line access fee
JIMNNLV90
Newbie

why is there a line access fee by verzion and no other provider has such a fee, what is it for?

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Re: line access fee
Ann154
Community Leader
Community Leader

The other carriers have a line access fee on their plans.

I'm most definitely NOT a VZW employee. If a post answered your question, please mark it as the answer.

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Re: line access fee
glitchedpixel
Specialist - Level 1

The other carriers spend too much time hiding fees while Verizon is transparent about it.

Towers for millions of customers do cost money to service - something I wish other carriers would care more about instead of investing towards anti Verizon propaganda.

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Re: line access fee
rcschnoor
Legend

JIMNNLV90 wrote:

why is there a line access fee by verzion and no other provider has such a fee, what is it for?

If you have an access fee, you are most likely on a shared data plan. Verizon's new unlimited data plans don't show access fees on your bill, they simply lump it all together into one number.

Having line access fees is simply an accounting method Verizon uses to give a more accurate accounting for what you are being charged. Whether or not it is lumped into one large amount or split up into multiple smaller amounts, you are simply paying for your service.

For example, with Verizon's BeyondUnlimited data plan, each line on my plan gets charged $50/month. Now whether or not that is broken up into a $20 line access fee PLUS a $30 data fee or it is all grouped together into one charge of $50, you are STILL paying for your service. Verizon charges a diminishing amount for unllimited data depending on how many lines you have on your account.

With BeyondUnlimited, it starts at

$85 for one line only

$80/line for 2 lines = $160 total

$60/line for 3 lines = $180 total

$50/line for 4 or more lines = $200 total for 4 lines.

Interesting how from 2 to 4 lines, the price jumps $20 for each line added, EXACTLY the additional cost of having 1 more $20 line access fee.

You can get THE EXACT SAME PRICE by charging a set price for data AND adding a line access fee for each line.

For 1 line, you get a price of $65 for data and $20 line access fee = $85.

For 2 lines, you get $120 for data and 2 x $20 line access fees = $160

For 3 lines, you get $120 for data and 3 x $20 line access fees = $180

For 4 lines, you get $120 for data and 4 x $20 line access fees = $200

This is EXACTLY what would happen if Verizon were to switch to flat fees per line instead of charging a line access fee for each line with shared data. This is ALSO how Verizon used to bill unlimited data when they FIRST reintroduces it last year. For some reason, people feel better about themselves if they see only one charge instead of multiple charges EVEN if the multiple charges EQUAL the LARGER SINGLE CHARGE.

Taking a look at shared data plans, you have a set amount for data and a line access fee for each line using the data. Let's look at the $70/month for 8 GB.

For 1 line, you would get $70 for data and $20 line access fee = $90.

For 2 lines, you would get $70 for data and 2 x $20 line access fees = $110.

For 3 lines, you would get $70 for data and 3 x $20 line access fees = $130.

For 4 lines, you would get $70 for data and 4 x $20 line access fees = $150.

If Verizon were to switch to the SAME decreasing price structure for shared data as they currently have for unlimited data, you could get the following:

For 1 line, you could be charged a flat fee of $90(however it would be cheaper to go with BeyondUnlimited unless you had an employer discount)

For 2 lines you could be charged a flat fee of $55/line.

For 3 lines, you could be charged a flat fee of $43.33/line.

For 4 lines, you could be charged a flat fee of $37.50/line.

For 5 lines, you could be charged a flat fee of $34/line.

For 6 lines, you could be charged a flat fee of $31.67/line

Of course, the above switch would mean you are paying THE EXACT SAME as if you were STILL paying the line access fee AND a base fee for data. The ONLY difference would be how it is printed up on the bill.

Re: line access fee
ROSLUT85
Newbie

I'm not on a shared date plan, and I still have to pay the line charge.  I have a single device.

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Re: line access fee
rcschnoor
Legend

While you may not be sharing your data with other lines, you are on a shared data plan. That is simply the type of plan you have. It doesn't mean you have to actually be sharing data with other lines, just that you have the possibility to do so. Whether or not you take advantage of that possibility is completely up to you. Verizon does not have any plans for "single phone" lines, you are simply on a shared data plan with only one line. Verizon's shared data plans have the option of having from 1 to 10 lines of service on them. Verizon's "single device" lines are for devices OTHER than smartphones. If you have a smartphone and are not on one of Verizon's unlimited plans you are either on a "shared data plan" or on "pre-paid".

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Re: line access fee
Coreyrd
Newbie

We've been with Verizon for better then 15 years. And believe it or not. Every time they come out with new plans. Like unlimited for example the fees change. It use to be family plan in to so many lines. The  initial 1 st Line was included with what ever size package you paid for. Plus taxes. Every other line had a acces fee. Which by the was was 10.00 years ago. They change plan. Say here's more data. That regardless of what they say is caped on speed. Then fee changes. Line fee 10.0 to 20.0 even all line paying acces fee. These phone companies just have ways to make it look good until you see phone bill brake down. Fees change so they can make more money. Best advice. Don't change plan without seeing all costs. Not just initial plan fee. 

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Re: line access fee
mama23dogs
Legend

@Coreyrd wrote:

We've been with Verizon for better then 15 years. And believe it or not. Every time they come out with new plans. Like unlimited for example the fees change. It use to be family plan in to so many lines. The  initial 1 st Line was included with what ever size package you paid for. Plus taxes. Every other line had a acces fee. Which by the was was 10.00 years ago. They change plan. Say here's more data. That regardless of what they say is caped on speed. Then fee changes. Line fee 10.0 to 20.0 even all line paying acces fee. These phone companies just have ways to make it look good until you see phone bill brake down. Fees change so they can make more money. Best advice. Don't change plan without seeing all costs. Not just initial plan fee. 


Every carrier publishes the prices so that you can see, and project your cost.  Most have a tool so you can see the cost for 1 through 4 or 5 lines.  
Unless one is incapable of a google search and reading, it's unlikely you cannot ball park your cost before taxes.  (Ask a 3rd grader if you really can't) 
Any fees are also published.  
If you are feeling "taken" and didn't spend 5 minutes to look at the website, that's on you.  


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