Karl Bode
News Guy
join:2000-03-02
Host:
Road Runner
PC gaming GAMES
PC gaming Tech
| reply to RockyBB
Re: [Packet8] New $1.50 Regulatory Fee effective M
quote:
As pricing pressure continues, while the companies get bigger and the investors want to see some profits, we are likely to see additional "below the line" surcharges.
Until someday, when we get an FCC that holds companies accountable for being misleading, instead of believing that an utter and total deregulatory and hands-off approach cures cancer and washes dishes.... |
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artisticcheese
join:2004-11-09
Carrollton, TX
 ·Future Nine Corpor..
·VoiceStick
1 edit | reply to RockyBB
said by RockyBB  :As pricing pressure continues, while the companies get bigger and the investors want to see some profits, we are likely to see additional "below the line" surcharges. There is difference between raising up prices and misleading customers by adding bogus fees looking like government surchages.
I think outcry here is not becouse of price hike by itself but the way it was done. It's like in latest MTV "Boiling points". Here is your card for free coffee but card will costs 5$. |
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Karl Bode
News Guy
join:2000-03-02 | Add these fees to my FCC/FTC WTF list, right along with television faith healers milking people out of millions, and Cortislim and other BS "medications" that boldly lie....
Yet Janet Jackson shows a boobie and the world stops. |
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cbrain
join:2000-05-21
Silver Spring, MD
·VoicePulse for Bus..
 ·Verizon FIOS
 ·Comcast
·Future Nine Corpor..
·VoiceStick
·Packet8
| reply to jalapen
Re: [Packet8] New $1.50 Regulatory Fee effective May 1
I would have been smart for P8 to introduce their long promised fax upgrade and CID name at the same time. They seemed to make real progress the first half of 2004 but little in the past 9 months.
Does P8 offer a recorded notice of new number for a few months when a line is cancelled like the phone companies do? |
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IanR
join:2001-03-22
Madison, NJ | reply to jalapen
How come there is only a P8 anti- regulatory fee thread, when others, primarilly Vonage, already apply the same charge? |
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RockyBB
Premium
join:2005-01-31
Longmont, CO | Re: [Packet8] New $1.50 Regulatory Fee effective M
because it's new! |
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ejrobinson
Premium
join:2003-05-16
Miami Beach, FL
1 edit | reply to IanR
For those subscribers who have the $5.95 plan, the $1.50 represents a significant surcharge.
-er |
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laserjobs
Premium
join:2004-05-02
Las Vegas, NV
·Cox HSI
1 edit | reply to IanR
said by IanR :How come there is only a P8 anti- regulatory fee thread, when others, primarilly Vonage, already apply the same charge? You might want to do a search IanR. I think all the providers who start charging erroneous fees have been targeted. So now it is Packet8's turn.
Here are a few thread targeting other providers
»[Vonage] Vonage Regulatory Recovery Fee
»[Lingo] is going to charge Excise and Reg Tax
»New Reg fee confirmed
»New Info about Vonage new Regulatory Fees
Maybe the thread is just to piss the P8 fluffers off.:D |
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jalapeno
join:2005-04-15
Gainesville, FL | reply to IanR
This is not an anti-anything thread, it's just a news thread informing of the new fee..I have Packet8 and I like it. |
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GuruUno
join:2003-01-21
Metuchen, NJ
| I complained about this very thing several months ago regarding Vonages' 'erronous' charges.
Bottom line is:
WHO gets called to voice displeasure to start an investigation and get results?
Rather than complain, lets get something done.... |
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meb
join:2002-12-12
Potomac, MD
| said by GuruUno : ... Rather than complain, lets get something done.... What do you suggest? |
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cuuplate
join:2003-05-23
Washington, DC | reply to jalapen
Re: [Packet8] New $1.50 Regulatory Fee effective May 1
So, are there any providers left to switch to who don't charge the bogus fees? What alternatives are there? |
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only4luca
join:2001-10-25
Brooklyn, NY
·Optimum Online
·Cablevision
| reply to GuruUno
Re: [Packet8] New $1.50 Regulatory Fee effective M
I just sent an email to p8sales@packet8.net saying that the day this bogus government fees get into my P8 bill is also the last day of service. If more of you people will email them maybe something can be done. Just posting in this forum ain't gonna change a thing.
