how-to block ads
|
bjcatlin
join:2001-02-27
Longmont, CO
| End of Reg Fee = Higher Reg Compliance Fee??? Just finished looking at my invoices from Speakeasy. It looks like they have removed the Federal Regulatory Fee, but then they increased the Regulatory Compliance Fee for both my DSL and VoIP accounts.
The interesting thing is that the Regulatory Compliance Fees went up almost the same amount as what the Federal Regulatory Fee was, so my net savings is a whopping $0.35!
Am I crazy in thinking that when a regulatory fee goes away, shouldn't it cost less to comply with the regulations that went away?
Old:
Federal regulatory fee: $6.00
DSL Reg. Compliance fee: $5.12
VoIP Reg. Compliance fee: $4.95
New:
Federal regulatory fee: $0.00 ($6.00 decrease)
DSL Reg. Compliance fee: $9.52 ($4.40 increase)
VoIP Reg. Compliance fee: $6.20 ($1.25 increase)
Total: $0.35 decrease
Something smells fishy around here... | |
|  
grobinette
Premium,Mod
join:2001-01-27
Springfield, VA
clubs:
 ·Verizon FIOS
Host:
Home Repair & Impr..
Millenicom
| Re: End of Reg Fee = Higher Reg Compliance Fee??? They did the same here.
I find it irritating that in their sample bills they show all the applicable taxes from Seattle
but they just can't seem to break down exactly what that Regulatory Compliance Fee is for on my invoices.
In their sample bill, there is no regulatory compliance fee.
--
Team Discovery | |
| russotto
join:2000-10-05
Collegeville, PA | Regulatory compliance fee = random extra charge tacked on by Speakeasy, supposedly representing their cost for complying with various regulations. | |
| claudeo
join:2000-02-23
Redmond, WA
| Those regulatory fees are just part of the cost of doing business, but they are tacked on as a separate item to allow them to advertise a lower price. *Every* business incurs costs in following government regulations. Unfortunately Speakeasy is only following the lead of many other companies and especially mobile phone companies, airlines, etc. that lowball the price but then add those bogus charges and charge another price. It's just gravy for the bottom line. Basically it is also dishonest. | |
| | 
CylonRed
Premium,MVM
join:2000-07-06
Bloom County
| Re: End of Reg Fee = Higher Reg Compliance Fee??? It is dishonest if they state that the price they have is the end price with no other fees/taxes - they don't do that. They have always stated that taxes and fees are not included.
What I find more dishonest is telling users that they will pay $x dollars and that is the price on the bill - then they don't break out the fees. They basically hide the fact they pay the same fees that SE puts on their bills - but Se puts then on in the open...
--
Brian
"Some people are like Slinkies...
Not really good for anything......
But they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs." | |
| | | artisticcheese
join:2004-11-09
Carrollton, TX
 ·Future Nine Corpor..
·VoiceStick
| Re: End of Reg Fee = Higher Reg Compliance Fee??? Don't you find it's dishonest to tell people how they are dropping Federal Regulatory Fee making cozy feeling that ISP doing something for you which will cost you less to have the service, just to find out that behind your back they at the same time jacked up other fees so at the end you are still paying the same fee and probably they are getting richer becouse they are not remitting those compliance fees to government while regulatory fee they were. | |
| | | |
CylonRed
Premium,MVM
join:2000-07-06
Bloom County
1 edit | Re: End of Reg Fee = Higher Reg Compliance Fee??? Hmmm - no. Why? Well - it is not like they "jacked up" the other fee - the regulatory fee drop was about 20 cents and rasing another fee to the same amount (20 cents) is not something I would call jacking up the price. To me - jacking up the price is taking a fee from $1 to $3... Not to mention I have yet to see the other fee increased as of yet.
Personally - I would bet you would be suprised by hiw little they are getting "rich" off of the other fee. They are in business to make money - they have to afford the build out for DSL2 among other things. Most people don't really know or understand how business works and just jump to conclusions that the additional fee is just there to make "them" (whomever "they" are) richer.
Again - as I always say to those that complain about the fees and any changes.... Don't like them - then get another ISP and tell SE the reason...
I find the example I posted to be far more dishonest...
--
Brian
"Some people are like Slinkies...
Not really good for anything......
But they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs." | |
| | | valderost
Here, There, Everywhere
join:2004-02-03
Boston, MA
| said by CylonRed  :It is dishonest if they state that the price they have is the end price with no other fees/taxes - they don't do that. They have always stated that taxes and fees are not included. The "regulatory compliance fee" isn't a tax. If you want to think of it as a true fee, then by that logic, Speakeasy could arbitrarily up that fee to $10/mo and you would be contractually bound to pay it. That doesn't sound quite right though, does it?
My Verizon bill has taxes and fees on it, but they are accompanied by a clear statement that these amounts are mandated by the government.
