Why is Verizon charging me for FamilyBase when I only have 1 phone line and it is on an unlimited data plan?
240perMonth
Enthusiast - Level 1

Part of it is my fault for assuming Verizon would remove the service as asked after I took my son's phone off of my account.  I've been paying for it for over a year now and didn't notice until Verizon's rates went up again and now I am paying more than $240 / month.  I have been a customer with Verizon for over 20 years.  I know Verizon has automated billing & services to make sure customers are getting charged for what they are using...  My question is why don't they have such automation to ensure they're not over charging? 

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Re: Why is Verizon charging me for FamilyBase when I only have 1 phone line and it is on an unlimited data plan?
vzw_customer_support
Customer Service Rep

We always want us on the same page when it comes to your bill.  Familybase would continue to have a monthly charge based on the account.  Would you like assistance in removing it?
MatthewT_VZW
Follow us on Twitter @VZWSupport
If my response answered your question please click the �Correct Answer� button under my response. This ensures others can benefit from our conversation. Thanks in advance for your help with this!!

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Re: Why is Verizon charging me for FamilyBase when I only have 1 phone line and it is on an unlimited data plan?
vzw_customer_support
Customer Service Rep

We always want us on the same page when it comes to your bill.  Familybase would continue to have a monthly charge based on the account.  Would you like assistance in removing it?
MatthewT_VZW
Follow us on Twitter @VZWSupport
If my response answered your question please click the �Correct Answer� button under my response. This ensures others can benefit from our conversation. Thanks in advance for your help with this!!

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Re: Why is Verizon charging me for FamilyBase when I only have 1 phone line and it is on an unlimited data plan?
Not applicable

you didn't read your bill for over a year?

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Re: Why is Verizon charging me for FamilyBase when I only have 1 phone line and it is on an unlimited data plan?
240perMonth
Enthusiast - Level 1

Thank you for proving my point. I already acknowledged my failure to review my monthly statements and your attempt to push all the blame back on me is noted. However, you're incorrect by assuming I am providing false information about the charge of over $240 for a single line. I'm sure you have enough information to look it up. Your customer service is exemplary.

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Re: Why is Verizon charging me for FamilyBase when I only have 1 phone line and it is on an unlimited data plan?
vzw_customer_support
Customer Service Rep

240perMonth,


We're sorry for any confusion. We want to make sure that if you need assistance, we can provide it for you. bc9595 is not an employee. What Matt was trying to determine is whether or not we can assist you with the removal of an unwanted feature, or if you were already able to take care of it. Please let us know if we can offer assistance. We want to ensure you receive any help you need.


EricW_VZW
Follow us on TWITTER @VZWSupport
If my response answered your question please click the _Correct Answer_ button under my response. This ensures others can benefit from our conversation. Thanks in advance for your help with this!!

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Re: Why is Verizon charging me for FamilyBase when I only have 1 phone line and it is on an unlimited data plan?
240perMonth
Enthusiast - Level 1

I am still on an Unlimited Data Plan which Verizon no longer offers.  My plan includes unlimited text and 700 phone minutes.  Approximately once a year I call customer service so I can use my iPhone as a hotspot for my laptop while I travel.  Last year I paid $20 for one month in order to have this service, a service that is included if I am on a limited data plan but deliberately locked by Verizon because I am on a plan Verizon decided to no longer offer.  This year I was told the rate is now $30 / month.  A cost increase of 50%.  So the answer to your question are there other "fees" included on my bill?  Yes. I was paying approx. $170 / month for a single phone but the jump to $240 caught my attention really fast because Verizon said my bill would only go up $30.  I take blame in not reviewing my bill every month. Mainly because it literally raises my blood pressure to see all of the little charges tacked on every month that add up to substantial amounts of money.  Am I partially to blame for not reviewing my bill each month?  Yes, unlike Verizon and their representatives I spoke with on the phone.  I didn't hear a single apology, only excuses.  Yes, I will apologize to Verizon for not reviewing my monthly bill from Verizon and noticing they are and have been over charging me.  Here is a list of the fees for this month:

Under New Plan Section (Not sure why)

$30.00 - 4G Smartphone Hotspot (So I can Hotspot my phone and use it like everyone else)


$80.00 - Nationwide TLK&TEXT Share 700

$3.43 - Long Distance Charge

$9.99 - Line Access (?)

$49.99 - Email & Web Unlimited

$9.00 - Insurance

$30.00 - Smartphone Hotspot (I see, I pay in advance for a service so they get interest)

$4.99 - Family Base (to alert me if I go over my unlimited data plan)

$3.44 - Fed Universal Charge

$.21 - Regulatory Charge

$1.23 - Administrative Charge

$2.07 - NM Universal Service Charge

$.50 - NM Carrier Utility Charge

$2.14 - Albuquerque Tele G/R Surch

$2.01 - Bernalillo Cnty Tele G/R Surch

$10.33 - NM Telecom G/R Surchg

$.15 - NM Intrst Telecom G/R Surchg (I'm paying in advance but being charged interest?)

