Cell Phone Bill Woes

[James Bond]

I've owned an iPhone3g for three months now. Each and every month I'm disappointed to see my bill be far, far above what I originally planned on paying. The amount of taxes is just amazing.

Does Seattle have higher taxes than the rest of the world, or is everyone paying an additional 25%+ on their monthly bill?

I found this link: http://omninoggin.com/personal...-your-billing-address/
The guy recommends changing your billing address, although he openly admits that this is not legal if you're not primarily using your phone in the zip you change to.

http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/JamesBond/usage.jpg

 

[Queasy]

You are just doing your patriotic duty.

 

[rudeguy]

$7 for city does sound very high. I firmly believe that if people don't make an issue out of this, it will never get better. Time to take action!

 

[vi edit]

When the state doesn't collect an income tax it has to get creative in other ways.

 

[Reckoner]

Mine's ~$76 after taxes, you're getting hosed in your area

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Thats why the iPhone 3G is a SCAM. You can get 3G service on any other phone without paying $70/month. N95-4 ftw

 

[James Bond]

Originally posted by: DLeRium
Thats why the iPhone 3G is a SCAM. You can get 3G service on any other phone without paying $70/month. N95-4 ftw

These taxes would apply to any phone from AT&T.

 

[JS80]

I think in Los Angeles total cell tax is like 35%

 

[Turin39789]

Sprint Employee Referral Fair and Flexible -
500 Anytime Minutes Included $0.00
500 Anytime Minutes Included $30.00
Employee Discount Sprint 23% -$6.90
Unlimited Nights&Weekends-7pm $0.00
EVDO Casual - EVDO Casual $0.00
PCS PICTURE MAIL - SprintPICTURE MAIL $0.00


Sprint Surcharges $1.99

Federal-Univ Serv Assess Non-LD $0.32
Kentucky State-Gross Receipts Surcharge $0.19
Kentucky State-Universal Service Fund Charge $0.08
Fayette County-School District Tax $0.45
Administrative Charge $0.75
Regulatory Charge $0.20
--------------
$1.99


Government Fees & Taxes $1.78
Taxes and fees Sprint is required to collect from customers on behalf of the government.
Kentucky State-911 Taxes $0.70
Kentucky State-Inter Sales Tax $0.17
Kentucky State-Sales Tax $0.91
--------------
$1.78


Total Due $26.87

 

[venkman]

SERO FTW! If SERO didn't exist, I would have probably purchased an iPhone also and joined the masses paying $75 a month for the same service that I get for $30.

HTC Touch Diamond FTW^2

 

[Tweak155]

Long time SERO user here too.

 

[Raduque]

Originally posted by: rudeguy
$7 for city does sound very high. I firmly believe that if people don't make an issue out of this, it will never get better. Time to take action!

Just don't bitch about it to your carrier. They can't do anything about the taxes.

 

[Svnla]

Another happy SERO user here.

500 anytime minutes
Unlimit minutes after 7 pm
Unlimit text
Unlimit internet
Unlimit phone to phone
Unlimit long distance
plus more (ID, forwarding, etc.)


All of that for $30/month plus $3.80 for taxes/junk fees....total per month <$40

OP, is that cost for 1 or 2 phone?

 

[James Bond]

Originally posted by: Svnla
Another happy SERO user here.

500 anytime minutes
Unlimit minutes after 7 pm
Unlimit text
Unlimit internet
Unlimit phone to phone
Unlimit long distance
plus more (ID, forwarding, etc.)


All of that for $30/month plus $3.80 for taxes/junk fees....total per month <$40

OP, is that cost for 1 or 2 phone?

Those are the taxes for one phone.

 

[James Bond]

Originally posted by: Turin39789
Sprint Employee Referral Fair and Flexible -
500 Anytime Minutes Included $0.00
500 Anytime Minutes Included $30.00
Employee Discount Sprint 23% -$6.90
Unlimited Nights&Weekends-7pm $0.00
EVDO Casual - EVDO Casual $0.00
PCS PICTURE MAIL - SprintPICTURE MAIL $0.00


Sprint Surcharges $1.99

Federal-Univ Serv Assess Non-LD $0.32
Kentucky State-Gross Receipts Surcharge $0.19
Kentucky State-Universal Service Fund Charge $0.08
Fayette County-School District Tax $0.45
Administrative Charge $0.75
Regulatory Charge $0.20
--------------
$1.99


Government Fees & Taxes $1.78
Taxes and fees Sprint is required to collect from customers on behalf of the government.
Kentucky State-911 Taxes $0.70
Kentucky State-Inter Sales Tax $0.17
Kentucky State-Sales Tax $0.91
--------------
$1.78


Total Due $26.87

:|

My taxes alone are almost as much as your entire bill. That seriously hurts my heart.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