In fact, during a protracted email discussion with Lawrence McBride on this very topic during winter/spring 2004-05, he asked me about taxes and fees on my telco bill, and I scanned and emailed it to him, along with a request that Speakeasy make a similar claim. What I got back from him was this: complete and utter silence. Of course Speakeasy can't make that claim, because to do so would be fraud.
Lawrence, I reiterate my request: can you please state definitively that the taxes and fees that Speakeasy charges are mandated by government, just like my telco does? And if this isn't the case, and Speakeasy will terminate my service for non-payment of these "fees" which set at Speakeasy's sole discretion, please explain how these "fees" are not part of the pricetag of the service itself? | |
| | | | TheOtherPete
join:2001-06-28
Boyds, MD
| Re: End of Reg Fee = Higher Reg Compliance Fee??? said by valderost :The "regulatory compliance fee" isn't a tax. If you want to think of it as a true fee, then by that logic, Speakeasy could arbitrarily up that fee to $10/mo and you would be contractually bound to pay it. That doesn't sound quite right though, does it? My Verizon bill has taxes and fees on it, but they are accompanied by a clear statement that these amounts are mandated by the government. In fact, during a protracted email discussion with Lawrence McBride on this very topic during winter/spring 2004-05, he asked me about taxes and fees on my telco bill, and I scanned and emailed it to him, along with a request that Speakeasy make a similar claim. What I got back from him was this: complete and utter silence. Of course Speakeasy can't make that claim, because to do so would be fraud. Lawrence, I reiterate my request: can you please state definitively that the taxes and fees that Speakeasy charges are mandated by government, just like my telco does? And if this isn't the case, and Speakeasy will terminate my service for non-payment of these "fees" which set at Speakeasy's sole discretion, please explain how these "fees" are not part of the pricetag of the service itself? I agree completely and would like to hear Speakeasy's official position on this issue.
As you said, since the fees are arbitrary, what is stopping Speakeasy from charging any amount they want and forcing customers to pay it (or face huge early-termination charges)?
The Speakeasy website has verbage about applicable taxes and fees but I think a common sense interpretation of that means gov't mandated taxes and fees.
The only bogus fee I agreed to when I signed up was the fee that was in-place at that time. If they want to increase that fee then they need my explicit approval IMO. | |
| | | | |
CylonRed
Premium,MVM
join:2000-07-06
Bloom County
1 edit | Re: End of Reg Fee = Higher Reg Compliance Fee??? said by TheOtherPete :said by valderost :The "regulatory compliance fee" isn't a tax. If you want to think of it as a true fee, then by that logic, Speakeasy could arbitrarily up that fee to $10/mo and you would be contractually bound to pay it. That doesn't sound quite right though, does it? My Verizon bill has taxes and fees on it, but they are accompanied by a clear statement that these amounts are mandated by the government. In fact, during a protracted email discussion with Lawrence McBride on this very topic during winter/spring 2004-05, he asked me about taxes and fees on my telco bill, and I scanned and emailed it to him, along with a request that Speakeasy make a similar claim. What I got back from him was this: complete and utter silence. Of course Speakeasy can't make that claim, because to do so would be fraud. Lawrence, I reiterate my request: can you please state definitively that the taxes and fees that Speakeasy charges are mandated by government, just like my telco does? And if this isn't the case, and Speakeasy will terminate my service for non-payment of these "fees" which set at Speakeasy's sole discretion, please explain how these "fees" are not part of the pricetag of the service itself? The only bogus fee I agreed to when I signed up was the fee that was in-place at that time. If they want to increase that fee then they need my explicit approval IMO. Please list any and all companies that only increase fees after YOUR explicit approval???? I know the answer for me is a grand total of..... none...
Again - vote with the pocket book - that is the only way tyo get any business attention and tell them exactly why you choose to leave their services.
--
Brian
"Some people are like Slinkies...
Not really good for anything......
But they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs." | |
| | | | | | 
nixen
Rockin' the Boxen
Premium
join:2002-10-04
Alexandria, VA
 ·Cox HSI
 ·Speakeasy
| Re: End of Reg Fee = Higher Reg Compliance Fee??? said by CylonRed :said by TheOtherPete :said by valderost :The "regulatory compliance fee" isn't a tax. If you want to think of it as a true fee, then by that logic, Speakeasy could arbitrarily up that fee to $10/mo and you would be contractually bound to pay it. That doesn't sound quite right though, does it? My Verizon bill has taxes and fees on it, but they are accompanied by a clear statement that these amounts are mandated by the government. In fact, during a protracted email discussion with Lawrence McBride on this very topic during winter/spring 2004-05, he asked me about taxes and fees on my telco bill, and I scanned and emailed it to him, along with a request that Speakeasy make a similar claim. What I got back from him was this: complete and utter silence. Of course Speakeasy can't make that claim, because to do so would be fraud. Lawrence, I reiterate my request: can you please state definitively that the taxes and fees that Speakeasy charges are mandated by government, just like my telco does? And if this isn't the case, and Speakeasy will terminate my service for non-payment of these "fees" which set at Speakeasy's sole discretion, please explain how these "fees" are not part of the pricetag of the service itself? The only bogus fee I agreed to when I signed up was the fee that was in-place at that time. If they want to increase that fee then they need my explicit approval IMO. Please list any and all companies that only increase fees after YOUR explicit approval???? I know the answer for me is a grand total of..... none... Don't have any credit cards, eh?
