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Taxes, Fees & Other Charges are Eating My Phone Bill

SurpriseWow, I just looked at the taxes and fees I'm paying with my telephone bill. My service provider is Verizon, and they are providing telephone, tv and internet. Those are the "services" I pay for on the monthly bill. However, I was pretty surprised when I looked closer at the bill to see what "non service" related fees I'm paying. Here's the list"

Taxes, Fees & Other Verizon Charges.

  • Gross Receipts tax - Long Distance
  • Telecommunications Access of MD Fee
  • MD Gross Receipts Tax Surcharge
  • MD 911 Fee
  • Federal Universal Service Fund Surcharge Long Distance
  • MD Federal Universal Service Fund Surcharge
  • Federal Excise Tax
  • MD Local Tax
  • Federal Subscriber Line Charge
  • PEG Grant Fee
  • Video Franchise Fee
  • State Sales Tax

This list of taxes and fees is actually longer than the rest of the bill. I don't blame Verizon for this since they are just collecting and passing through most of these fees. But, this is getting pretty ridiculous.

So much for Maryland's nickname calling themselves "The Free State."


Richard Iarossi, REALTOR®
Long and Foster® Real Estate, Inc.
Crofton, MD 21114

410-451-6255 Office
443-995-9595 Cell
Web: http://www.RichSellsHomes.com
eMail: Rich@RichSellsHomes.com

Annapolis MD Real Estate Specialist
Bowie MD Real Estate Specialist
Crofton MD Real Estate Specialist

©2009 - RichSellsHomes, All Rights Reserved
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 Rich Iarossi is a full time licensed REALTOR®, working in Crofton, MD. My coverage areas are: Anne Arundel, Prince George’s, Howard, Calvert, Queen Anne, and Baltimore City and County. I specialize in residential real estate, working with both buyers and sellers. Use the registration free search on my website at www.RichSellsHomes.com. If you’re not already working with a REALTOR®...I can help. Call me at 443-995-9595 (Cell) or 410-451-6255 (Office).

SKYPE ME: RichSellsHomes

 
©2011 - RichSellsHomes.com - All Rights Reserved
 
All information is deemed reliable but should be independently verified. Property information is subject to change without notice.

 

Comments

OMg that is truly insane. I dont understand why we have so many taxes on cell phone bills they easily add $30+ to most people bills. Are 10 different taxes really necessary?

Posted by Heather the Realtor - Orlando, Lake Mary First Time Home Buyers, Bank Owned Homes (RE/MAX Central Realty) over 2 years ago

Taxes and fees are getting totally out of hand and it would be nice to see some of them cut out.  That'll be the day.

Posted by Don Rogers REALTOR®, CDPE, GRI O'Fallon MO & St Charles County MO homes (RE/MAX Gold) over 2 years ago

Richard,
Just this morning I say a report on GMA on how to save on your bills.  Thought you might like to see it save-monthly-bills.

Posted by 'Dee' Mayers,REALTOR® — San Gabriel Valley, CA (Century 21 Americana) over 2 years ago

Unreal, Huh? I recently figured out I pay a little over 15 dollars a month in fees related to my cell service - That's after, of course, my monthly plan fees!

Debi

Posted by Debi Boucher - "Realtor Showcase" Real Estate Photography/Virtual Tours ( Real Estate Showcase Photography) over 2 years ago

My curiousity is eating me alive lately.  What with all the fees associated with living...the taxes and the debt...after they have eaten us all alive, who will be left standing to serve the gazlionnaires..will they start eating each other?  If I were left alive, I would pay a fee to see it....

Posted by Suzanne McLaughlin, Wright & Sherburne Counties Realtor (Sabinske & Associates, Inc. (Albertville, St. Michael)) over 2 years ago

Richard

It's a new program pay the fees and taxes and get a phone.

Good luck and success.

Lou Ludwig

Posted by Lou Ludwig CRB, CRS, CIPS, GRI, SRES, TRC, e-PRO, (Ludwig & Associates) over 2 years ago

Rich...

These hidden taxes and fees are the new way of generating income ... everyone wants a cell phone and will gladly pay the charges.

Posted by Richard Weisser Coweta Fayette Real Estate over 2 years ago

Richard~ I am sooooo with you on this one!! I am with Verizon strictly for my cell phone service and broad band...and it is a joke as well! 

Posted by Stephen Arnold ~ CRS,GRI,SFR (HomeSmart International) over 2 years ago

Heather: They just keep nibbling away.

