4 ms·

>"Regulatory compliance" isn't a government surcharge Sure; but the 911 fee is, as is the local utility user fee and the public and educational broadcasting fe

>"Regulatory compliance" isn't a government surcharge Sure; but the 911 fee is, as is the local utility user fee and the public and educational broadcasting fee; and (to be clear) I am saying that I don't mind them being broken out for billing purposes - the only reason they're not when advertising is because of the race-to-the-bottom on pricing transparency.

ceejayoz 4y ago
If I can't opt-out of the 911 fee, it's part of the price. It should be included in the price they advertise to me. The last time I modified my cell phone plan, the representative admitted they couldn't tell me what the resulting new cost would be. That's insane. My bill includes a "Administrative Fee", "Federal Universal Service Charge", "Regulatory Cost Recovery Charge", "State Telecommunications Excise Surcharge", "County Public Safety Communications Surcharge", and "State Public Safety Communications Surcharge", plus several taxes.
- NovemberWhiskey 4y ago
  >If I can't opt-out of the 911 fee, it's part of the price. It should be included in the price they advertise to me. Hmm, I actually agree with you, but that would be raising the bar above where it is for normal pricing practice elsewhere in the U.S. e.g. shelf and menu prices exclude sales tax. In fact, for digitally-delivered services or goods that ship across state lines, it's impossible to know the final price unless you know the state (and, indeed, county and sometimes city) to which it's going to be delivered.
elliekelly 4y ago
At least the mandatory fees apply across the board which means you can still price shop somewhat accurately. The completely made up corporate fees like “resort fees” are just a way to obscure the actual price. I think that’s probably stating it too nicely. It’s a way to advertise an artificially deflated price that’s impossible for any customer to actual pay. It’s deceptive. Intentionally.

ceejayoz 4y ago

If I can't opt-out of the 911 fee, it's part of the price. It should be included in the price they advertise to me. The last time I modified my cell phone plan, the representative admitted they couldn't tell me what the resulting new cost would be. That's insane. My bill includes a "Administrative Fee", "Federal Universal Service Charge", "Regulatory Cost Recovery Charge", "State Telecommunications Excise Surcharge", "County Public Safety Communications Surcharge", and "State Public Safety Communications Surcharge", plus several taxes.

NovemberWhiskey 4y ago
>If I can't opt-out of the 911 fee, it's part of the price. It should be included in the price they advertise to me. Hmm, I actually agree with you, but that would be raising the bar above where it is for normal pricing practice elsewhere in the U.S. e.g. shelf and menu prices exclude sales tax. In fact, for digitally-delivered services or goods that ship across state lines, it's impossible to know the final price unless you know the state (and, indeed, county and sometimes city) to which it's going to be delivered.

elliekelly 4y ago

At least the mandatory fees apply across the board which means you can still price shop somewhat accurately. The completely made up corporate fees like “resort fees” are just a way to obscure the actual price. I think that’s probably stating it too nicely. It’s a way to advertise an artificially deflated price that’s impossible for any customer to actual pay. It’s deceptive. Intentionally.