-tom
--
"Experience should teach us to be most on our guard to protect liberty when the government's purposes are beneficial. The greatest dangers to liberty lurk in insidious encroachment by men of zeal, well meaning but without understanding." -Louis D Brandeis | |
| | | | | | |
CylonRed
Premium,MVM
join:2000-07-06
Bloom County
1 edit | Re: End of Reg Fee = Higher Reg Compliance Fee??? Many - either none have ever increased a fee or they have never notified me and made sure I agree to them...
My garbage folks added ina fee for gas - I had no opportunity to explicitly agree to the fee - they just notified us they were charging for it - same for taxes/fees at airports for airplane tickets - fees are added or increased with no notice or opportunity to pay it or not. | |
| | | | | | | |
nixen
Rockin' the Boxen
Premium
join:2002-10-04
Alexandria, VA
·Cox HSI
·Speakeasy
| Re: End of Reg Fee = Higher Reg Compliance Fee??? said by CylonRed :Many - either none have ever increased a fee or they have never notified me and made sure I agree to them... My garbage folks added ina fee for gas - I had no opportunity to explicitly agree to the fee - they just notified us they were charging for it - same for taxes/fees at airports for airplane tickets - fees are added or increased with no notice or opportunity to pay it or not. If your credit card company changes interest rates, yearly fees, etc., they send you a new cardholder agreement. You're given the choice of closing the account or accepting the new fee/rate structure. If you don't close the account, it's implicit agreement to the new fee/rate structure.
-tom
--
"Experience should teach us to be most on our guard to protect liberty when the government's purposes are beneficial. The greatest dangers to liberty lurk in insidious encroachment by men of zeal, well meaning but without understanding." -Louis D Brandeis | |
| | | | | | | | TheOtherPete
join:2001-06-28
Boyds, MD
| said by CylonRed :same for taxes/fees at airports for airplane tickets - fees are added or increased with no notice or opportunity to pay it or not. I buy my airline tickets ahead of time online - all fees and taxes are listed before I confirm that they can charge my credit card for whatever the total amount is.
I have never shown up at the airport with paid tickets and been asked to pay additional fees or taxes.
Apparently I live in a different world then you (or at least use different airlines & airports). | |
| | | | | | | | |
CylonRed
Premium,MVM
join:2000-07-06
Bloom County
1 edit | Re: End of Reg Fee = Higher Reg Compliance Fee??? said by TheOtherPete :said by CylonRed :same for taxes/fees at airports for airplane tickets - fees are added or increased with no notice or opportunity to pay it or not. I buy my airline tickets ahead of time online - all fees and taxes are listed before I confirm that they can charge my credit card for whatever the total amount is. I have never shown up at the airport with paid tickets and been asked to pay additional fees or taxes. Apparently I live in a different world then you (or at least use different airlines & airports). That is up to you - if you want to fly any where you have to agree (by buying the ticket) to ANY and ALL fees and ANY and ALL increases to those fees - it is not really a choice if that is the only way you need to get somewhere. They simply increase the fees and never have to disclose it anywhere and never ask you first BEFORE they put the fee on - they just tack it on...
Again - companies can change fees and prices anytime they want - they can even give you a small portion for the same price anytime they want - with the consumer having no vote on it before it happens. That to me is REAL explicit approval - asking for consumer approval before buying and offering the same product without the increased prices/fees...
--
Brian
"Some people are like Slinkies...
Not really good for anything......
But they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs." | |
| | | | | | TheOtherPete
join:2001-06-28
Boyds, MD
| said by CylonRed :Please list any and all companies that only increase fees after YOUR explicit approval???? I know the answer for me is a grand total of..... none... Again - vote with the pocket book - that is the only way tyo get any business attention and tell them exactly why you choose to leave their services. Really? I can think of several but that's irrelevent to this discussion.