Don: That's pretty funny.

Dee: Thanks, I'll take a look.

Posted by Richard Iarossi, Crofton MD Real Estate, Annapolis MD Real Estate (Long and Foster® Real Estate, Inc.) over 2 years ago

Deb: More than that. It's just nuts.

Suzanne: I won't be the last gazillionaire standing...after paying all these taxes and fees.

Lou: I had to read that twice before I got it. Excellent!

Posted by Richard Iarossi, Crofton MD Real Estate, Annapolis MD Real Estate (Long and Foster® Real Estate, Inc.) over 2 years ago

Richard: This was my landline bill. Now I have to get out my cell phone one too. Thanks.

Stephen: Verizon isn't the culprit on this one. Even though they're the culprit on a lot of other ones.

Posted by Richard Iarossi, Crofton MD Real Estate, Annapolis MD Real Estate (Long and Foster® Real Estate, Inc.) over 2 years ago

Rich, I agree, too many taxes and additional fees with land lines and cell phones ..I'm laughing at Suzanne's comment - yes I'm sure they will start eating each other!

Posted by Mary Douglas, REALTOR ®, Red Feather Lakes, Colorado (United Country Ponderosa Realty) over 2 years ago

It's a bit ridiculous when you really see how these taxes are broken down and the huge impact they make on your bill.  These hidden fees and taxes are on every thing these days.

Posted by Dr. Stacey-Ann Baugh, Prince George's County, MD (EOP Real Estate, LLC) over 2 years ago

I know! I looked not long ago and thought the same thing - it's absurd - but what can we do? And our taxes are going up July 1!

Posted by Liz Moras ~ Chilliwack Realtor, Garrison Crossing,Chilliwack, Abbotsford (Harrison Hot Springs, Cultus Lake) over 2 years ago

Everyone needs a piece of the pie.  Some of these fees/taxes should not be being charged as extras by the phone company.

Posted by Gabe Sanders, Stuart Florida Real Estate (Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales) over 2 years ago

We were just discussing this in our office yesterday.  All the major cell carriers have been advertising these great deals that turn-out to be "not so great" after all the various tacked-on taxes and fees are factored-in.  My carrier charges $69 per month for my plan, but my bill each month totals almost $87!!!!???  By my calculation, that's 26% in total taxes.  Wow.

Posted by Tom Boos (Sine & Monaghan Realtors, Real Living) over 2 years ago

Never EVER look at all the taxes and fees.  It will make your stomach churn. 

Posted by Kris Wales - Macomb County MI real estate blog & homes for sale search site (Keller Williams Realty - Lakeside Market Center) over 2 years ago

ToulaRosebrock,com

Hi Rich:

Isn't it unreal!!!

It seems that my Verizon bill goes up a few cents every month.

Posted by Toula Rosebrock -Broker/Sales Associate, Realtor, Lacey Township, Ocean County, (NJ, Diane Turton, Realtors, Forked River, NJ) over 2 years ago

Rich...If your services work, be grateful and try to overlook all the junk fees..hard to do, but helps keep your sanity!

Cosmic Cow

Posted by Carra Riley CRB, CRS, GRI (Author, Speaker, Consultant, Second Homes AZ LLC) over 2 years ago

I'll have to check out my statement too.

Posted by Phoenix Retirement Communities Sun City Grand real estate homes (Sun City Grand Leolinda Bowers Ken Meade Realty) over 2 years ago

Richard -  I have found that there is little in life that is free ... everything comes with strings, be it as simple as your name, phone number and / or email address ... something for them in return

Posted by Kathy Clulow ASP® SRES® Uxbridge Ontario Real Estate (RE/MAX All-Stars Realty Inc. Brokerage) over 2 years ago

Richard,

Makes you wonder why we have to pay all this stuff.....

Ann Hayden in Wildwood, MO

Posted by Ann Hayden Wildwood St. Louis MO Agent SelectAnn.com for your real estate (Prudential Select Properties) over 2 years ago

Richard, what makes me crazy is that they blame the various government entities that tax them.  I think they should have to include the taxes in the prices they quote.

Posted by Patricia Kennedy (Evers & Company Realtors) over 2 years ago

It is pretty amazing how all that other crap is built in so they make more $$$

Posted by Bill Gassett Metrowest Massachusetts Real Estate (RE/MAX Executive Realty) over 2 years ago

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