Verizon FiOS TV → Fios Triple Play-Taxes on Services

What is the amount of taxes I can expect to pay on the phone portion of Fios triple Play Service?

I don't have the breakdown in front of me, but I have the $99/mo triple play deal and end up paying aout $133 after one HD STB, one SD STB, and whatever other taxes and fees above that. IIRC, at least $20 of that is phone 'taxes' (cough).
KM

Yeah, phone kills the deal. I won't touch any Verizon bundle with landline when I can get phone service with voip for about one quarter the cost. Looks like you can do a triple play with Verizon wireless instead and still get a decent savings.

I have fios internet and phone service through fios (land line). Local taxes vary, but I pay over $12 with taxes and fees. If you get the triple play the phone will be the killer in terms of taxes/fees (like the 911 fee, for example).

When I informed my friend of this tax situation, he immediately cancelled his Fios install and is keeping his current provider. The Fios sales guy never mentioned taxes to him until I brought up the topic. My friend claimed that he was under the impression that he will be paying the price quoted by the Fios sales rep, which, in my opinion, was a good deal vs. his current provider. The taxes was the deal killer, which, was never mentioned by the sales rep. I told my friend that he should have asked more questions. I am sure Fios is a great service but those $20+ taxes on the phone portion...eek!

Of course the salesperson didn't mention the taxes, just like any landline provider won't mention it. And if you ask, they won't give you a straight answer because they can't predict the numerous fees that vary with locale because some of it is fixed and some is percentage-based. The information is not on their fingertips. I personally think there should be a policy of full disclosure on taxes and fees that exceed a certain percentage of the base price. If the billing system can generate it on a monthly basis, there's no reason Verizon or any other landline provider can't have the information available for sales.

Completely agree, and no kidding...'eek!'
I asked when I signed up. It was still cheaper than the alternatives and the sales person did suggest about $30 extra for the taxes. I wonder how he got close. Maybe cause either taxes don't vary all that much or he did have access to my local rates? I have a hard time believing sales reps don't have access to that info.

Here's my bill. How much of it is BS? I'd like to know...

FiOS® Triple Freedom: Full Month  $99.99
FiOS Triple Freedom 
Includes: 
- Verizon Freedom Essentials 
- FiOS TV Premier 
- FiOS Internet 
 
Voice Additional Services  $0.95
International Flat Rate Plan 
 
TV Additional Services $14.98
Standard STB Rental
High Definition STB Rental
 
Taxes, Fees and Other Charges $18.04
Voice
Federal Excise Tax $0.20
MD Local Tax $2.12
 
MD Federal Universal Service Fund Surcharge $0.64
Gross Receipts Tax - Long Distance $0.40
Federal Universal Service FundSurcharge Long Distance $0.73
MD 911 Fee $1.00
Telecommunications Access of MD Fee $0.20
Gross Receipts Tax - Long Distance -$0.22
MD Gross Receipts Tax Surcharge $0.55
 
Federal Subscriber Line Charge $5.70
 
Federal Universal Service - Long Distance $0.09
MD Tax Surcharge $0.02
- Long Distance
TV
State Sales Tax* $0.90
 
Video Franchise Fee* $2.83
Surcharge $0.98
 
Miscellaneous
Late Payment Fee $1.90 *this one's my fault!
 
Total Charges $133.96
 

Oh, and my $5 discount for signing up for a 2 year agreement seems to have disappeared too...
KM

Thank Kool Mo for posting your bill.... Eddie

Ask them for a credit. I get mine every month for the taxes. I get charged taxes and the give me a $10.00 credit.
Lee

I've emailed customer support, about 4 days ago. No reply yet. Surprise...surprise...
Calling them next I have the chance.
KM

KoolMoe, you have about $15 in taxes, not $30. You have $15 in equipment charges for TV.

You checking up on me or something?
Sorry I misspoke. I have $18 in taxes and $15 in STB rentals..what's that, oh, about $33 extra. I pretty much said all that but if you want to get picky... sheesh.
KM

Relax. The extra charge for the equipment, at least, is predictable according to the a la carte menus so you see that cost coming. That doesn't bother me so much since these costs compete with other providers like cable or satellite (all have various equipment fees). I know if I got a VZ package for ~$100, I'm fine with paying ~$20 on the equipment. It's the other $20 in "surprise" fees that gets me. It is THAT alone that makes landline non-competitive with ANY other phone service, and really makes the VZ triple play worthless as a competitive tool. Now, my research tells me that VZ will do triple play discount with cellular in place of landline, or at least that combination of services yielded some bundle discount when going through the motions on VZ's website. That I might be interested in!