Since I have a 12-month contract with Speakeasy I don't expect them to change their price during that period nor can I just walk away during the 12-month period without incurring a huge early-termination fee, which should answer your second point. Rest assured I will be voting with my feet when the 12 months is over. | |
| | | | | | |
CylonRed
Premium,MVM
join:2000-07-06
Bloom County
| Re: End of Reg Fee = Higher Reg Compliance Fee??? said by TheOtherPete :said by CylonRed :Please list any and all companies that only increase fees after YOUR explicit approval???? I know the answer for me is a grand total of..... none... Again - vote with the pocket book - that is the only way tyo get any business attention and tell them exactly why you choose to leave their services. Really? I can think of several but that's irrelevent to this discussion. Since I have a 12-month contract with Speakeasy I don't expect them to change their price during that period nor can I just walk away during the 12-month period without incurring a huge early-termination fee, which should answer your second point. Rest assured I will be voting with my feet when the 12 months is over. They covered that in their TOS:
"Pricing Guarantee:
In the event that Speakeasy's pricing increases, your monthly recurring charge will remain at the price set during order placement or special billing agreement for 12 months following your Activation Date. Additionally, if your account is invoiced quarterly, semi-annually or annually, you will receive your set monthly recurring charge until the end of the current payment period. This does not include new orders under the same name and/or location or new orders associated with a service relocation, nor orders for service changes that may be required if the desired service is not available due to technical or other reasons. Price changes for different packages at the same speeds, technologies, and throughput level are not included; one-time charges, applicable state and federal taxes, and promotional pricing are excluded. This guarantee only applies to the recurring broadband service charges. "
--
Brian
"Some people are like Slinkies...
Not really good for anything......
But they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs." | |
| | | | | | | | TheOtherPete
join:2001-06-28
Boyds, MD
| Re: End of Reg Fee = Higher Reg Compliance Fee??? said by CylonRed :They covered that in their TOS: Pricing Guarantee:
In the event that Speakeasy's pricing increases, your monthly recurring charge will remain at the price set during order placement or special billing agreement for 12 months following your Activation Date. Additionally, if your account is invoiced quarterly, semi-annually or annually, you will receive your set monthly recurring charge until the end of the current payment period. This does not include new orders under the same name and/or location or new orders associated with a service relocation, nor orders for service changes that may be required if the desired service is not available due to technical or other reasons. Price changes for different packages at the same speeds, technologies, and throughput level are not included; one-time charges, applicable state and federal taxes, and promotional pricing are excluded. This guarantee only applies to the recurring broadband service charges. I'm not sure what the above quote proves except that Speakeasy is not allowed to raise my rates during the 12-months which they are effectively doing with this increased "Regulatory Compliance Fee"
I agree that they are allowed to pass through any additional state and federal taxes that they incur but as far as I can tell this "Regulatory Compliance Fee" increase is not based on any state or federal tax increase - it is nothing less then a backdoor price increase to boost their own profits. | |
| | | | | | | | |
CylonRed
Premium,MVM
join:2000-07-06
Bloom County
1 edit | Re: End of Reg Fee = Higher Reg Compliance Fee??? Read the last sentence of the paragraph..... RCF will not be included in the "broadband service charges" thereby making the RCF excuded from the guarantee.
Look - if it is illegal then start a classaction lawsuit against the entire industry - I am sure a ton of lawyers would jump at the chance if there was anything illegal about it - my guess is no lawyers think it is illegal or illegal enough to even bother. | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | TheOtherPete
join:2001-06-28
Boyds, MD | Re: End of Reg Fee = Higher Reg Compliance Fee??? Bellsouth and Verizon have announced they are dropping this bogus fee hike - time for Speakeasy to follow their lead! | |
| | 
xerxes3642
join:2006-02-24
Saint Charles, MO | cable has done the same thing with franchise fees. They are a cost of using government rights-of-way, however, they are put on a seperate line-item and not figured into the advertised price. | |
| 
deaddog
@verizon.net
| i can't say it any other way, so:
why the frick are you still with covad?!?!?!? some subscribers can be so STUPID AND LAZY, it's UNREAL!
switch the hell out, before its too late and they keep price gouging you!!! unless your only alternative is the satellite in the sky, get on the cancelation dept's ass, pronto!
but, knowing covad, they'll have recently hired the fired aol retention reps to fill this role! | |
| gjgfjfgj
join:2006-04-07
Tucson, AZ
| For what it's worth, my bill went down by $0.50 or 1%.
Old Fees: $3.42 - That's about 7%, which is what I pay for sales tax on almost everything else I buy anyway.
New Fees: $2.92 - That's about 6%, which is less than I pay for sales tax on almost everything else I buy.
For comparison purposes:
Landline Phone Fees: 50%, which should be illegal Qwest.
Mobile Phone Fees: 15%, which is way too high Sprint. | |
| | TheOtherPete
join:2001-06-28
Boyds, MD
| Put in a service ticket and Speakeasy responded that the increase in the "Regulatory Compliance Fee" is attributed to increased gov't fees that they are simply passing through to their customer and is not an arbitrary increase.
