Without making other changes you can start this process by calling the Optimum Customer Service Department at 1-866-218-3259. Request to speak to the retention department and after you authenticate your identity as the account owner, politely ask if there is any way your bill can be reduced because of hardship. For example, are you on a plan other than the very basic one? If so you might be able to downgrade to something less expensive. It’s worth the time to try.

The next step would be to set up auto-pay for your monthly bill to get a $5 discount from Optimum. First contact the card issuer which typically will be a bank or major credit card company. Ask a customer service rep if the card will charge you a fee to add auto-pay on your card. You may need to authenticate your identity so the call center can check the specific details of your account type. If you get the all-clear (no fee) by the card issuer, log into the Optimum web portal or your Optimum app, and under billing, choose to enroll in auto-pay. Not all cable companies across the U.S. offer a discount for enrolling in auto-pay but Optimum does. Then, babysit your next two bills from both the card issuer and Optimum to make sure you’re getting the Optimum discount and also not getting a service fee from the card itself.

Consider buying and setting up your own modem/router instead of renting one from Optimum. You pay a $15 rental fee month after month, year after year. That’s about $180 each year and for that you can buy a comparable unit. Look up online which modem/router devices will be compatible with Optimum cable service. Even if it costs a bit more, in the long run, you’ll save money. Then contact Technical Support, or even look this up online, to switch over your Optimum equipment for the new unit. Often there’s a YouTube video. Then return the equipment to Optimum and get a receipt. Make sure on your next statement that you see that $15 rental fee either prorated for the days left on your cycle when you returned it, or completely gone. Check the next two bills line by line, in fact.

If your household can qualify for it, you can participate in the Affordable Connectivity Program and this will give you a monthly credit of up to $30 toward your internet service and equipment. You can Google this program for details on whether your household can qualify.

Best of luck on lowering your Optimum cable bill.