees are a Choice, Not a Mandate
Look at your bill. Are you paying $15 or $18 a month for a "Router Rental"?
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That is $216 a year. For a piece of plastic.
One of the best deals for existing Verizon Fios customers is simply firing Verizon as your hardware provider. Fios is unique because their ONT (the box on the wall where the fiber comes in) provides a standard Ethernet handoff. You can plug any router into that. You can go to Best Buy, grab a TP-Link or an Eero mesh system for $150, and it will pay for itself in less than ten months.
Important Note: If you have Fios TV, using your own router is a bit trickier because the TV guide and On-Demand data travel over Coax (MoCA). You’ll need a MoCA adapter or just keep the Verizon router. But if you’re an "Internet Only" household? Get rid of their router immediately.
The "Hidden" Discounts: Military, Teachers, and Nurses
Verizon has a robust discount program for specific professions that many long-term customers forget to renew or apply.
- First Responders/Military: Usually $5 to $15 off depending on the plan.
- Teachers/Nurses: Same deal.
- Students: If you have a kid in college with a .edu email, you might be able to snag a "Student Discount" on the account.
These require verification through a third-party service called ID.me. It takes five minutes. If you qualify and haven't done this, you're basically donating money to a multi-billion dollar corporation for no reason.
Streaming Credits: The "Free Money" Trap
Lately, Verizon has shifted away from "dollars off" and toward "perks." You might see an offer for a "Disney+ Bundle on us" or a "Netflix/Max bundle for $10."
Be careful here.
If you already pay for Netflix and Max, the $10 bundle is a legitimate deal for existing Verizon Fios customers. It’s a net saving. But if you weren't planning on subscribing to those services, don't let the "value" of the perk distract you from the bottom line of your bill. A "deal" that makes you spend money you weren't going to spend isn't a deal. It's marketing.
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What About the "Loyalty Credit"?
Occasionally, if you dig into the "Account Offers" section of your My Fios portal—usually hidden under "Verizon Up" or "Special Offers"—you will see a "Loyalty Discount."
It’s usually $10 or $20 off for 12 months.
There is no rhyme or reason to who gets these. It’s an algorithm. The algorithm looks at your "churn risk" (how likely you are to leave). If you’ve recently visited the "Cancel My Service" page while logged in, the algorithm might suddenly "discover" a loyalty credit for you 24 hours later. It sounds like a conspiracy theory, but it's just basic behavioral tracking.
The Hard Reset: The "Roommate" Method
If your bill is truly out of control—we're talking $120 for basic internet because you're stuck in an old contract—and customer service won't budge, there is one final, nuclear option.
Cancel it.
But don't actually lose internet. If you live with a spouse, partner, or roommate, you can cancel the service in your name and have them sign up as a "New Customer" the very next day.
- Pros: You get the $200 gift cards, the free gaming consoles, and the lowest possible promotional rate.
- Cons: You have to return the old equipment and set up a new account. You might have a few hours of downtime.
- The Law: There is nothing illegal about this. Verizon's own terms usually define a "New Customer" as someone who hasn't had service at that address for 30 days, but they usually process a new name at the same address as a new lead immediately.
It’s a hassle, but it’s the only way to get the "Tier 1" deals that they usually gatekeep for strangers.
Actionable Steps to Take Right Now
Don't just close this page and keep paying that bloated bill. Do these four things in order:
- Check the My Fios App: Navigate to "Manage Plan" and see if a "Mix & Match" migration lowers your price. Look for any speed upgrades that are actually cheaper than your current plan.
- Verify Auto-Pay: Ensure it’s linked to a debit card, not a credit card, to lock in that $10 discount.
- ID.me Check: If you are a teacher, nurse, first responder, or military (active or vet), go to the Verizon website and search for "Service Discounts" to link your ID.me account.
- The Mobile Sync: If you have Verizon Wireless, ensure your Fios and Wireless accounts are linked under the "Mobile + Home Rewards" program.
If none of that works, it’s time to look at the "Cancel" page. Often, just the act of navigating to the cancellation flow triggers a "Wait! Don't go!" pop-up with a monthly credit. Verizon knows it's five times cheaper to keep you than to find a new customer. Use that math to your advantage.