This contradicts what Verizon is saying about their increase on the same line item for DSL.
Does anyone buy this?
said by Me :
I see that the Regulatory Compliance Fee on my invoice has risen from $1.47 to $2.73.
It is my understanding that this is not a gov't assessed fee but it just an add-on that Speakeasy has arbitrarily decided to collect in order to compensate for removing the Federal Regulatory Fees which were actual gov't fees that have been eliminiated (FUSF).
On what basis is Speakeasy allowed to arbitrarily assess additional monthly fees without confirming with me that I agree to them? quote:
It is not an arbitrary amount. There are over 4500 government agencies that assess taxes and fees. As these are assessed to us, we pass them on. This fee sometimes goes up and sometimes goes down. We receive quarterly adjustments from all agencies and adjust this rate accordingly. This fee is covered as well in out Terms of Service found at www.speakeasy.net/tos which you agree to by using our service.
said by Me :
Let me be clear - you are saying that the $2.73 Regulatory Compliance Fee is composed only of mandated government fees that Speakeasy is simply passing it through in its entirety to government agencies and Speakeasy is not keeping any portion for itself? quote:
There is a flat administrative add on that does not change quarterly.
said by Me :
So you are saying that the difference between what I used to pay ($1.47) and what I pay now ($2.73) is due solely to increases in government fees attributed specifically to my line which you are simply passing through? quote:
Yes, that is exactly what I am telling you.
| |
| | jcricket
join:2002-08-30
Seattle, WA
| For the life of me I can't understand what's happened to Speakeasy. I'm not saying they've always been a perfect corporate citizen, but this really takes the cake.
Adding bogus fees at the point when a fee they merely "passed on" to the government goes away is nothing but screwing over their customers. Sure, Speakeasy's within its rights to charge each customer more, but doing so in an underhanded way that make it appear a tax or government fee is involves is something I expect from Qwest or Verizon (i.e. a near-monopoloy)
One of the prime selling points of dealing with a third-party, non-monopoly company is that they know you can switch to other providers, so they won't do things like this. Now I'm starting to wonder why we all just don't just switch to Qwest. What's the difference anymore? | |
| | | | claudeo
join:2000-02-23
Redmond, WA
| said by jcricket :For the life of me I can't understand what's happened to Speakeasy. I'm not saying they've always been a perfect corporate citizen, but this really takes the cake. How about giving the man a piece of your mind:
Mike Apgar
CEO, SPEAKEASY.net
email) speakeasy-ceo at speakeasy.net | |
| | | 
King P
Don't blame me. I voted for Ron Paul
Premium
join:2004-11-17
Inman, SC | Re: End of Reg Fee = Higher Reg Compliance Fee??? Claudeo,
Mike isn't running Speakeasy anymore. Bruce Chatterley is, but the email is still the same.
--
Forget 'em, Support the Indies.
»www.ind-music.com | |
| | | |
miball10
@speakeasy.net
| Re: End of Reg Fee = Higher Reg Compliance Fee??? I just called Speakeasy about this and they couldn't give me a straight answer, the gentleman passed my info onto accounting. I shoulded him the DSLreports article. They are supposed to be getting back to me about this fee & if they will be dropping it. I would suggest that everyone call in an inquire about it. If Verizon is dropping the fee, so should Speakeasy! | |
| | | | | artisticcheese
join:2004-11-09
Carrollton, TX | Re: End of Reg Fee = Higher Reg Compliance Fee??? Verizon had FCC inquiry coming in and FCC does not care about Speakeasy so there is no big guy outthere pressuring them to do so except for their own customers. This is just another reason for me to switch to FIOS at the end of my contract. | |
| | | | | jcricket
join:2002-08-30
Seattle, WA
| I sent an email to the CEO, for whatever it's worth. I agree, this is a bogus fee, along with many of the other "compliance recovery" and "tax recovery" fees. I understand that Speakeasy incurs many costs, some related to compliance with local and state government regulations. But unless those dollars are 100% passed directly on to another entity, they shouldn't be listed separately as line items.
Just another hidden rate increase is definitely right.
There's probably about $5 on every bill that's basically Speakeasy not being able to justify increasing the actual cost of their service so finding a sneaky way to do it but make it look like the government is at fault. | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 
drmorley
Premium,MVM
join:2000-12-20
Park Ridge, IL
clubs:
| Re: End of Reg Fee = Higher Reg Compliance Fee??? After nearly five years with Speakeasy I canceled my service this past June and went with SBC. My biggest beef with Speakeasy all those years was the bogus "taxes" they insisted were necessary.
