Phone Bills. Ever take a real look at one?

Question

I recently downgraded my land line service to local only, since like most folks I use a cell phone for everything else. I was quoted $26.00 mo for local service only. The first bill comes and this is what I get over and above the $26.
1.Federal Universal Service Fee......0.04
2.Local License Tax.......................0.78
3.Federal Universal Service Fee......0.98  (yes, it was listed twice)
4.Federal Subscriber Line Charge...6.45
5.Federal Excise Tax.....................1.00
6.State/Local Tax..........................1.87
7.Local 911 Service.......................1.50
These next ones are almost funny....
ATT long distance service (min chg) 2.00
Fed Univ Service Fund Fee                .47
Carrier Cost Recovery Fee...............1.99
The reason I say the last three were so funny is that I made NO long distance call on my land line.
So my $26.00 phone bill is now $43.08.
I know most of us blindly pay these things, but I think its a bit much. 
How do you feel about it?

jmorge · Accepted Answer

Welcome to the world of telco rip off.  All of the fees you've listed (except probably the ATT long distance one) are legit and for the most part required by the gov't.  The only one that looks like it's a required fee, but isn't, is the FCC Federal Line Subscriber charge.  This one is the biggest rip off of all.  All it is, is an optional fee that the FCC allows telco's to charge if they want to.  The fee does NOT go to the gov't.  It goes right to the telco's bottom line.  The FCC does cap it at a max (somewhere around $7) but other than that, it's strictly optional.  A teleco doesn't have to charge it, but they all do because they can get away with it...and because it sounds like some sort of official federal tax that goes to the gov't.

You want to get away from all these taxes and fees?  Look into a service called CallCentric (www.callcentric.com).  It's an internet based phone service.  Basically you purchase a digital to analog converter box (about $50), then hook up your internet connection to the box and your phone to the box, and voila, all phones calls to you come in over the internet and ring on your home phone.  The best part is not only can you port over your existing phone # but the service only costs $3.45 per month (plus phone calls if you choose the pay-per-call plan).  That's it...3.45 with no taxes, no fees, nothing else.  I've been using it for a couple of years now and love it.  $3.45 vs. the $55 I used to pay EVERY MONTH.  It's a no brainer!

? · Answer

2

bdancer222 · Answer

I hate all those nickle and dime fees.  The names make it seem like it's some  kind of government fee or tax, but it's pretty much just fees the government allows the phone company to charge.  You can't get out of most of them.  Your cable company has lots of those nickle and dime charges too.

You might be able to get rid of the long distance -- although some phone companies actually charge for NOT having long distance service.

There are some charges on  landline  bills that people can get rid of.  The biggie is line maintenance fees.  This is typically about $7 and is a waste.  If something does screw up in your house wiring, it really is pretty easy to replace a phone jack yourself, but even paying someone to do it would be cheaper.

Judy · Answer

How's to feel?  They're legit charges.

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Phone Bills. Ever take a real look at one?

4 Answers