KoolMoe
Aw Man
Premium
join:2001-02-14
Annapolis, MD
clubs:
 ·Verizon FIOS
 ·Speakeasy
| reply to plutarch
Re: End of Reg Fee = Higher Reg Compliance Fee???
Shenanigans!
I agree.
Looking over my bill today as I paid it, I really don't have a problem with the amount of money I'm paying - assuming my connection remains stable.
How many other DSL or cable providers offer free dial-up service? I don't use it often but I appreciate the availability. I used it more frequently during travels before most all places offered free wifi...but still nice to have if my DSL goes down and I must get online for whatever reason.
So, again, not too upset with the premium price I pay overall. My two complaints are 1) sneaky fees (just not cool, especially for a 'geek-friendly' ISP) and 2) the inability for SE to do anything about degraded lines.
KM
--
Don't Lie - Be Kind - Realize your Potential |
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plutarch
join:2002-12-29
Kansas City, MO
| 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. |
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speakeasy2k
join:2006-09-01
Seattle, WA
| reply to plutarch
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):
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russotto
join:2000-10-05
Collegeville, PA
| reply to bjcatlin
Re: End of Reg Fee = Higher Reg Compliance Fee???
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. |
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gjgfjfgj
join:2006-04-07
Tucson, AZ
1 edit | reply to jcricket
A T1 ad after every speed test | 
Prominently displayed on front page | | 
Prominently displayed on front page | |
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. |
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King P
Don't blame me. I voted for Ron Paul
Premium
join:2004-11-17
Inman, SC
·Windstream
 ·Charter Pipeline
| 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 |
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nixen
Rockin' the Boxen
Premium
join:2002-10-04
Alexandria, VA
·Cox HSI
·Speakeasy
| reply to speakeasy2k
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 |
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knightmb
Everybody Lies
join:2003-12-01
Franklin, TN
·AT&T DSL Service
| reply to bjcatlin
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. |
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Bondman
join:2001-08-24
Livonia, MI
1 edit | reply to bjcatlin
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"! |
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waka
join:2002-06-01
Tacoma, WA
·Speakeasy
| 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. |
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plutarch
join:2002-12-29
Kansas City, MO
| 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? |
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waka
join:2002-06-01
Tacoma, WA
·Speakeasy
| reply to bjcatlin
Here is the latest reply and my response:
-----------------------
Speakeasy-
2006-09-05 15:34:02
The FUSF is actually a fee that the government charged in order to provide telecom services to nonprofits and other similar organizations.
Our regulatory fees are fees that we charge in order to maintain our services in light of government taxes, regulations, etc that are essentially applicable to every broadband connection.
Your overall charges have been reduced by 1%. Since the regulatory compliance fee has not been raised significantly since late 2004, this is not as significant an increase as it may seem.
Thanks,
Charles Ervin
Business Support Representative - Online Support
(800) 556-5829
ME:
2006-09-05 16:29:47
Please note: I understand my bill has gone down, as it SHOULD since SE is no longer passing along the FUSF fee.
My concern is the before and after Regulatory Compliance Fee. Currently my invoice shows only TWO items:
Item #1: Federal Compliance Fee
Item #2: Speakeasy's Regulatory Compliance Fee.
So if Item #1 is eliminated, why is Item #2 going up? WHAT HAS BEEN ADDED TO MAKE ITEM #2 ON MY BILL GO FROM $1.92 TO $3.57? This is a $1.65 INCREASE in this fee. As such, I want a detailed before and after Itemized list of what goes into this "Fee". A list that provides such detail would help me understand my charges as I am the one paying for them.
Thank you
---------------------------------------------
I guess SE just doesn't get where we are coming from. They keep saying "your overall charges have been reduced by 1%" when in fact SE's Regulatory Compliance Fee has gone UP despite the fact that the FUSF fee has gone away. I encourage all Speakeasy customers (many of you have been loyal customers for several years) to file a complaint. |
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jcricket
join:2002-08-30
Seattle, WA
| I'm with you on registering a complaint, although at this point they're clearly not worried about any hit to their reputation from any of their smaller customers (i.e. us).
Their lack of transparency and greed on this latest issue, coupled with their general disdain for improving the consumer-DSL experience (ADSL2+? higher speeds at reasonable prices? etc.) mean that I'm out of here when my contract is up.
