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Comments on news posted 2014-02-18 17:05:00: Last year we noted how CenturyLink was unveiling a new "Non Telecom Surcharge" on the bills of customers who receive Voicemail (a rather telecom-ish "non telecom service") or Lineguard -- a $4. ..

Kearnstd
Space Elf
Premium Member
join:2002-01-22
Mullica Hill, NJ

Kearnstd

Premium Member

how is a surcharge not a change to the bill?

That does not many any sense outside the land of PR spin teams. if it makes the bill go up its a change.

linicx
Caveat Emptor
Premium Member
join:2002-12-03
United State

linicx

Premium Member

Re: how is a surcharge not a change to the bill?

"non-telcom: simply means the charge is not generated by CL. It could be a federal, state, or city charge that has increased. "Retransmission" is one of those clever non-telcom charges. It covers the cost of recovering something vague that even I don't understand. Cable does it too.
Bob61571
join:2008-08-08
Washington, IL

Bob61571

Member

Century Link customers should call and ask that these charges be removed

from their bills now!!

If Linegard is insurance, that reminds me of what the old Bell companies used to charge monthly to their POTS customers for phone and line insurance. This was completely voluntary, but most did not know that. $4.50 * 12 = $54 per year!!!

The other charges are also stupid.....If most CenturyLink customers would call in and ask to have them removed, it would show CenturyLink that people do pay attention....

Camelot One
MVM
join:2001-11-21
Bloomington, IN

Camelot One

MVM

Re: Century Link customers should call and ask that these charges be removed

said by Bob61571:

If most CenturyLink customers would call in and ask to have them removed, it would show CenturyLink that people do pay attention....

Yet they won't, proving what CenturyLink already knows....most people pay the bill (many by auto-pay) without even looking at it. So they are free to get away with little price hikes like this.
WhatNow
Premium Member
join:2009-05-06
Charlotte, NC

WhatNow to Bob61571

Premium Member

to Bob61571
Insurance is insurance until you need it. Hope it is money down the drain because you never file a claim. At $4.50 it is a lot more then in the past but the charge the phone company charges to fix the non-regulated part (inside wiring) if you use them is also a lot more. If you don't have the cheapest charge and the trouble is inside they charge for the truck roll to just tell you it is inside. That charge is about two or more years worth of insurance.

Eddy120876
join:2009-02-16
Bronx, NY

Eddy120876

Member

Another add on will be

Like some cellphone service providers that charge you for paying your bill and a new one the magical "our lines are busy but if you sign up for auto alert we will call you back asap" and charge you for it. This companies get away with highway robbery and nobody gives a damn =(
xthepeoplesx
join:2013-10-21

xthepeoplesx

Member

Re: Another add on will be

Its not that we dont give a damn, its that we simply have nowhere else to go. CenturyLink is currently my only provider because Time Warner Cable owns the land for cable and they wont provide internet. We have to pay it if we want ANY service at all unfortunately.

Eddy120876
join:2009-02-16
Bronx, NY

Eddy120876

Member

Re: Another add on will be

Im sorry you have to be in this situation friend. Lets hope that google fiber and Fios reach you so you don't have to deal with those blood suckers

toby
Troy Mcclure
join:2001-11-13
Seattle, WA

toby

Member

Explains why they give vm/lineguard for free.

Explains why they gives for 'free' included with the small business 'flat rate' plans, so they can charge us for the fees, disguised as taxes.

Thanks, I will cancel these unused options, if I can.
tmc8080
join:2004-04-24
Brooklyn, NY

tmc8080

Member

lame telco, get rid

century link customers should just buy a lifeline cellphone (tracfone/AT&T?) and be done with this Telco.
it's probably time this company go out of business if they can't upgrade their ancient network without ripping consumers off for unjustified fees.

perhaps they think with the legal marijuana that consumers will be too high to care how much they pay for telecom services.
travelguy
join:1999-09-03
Bismarck, ND

travelguy

Member

Ha!

quote:
A surcharge also can be more easily reduced or eliminated if future circumstances permit.
Right...