Cybertoad
join:2001-11-08
Houston, TX | Where's our fixed rate?
Good point. If the fee is fixed to SBC then
the fee should be fixed to the customers and
not increment with the service package. |
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TexasGuy
49 States And Texas
Premium
join:2002-12-02
Houston, TX |  Do they owe me some money?
Do they owe me some money? |
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justin
Australian
join:1999-05-28
Brooklyn, NY
Host:
IPv6
Business Connectiv..
Home/Office setup ..
Console/Handheld g..
Console Tech
| reply to Cybertoad
Re: Where's our fixed rate?
it shouldn't even be shown.
Their package price is what it is, and thats it.
They are advertising one lower price and offering it at another. The FCC should change the rules to insist the USF is not added on to the bill. It makes NO sense, as it is NOT a percentage of the bill, just a cost of doing business like no different than every other cost a company has. Its as sensible as having a bill that reads:
El Cheapo Package "A": $19.95
Employee Health Insurance: $9.34
TOTAL DUE $29.29
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nhjones
join:2002-09-12
Dayton, OH
| Let's Show How High Taxes Are
While I don't think SBC should tack on an extra charge for the USF, I do think it is helpful that SBC and other businesses show the cost of USF and other taxes so people understand that SBC is paying that much in taxes. I know this is not always practical, but I wish that all businesses could show the amount they pay in taxes so that people start to understand that sometimes half of what they pay for something actually goes to taxes. High taxes are a major reason for high prices, but most people don't understand that because they don't see the tax amounts broken out -- they just think that businesses are greedy (which some are, but the government is greedy too with high taxes).
Also, is it just a coincidence that we file our tax returns on April 15th, and then vote in early November, which is as far away from the tax day as possible in the calendar year? People might vote very differently if they voted right after they filed their taxes!!!! |
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SKYHN
Lu.. Lu.. Lulululu
Premium
join:2001-09-16
99999
| $5.83?!
Cripes, I didnt know my fee was gonna be $5.83, thats a lot of damn money. It should be included in the monthly fee im already paying for service. But, SBCs service is excellent so I cant complain too much.
Good things always gotta get fees and taxes tacked on all to hell, im sick of it.
--
Im Rick James... |
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justin
Australian
join:1999-05-28
Brooklyn, NY
Host:
IPv6
Business Connectiv..
Home/Office setup ..
Console/Handheld g..
Console Tech
| reply to nhjones
Re: Let's Show How High Taxes Are
No, don't agree.
A business is subjet to loads of taxes, and the ones that apply to business INPUTS do not get broken out for the benefit of the customer. To follow your example, our bills should show a myriad of "add-ons" for payroll tax, state, city and local tax, property tax, and so on.
If SBC want to show that the government has yet another fee for their specific industry, put it in a footnote at the bottom of the bill:
We would like to point out that your bill would be a few bucks less if the FCC did not charge USF
Anything else is misleading. |
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lvas
join:2001-05-17
Glen Carbon, IL
| reply to nhjones
its pretty simple people - if you don't like the taxes & fees imposed upon you by the FCC or PUC of your state - you need to talk to them - not SBC.
WHy should SBC include those fees as part of there price of the service - you all make no sense at all. when you go into stores to BUY anything - do you see the taxs included into the price?? no you do not - you don't see those until you get your bill at the checkout line.;)
The Universal Service Fund charge is a surcharge collected from telecommunications carriers such as Verizon or SBC to support the federal Universal Service Fund. The Fund ensures that schools, libraries, rural hospitals, and other individuals have access to affordable telecommunications service. All communications providers must contribute to the fund based on revenue incurred during the previous year. Most carriers recover their Universal Service Fund charges from their customers in some form. The fee passed through to you depends on the fee assessed to SBC and is along with the services you have ordered. For additional information about this charge, contact the FCC at www.FCC.gov or call them at 1-888-225-5322 |
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justin
Australian
join:1999-05-28
Brooklyn, NY
Host:
IPv6
Business Connectiv..
Home/Office setup ..
Console/Handheld g..
Console Tech
| said by lvas  :
its pretty simple people - if you don't like the taxes & fees imposed upon you by the FCC or PUC of your state - you need to talk to them - not SBC.
