I know this isn't related to the topic, but i was interested to know if you are charged for accessing the internet on top of the usual monthly charge, as here in the UK, the phone i currently have is £20 a month, but i went on the net a few times and next month it came out as £34, because if you are charged it would put me off an iphone heavily, i certainly hope apple can pursued the carrier for the UK to provide internet free with the monthly fee
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Anybody else have a high first bill?
- Thread starter ndriver182
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Everyones first bill will be high, this is normal. Why? You need to pay for the the first month, the second month and the activation charge. This has happened with every new cell phone I have purchased.
First AT&T Bill
I didn't look until I read this blog... http://dballance.blogspot.com/
The stated plan was $59.99, I am being charged $65.99 which is a 10% increase (tax?). Then I noticed that they stated $36.00 one time activation fee, but I am being charged $40.38, which is a 12% increase from the stated price. With the Gov fee and taxes of $5.47 it brings the grand total to $111.84 for the first month. WTF?
I didn't look until I read this blog... http://dballance.blogspot.com/
The stated plan was $59.99, I am being charged $65.99 which is a 10% increase (tax?). Then I noticed that they stated $36.00 one time activation fee, but I am being charged $40.38, which is a 12% increase from the stated price. With the Gov fee and taxes of $5.47 it brings the grand total to $111.84 for the first month. WTF?
fees? taxes?
I believe I'm on the $39.99 plan with T-Mobile....yet my bill is always $49.something.
Thanks for lining the pockets of all those politicians 
Death and taxes are the only certainties in life...
Death and taxes are the only certainties in life...
Sounds about right for a telecom service bill.
I'll have to see how it compares with my T-Mobile and Verizon bills for "advertised price" vs. actual fee with taxes, surcharges, etc.
I'll have to see how it compares with my T-Mobile and Verizon bills for "advertised price" vs. actual fee with taxes, surcharges, etc.
This is why I didn't buy the iPhone, the plans are rediculous, my mom is getting 1200 minutes for $50 on a regular plan, Apple and ATT can keep this high cost crap, now if it was unlocked that would be a different story
Nope, but Verizon, would at least break out the monthly plan, and taxes and fees into separate categories.
If you look at your bill online, you'll get the details
For me it broke down like this.
$39.99 for monthly voice
$20.00 for monthly unlimited data
= 59.99
+
You got billed for the part of June that you were an at&t customer, which for me was $4 for the voice and $2 for the data
6.00
= $65.99
There was a $36 activation charge, and there seemed to be an approximately $2.45 tax on activation
so that was about $38.45
then there were almost $17 worth of taxes (for me)
and my bill was in the $121 range
Yeah too bad people don't read the line items closely. Activation fee plus 1st month plus taxes on the total.
re: taxes and regulatory fees
Just don't talk about it if you don't know what you're talking about. It's not a "T-Mobile fee" unless it says right there that it's a fee to recoup for xyz thing (like a forced E-911 upgrade that cost 20 million, they will make users in your area who voted for the law pay for it instead of raising all of T-Mo's prices or just posting a loss to shareholders).
It is exorbitant in places, but imagine if these taxes were a 2% higher sales tax for you to pay everywhere that you go. They could tax home phone lines, so your 90-year-old grandmother has to pay another $25/month in taxes. Personally, I think those who can afford expensive wireless services don't have much room to complain about a few bucks going to programs like rural service support. Having worked for a provider in 14 states, I KNEW where these monies were going and it was to support schools and firehouses and infrastructures rurally and in low-income areas.
Just don't talk about it if you don't know what you're talking about. It's not a "T-Mobile fee" unless it says right there that it's a fee to recoup for xyz thing (like a forced E-911 upgrade that cost 20 million, they will make users in your area who voted for the law pay for it instead of raising all of T-Mo's prices or just posting a loss to shareholders).
It is exorbitant in places, but imagine if these taxes were a 2% higher sales tax for you to pay everywhere that you go. They could tax home phone lines, so your 90-year-old grandmother has to pay another $25/month in taxes. Personally, I think those who can afford expensive wireless services don't have much room to complain about a few bucks going to programs like rural service support. Having worked for a provider in 14 states, I KNEW where these monies were going and it was to support schools and firehouses and infrastructures rurally and in low-income areas.
For some reason I am unable to download the detailed bill, guess they have locked me out because of my suspicion... (conspiracy theory)
You stated that your bill is 38.45 for the activation mine says 40.37 or at least that is what the summary page says. Next you'll be telling me that unlimited data plan doesn't me unlimited! J/K I already am aware of that.
Problem with iPhone billing?
I read this blog post and decided to check my own AT&T iPhone bill.
$60 (monthly subscription) + $36 (activation fee) = $96 x 1.086 (taxes) = about $105.
My first bill, freshly checked from wireless.att.com? $115.23!
Am I forgetting something? Is there a hidden fee? I have yet to call up AT&T, and I have yet to actually see the bill on paper (nor can I view the details of the bill on the website as of yet), but this does certainly confuse me.
