hopeflicker
Capitalism breeds greed
Premium
join:2003-04-03
Long Beach, CA | in the back pocket
"the story author notes that Uncle Sam never lifts a finger:"
That's because our politicians are bought and paid for by these conglomerates.
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Man created God in his image : intolerant, sexist, homophobic and violent. |
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mike1965
Geek4rent
join:2002-09-23
Marion, IL | agreed, Verizon has been doing this with DSL since the GOV. dropped the fees, they renamed them and added them on again |
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shaner
Premium
join:2000-10-04
Calgary, AB
| reply to hopeflicker
I think the argument that 'Americans lose $45 Billion to hidden fees' is specious. If below the line charges were outlawed, I'm positive those fees would just move above the line to be added to the monthly advertised price. Companies aren't going to lose revenue simply because there's a law in place.
I agree its a shitty practise. I would like to see the European model duplicated here which requires all taxes and fees to be included in any advertised or shelf price.
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I'm laying pipe,
all night long,
laying pipe,
to satisfy that woman.
- David Wilcox
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dcurrey
Premium
join:2004-06-29
 ·ViaTalk
2 edits | True they would move them to base price. But the thing is this. When Sprint, Verizion or T-mobile advertise a $59.99 they all would end up being the same price after taxes since you should always pay the same tax no matter what company you use. Right now a $59 plan could add $5 to $10 depending on what the companies bogus fees are. It would make it easier to compare rates. This is what they don't want.
We shouldn't need new laws to fix this. This clearly is false advertising. |
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en102
Canadian, eh?
join:2001-01-26
Valencia, CA
 ·RoadRunner Cable
 ·DSL EXTREME
| reply to shaner
said by shaner  :I'm positive those fees would just move above the line to be added to the monthly advertised price. How often do you see a 'hidden fee' added, and the price of the service dropped ?
Eg. Service 'was' $24.95
Now $24.95 + $2.00 'fee'.
With your logic, the price should now be $22.95 + $2.00 fee.
Instead, the overall service has just increased by $2.00. in this case.
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Canada = Hollywood North |
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TKJunkMail
Enjoy the sun
Premium
join:2002-03-03
Avalon, NJ
 ·Sprint Mobile Broa..
·Comcast
| reply to shaner
said by shaner :I think the argument that 'Americans lose $45 Billion to hidden fees' is specious. If below the line charges were outlawed, I'm positive those fees would just move above the line to be added to the monthly advertised price. Companies aren't going to lose revenue simply because there's a law in place. I agree its a shitty practice. I would like to see the European model duplicated here which requires all taxes and fees to be included in any advertised or shelf price. And are the fees really "hidden" when EVERYBODY knows about them. I agree it would be better to do this differently, but like you I agree it wouldn't change the price of the service at all.
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Internet News
My BLOG
My Web Page |
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hopeflicker
Capitalism breeds greed
Premium
join:2003-04-03
Long Beach, CA
1 edit | said by TKJunkMail :said by shaner :I think the argument that 'Americans lose $45 Billion to hidden fees' is specious. If below the line charges were outlawed, I'm positive those fees would just move above the line to be added to the monthly advertised price. Companies aren't going to lose revenue simply because there's a law in place. I agree its a shitty practice. I would like to see the European model duplicated here which requires all taxes and fees to be included in any advertised or shelf price. And are the fees really "hidden" when EVERYBODY knows about them. I agree it would be better to do this differently, but like you I agree it wouldn't change the price of the service at all. It would be nice to know how much your monthly bill will be when you first order service.
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Man created God in his image : intolerant, sexist, homophobic and violent. |
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amigo_boy
join:2005-07-22
Tempe, AZ
·Cox HSI
·magicjack.com
| reply to hopeflicker
said by hopeflicker :our politicians are bought and paid for by these conglomerates. That's only due to a lack of interest among voters. 50% don't register. Of the 50% who do, 50% of them turn out to vote. I imagine even fewer of them take the time to contact their representatives about anything.
I agree there should be more transparency and accuracy in advertising. But, that's secondary to a populous that doesn't care. Blaming it on the corporations or politicians is wrong. I miss the days when people really got p'eed off about stuff, and 60 Minutes did more than interview Haley Barry.
Mark |
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pnh102
Reptiles Are Cuddly And Pretty
Premium
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD
·Comcast
| reply to TKJunkMail
said by TKJunkMail :And are the fees really "hidden" when EVERYBODY knows about them. I agree it would be better to do this differently, but like you I agree it wouldn't change the price of the service at all. That is the problem, most of these fees, and particularly the dollar amounts, are not known when one first signs up. Most people would not have a problem paying slightly higher prices if the price included the costs of all the fees (regardless of breakdown). The only "on top" fees would be government-imposed taxes.
