Should you bundle services?

Combining your phone, cable TV and Internet services can cut costs - or send them soaring.

Get creative. Compare deals. Call providers. And maybe save big on your phone, cable TV and Internet by bundling them under one provider. A Consumer Reports survey this year found that 85% of its readers who get all three services from one provider said they'd probably (50%) or definitely (35%) do it again with the same company. But don't get trapped by “triple play” services you don't use.

Decide your needs.

If you've made your iPhone, BlackBerry or mobile device your primary phone, a bundled package with a low rate for a landline may not make sense. If you watch only basic TV channels, a triple-play package offering 300 channels, many of them in high-def, may not be a bargain. Compare these costs with 7/8 la carte services, where you pay only for the channel package you watch, or pay separately for Internet and phone.

Find out which providers are in your area.

Once you've determined which services you need, check which companies provide them in your area. Compare the packages offered by the local cable company with those from satellite providers and fiber-optic companies. Fiber-optic products got top scores in Consumer Reports' latest ratings of bundled telecom services; cable companies scored in the middle.

Watch for promotional rates.

Near-term, you may be able to cut your telecom costs by a third or more by bundling services, says Samir Kothari, co-founder of BillShrink.com. But calculate how much you'll pay after the introductory period; rates could go up by 50% or more. An offer from Verizon Fios included landline, Internet and TV for a $84.99 base price per month. But, the offer warned, the bundle price would increase to $129.99/month after two years.

Compare bundles.

Verizon and AT&T offer quad-play packages that include wireless, in-home broadband, TV and phone. You also can get only a landline and Internet service. Shop around and do your research at websites such as bundlemyservices.com and consumerreports.org. Look for comparison pricing at billshrink.com this summer.