Can any other iPhone users corroborate/explain this? Thanks!
I read this blog post and decided to check my own AT&T iPhone bill.
$60 (monthly subscription) + $36 (activation fee) = $96 x 1.086 (taxes) = about $105.
My first bill, freshly checked from wireless.att.com? $115.23!
Am I forgetting something? Is there a hidden fee? I have yet to call up AT&T, and I have yet to actually see the bill on paper (nor can I view the details of the bill on the website as of yet), but this does certainly confuse me.
Can any other iPhone users corroborate/explain this? Thanks!
Your luckly! Mine says 183.00!
An of course you can't see the bill detail for 10 days.. so you dont know what is on it!
An of course you can't see the bill detail for 10 days.. so you dont know what is on it!
Yep, I live in Texas, and my first bill is estimated to be close to $130...that's practically double the $60 plan that I chose.
Pretty weird. I read the statement paper (I activated on the 7th) and they are charging me $59.99 plus a $10 mystery fee, the $36 activation fee, and $20 in taxes...it should total up to around $130.
But of course, that's only the first month. After that, the charges should be around $65-$70.
It's kinda messed up though, I have this plan, and my sister has a family plan with the maximum 5 lines and she pays as less than $130 every month.
Ha...it must be because she signed up with Cingular earlier on and has one of their older plans.
EDIT: Oh and it's weird that I activated on the 7th and the first billing cycle will begin on the 15th....that's only a week...
Pretty weird. I read the statement paper (I activated on the 7th) and they are charging me $59.99 plus a $10 mystery fee, the $36 activation fee, and $20 in taxes...it should total up to around $130.
But of course, that's only the first month. After that, the charges should be around $65-$70.
It's kinda messed up though, I have this plan, and my sister has a family plan with the maximum 5 lines and she pays as less than $130 every month.
Ha...it must be because she signed up with Cingular earlier on and has one of their older plans.
EDIT: Oh and it's weird that I activated on the 7th and the first billing cycle will begin on the 15th....that's only a week...
I read this blog post and decided to check my own AT&T iPhone bill.
$60 (monthly subscription) + $36 (activation fee) = $96 x 1.086 (taxes) = about $105.
My first bill, freshly checked from wireless.att.com? $115.23!
Am I forgetting something? Is there a hidden fee? I have yet to call up AT&T, and I have yet to actually see the bill on paper (nor can I view the details of the bill on the website as of yet), but this does certainly confuse me.
Can any other iPhone users corroborate/explain this? Thanks!
Well I can't view my current bill for my iPhone but my last bill included the following:
Monthly Service Charges $61.32
Usage Charges $0.85
Credits/Adjustments/Other Charges $2.90
Government Fees & Taxes $3.56
Thats about $7 in extra fees and charges. $10 extra seems a bit high but I feel at this point cell phone users shouldn't be surprised to have stupid fees and charges tacked on the bill.
Don't know about 8.6% taxes - maybe it varies by state. My Government Fees & Taxes are $10.48 on $63.99 for Monthly Service and $44.79 for Adjustments & Other Charges. Statement period ending 07/01/07I read this blog post and decided to check my own AT&T iPhone bill.
$60 (monthly subscription) + $36 (activation fee) = $96 x 1.086 (taxes) = about $105.
My first bill, freshly checked from wireless.att.com? $115.23!
Am I forgetting something? Is there a hidden fee? I have yet to call up AT&T, and I have yet to actually see the bill on paper (nor can I view the details of the bill on the website as of yet), but this does certainly confuse me.
Can any other iPhone users corroborate/explain this? Thanks!
Additional Fees
You also have multiple taxes and regulatory fees. The FCC puts strict regulation on what cell providers have to have, this in turn costs the company money and in turn costs us money. You will probably see 3 diff regulatory fees and a tax. Probably some proration in their favor...
You also have multiple taxes and regulatory fees. The FCC puts strict regulation on what cell providers have to have, this in turn costs the company money and in turn costs us money. You will probably see 3 diff regulatory fees and a tax. Probably some proration in their favor...
Mystery solved...
Part prorated for 3 days, and if you can believe it there was fees for the one time activation fee.
Service Plan
6/29 - 7/01 $4.00
7/02 - 8/01 $39.99
Data
6/29 - 7/01 $2.00
7/02 - 8/01 $20.00
___________________
Total $65.00
Activation Fee $36.00
Regulatory cost Recovery Charge $1.12
Federal Universal Service Charge $3.26
___________________________________
Total $40.38
Part prorated for 3 days, and if you can believe it there was fees for the one time activation fee.
Service Plan
6/29 - 7/01 $4.00
7/02 - 8/01 $39.99
Data
6/29 - 7/01 $2.00
7/02 - 8/01 $20.00
___________________
Total $65.00
Activation Fee $36.00
Regulatory cost Recovery Charge $1.12
Federal Universal Service Charge $3.26
___________________________________
Total $40.38