/luca. |
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ib50MbSoon
Formerly TwoKDialup
Premium
join:2002-06-07
Coloma, MI
2 edits | said by only4luca : Just posting in this forum ain't gonna change a thing./luca. Agreed! I guess the VoIP honeymoon is over. I'll be pulling the plug on Packet8 shortly.
What is most alarming to me are their terms of service.
Who owns this company? Al Qaeda?
»www.packet8.net/about/service_terms.asp |
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smj
join:2003-05-08
Fostoria, OH
| reply to te100
Just got my notification in the Packet 8 Post that was emailed to me today.
Even though they state in the TOS that they may change prices with no advance notice, one would think they would not do so just to stay on good terms with their customers. I can't imagine anyone that would be happy about a new charge that just magically appears on their bill. |
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only4luca
join:2001-10-25
Brooklyn, NY
·Optimum Online
·Cablevision
| reply to ib50MbSoon
Look what I got in my inbox shortly after sending the email:
"Luca,
I am truly sorry to hear that. We have held out on charging this
industry-standard fee (it is something charged by every other VoIP
provider out there, every cell phone company and every legacy landline
carrier) and I can tell you from personal experience that the amount
of time and money this company is now investing in regulatory counsel,
tax attorneys, billing specialists and other resources to combat the
daily deluge of state, municipal, city and other local authorities who
want to regulate and/or tax our service untenable with the base service
fees that we charge. The amount of traffic from these local
governments has become way more than excessive and we need to add this
charge in order to continue to offer our base services at the current
prices. We also receive no marketing benefits by not charging the
same fee as someone like Vonage when they plaster their $24.99 price
everywhere without disclosure of the total price after applicable
taxes and fees.
I understand your decision and appreciate you taking the time to let
us know why you are leaving the service. We thank you for your
business and hope we can provide services to you again at some point
in the future.
Bryan Martin
Chairman & CEO
8x8 Inc
" |
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smj
join:2003-05-08
Fostoria, OH
| reply to jalapen
In case anyone missed the write-up in the newly released Packet8 Post, here it is....
Regulatory Recovery Fee
Starting May 1, 2005, Packet8 subscribers will see an additional $1.50 on their monthly bi
*ll designated as a Regulatory Recovery Fee. This fee will offset costs incurred by 8x8 in
*complying with inquiries and obligations imposed by federal, state and municipal regulator
*y bodies/governments and the related legal and billing expenses. This fee is not a tax or
*charge required or assessed by any government. The Regulatory Recovery Fee will apply to e
*very phone number assigned, including toll free and virtual numbers.
(*) WARNING 1 long line(s) split
Does this mean that since I have one regular and one virtual number that I will now be charged an additional $3/month?? |
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SipSource
join:2005-02-01 | reply to jalapen
Yes, I believe so... that's how it works with Vonage. |
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Minglewood
join:2004-12-24
Seattle, WA
| reply to ib50MbSoon
Since we received notice today, does this mean that if we want to cancel we can do so, as long as we do it before April 30? Does this avoid early cancellation fees? Seems P8 can't raise fees and at the same time, charge a cancellation fee, provided we don't use the Service after the Change Date. I think that's a proper reading of the TOS. |
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STEVECH
join:2001-02-25
Mimbres, NM
| reply to SipSource
The notice was embedded in the Packet8 April News email, and yes, "This fee is not a tax or charge required or assessed by any government...", and yes, "The Regulatory Recovery Fee will apply to every phone number assigned, including toll free and virtual numbers...".
What is so amazing is how a totally bogus fee invented by the Bells has now become a standard rip off practice, whether you are a phone company or not. There are many industries that's heavily regulated by government, may be we will see the fee everywhere soon. |
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