E-911/regulatory fee

[biglifter]

Since the ticket for this with a simple question has gone ignored for over a month, here goes... All of the sudden, my CC is getting charged $2.50/month for this fee. This seems to have come out of the blue and I can't get any answers about it. Why did this kick in around June/July? Why wasn't this wrapped into the subscription fee for 1yr? Can you just pay the $30 upfront for a year and avoid such an annoying fee? Did I inadvertently give ViaTalk permission to automatically charge my card anytime some new fee drops in from space??? Again, the communication company that fails to communicate... Nothing in the FAQ's about this. Oh, and one more thing. If you're 3 months into a 12 month subscription and cancel, can any percentage of the $ be refunded, or should I just wave bye-bye?

[joannahadad]

The answer to the regulatory fees are in FAQ, but why just not wrap it up when you open the account. The only guess I have is just to compete with the rest of the providers. But I agree they are annoying fees, which should have been addressed when account was open. Here is the link to the regulatory fees. The percentage to be refunded, I think should be there also. But that would be a guess.

http://support.viatalk.com/index.php?_a=knowledgebase&_j=questiondetails&_i=107&nav=+%26gt%3B+%3Ca+href%3D%5C%27index.php%3F_a%3Dknowledgebase%26_j%3Dsubcat%26_i%3D51%5C%27%3ETOS%3 C%2Fa%3E

[VTMarissa]

As per our Terms of Service Agreement:

A Regulatory Recovery Fee of $1.25 will be charged monthly on all ViaTalk lines.

As per FCC requirements, all ViaTalk lines are required to be equipped with fully functional, nomadic E-911 Service. As a result, an E-911 Fee of $1.25 will be charged monthly on all ViaTalk lines.

You do have the choice to pay these fees upfront for the year and can do this by calling billing at 1-866-626-7150 option 2 or submit a ticket requesting this invoice to be made to your account.

I'm sorry some of your questions have been taking awhile to be answered and I hope this helps!

-VTMarissa

[WiredSpider]

As per our Terms of Service Agreement:

A Regulatory Recovery Fee of $1.25 will be charged monthly on all ViaTalk lines.

-VTMarissa

Why are we being charged $2.50? Is this for the imaginary line too?:eek:

[vancurenj]

1.25 regulatory fee
+1.25 e-911
=2.25

[gonsalves]

As per our Terms of Service Agreement:

A Regulatory Recovery Fee of $1.25 will be charged monthly on all ViaTalk lines.

As per FCC requirements, all ViaTalk lines are required to be equipped with fully functional, nomadic E-911 Service. As a result, an E-911 Fee of $1.25 will be charged monthly on all ViaTalk lines.

You do have the choice to pay these fees upfront for the year and can do this by calling billing at 1-866-626-7150 option 2 or submit a ticket requesting this invoice to be made to your account.

I'm sorry some of your questions have been taking awhile to be answered and I hope this helps!

-VTMarissa

My understanding is that "Regulatory Recovery Fee" is basically disguised profit.

[adam1991]

That's right. "Regulatory recovery fee" is the telecom buzzword for "the gov't is making us do some things that cost money, so we're passing that directly over to the customer". In the meantime, they've managed NOT to disclose this in their advertised rates.

It's part of what you have to pay, but their advertising doesn't reflect that.

I'm waiting for companies to get bolder, and advertise "AIRFARE FOR TEN DOLLARS! (plus fees)" that amount to $845.

Hey, if you call it a "fee", then it's separate, right? Like when the gov't doesn't want to say they raised their taxes, so they charge "fees" instead.

Apparently, we're all stupid. That's what business and gov't are saying.

[VTMarissa]

1.25 regulatory fee
+1.25 e-911
= 2.50

The Regulatory Recovery Fee is in place to help offset the cost of providing these FCC mandated services, such as various state and local taxes, enhanced 911 service and nomadic 911 service. Kind of like the extra fees you see on a cell phone bill every month.

[harsh]

1.25 regulatory fee
+1.25 e-911
= 2.50

The Regulatory Recovery Fee is in place to help offset the cost of providing these FCC mandated services, such as various state and local taxes, enhanced 911 service and nomadic 911 service. Kind of like the extra fees you see on a cell phone bill every month.Many unscrupulous carriers claim (or at least imply) that it is a mandated fee, but nothing could be further from the truth. It is an allowed fee that in this case, appears to be a rate increase without changing the contracted rate.

[WiredSpider]

I didn't know that I was signing-up with ViaTalkBELL. Always hidden fees with phone companies!

[niko88]

guys, i know we are all use to sun rocket no hidden fees. but they went bankrupt for a reason. and 2.50 for 12 months = 30 $ which still isn't too bad. i recommend calling via:talk and pay it all at once, for me i have 15 months so it came out to be 35$. 258$ was my total for 15 months and its still better then other VOIP providers. (258$ includes the 30$ activation fee)

[wbdmb]

Are either (or both) of the fees charged for virtual numbers?

[jbrannon7]

At least you only paid 2.50, Viatalk billed me 2.50 twice, for a total of 5.00.

Guess I will have to spend hours on the phone tomorrow to be told they will correct it just to see nothing happen.

I submitted a billing ticket but that will probably be as successfull as the ticket I submitted to get my "contract buyout" refund. HAHAHAHAHAHA

Gawd I hate Viatalk.

Joe

[KLH]

Are either (or both) of the fees charged for virtual numbers?

No. Only the main number/line.

[kieranmullen]

We should be able to opt out of this... really. I have an old line of service from verizon that still gives dialtone... I have no tried to do any dialing on it but I would imagine that it would at least give me 911.

What about those people who have a pots line and dont need another line with 911 on it?

Oh well what can we do?

[KLH]

We should be able to opt out of this... really. I have an old line of service from verizon that still gives dialtone... I have no tried to do any dialing on it but I would imagine that it would at least give me 911.

What about those people who have a pots line and dont need another line with 911 on it?

Oh well what can we do?

You can blame all the people who "Contact the FTC, FCC, any all other federal goveremnt agencies" when they get mad at some voip provider.

[doyle.jack]

Blockbuster Video is the best when it comes to changing terminology... late fees = gone. restocking fees = here.

[Medic63]

1.25 regulatory fee
+1.25 e-911
=2.25
:confused:

[Medic63]

Gawd I hate Viatalk.

Joe

There are other companies out there. Go pick one.