TOTAL MONTHLY SERVICE CHARGES
$59.98
Usage Charges
(See Usage Charges Details)
TOTAL USAGE CHARGES
$0.00
Credits, Adjustments & Other Charges
Regulatory Cost Recovery Charge 0.43
Federal Universal Service Charge 1.05
State Public Utility Surcharge 0.09
National Account Discount -9.00
TOTAL CREDITS, ADJUSTMENTS & OTHER CHARGES
-$7.43
Government Fees & Taxes
CA Advanced Services Fund (CASF) 0.12
CHCF A 0.07
CHCF B 0.12
Relay Service Device Fund 0.10
State 911 Tax 0.18
Teleconnect Fund 0.05
Universal Lifeline 0.61
City Utility Users Tax 1.29
TOTAL GOVERNMENT FEES & TAXES
$2.54

TOTAL AMOUNT DUE
$55.09

So my regular fee is what like $60? -$9 for educational discount puts me at $51. Throw in $4 for my fees and I pay $55. And I have 3G =)

 

[Svnla]

Originally posted by: James Bond
Those are the taxes for one phone.

You are paying 3X than my cost. What do you (ATT Iphone G3) have that I (Sprint Q9C)don't have? Serious question.

Why don't you list the features/benefits of the Iphone ATT G3 plan as I and Turin did with our SERO plans. I am always curious about the Iphone and wonder if it is worthwhile or not.

 

[PokerGuy]

Originally posted by: James Bond

Originally posted by: Svnla
Another happy SERO user here.

500 anytime minutes
Unlimit minutes after 7 pm
Unlimit text
Unlimit internet
Unlimit phone to phone
Unlimit long distance
plus more (ID, forwarding, etc.)


All of that for $30/month plus $3.80 for taxes/junk fees....total per month <$40

OP, is that cost for 1 or 2 phone?

Those are the taxes for one phone.

Thank goodness, no taxes for me. I just use the tmobile to go, it costs me around $100 per year. No fuss, no issues, no taxes etc.

 

[James Bond]

Originally posted by: Svnla

Originally posted by: James Bond
Those are the taxes for one phone.

You are paying 3X than my cost. What do you (ATT Iphone G3) have that I (Sprint Q9C)don't have? Serious question.

Why don't you list the features/benefits of the Iphone ATT G3 plan as I and Turin did with our SERO plans. I am always curious about the Iphone and wonder if it is worthwhile or not.

I've used many, many other phones. The iPhone has something that no other phone has. The thing is just a joy to use. The interface is so smooth, downloading apps is so seamless and simple.

I think about Windows Mobile phones I have used. They just plain suck. Opening an application on WM feels like a chore 100% of the time. The interface is clunky. On the iPhone, I just slide across and open an app. All the applications look good.

If I feel like downloading a new app, or just spending an hour browsing the app store, I hit a single button and just scan the list. To download, I push one button, and within thirty seconds, I have an icon for it. If an app looks interesting, I read reviews. Every app has hundreds, if not thousands of reviews. There are screenshots, everything, all just a finger slide away.

I spend at least an hour on my phone a day, not talking, just playing with it. Maybe it's the fact that touchscreen is still "new", but it just never gets old.

Rate Plan
NTN450RUMM5KNW 11/02-12/01 39.99 39.99
Includes:
450 Anytime Mins
5000 Nght & Wknd Min
Anytime Min Rollover
Call Forward Conditional
Call Forward Immediate
Call Hold
Call Waiting
Caller ID
Direct Bill Detail
Message Waiting Ind
Nation GSM
Three Way Calling
Unlimited M2M Expnd

Other Services
5000 N&W 11/02-12/01 0.00 0.00
AT&T Direct Bill 11/02-12/01 0.00 0.00
AT&T Home Toll 11/02-12/01 0.00 0.00
AT&T Roam Toll 11/02-12/01 0.00 0.00
GSM Coverage Area 11/02-12/01 0.00 0.00
Off-Network Roam 11/02-12/01 0.00 0.00
Unlimited Expd M2M 11/02-12/01 0.00 0.00
VISUAL VM POSTPD 11/02-12/01 0.00 0.00
iPhone Customer 11/02-12/01 0.00 0.00

Wireless Data
DATA PLAN IPHONE 11/02-12/01 30.00 30.00
IPHONE TXT MSG 1500 11/02-12/01 15.00 15.00
Includes:
MMS Opt Out
Text Messaging
MEDIA MAX UNL MNET 11/02-12/01 0.00 0.00
TOTAL MONTHLY SERVICE CHARGES
$84.99

 

[ric1287]

Originally posted by: Svnla

Originally posted by: James Bond
Those are the taxes for one phone.

You are paying 3X than my cost. What do you (ATT Iphone G3) have that I (Sprint Q9C)don't have? Serious question.

Why don't you list the features/benefits of the Iphone ATT G3 plan as I and Turin did with our SERO plans. I am always curious about the Iphone and wonder if it is worthwhile or not.

#1 feature - Media Capability.

Other phones technically can play music, videos, etc....but its about a 19 step procedure and just doesn't work at all.

the iphone i touch the screen and music is playing.

#2 - Web browsing. No other mobile device + browser combo touches what the iphone has. Not even close.

#3 Interface - everything is there, you don't have to dig through 14 menus to open the calculator or IE.