TELECOM Digest OnLine - Sorted: Telephone Rates Should be Inclusive!

Telephone Rates Should be Inclusive!

hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com
26 Apr 2007 10:17:05 -0700

In shopping for a cell phone (and landline), all the providers quote a
monthly rate, but note "there are additional fees; these are not
taxes". These are things like the universal service fee, 911 fee,
etc. Some are federally mandated, some are local.

The present arrangement allows carriers to insert "secret" rate
increases by increasing the fees but keeping the published rate the
same. These fees can add up to be substantial. (The "fees" on my
present cell phone are 20% of the total bill!)

Since the fees are required, they should be included in the total
rate. If the carriers want to increase their rates, then it becomes
obvious they're doing so.

The fact is most subscribers do not study their monthly bill in
detail. The fees are so complicated, broken down in so many ways,
nobody has the time or patience to do so. My phone bills runs several
pages to list all the fees, especially if I cross state lines. (Did I
violate the Mann Act?)

Post Followup Article Use your browser's quoting feature to quote article into reply
Go to Next message: communicationsdirect: "CommunicationsDirect News Daily Update"
Go to Previous message: John Mayson: "Skype and Toll-Free Numbers"
TELECOM Digest: Home Page