I think it is outrageous that Verizon is tacking on a new fee in the middle of a contract and calling it a new surcharge. Then this new fee gets sales tax added to it!! I am already paying for digital voice service within my bundle. They are billing twice for the same service. I have cut my Verizon package so much to keep my monthly bill as low as possible and it's just another way for these utility companies to nickel and dime the consumer to death!!! 20% of my bill is devoted to Taxes and Fees. This is ridiculous!!!!
I agree completely. This is an unregulated fee, which means that if they want to raise the cost to $100/month, we have no recourse. In trying to have online chat with customer service reps this afternoon, one claimed that I needed to contact the FCC to get it addressed, and another simply "hung up" on that chat after pointing me to a random webpage that did not contain any information on the fee.
Complaint submitted to the FCC:
Verizon added a 0.99 monthly fee (called FDV) for digital voice services. The fee increases the cost of digital voice services, and was obviously used to circumvent contractual agreements. It increases the cost of voice services, even though on a technicality it is not a direct increase in the cost of what Verizon categorizes as its "bundle." If the FCC allows Verizon to implement this fee, it is allowing Verizon to increase the overall cost of voice services for its customers at will and without limit. The FCC would also be allowing Verizon to violate two-year agreements for the cost of services that were signed in good faith that the cost for said services would not increase.
Go to the FCC website and submit a similar complaint. I used form 2000B.
| Problem description: Verizon has created a new fee (FDV) to increase the cost of its digital voice service. This fee is not an FCC charge or a content provider fee, it is a fee created by Verizon for the sole purpose of increasing the amount it charges for its digital voice service. The fee was created as a means to circumvent two-year service agreements. When I entered into the two-year contract with Verizon, it was with the understanding, as explained to me by the sales representative, that my cost for services would not increase for two years. Nevertheless, Verizon has created a way to increase the cost of its services without directly increasing the cost of its "bundle." If Verizon is allowed to create fees out of thin air in order to increase what it charges for services without limit, then the two-year agreements that they offer to customers are nothing less than a fraud. |
| Desired Settlement: Billing Adjustment |
| Desired Outcome: My desired outcome is simply a credit in the amount of the fee and associated taxes for the duration of the contract. If that is not acceptable to Verizon, then I want to cancel my digital voice services without contract penalty with a prorated credit for voice services against my bundle. |
Thank you! I'm filing my form today.
@jp8899 wrote:Complaint submitted to the FCC:
Verizon added a 0.99 monthly fee (called FDV) for digital voice services. The fee increases the cost of digital voice services, and was obviously used to circumvent contractual agreements. It increases the cost of voice services, even though on a technicality it is not a direct increase in the cost of what Verizon categorizes as its "bundle." If the FCC allows Verizon to implement this fee, it is allowing Verizon to increase the overall cost of voice services for its customers at will and without limit. The FCC would also be allowing Verizon to violate two-year agreements for the cost of services that were signed in good faith that the cost for said services would not increase.
Go to the FCC website and submit a similar complaint. I used form 2000B.
Thanks for the suggestion. I filed a complaint (form 2000B) with the FCC. I think it is outrageous that Verizon can just make up new charges at will and insert them in the middle of 2 year agreements.
Consider filing additional complaints with the Federal Trade Commission, the State Attorney General, and the Board of Public Utilities. It is very easy to do. If Verizon can increase the cost for its services outside of the "bundle", then those two-year-agreements are fraudulent and marketed fraudulently. It's $.99 now and digital voice, but if it is permitted then it opens a door that consumers really do not want opened.
http://www.nj.gov/bpu/assistance/complaints/
http://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/ocp/ocpform.htm
http://www.ftc.gov/faq/consumer-protection/submit-consumer-complaint-ftc
Filing that!
@jp8899 wrote:Consider filing additional complaints with the Federal Trade Commission, the State Attorney General, and the Board of Public Utilities. It is very easy to do. If Verizon can increase the cost for its services outside of the "bundle", then those two-year-agreements are fraudulent and marketed fraudulently. It's $.99 now and digital voice, but if it is permitted then it opens a door that consumers really do not want opened.
http://www.nj.gov/bpu/assistance/complaints/
http://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/ocp/ocpform.htm
http://www.ftc.gov/faq/consumer-protection/submit-consumer-complaint-ftc
Thank you all for your wonderful comments and ideas. I have filed complaints with the FCC and the Federal Trade Commission.
@wolfcab wrote:I think it is outrageous that Verizon is tacking on a new fee in the middle of a contract and calling it a new surcharge. Then this new fee gets sales tax added to it!! I am already paying for digital voice service within my bundle. They are billing twice for the same service. I have cut my Verizon package so much to keep my monthly bill as low as possible and it's just another way for these utility companies to nickel and dime the consumer to death!!! 20% of my bill is devoted to Taxes and Fees. This is ridiculous!!!!
It isn't just this one charge of .99 FDV Administrative charge notified in the March bill, we also saw an increase of .11 on the Federal Universal Service Fee from $2.69 to $2.80 this month(notified in the April bill)! I still have a whole year left on my Triple Play contract then I'm getting rid of my landline! No more loyalty on my part! BTW I am no longer rooting for Indy Team Penske!
I agree! I've filed a complaint with the PA public utility commision:
https://www.puc.pa.gov/filing_resources/filing_complaints/informal_complaint_form.aspx
I also filed a complaint about the new FDV admin charge
I, too, am extremely upset about the FDV charge...In effect, it is raising our rates without breaking the contract!!! So much for a contract !!! I am getting rid of the voice as soon as my contract ends....maybe sooner.Also sent a complaint to FCC via Form 2000B.
downgrde to per minute plan, incoming call is free, 800 number outgoing calls free too, 5 cents per minute outgoing call to USA
I'm one foot out of the door. You let my bill get $2.00 higher and I'm through with Verizon for good. Nickel and diming indeed!
I too have have minimal services to keep my bill at a lower rate and now I have to deal with this new type of charge that apparently can be any amount the company decides to charge. Soon I will be forced to discontinue my land line and just keep cell. I filed complaint with FCC and FTC
THIS IS JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF HOW VERIZON CAN JUST ADD ANY FEE THEY WANT WITHOUT KEEPING WITH THERE CONTRACT SHAME ON YOU VERIZON YOU WILL PRICE YOURSELF RIGHT OUT OF BUSINESS WITH YOUR FEES AND YOUR UNDERHANDED WAY OF ADDING THEM TO YOUR BILL.I WILL BE LOOKING ELSWHERE IN THE FUTURE!!!!!!!
Lots of good comments and great to filing complaints but come on, what wil the FCC do? Verizon knows this already which is why they did it. We need to ALL not pay this fee. Do we not have contracts? We did not agree to this fee and it should only apply to new contracts so DO NOT PAY THE FEE.
the correct link for the FCC is
This is monopoly behavior and is precisely the reason that Verizon will ultimately become a public utility contractor -- because they cannot control this kind of behavior themselves.
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