Cell Phone Taxes...help please

April 12, 2004 | me

[Im4Starr]

I just got my latest AT&T cell phone bill today. Every month, when the statement arrives, I am continually annoyed/surprised by the taxes on my $29.99/month plan. All told, this month the grand total was over $40 bucks...if I did the math correctly, that's over 30% in taxes.

Yes, this month there was 1 single call for 411, but the taxes/surcharges/regulatory fees are above and beyond that standalone $1.25 charge.

[Im4Starr]

I'm in NY and this is just getting out of hand. Who does one talk/complain to...local gov't? state? federal? Any Freeper help is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[annyokie]

Rotsa Ruck. Look at your landline bill. Same deal. Thank Algore.

[cmsgop]

My plan is $39.99 at hits about $48 after all the Taxes, alot less taxes than a land line.

[hole_n_one]

...and then Shaquana said to Tyrone....

[oceanview]

yup, its a total racket. if you are fed up, try prepaid wireless, such as:

http://www.tracfone.com

they have alot of plans, it can be confusing, but especially if you are not a heavy user, it may be a good way to go.

[hole_n_one]

You are strictly cell.....no landline connection whatsoever?

[nightdriver]

Ma Bell has made their money by lies and chicanery ever since they started.

Can't give you a lot of encouragement. Sorry.

[cmsgop]

Good To The Last Drop!......

[cmsgop]

No, I have Both

[Viking2002]

Frigging politicians never saw a resource or service that didn't beg to be taxed. Fire every last one of the bestards.

[annyokie]

As I stated previously, if you break out your landline bill, at least 30% is taxes. And that is just basic services. If you have a different long distance carrier, add about 10-25% more.

[hole_n_one]

I'm seriously considering dumping my landline connection altogether and going strictly with cell.

Can you think of any reason (within reason) why that would not be a prudent act?

[2banana]

Can someone get rid of thier long distance carrier and just keep the local carrier and buy the phone cards (to use from home when a long distance phone # needs to be dialed?

[Graybeard58]

You are strictly cell.....no landline connection whatsoever?

We have been a wireless household for about two years now and haven't regretted it yet. I live in Illinois and my total wireless tax is about 19%.

[deport]

There should be a Public Utility Commission or something similar which regulates public utility rates in New York.... That would be a central location from which to start gathering data...

With today's many plans out there, with the various options such as free or unlimited nationwide long distance, free weekend and nights, etc. it is almost possible to get by without a land line home phone now...... So you could maybe combine the two into your cell and come out ahead.

[BipolarBob]

I have done that very thing. You do have to notify your local phone company though. I use either cell or phone cards only.

[Graybeard58]

Can someone get rid of thier long distance carrier and just keep the local carrier and buy the phone cards

I don't know if it depends on the carrier or not but my Mother does just that, with Southwestern Bell.

[hole_n_one]

I dumped SBC in So Cal as my LD carrier and now I'm simply dialing 10-10-220-XXX-XXX-XXXX when calling mom and pop in Vegas.

For me it's alot cheaper, but I suppose everybody's LD usage is different and the benefits of using such a service are subject to those variances.

[annyokie]

Yes. You may have a local only dial up. However, I would discourage this. Even if one lives in a large city (eg: San Diego), many of the outlying areas, even though they may have the same area code, are considered long distance and billed at an astronomical rate. The phone companies won't disclose this to you, thus the shock when you open your bill.

If you have a cell phone (I recommend Sprint if they have towers in your area), you may make unlimited calls at all hours to everywhere in the contiguous US for $39.95 a month.
I spent hundreds of hours on my cellphone (Sprint) in Pennsylvania and never paid an overage. My landline was over $600 one month for half the air time.

[NonValueAdded]

I'd worry about losing cellular service first during a weather event when the cell towers go down. My phone service is mostly underground and as long as I have an old fashioned phone in the mix, I still get service even when the local power is out (but the cordless phones go down). Consider the hit cellular took during the WTC disaster and the last few hurricanes. Maybe a nor'easter would have the same effect up there. Also consider how cellular 911 is different from regular 911. Take your phone off hook and dial 911 (or the one-touch button) - even without talking, you will get a police response to your house. Good when you can't talk during a break-in or a medical emergency.