My wife still uses Speakeasy at her office and I'm going to inquire about getting these taxes removed. If they won't then I'll take our business elsewhere. It's that easy. | |
| | | | claudeo
join:2000-02-23
Redmond, WA
| said by King P :Claudeo, Mike isn't running Speakeasy anymore. Bruce Chatterley is, but the email is still the same. Right you are. I'm just a little slow sometimes...  | |
| | Fragmaster
join:2001-03-05
Abingdon, MD
| I have been with Speakeasy for over 5 years and I am looking at other providers now. My bill has actually gone up since these new "fees" were added to my bill. I have yet to see a speakeasy rep post here since Adam left. If this is the way they are going to do business its time to end our relationship. | |
| |
See 11 replies to this post | |
claudeo
join:2000-02-23
Redmond, WA | Let's not confuse the issues. I'm not happy about SE billing practices, but I'm happy about my SE service. | |
| |
nixen
Rockin' the Boxen
Premium
join:2002-10-04
Alexandria, VA
·Cox HSI
·Speakeasy
| Re: End of Reg Fee = Higher Reg Compliance Fee??? But, ultimately, it comes down to, are you getting value?
Just out of interest, I checked Adam's "goodbye" post. He'd posted the DSLR name of his forum successor. Guess what? The named replacement hasn't posted anything in the last 90 days. So, it's not just that they're staying quiet on this thread, it's that they've abandoned this forum. Seems to me, some of the value left when Adam left and noone took up the slack.
SpeakEasy (or whoever) can charge all they want for a product, so long as they provide value. Unfortunately, the value has been evaporating, of late. The bogus fees are just another example of it.
-tom
--
"Experience should teach us to be most on our guard to protect liberty when the government's purposes are beneficial. The greatest dangers to liberty lurk in insidious encroachment by men of zeal, well meaning but without understanding." -Louis D Brandeis | |
| | jcricket
join:2002-08-30
Seattle, WA
| I think the problem is that Speakeasy's not interested in growing its consumer DSL business anymore. Their marketing quite clearly indicates a shift to small business, VOIP services, etc. I can't blame them, as Cable and ILECs are in a apparently in a better position to offer low-cost, no-frills high-speed internet access to consumers.
But rather than forcibly jettison their long-time customers (probably all of us), they'll just slowly get rid of any reasons why we would stay, and they won't do anything to keep us should we try to leave. Their silence on this BS fee issue and lack of presence in these forums are classic examples of that.
As much as getting DSL service from some faceless monopoly scares me, I can't ignore the greater than $150/year savings and higher speeds forever. My guess is that when Qwest offers me their premier service for $25-ish/month (the price of their current 1.5 offering) I'll be out of here. | |
| |
drmorley
Premium,MVM
join:2000-12-20
Park Ridge, IL
clubs:
| Re: End of Reg Fee = Higher Reg Compliance Fee??? said by jcricket :I think the problem is that Speakeasy's not interested in growing its consumer DSL business anymore. Their marketing quite clearly indicates a shift to small business, VOIP services, etc. I can't blame them, as Cable and ILECs are in a apparently in a better position to offer low-cost, no-frills high-speed internet access to consumers. But rather than forcibly jettison their long-time customers (probably all of us), they'll just slowly get rid of any reasons why we would stay, and they won't do anything to keep us should we try to leave. Their silence on this BS fee issue and lack of presence in these forums are classic examples of that. This is exactly what is happening. MegaPath did the same thing about four years ago and they're probably better off financially as a result. It sucks for us as residential users, but without the change in direction they're probably facing certain doom....Hell even with the change it's going to be tough for them to compete. | |
| | | Fragmaster
join:2001-03-05
Abingdon, MD
| Re: End of Reg Fee = Higher Reg Compliance Fee??? I could see that being true if Speakeasy was charging $50 a month for service but they are not. At the rates Speakeasy charges they are most certainly making a profit on residential DSL. I am into my sixth year with Speakeasy and many of the posters here are long time Speakeasy subscribers, it doesn't make sense to cast aside the customers you are making money on.
My bill has gone up since the current change in pricing, not down 1% like they claim.
Bill before change:
*Federal Regulatory Fees 4.72
*Federal Regulatory Fees -0.38
*Tax Reimbursement (g): Statutory Gross Receipts Tax - State 0.88
*Regulatory Compliance Fee 4.03
*Regulatory Compliance Fee -0.32
Subtotal 124.88
Bill after change:
*Federal Regulatory Fees 0.00
*Federal Regulatory Fees 0.00
Compliance Fee 0.10
*Tax Reimbursement (g): Statutory Gross Receipts Tax - State 0.88
*Regulatory Compliance Fee -0.60
*Regulatory Compliance Fee 7.49
Subtotal 125.43 | |
| | | | |
King P
Don't blame me. I voted for Ron Paul
Premium
join:2004-11-17
Inman, SC
·Windstream
·Charter Pipeline
| Re: End of Reg Fee = Higher Reg Compliance Fee??? said by gjgfjfgj :said by jcricket :I think the problem is that Speakeasy's not interested in growing its consumer DSL business anymore. Their marketing quite clearly indicates a shift to small business, VOIP services, etc. Bingo. I was told as much by their marketing department over a year ago. They were not going to focus on residential users, as more money was to be made with Business services, and that Residential was no longer a focus point for their services.