There's no difference between Speakeasy and Qwest or Verizon or whomever for DSL subscribers, unless you're a hardcore gamer. And even then the difference is clearly shrinking. Outside of interleave (on Qwest) I can't imagine why anyone would stick with Speakeasy. |
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TheOtherPete
join:2001-06-28
Boyds, MD
| reply to speakeasy2k
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. |
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KoolMoe
Aw Man
Premium
join:2001-02-14
Annapolis, MD
clubs:
·Verizon FIOS
·Speakeasy
| reply to bjcatlin
Re: End of Reg Fee = Higher Reg Compliance Fee???
Largely to keep this thread up, but also to share, here is my ticket history on this subject.
2006-09-05 19:22:44
Hello,
While generally satisfied with your service, I do have a question about the extra fees added to my bill - especially in light of recent news where Bell South and Verizon have abandoned such fees...
From March 2005 through February 2006, the 'Regulatory Compliance Fee' added to my bill was $3.00.
In April 2006, that same fee was raised to $3.18.
In May 2006, that fee was raised to $3.39.
When the FCC removed the FUSF fee from DSL providers, I expected that 'Federal Regulatory Fee' to disappear and my 'Regulatory Compliance Fee' to remain, essentially the same (despite it having gone up two months in a row).
However, since June 2006, my bill now states the 'Regulatory Compliance Fee' has increased to $5.70.
Why? I appreciate the removal of the 'Federal Regulatory Fee' (FUSF) but am unclear as to why the other 'regulatory' fee has, once again, increased - especially by over 40%.
Not only is this increased fee not at all justified, but is it not also a violation of my Terms of Service? As I understood, SpeakEasy is not permitted to raise my monthly fees under an existing contract. Am I incorrect?
Thank you for your time,
KM
---
2006-09-05 19:56:03
Speakeasy is removing/has removed the 3.75% Federal Regulatory Fee and increasing the combined Regulatory Compliance Fee from 3.2% to 5.95%, but the combined total will go from 6.95% to 5.95% (i.e., will be reduced by 1%). The fees were combined to simplify the bill. Also, to save you a few amount of money in taxes.
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, but this excludes applicable state and federal taxes, as stated in the ToS(speakeasy.net/tos). So, the changes are not in violation of the ToS.
I hope this information is helpful to you. I will be placing this ticket into a pending customer response state. It will close automatically in 48 hours if you don’t have any additional questions.
Thanks,
Mark
---
2006-09-05 20:12:28
I appreciate the quick reply. I also appreciate that SE has removed the Federal Fee (as intended by the FCC). However, I am disturbed by the constant increase in the Regulatory Fee. Again,
Increased from $3.00 to $3.18 in April, 2006
Increased from $3.18 to $3.39 in May, 2006
Then dramatically increased (over 40%) to $5.70 in June.
It's kind of a sham to not increase the base price but increase a 'fee' which has no disclosed fix to a specific cost.
I don't see how a net increase in the amount of money I'm paying saves me any money...(!?)
Why did the Regulatory Fee jump from 3.2% to 5.95%? That's rather dramatic.
Thanks,
KM
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2006-09-05 20:50:09
The fees, Regulatory Compliance Fee and Federal Regulatory Fee, combined before the change in regulation(3.39+3.97) amounted to 7.36. Now that the fee was simplified to just the Regulatory Compliance Fee it went down to 6.30--that's where the savings is.
All of that 5.95% is being used to cover extensive increases in cost directly associated with regulatory compliance.
Thanks,
Mark
---
2006-09-05 22:02:53
Understood. However, in the overall fee increase you are combining both previous fees. Since one was completely dropped, that's not really a valid comparison.
In other words, plainly, despite one fee being dropped, your current charges have not been halved. Surely, moving fees from one name to another is a type of accounting trickery SE should be above.
Needless to say, 'regulatory compliance' doesn't actually say a whole lot. What other (non-Federal?) fees specifically are to blame for this burden?
I'm disappointed in the obtuse nature of these explanations.
Thanks,
KM
---
2006-09-06 01:05:21
The information I had given you is what's available to me. If you have any further questions, concerns, or feedback regarding this matter, please email exec@speakeasy.net.
