Consumers – caught in the confusion of telecom industry consolidation, governmental rulings and rate changes – often pay more than necessary for their telephone service, according to consumer advocates and the Federal Communications Commission.
(PRWEB) October 5, 2004 --Consumers – caught in the confusion of telecom industry consolidation, governmental rulings and rate changes – often pay more than necessary for their telephone service, according to consumer advocates and the Federal Communications Commission.
Consumer advocate Michael Shames recently said that consumers were expressing a lot of anger over the tricky, deceitful ways” some telecom companies add on fees. FCC Commissioner Michael J. Coppa said that the explosion of telephone bill line items makes it almost impossible for consumers to compare rates without the help of an accountant, an attorney or both.
Junk fees - allowed but not mandated by the government – provide telecom companies a way to say that they are keeping their rates low and even advertise lower prices while really increasing the total amount that they collect from the consumer,” says Jim Bellina, president of Dialog Telecommunications, a flat-rate telephone company that operates in Kentucky. Items like Universal Service Charge and Network Access Fee are added to the consumer bill specifically so they look like taxes rather than additional revenue for the phone company.”
According to Bellina, consumers who receive bills from the big telecom companies should examine monthly statements closely to see what is being charged. Specifically, look at the bottom line on your current bill, and require that any carrier you are considering give you a real bottom-line quote.
You may be surprised to see that the final cost can be more than 30% higher than the quoted price. Additionally, consumers should treat their service like any other big ticket item and shop around for the best deals.
Dialog Telecommunications is an innovator in telephone service for businesses and consumers. The company offers flat-fee telephone calling plans. There is no fine print, gimmickry, taxes, or hidden charges in the form of fees and surcharges that often masquerade as government mandates.
Dialog customers pay the same amount each month, and save 30 – 60 percent off their current bills.
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