$.51 - NM State 911 Fee

$.47 - NM State TRS Surchg

$240.46 - Total

What do you see?  I see Verizon squeezing me for for everything they possibly can because they know they can. You're right!  I should review my bill much closer every month.  I didn't see they charged me $3.43 for a 7 minute phone call I had to make to call a client in Canada. I didn't see they want me to pay them for the ability to Hotspot my phone in advance. I wonder if I would have known this when I deactivate this service or if they would have credited me for a service I have already paid for?  All I saw were all of fees they were able to catch in order to charge me and their inability to catch a $4.99 / month fee that cannot be explained.  Now I clearly see everybody has their fingers in Verizon's customers' wallets and Verizon is passing the all the costs back onto the consumer.  Meanwhile every single representative I've talked to is blaming me for not reviewing my bill.  You're right, $5 doesn't make a difference when your phone bill is $240.  Lesson learned, Verizon isn't responsible for what they charge to their customers.  It is their customer's obligation to review all the little charges they tack on each month and call you whenever there is a discrepancy.  Someone in corporate at Verizon should advocate to raise their Administrative Charge by 50% next month.

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Re: Why is Verizon charging me for FamilyBase when I only have 1 phone line and it is on an unlimited data plan?
mama23dogs
Legend

Call *611 and have your plan reviewed.   It should be half that.

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Re: Why is Verizon charging me for FamilyBase when I only have 1 phone line and it is on an unlimited data plan?
Not applicable

Under New Plan Section (Not sure why)

$30.00 - 4G Smartphone Hotspot (So I can Hotspot my phone and use it like everyone else)


$80.00 - Nationwide TLK&TEXT Share 700

$3.43 - Long Distance Charge

$9.99 - Line Access (?)

$49.99 - Email & Web Unlimited

$9.00 - Insurance

$30.00 - Smartphone Hotspot (I see, I pay in advance for a service so they get interest)

$4.99 - Family Base (to alert me if I go over my unlimited data plan)

$3.44 - Fed Universal Charge

$.21 - Regulatory Charge

$1.23 - Administrative Charge

$2.07 - NM Universal Service Charge

$.50 - NM Carrier Utility Charge

$2.14 - Albuquerque Tele G/R Surch

$2.01 - Bernalillo Cnty Tele G/R Surch

$10.33 - NM Telecom G/R Surchg

$.15 - NM Intrst Telecom G/R Surchg (I'm paying in advance but being charged interest?)

$.51 - NM State 911 Fee

$.47 - NM State TRS Surchg

$240.46 - Total

You have hotspot listed twice. You only get charged once. Also it seems like you have a family plan instead of a single line. The 700 minute plan would be for a family line. Line access would be for a second line. The single line plan would be 450 minutes for $40 or $60 is you added unlimited text. It also seems your state government is taxing the heck out of you. $18 just in NM taxes. And you cant fault Verizon for taxes your state requires them to charge.

So a single line on the old Nationwide plan with 450 minutes, unlimited text, unlimited data with hotspot SHOULD be $140 with taxes and fees. Do you need unlimited data?

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Re: Why is Verizon charging me for FamilyBase when I only have 1 phone line and it is on an unlimited data plan?
naansalad
Specialist - Level 3

$80.00 - Nationwide TLK&TEXT Share 700---why you have family share plan for single line


$3.43 - Long Distance Charge -do you call out of country do you need that feature?


$9.99 - Line Access (?)-do you have more than 1 line on acct

$49.99 - Email & Web Unlimited-that's if you want to keep and stay with unlimited data


$9.00 - Insurance-are you available to do upgrade if yes why pay for that


$30.00 - Smartphone Hotspot (I guess I have to pay in advance so this month a Hotspot cost me $60)-do you use that feature ...it can be added or removed when needed ....yes you pay that way


$4.99 - Family Base-do you need that why ? single line family base not going to work


$3.44 - Fed Universal Charge-taxes


$.21 - Regulatory Charge-taxes


$1.23 - Administrative Charge-taxes


$2.07 - NM Universal Service Charge-taxes


$.50 - NM Carrier Utility Charge--taxes


$2.14 - Albuquerque Tele G/R Surch--taxes


$2.01 - Bernalillo Cnty Tele G/R Surch--taxes


$10.33 - NM Telecom G/R Surchg--taxes


$.15 - NM Intrst Telecom G/R Surchg--taxes


$.51 - NM State 911 Fee--taxes


$.47 - NM State TRS Surchg--taxes


here call back go with 89.99 for unlimited talk and text+49.99 data +$30 hot spot if you need +$9 if you wana keep insured+taxes+LDU 3.43 if you need


hopefully that may help

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