| BillFixers | |
| Type: | Private |
| Founded: | 2014 |
| Hq Location City: | Nashville, Tennessee |
| Industry: | Expert as a service |
| Parent: | Experian |
BillFixers is an American company that negotiates with television, internet service providers, and cell and landline companies on behalf of consumers or businesses. It was founded in July 2014[1] by brothers Ben and Julian Kurland[2] with the goal of lowering household monthly bills from telecommunications service providers.[3] BillFixers is an expert as a service (ExaaS) or justice-as-a-service[4] company, which optimizes on work that feels menial to individual consumers. As of February 2020, BillFixers has over 25,000 clients and claims a combined savings of over $5,000,000.[5] BillFixers was acquired by Experian in April 2022.[6]
Ben and Julian Kurland founded the company in Nashville, Tennessee, in July, 2014. Later that year, a customer service call between Comcast and tech entrepreneur/journalist Ryan Block went viral.[7] The Kurlands posted on Reddit about their speciality in haggling with Comcast and thus received their first customers.[8] In the first year, the Kurlands and their cousin Peter Zimbicki were the sole negotiators.[9] By 2016, the business had grown to over 1,200 clients and was featured on NBC Nightly News and in The New York Times.[10] On April 1, 2022, BillFixers was acquired by Experian Consumer Services.[11]
BillFixers works primarily on TV, internet, and phone bills, although their services may extend to satellite radio, home security, and propane bills. They claim a 95% success rate and average savings of $300 per bill.[12]
The service operates by hiring experts to negotiate on behalf of consumers. When a client submits their bill, BillFixers calls the provider (like Comcast or AT&T) to seek a lowered rate. Their success is due to industry know-how and expertise on promotional and custom deals. The business generates revenue on a contingency basis, meaning payment is reliant on customer's savings.
BillFixers was praised by NBC News as an "ingenious idea",[13] and a CNET review reports 100% satisfaction.[14] In September 2015, BillFixers was nominated as the Small Business Innovator of the Year by USA Today.[15] A 2016 article in The New York Times questioned the legality of negotiators representing themselves as clients, but found no violation. BillFixers has also received positive feedback from My Money Blog[16] and Debt Departure.[17]