--
Forget 'em, Support the Indies.
»www.ind-music.com | |
| speakeasy2k
join:2006-09-01
Seattle, WA
| This is a pure-and-simple, sleazy, back-door land grab for higher profits. As I wrote to speakeasy-ceo, "what's next? Are you going to pass through the cost of sales tax on the employee's pizzas and say it's a "regulatory fee" that the customers need to pay for?".
I'm checking with Qwest this AM about their DSL service options...any other (non-cable) providers in the Seattle (UW) area I should be looking at?
Note that I've been with Speakeasy longer than probably any of you - my DSL line was installed in 3/2000. That's over six years. If a guy like me is willing to jump ship over this, and Speakeasy doesn't sit up and take notice - then, well, I don't think anything is going to get through to them. | |
| |
nixen
Rockin' the Boxen
Premium
join:2002-10-04
Alexandria, VA
·Cox HSI
·Speakeasy
| Re: End of Reg Fee = Higher Reg Compliance Fee??? said by speakeasy2k :Note that I've been with Speakeasy longer than probably any of you - my DSL line was installed in 3/2000. That's over six years. Heh... Got you beat by a couple years. I got SpeakEasy installed in 1998 in the apartment I had before I moved into my current house.
said by speakeasy2k :If a guy like me is willing to jump ship over this, and Speakeasy doesn't sit up and take notice - then, well, I don't think anything is going to get through to them. Exactly.
The funny part is, I worked for a company that decided to get rid of their loyal customers to go after a higher-margin segment. The only reason that company still exists is that they were bought by one company that was later bought by Verizon. Ironically, the customers they got rid of were always low-cost to support and always just paid their bills.
-tom
--
"Experience should teach us to be most on our guard to protect liberty when the government's purposes are beneficial. The greatest dangers to liberty lurk in insidious encroachment by men of zeal, well meaning but without understanding." -Louis D Brandeis | |
| waka
join:2002-06-01
Tacoma, WA
·Speakeasy
1 edit | Thought some of you would like to see my current ticket asking for clarification on this subject:
--------------------------------------------------
Me:
2006-09-01 10:25:10
I have two questions that I would liked answered in as much detail as possible:
1) I would like an explanation of what exactly each of the above fee's are and why I am being charged for them. I understand the Federal Compliance Fee has now been combined into the Regulatory Fee, but I want an explanation as to what each fee was prior to the change.
2) I want to know why my Regulatory Fee has jumped from $1.92 to $3.57 especially in the light of recent FCC changes towards many CLECs NOT having to pay into the USF fund.
--------------------
Speakeasy (italics added by me)
2006-09-01 10:58:34
As per our glossary, the Regulatory Compliance Fee "covers Speakeasy's cost for complying with government regulations, tax changes, and processing. This fee is not a tax or charge required by the government."
The Federal Compliance Fee was the literal FUSF fee, which has been eliminated. However, we have consolidated all regulatory fees into 1 monthly charge. We did reduce the total amount that you must pay in fees by about 1% of your total DSL charges, but the remaining amount is necessary for us to comply with the above mentioned costs.
Thanks,
Charles Ervin
Business Support Representative - Online Support
(800) 556-5829
My Hours Mon-Fri 5am-1:30pm PDT
www.speakeasy.net
---------------------
Me:
2006-09-01 11:23:28
From your own statement, the Federal Compliance Fee IS the FUSF fee and nothing else. So if the Federal Compliance Fee has been eliminated, then why has my Regulatory fees gone up from 1.92 to 3.57?
What is now being added to the regulatory fee to make it higher? An itemized detailed explanation of what exactly goes into the Regulatory fees would be appreciated.
---------------------------------
Keep in mind that the invoice only shows two fees:
1) Federal Compliance Fee (was $2.25 for me)
2) Regulatory Compliance Fee (was $1.92 and now 3.57)
Logic states that if fee #1 is eliminated then fee #2 should not be higher! | |
| | plutarch
join:2002-12-29
Kansas City, MO
| Re: End of Reg Fee = Higher Reg Compliance Fee??? I opened a ticket asking about this as well, and have gotten similar doubletalk. (I've asked for permission to post their replies as an official response, and will if they agree.)
Bottom line is this: SE rolled the FUSF from the "federal compliance fee" into a "regulatory compliance fee." When the FUSF requirement went away, they jacked up the "regulatory compliance fee" and eliminated the "federal compliance fee"--almost penny for penny except for a small (1%) bone. So this was a net fee increase of a couple of dollars when you take into account that they don't contribute to the FUSF.
