Telephone companies adding junk fees on clarkhoward.com

Clark has a regular phone line in his house, and he pays $14.95 a month for the service. But after junk fees are added on, he the total becomes $33. He also has an Internet phone line, for which he pays $24.95 a month. After junk fees, the total goes up to only $26. Why is there such a discrepancy between the junk fees? Traditional phone companies are adding on fees to help those in rural areas pay for service. It costs a lot of money to run lines and telephone polls to rural areas, and the phone companies want everybody to have a line. So, they're subsidizing by charging urban and suburban customers. The good news is that the system is breaking down because of modern technology. Many people are moving to cell phone only, wireless, or Internet, which have no subsidized fees. Of course, some legislators are trying to change that. Texas wants people in rural areas to pay market price for their telephones. Virginia has been looking at charging the same flat rate to all of the technologies. This would create a much lower subsidized fee. Clark thinks that if subsidizing is required, then it should only be for people whose incomes qualify. Thankfully, technology is creating more competition and causing major shift in the industry. Just remember that if you stop paying the fees, the telephone companies will have to figure out how to make them fees cheaper. Use the power you have!

What others are saying

Telephone junk charges
I have a basic land line service through Verizon. On several occasions, I've been billed for "1411" directory assistance calls. Now, these liars sold me a service for another $6.00 a month they stated would block all attempts to place 1411 calls. Last year a barrage of 1411 calls came on 09/19/2008. There were 9 altogether that day. It happened again on 09/19/2009. Verizon denies that the added service charge is to block 1411 calls but instead is to block long distance access. Excuse me! I had long distance access removed when I bought the service. This is just another swindle typical of Verizon's liars and thieves. My 17 dollar a month service is always around 28 to 30 dollars a month.

Last year's 1411 episodes occurred when I was doing work inside Verizon facilities and can prove to company personnel where I was when the charges occurred.

They tried to say "Oh, there are equipment malfunctions that cause billing errors. Come on folks, Verizon has already had the F.B.I. and the Department of Justice breathing down their backs for billing fraud involving a woman in their management who outsourced the billing quite knowingly to the gambino crime family. Then, another woman on board who stole company equipmnt and tampered with company computers in an attempt to line her own pockets at the expense of customers. She should have been incarcerated. What did she get? A slap on the wrist and was allowed to keep her job.

I filed a charge against Verizon for illegal line tapping with the F.C.C. I was in a conversation with another party when the all too familiar sound of a butt set occurred on my line. I once worked for general telephone and state quite factually that company line men commonly tap lines to place personal long distance calls. They also vandalize and sabotage equipment to guarantee themselves job security. I found a .22 caliber bullet hole in a line servicing channel 15 T.V. here in Ft. Wayne. Bullet holes are not at all unusual. Lead and copper smears and powder residue said it very clearly. the gun man climbed up a ladder, placed the muzzle against the wire and fired the weapon. Union hot heads in the I.B.E.W. have used sabotage and vandalism is a means of coercion and job security for decades.
By Jerry @ 11/18/09 06:28:27 AMreport abuse
Gene Williams/bare bones land line
I believe the bare bones land line is called "POTS"(plain old telephone service) or the "state regulated tariff rate"...and Clark revisited this topic around July or August of 2009.
By Nancy @ 10/22/09 02:51:43 AMreport abuse
Cheap land line
Clark made reference to a bare bones land line service that you have to ask for by name..
I am tired of paying for the basic plus add-ons for 10 minutes of phone use monthly. Does anyone know the name?
By GeneWilliams @ 12/27/08 07:38:12 PMreport abuse

Telephone junk charges

I have a basic land line service through Verizon. On several occasions, I've been billed for "1411" directory assistance calls. Now, these liars sold me a service for another $6.00 a month they stated would block all attempts to place 1411 calls. Last year a barrage of 1411 calls came on 09/19/2008. There were 9 altogether that day. It happened again on 09/19/2009. Verizon denies that the added service charge is to block 1411 calls but instead is to block long distance access. Excuse me! I had long distance access removed when I bought the service. This is just another swindle typical of Verizon's liars and thieves. My 17 dollar a month service is always around 28 to 30 dollars a month.

Last year's 1411 episodes occurred when I was doing work inside Verizon facilities and can prove to company personnel where I was when the charges occurred.

They tried to say "Oh, there are equipment malfunctions that cause billing errors. Come on folks, Verizon has already had the F.B.I. and the Department of Justice breathing down their backs for billing fraud involving a woman in their management who outsourced the billing quite knowingly to the gambino crime family. Then, another woman on board who stole company equipmnt and tampered with company computers in an attempt to line her own pockets at the expense of customers. She should have been incarcerated. What did she get? A slap on the wrist and was allowed to keep her job.

I filed a charge against Verizon for illegal line tapping with the F.C.C. I was in a conversation with another party when the all too familiar sound of a butt set occurred on my line. I once worked for general telephone and state quite factually that company line men commonly tap lines to place personal long distance calls. They also vandalize and sabotage equipment to guarantee themselves job security. I found a .22 caliber bullet hole in a line servicing channel 15 T.V. here in Ft. Wayne. Bullet holes are not at all unusual. Lead and copper smears and powder residue said it very clearly. the gun man climbed up a ladder, placed the muzzle against the wire and fired the weapon. Union hot heads in the I.B.E.W. have used sabotage and vandalism is a means of coercion and job security for decades.

By Jerry @ 11/18/09 06:28:27 AMreport abuse

Gene Williams/bare bones land line

I believe the bare bones land line is called "POTS"(plain old telephone service) or the "state regulated tariff rate"...and Clark revisited this topic around July or August of 2009.

By Nancy @ 10/22/09 02:51:43 AMreport abuse

Cheap land line

Clark made reference to a bare bones land line service that you have to ask for by name..
I am tired of paying for the basic plus add-ons for 10 minutes of phone use monthly. Does anyone know the name?

By GeneWilliams @ 12/27/08 07:38:12 PMreport abuse

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Feb 10, 2005 -- Telephone companies adding junk fees

What others are saying