Thanks,
Mark J
---
2006-09-06 06:47:54
Mark,
I appreciate your time and replies, despite the overall progress made addressing the question. I shall take this up at the email address you supplied.
Regards,
KM
At which point, this morning, I emailed the above referenced 'exec' account with a link to and summary of this ticket - just adding my voice to the crowd.
KM
--
Don't Lie - Be Kind - Realize your Potential |
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artisticcheese
join:2004-11-09
Carrollton, TX
 ·Future Nine Corpor..
·VoiceStick
| Below is exactly what I'm questioning, since TOS specifically refers to taxes as exempt from price increase and SE fee is not a tax then pricing increase is in fact violation of TOS. Any lawyers amongst SE customers?
2006-09-05 19:56:03
Speakeasy is removing/has removed the 3.75% Federal Regulatory Fee and increasing the combined Regulatory Compliance Fee from 3.2% to 5.95%, but the combined total will go from 6.95% to 5.95% (i.e., will be reduced by 1%). The fees were combined to simplify the bill. Also, to save you a few amount of money in taxes.
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, but this excludes applicable state and federal taxes, as stated in the ToS(speakeasy.net/tos). So, the changes are not in violation of the ToS.
Thanks,
Mark
|
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TheOtherPete
join:2001-06-28
Boyds, MD
| reply to bjcatlin
Speakeasy seems to think that as long as our total monthly bill stays the same (or decreases slightly), the fact that the gov't fee has been eliminated (and partially made up for with this bogus increase in compliance fee) is irrelevent.
They keep harping on the fact that the overall fee is lower (1%) completely ignoring the fact that it should be much lower then that because of the FUSF elimination.
I also get the sense that the SE reps are being told to keep repeating the same tired mantra and tell us nothing else.
Disappointing really. |
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speakeasy2k
join:2006-09-01
Seattle, WA
| I also get the sense that the SE reps are being told to keep repeating the same tired mantra and tell us nothing else.
Yes, I'm feeling the same thing is true from my interactions with them. (I've also called sales, since I'm a consultant and advise my customers on ISP/broadband services). Very frustrating: it's not just the money, it's the feeling we're being taken for idiot sheep.
UPDATE: I got a telephone call on Friday from someone in the Speakeasy executive/management area. From the message it was clear to him that I'd filed an FCC complaint and that he wanted to talk. Unfortunately, I wasn't home; he didn't leave a phone number; and he hasn't called back since.
You know, I hate spammers, but it wouldn't be hard for some of us who know how to "harvest" a list of speakeasy email addresses and send a "concerned citizen" letter about the situation to a few thousand of our brethren. I probably won't do that, but it'd be interesting to contemplate the groundswell that one might be able to generate... |
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artisticcheese
join:2004-11-09
Carrollton, TX | When did you file FCC complaint? I filed yesterday and nobody called me so far. |
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waka
join:2002-06-01
Tacoma, WA
·Speakeasy
| reply to bjcatlin
Here was my complaint to the FCC. You may want to reference "Truth in Billing" rule and also the Verizon inquiry in your complaints aswell.
----------------------
Speakeasy charges a "Regulatory Compliance Fee" and a "Federal Compliance Fee". The fees I used to pay were $1.92 and $2.25 respectively. Speakeasy has since stated they have combined the two fee's and now have raised their Regulatory Compliance Fee to $3.57. This is despite the fact that they are no longer required to pass on the Federal USF fee. I was also told by a Speakeasy Rep that their Federal Compliance Fee was indeed the Federal USF fee, just renamed. Despite repeated requests for an explanation of Speakeasy’s increase of their Regulatory Compliance fee and requests to get a detailed itemized list of what goes into Speakeasy's "Regulatory" compliance Fee I have been given the run-a-round with no other clear response addressing my concerns. Therefore I believe Speakeasy is in direct violation in the Truth in Billing FCC rules. I believe Speakeasy has committed a similar violation as Verizon and other carriers that have been in recent news (»www.lightreading.com/document.as···d=102394).
Please visit this forum for other people customers experiencing the same problem with Speakeasy:
»End of Reg Fee = Higher Reg Compliance Fee???
Thank you
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