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AT&T hikes rates and increases fees, AGAIN!

A new notice came out titled "News You Can Use" that includes 4 rate changes. Our featured rate hike notification to you says:

"Effective 6/1/07, the monthly rate for Non-Published listings excluded from White Page Directories will increase from $0.14 to $1.00 per month. Non-Published service for listings excluded from White Pages Directories and calls to Directory Assistance, will increase from $0.28 to $1.25 per month. For more information, please call an AT&T Service Representative at 1-800-288-2020. Thank you."

The California Public Utilities Commission has given AT&T carte blanche to raise rates not mandated by the government---rates that go in the company's pockets. Why? Because the CPUC claims there is so much competition that people are free to change carriers. With all of the mergers allowed, there are fewer carriers. Plus, not all carriers serve all areas. So, where's the market competition in our choice of companies? We have SBC/AT&T and Cingular as one company, Sprint/Nextel and Verizon/MCI. That pretty much sums up the major carriers. When you find out where the market competition is, please let us know.

UCAN Advice: UCAN feels you should let the company publish your listing because anyone can do paid and unpaid searches on the Internet now for this information---published or non-published numbers and addresses. A $.56 and $.97 increase would cost you an additional $1.53 per month. We wonder what the sudden cost increase to the company forced this much of a rate hike when AT&T has provided this service for many years without such an overwhlemingly blatant display of finding ways to make you pay more!

Note: Another rate hike included in this notice that goes into the company's pocket is: "Effective 6/10/07, the Late Payment Charge will increase from 1.5% of the unpaid balance to $5.50 plus 1% of the unpaid balance. The Late payment Charge only applies to accounts with unpaid balances of $20 or more.

On April 3, 2007, the Federal Subscriber Line Charge for all Residential and Business customers increased. Lifeline customer continue to receive credit for this charge. A government mandated increase is the Universal Service Fee and went into effect on 4/3/07. It supports telecom needs of low-income households, consumers living in high-cost areas, schools, libraries and rural hospitals.

Filed Under
Communications: Landline -

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New Rate Increases for AT&T and Verizon Customers - Again!

AT&T and Verizon are raising rates again. The AT&T basic rate increases will impact all Lifeline pariticipant rates, as well. Click on link to see the new increases:

http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/NR/rdonlyres/05CB60D0-1E81-4C74-B010-0B68E1B3F707...

• AT&T
The prices for residential basic services will change as shown below to reflect an inflationary adjustment as permitted by Commission Decision 07-09-020.

Main Changes: * Monthly Flat Rate Service for AT&T will increase from $10.69 to $10.94 (2.36% increase) and the Lifeline Flat Rate Service will increase from $5.34 to $5.47 (2.3% increase). The Lifeline Measured Service will increase from $5.70 to $5.83 (2.3% increase) and the Lifeline Measured Service monthly rate will increase from $2.85 to $2.91 (2.11% increase).

* Monthly package and some option rate increases for Verizon are much higher than AT&T. If one considers the market share of these 2 providers, AT&T would come out ahead throughout the country. Therefore, Verizon most likely has to keep rates higher to make the profits that AT&T gets on sheer volume coupled with ongoing rate increases.

Go to www.cpuc.ca.gov link or type in link provided above. The Commission adopted Uniform Regulatory Framework and allowed most retail service full pricing flexibility in late August 2006. Therefore, these mega giant carriers are free to increase whatever they choose whenever they want.

Fees

Non Published Fees hmmm, I wonder if the increase goes to our dictator Hitler-Bush, and the NSA?
I still get autodialer calls to my lines a cell phone and a non published landline. I have got so many letters in the mail from the FCC because of the 1091 complaints I filled out and the FTC acts like they don't give a shit when I have a do not call complaint. Now I am thinking of forwarding my calls to the dickhead Hitler-Bush or that Jackass Cheney. (I probally get my black ass thrown in jail for it)

Oh, yeah I am not voting for OBAMA THE SELLOUT PRO SLUM LORD!!!!

Fees

The Non Published fee increase probally goes to our dictator Hitler-Bush and the NSA, I wonder. The FTC does not enforce it's do not call list. Do you know how many mailouts I get from the FCC because I receive so many auto dialer calls to my cell phone and voip lines?

Actually Verizon charges

Actually Verizon charges different rates for different states. In New York, it's $2.50/month for non-published numbers. It may be less for non-listed numbers (not printed in the phone book but still provided via 411).

VERIZON NON PUBLISHED FEE

Verizon has been charging $1.50/month for non-published numbers. This has been the rate for many years.

I was ordering land line in

I was ordering land line in North Carolina today through Verizon's website and the fee for non-published Service is listed $3.75. I hope some day not so far all the phone companies go bankrupt. Still I prefer to use verizon and AT & T which I am sure is the worst company on the planet.

Non-Published Service $3.75
Name, address and telephone number are not published in the Directory White Pages, and your telephone number is not available from Directory Assistance.

Disclaimer: Pursuant to FCC requirements, if you have chosen Non-Listed or Non-Published service, your billing name and address will be shared with your long distance providers for billing purposes, unless you elect to withhold this information. To request a block on the provision of this information, please call your local business office. Non-Published and Non-Listed numbers may be displayed on Caller ID display units. To prevent display of your name and telephone number, press *67 (1167 for rotary), then the telephone number of the person you are calling. In some states, permanent blocking is also available by calling your local business office. Please be aware that the FCC has ruled that certain types of calls, including 911, 900, 976, and toll free numbers (800, 888, 877, etc.), are exempt from Caller ID blocking. Non-Published and Non-Listed numbers will be forwarded on calls to these service providers, even if per call or per line blocking is activated.

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