[wplug] The evilness of it all (Verizon OT post)

[Robert E. Coutch]

Does anyone else find it AMAZING how close the new fee is in value to the old 
one.

Sort of a "you won't really notice us screwing you" kind of thing.

Isn't it interesting that it doesn't cost them a dollar less or more than the 
old fee but closer to a dime in difference.

It's simply amazing.


As someone else mentioned, it's similar to the oil companies saying "We are 
not price gouging and by the way, Look! We just make record profits."


On Tuesday 22 August 2006 02:38 pm, Daniel McQuay wrote:
> here is their email about this new charge:
>
> Dear Valued Verizon Online Customer,
>
> Effective August 14, 2006, Verizon Online will stop charging the FUSF
> (Federal Universal Service Fund) recovery fee. We will stop being assessed
> the fee by our DSL network suppliers. Therefore, we will no longer be
> recovering this fee from our customers. The impact of the FUSF fee is as
> follows: for customers of Verizon Online with service up to 768Kbps, the
> fee eliminated is $1.25 a month; for customers of Verizon Online with
> service up to 1.5 Mbps or 3Mbps, the fee eliminated is $2.83 a month (based
> on current FUSF surcharge amounts).  On your bill that includes charges for
> August 14, 2006 you will see either a partial FUSF Recovery Fee or no FUSF
> line item at all, depending on your bill cycle.
>
> Starting August 26, 2006, Verizon Online will begin charging a Supplier
> Surcharge for all new DSL customers, existing customers with a DSL monthly
> or bundle package, and existing DSL annual plan customers at the time their
> current annual plan expires.  This surcharge is not a government imposed
> fee or a tax; however, it is intended to help offset costs we incur from
> our network supplier in providing Verizon Online DSL service. The Supplier
> Surcharge will initially be set at $1.20 a month for Verizon Online DSL
> customers with service up to 768Kbps and $2.70 per month for customers with
> DSL service at higher speeds.
>
> On balance your total bill will remain about the same as it has been or
> slightly lower.
> For more information, see the Announcement in the Help section of
> VerizonCentral, located at
> http://central.verizon.net
>
> We regret the need to add this Supplier Surcharge, but we thank you for
> choosing high speed Verizon Online DSL. We appreciate and value your
> business.
>
> Sincerely,
>
>
> Verizon Online
> Broadband Customer Care Team
>
> kind of makes a person want to break a contract.
>
> On 8/22/06, Daniel McQuay <simplebob at gmail.com> wrote:
> > this kind of thing is ridiculous. as if verizown don't make enough money.
> >
> > On 8/22/06, Mark Allen Earnest <mark at mystikos.org > wrote:
> > > Zach wrote:
> > >
> > > On 8/22/06, Brent M. Rust < rust at lucasware.com> wrote:
> > >> I won't even attempt to understand it. But Verizon seems to be making
> > >> sure it stays on top of the evilness list.
> > >> http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14458159/
> > >>
> > >> They are imposing a surcharge for all DSL plans. The government is
> > >> phasing it's fee out so Verizon is adding it's higher cost fee in.
> > >
> > > This is disgusting.
> >
> > From the article:
> > "Henson said the decision to impose the new surcharge now "is not
> > related at all to USF." She said she "would strongly disagree" with
> > criticisms that Verizon was in effect diverting to its own coffers money
> > that had previously"
> >
> > If they really wanted people to believe this, perhaps a good move would
> > have been to not announce both the end of the USF and the beginning of
> > the new surcharge in the SAME EMAIL to customers.
> >
> > Mark Earnest
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
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> > wplug at wplug.org
> > http://www.wplug.org/mailman/listinfo/wplug
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > Daniel McQuay
> > simplebob at gmail.com
> > boxster.homelinux.org
> > prowiseguys.com
> > H: 814.825.0847
> > M: 814-341-6233