This is so true. You can be a customer for over a decade but you still need to continually phone and threaten to change providers in order to get the same deal they offer people who switch every 6 months.

I used to work at shaw on the data team, so I'm aware the problem is perverse incentives for selling to new clients over existing, but the cost of win-backs is so high (re-signing a previous subscriber) that you can usually streamline the affair by just asking for customer retention right at the start. The generally offer you the best deal they can right away because the goal now is to keep the subscriber in any form.

Still a massive pain in the butt.

The typical client of telecoms, insurance and banks probably does not change much. So ones signed up, it does not make sense to spend money on them. Airlines might be different because each flight is bought separately. You want ff to keep coming back (to stay ff).

I have been with my current bank since I was 3 months. I needed a loan to pay deposite for my first after college apartment -- nearly couldn't get it, had to provide a budget, etc even though it was a very reasonable amount.

The thing I don't get is, do they expect me to ask them should the time come to get a loan for a house?

Mortgages are tricky.. consumers either shop around for the best deal or they use a broker to do so (who may not work in your best interest per se)... Then the loans get bought and sold all the time and your servicer will change.. There are some perks with having a mortgage with your bank though..