WHy should SBC include those fees as part of there price of the service - you all make no sense at all. when you go into stores to BUY anything - do you see the taxs included into the price?? no you do not - you don't see those until you get your bill at the checkout line.;
The USF is not a tax on output.
You are confused.
Sales tax is a tax on the cost of the item, it is the ONLY tax that a business can show under the line. |
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Eagle 1
join:2000-11-30
Rocky River, OH
| reply to SKYHN
Re: $5.83?!
Speakeasy also charges a USF fee. It seems to change all the time. When i signed up in 2002, it 2.25, then in May 2003 it changed to 4.38, then they changed it to 2.25 USF and 2.13 regulatory compliance fee, then when i upgraded to their 3/768 plan it changed to
Federal Regulatory Fees Orderid: 3.35
Regulatory Compliance Fee Orderid: 2.44
so an extra 5.79 a month more than stated plan costs. |
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Eagle 1
join:2000-11-30
Rocky River, OH | reply to nhjones
Re: Let's Show How High Taxes Are
But why do you have to pay a USF fee on both the voice invoice and the dsl invoice, when most likely it is the same copper wires (lineshare adsl)? |
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jjoshua
Premium
join:2001-06-01
Scotch Plains, NJ | reply to Eagle 1
Re: $5.83?!
It costs $2.44 to collect and process $3.35???
BS! |
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Jan Janowski
join:2000-06-18
Skokie, IL | BS Tax "ABUSE TAX"
At this point, An upgrade from 1.5/384 to 3.0/384 will cost me $4.50 a month, with a $5.83 tax added...
Sorry!! I'll stay where I am!!!
Tax amounts to 130% of the upgrade!!!
--
Looking for 1939 Indian Motocycle |
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LoungeLizard2
join:2003-11-21
Vallejo, CA
| Profiting from USF fees?
The implication, is that they are actually profiting from the USF fee? Does the USF per connection fee cost them $5, but then they charge the faster connections $10, profiting $5 on the faster connections (with the slow connections still paying their $5, of course)? |
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justin
Australian
join:1999-05-28
Brooklyn, NY
Host:
IPv6
Business Connectiv..
Home/Office setup ..
Console/Handheld g..
Console Tech
| If they list prices INCLUSIVE of USF they can "profit" all they like!
While they list them EXCLUSIVE of USF, consumers deserve to see the books, to make sure that every penny that is paid, goes to USF out the back just as sales tax does.
This is, of course, impossible.
Therefore, they should list prices INCLUSIVE of USF so everyone can stop caring about it. |
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jethrogump
Premium
join:2001-03-02
Mesquite, TX
| a profit
In Texas SBC must make a profit on this I know in 2003 the total USF went up and up on my bills.
You would think with all this money supposedly pegged for rural maintenance farmers and ranchers would not still be on dial up but would have the most state of the art wireless connectivity.  |
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footballdude
Premium
join:2002-08-13
Imperial, MO
| they have to
I don't know all of the details but I'm pretty sure federal law (or at least the FCC) regulate exactly where on the bill the various fees and taxes are shown and even the exact wording that the phone companies are supposed to use. At least, it used to be that way. |
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PhoenixDown
-- Wants FIOS
Premium
join:2003-06-08
Fresh Meadows, NY
clubs:  
| reply to justin
Re: Profiting from USF fees?
I wish companies would include the USF as part of the base rates... Its not right that they advertise $39.99 dsl or cell phone packages and then tack on an extra 10% in USF and other assorted, non-tax, fee's.
An extra 10% here and there adds up on a service that you pay for each month. At least if they were upfront and included it in the rates then I could better determine how such service fits into my budget.
Another thing: They advertise x amount for service but yet the USF varies so much you cant be sure your really getting the better deal. Having the carriers include this in thier rates would truely keep things competitive.
--
Help DSLR Claim 5th in SETI!! |
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veloct
Premium
join:2003-01-21
Moosup, CT | typical SBC stuff
And I'm supposed to be shocked by this?
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Yes, I'm a Mac user and proud of it!! |
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Freezone
join:2000-09-29
Southfield, MI | Michigan has it the worst
$11 for the phone line and the total cost is $23 and some change. This just so you can have dsl. Phone CO is in big trouble as more people opt for total bypass.
Pay more in taxes and fees then the cost of the service. |
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kumdo
join:2004-02-18
Union City, CA
2 edits | reply to lvas
Re: Let's Show How High Taxes Are
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