If I don't get a straight answer, I am going to go ahead and file an FCC complaint, citing the Verizon example. They at least shouldn't be able to get away with shenanigans like this unchallenged. | |
| | | | | | | plutarch
join:2002-12-29
Kansas City, MO
| Re: End of Reg Fee = Higher Reg Compliance Fee??? Exactly -- if they'd just say the fee is $X per month rather than pretending the fee is $(X-x) then adding back the $x in questionable "regulatory" fees and phoney taxes, there'd be no issue. I've been with SE for over three years, but this is annoying enough that I'm looking hard at their competitors' service.
Ultimately, it will take enough people getting fed up with these practices plus a politician wanting to make a populist name to create a "Truth in Telecommunications Billing Act" or some such. Of course, protections for the telcos against network neutrality would probably get attached as a rider. | |
| | | speakeasy2k
join:2006-09-01
Seattle, WA
| I filed an FCC complaint today - easy to do! I filed a complaint with the FCC today regarding this. It's really easy to do online and from what they say, they make it sound like it will actually be read by someone who cares.
Here's the URL:
»svartifoss2.fcc.gov/cib/fcc475.cfm
...or you can just email to them (although I think the above form is better because you know what they want and need):
| |
| | | | TheOtherPete
join:2001-06-28
Boyds, MD
| Re: I filed an FCC complaint today - easy to do! said by speakeasy2k :I filed a complaint with the FCC today regarding this. It's really easy to do online and from what they say, they make it sound like it will actually be read by someone who cares. Here's the URL: » svartifoss2.fcc.gov/cib/fcc475.cfm Thanks for the link, I just filed a complaint as well. | |
| 
knightmb
Everybody Lies
join:2003-12-01
Franklin, TN
·AT&T DSL Service
| Not to start any flames here, I use the Speakeasy Business DSL package so I went looking through old invoices to see what had changed. Basically the Regulatory Fee has remained constant (has not gone up or down), but from what I read everyone else is having changing numbers. Is this only affecting non-business customers? Basically my Regulatory Fee has remained constant all of this year. Anyone else here using the Business DSL package from Speakeasy? | |
| russotto
join:2000-10-05
Collegeville, PA
| My bill is about $80 + $5 in fees plus $3 in actual taxes. It wouldn't bother me a bit if it was $85 + $3 in taxes. I'm not leaving Speakeasy over it, but it remains an irritant.
For people still in their 12-month contracts, it is pretty sleazy (and IMO (IANAL) a violation of the contract; doesn't matter that they don't _call_ them broadband service fees, they really are) for them to have the fees raised. For the rest of us, it's a price increase (or decrease; unlike my Comcast bill, my Speakeasy bill has gone both ways) and there's nothing wrong with that stated as such. | |
|
knightmb
Everybody Lies
join:2003-12-01
Franklin, TN
·AT&T DSL Service
| I feel that Speakeasy should just own up and say "hey, we aren't paying the government this anymore, we want to keep it for ourselves but not as much as before" Hey, I can go along with that, they are a business after all, but I think the sneaky part is what is annoying the hell out of all of us. I don't want to see Speakeasy go down the tubes because then that *only* leaves me Bellsouth or Comcast which neither of them I like at the moment. They all want to make money, but at least Speakeasy was the lesser of the 3 evils and I can't complain about their rock solid DSL connections. | |
| Bondman
join:2001-08-24
Livonia, MI
1 edit | Speakeasy continues to be silent. This is a far cry from the days when Kat worked for them.....
Call a spade a spade. Stop playing games with gov "fees"! | |
| | waka
join:2002-06-01
Tacoma, WA
·Speakeasy
| Re: End of Reg Fee = Higher Reg Compliance Fee??? I would have to agree. Being a SE customer for over 4+ years, this is pretty disappointing. It's not even about the money, its the principle of the matter. I don't like being told I'm getting a deal, like they are doing me a favor (i.e., SE - "We are reducing your monthly bill by 1%"), when in reality SE is making an additional buck or two off of us. To me it's just plain dishonest.
I'm also still waiting to hear from SE on what exactly goes into their Regulatory Compliance Fee and why it has jumped higher and no word yet. | |
| | | plutarch
join:2002-12-29
Kansas City, MO
| Re: End of Reg Fee = Higher Reg Compliance Fee??? I'm waiting for the same thing. The person at SE I was speaking with via the service ticket says he can't speak for the company and to contact the executive offices. I asked in the ticket for him to forward the thread for an official response. I fully expect to be blown off. I'm not under contract, so the next step is an FCC complaint and a new broadband provider. Any recommendations? | |
| | | |
|