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Only SHATNER is Kirk. |
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Pathfinder
Dazed Confused
Premium
join:2000-03-26
Mount Vernon, NY | reply to mike1965
I don't know about you but I have had Verizon DSL for 7 years and have never paid a fee. My service is $29.95 per month and that is what I pay. |
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pnh102
Reptiles Are Cuddly And Pretty
Premium
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD
·Comcast
| reply to amigo_boy
said by amigo_boy :said by hopeflicker :our politicians are bought and paid for by these conglomerates. That's only due to a lack of interest among voters. 50% don't register. Of the 50% who do, 50% of them turn out to vote. Personally I think we are better off that people who are lazy and ignorant don't bother to vote. It is not fair that the votes of people who value their suffrage are cancelled out by people who cast ballots without knowing what they are doing.
»www.dontvote.org
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Only SHATNER is Kirk. |
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jc100
join:2002-04-10
| Hell, I think too many people who shouldn't vote do so already. We got the twat of the year running the country already. That should speak wonders for how well the American People choose their elected officials. Whenever we get a Republican in office (pro business / anti consumer), we get nailed and hit a recession. But thats an argument for another topic. As per these hidden fees, companies need to be honest. Yet, when our politicians are bought (Democrats and Republicans), the taxpayers are the only ones who suffer. |
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pnh102
Reptiles Are Cuddly And Pretty
Premium
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD
·Comcast
| said by jc100 :Whenever we get a Republican in office (pro business / anti consumer), we get nailed and hit a recession. Yawn... yea, year 7 of the current depression is awful.
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Only SHATNER is Kirk. |
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hottboiinnc
ME
join:2003-10-15
Cleveland, OH
·Time Warner Cable
·buckeye cable
| reply to dcurrey
I've never had that problem with TM. My problem was them cheating me out of minutes. Claimed i used all my 300 all the time. Moved providers problem went away. All of the fees that were on the bottom line after their rate were taxes in Ohio and the Feds. $5 worth which i never had with Sprint. With them it was also $9.00 plus some per month extra. |
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jjeffeory
join:2002-12-04
USA | reply to TKJunkMail
Yes, the fees are hidden. You don't know what they are until after you're charged. That seems pretty hidden to me. |
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TKJunkMail
Enjoy the sun
Premium
join:2002-03-03
Avalon, NJ
·Sprint Mobile Broa..
·Comcast
| said by jjeffeory :Yes, the fees are hidden. You don't know what they are until after you're charged. That seems pretty hidden to me. All you have to do is ask the rep when ordering. They will give you what % the unfees come to.
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Internet News
My BLOG
My Web Page |
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SkyBlue
join:2007-03-31 | reply to Pathfinder
Looks like time for the Astrisks Hunters. 
»asteriskhunters.com/ |
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jc100
join:2002-04-10
| reply to pnh102
Yep sure is (though I note your sarcasm). Try moving anywhere east of the Mississippi and finding a job requiring education. Good luck on that. I got a masters degree in a good field and there are none. I got relatives in Michigan who are doctors and professionals and they can't keep a job due to the economic conditions there. It's called hospitals shutting down and getting rid of people due to low budgets. The housing market is dragging this country down. The fact Bush and his idiots don't know how to manage a country doesn't help either. Hell I bet that trillion dollars pissed on fighting a war on fearmongering err terror could have done wonders to stimulate this country. Yet, this piss poor idiot is too bent on chasing a ghost and would be terrorists when we got plenty of problems at home. So yes, I think politicians should do the job they are put in office to do. Sadly, as this story showcases, we got idiots who once get elected (Democrat or Republican) go about their agenda pissing on everyone else. Seriously, America needs to get an education and read past these people and demand accountability. Yet, we all know holding up a bible, gay bash, kiss a baby, and make grand promises pretty much gets you to be a front runner. |
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hottboiinnc
ME
join:2003-10-15
Cleveland, OH | reply to TKJunkMail
Here when you ask; Taxes and Fees depend on region. We can't give you that price only a rough idea. Even with AT&T, VZ and everyone else. TWC is the only one that has is usually close. |
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amigo_boy
join:2005-07-22
Tempe, AZ
·Cox HSI
·magicjack.com
| reply to pnh102
said by pnh102 :It is not fair that the votes of people who value their suffrage are cancelled out by people who cast ballots without knowing what they are doing. Are those the same people who *desperately* fight to save us from someone almost identical to the person they want us to have? That's the other downside of apathy. It allows extremes to dominate politics. (Hint to you and jc100).
Mark |
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