Just paid my phone bill. I have a land line due to fact of where I live....no cell service. Looking over the bill, I have a flat rate charge for local AND long distance of $51.00. (3 years ago it was $45.00). I don't think that's too bad.......HOWEVER they tack on an additional $3.77 for tax AND $13.65 in fees. Yikes, really? $13.65?

Zone Service $1.69
Federal Access Charge $5.38
911 Emergency System for more than one county $0.29
Emergency 911 Operational Assessment for more than one county $1.43 (Huh?)
Michigan State E911 $0.19
Federal Universal Fund $2.54
MI state access fund $0.14
Carrier Cost Recovery fee (long distance) $1.99

Only a politician could see the humor in taxing you on phone service that you can't block them from using for free? Gee the do not call list doesn't include us, we are special?

Seem a little over the top to me. Bless our politicians...they will
get us one way or the other. Its a wonder they don't tax our
tax, but then again, maybe they do..

The fees are not by the phone company but the state, local and federal government. It will be the same even if you switch companies. Thank your taxing authorities for that.

http://articles.latimes.com/2012/feb...-fees-20120219

It's Highway robbery


((Don't get me started on the monopolization by these companies, on top of it all))

Times are Hard, it's true all over... I sit and think which service I can do without... the Phone ? I have already removed my Long Distance Access (save $5.70/mo). I did indulge, when i was a little richer, in Phone Company Internet Access ($30/mo) when i could have dial-up for free with AOL..... hmmm yes, that is tempting.

Then i see my TV bill $60/mo! I tried "bundling" and got the shaft, now i can pay the penalty or keep the service another 4 months. I seriously think about turning off the Satellite and trying to use Hula or something. Watch DVDs, rent movies. $90 a month would go a Looooong way towards balancing my budget.

Then I remember how much I like some of the shows I watch... I would really feel deprived... and high speed, OMG i LOVED it when it was new... Decisions really aren't my strong point! So, here I sit, dithering for dollars!

StormE1

My cell plan is $27 a month. By the time all the taxes are added on, it's $57! I cut the cable years ago. We have WiFi on the puter at $15 per month. You can get just about everything on puter as cable for WAY less $$$$. I use my iPhone for everything, no landline either

I cut the cable cord, earlier this year. I ended up with a smart tv, and have Ethernet connection. I only kept the internet service. My children need the internet because they have online accounts with school and they have a document sharing service through google and can use powerpoint, etc for their presentations. It's also a good way for the teachers to see that they are actively working on their various school projects.

I am trying to navigate the issue surrounding watching local sports. I can order things like NHL Center Ice, but the issue is that with the Stanley Cup, it's on national network and I can only, supposedly watch, if I have an account with cable or satellite. Hmphh. I know, in time, I will find a way to watch my local sports on my tv or computer. I cannot possibly be the only cord cutter who discovered this little quagmire with those big corporations..

I am actually enjoying a life Sans Commercial TV!! I can streamline shows, etc. But I am still working through the kinks, due to my son's xbox being used out there. But, if I can get things running on my computer, then, it stands to reason I will route it over to my TV. Just taking my time on this one.

Phone, I have a $60 month cell phone, that is 4G. Landline went away with the cable when I discovered it was $50 month to just sit there, mainly. When my kids get older, I will reevaluate what to choose for their own phone usage, I don't feel one landline with three future teen boys will suffice.

{Add: what pushed me to cut ties with Cable, was my exh and I had a verbal agreement, stemming about 2.5 years ago, that he would pay for the cable bill so that his kids could have TV. I went without TV around the time of my divorce. I chose just landline and internet, at that time and through the phone company, not cable. Right at the December holiday, he decided to no longer pay the bill. Stiffed me for a past due balance plus the current balance. Got his hair crosswise, so to speak. Was miffed over some money issue or another, which is typical of him. The cable bill, as it was, is not even remotely close to being in my budget, as a single working mom. So I grabbed the bull by the horns, did some research and decided to cut the cable, buy a Boxee--which don't jump just yet on this, it has kinks to sort out for what I need it to do--, and not depend on him for anything but garnishment(which by the way, the employer can and has played the calendar game with me on--they have 10 business days to mail that to the dept of revenue or get slapped a heft 25K fine). All because my aunt and uncle gave me a nice cash gift for the holiday, and I didn't blow it all, just bought some jeans half off on the 26th. Yep, I went shopping. I did happen to buy my first real 'fancy' belt, the kind with a removable belt buckle, and to him, I was just 'rolling in the dough'! ha...he could have budgeted better for the boys' holiday, but that's my soapbox and I am coming off of it, for now. }