Your Big Fat Phone Bill

Yesterday the local ABC new affliate (ABC )ran a story about a small business owner who had a $107,000 phone bill for one month. It seems that he switched from Verizon to AT&T and his first bill was that whopper. He had individual calls to a phone in Garden City, NY that were between $1,400-1,700 per CALL! When they investigated they found his call was not disconnecting so the clock was running on each call; as much as 24 hours. They were also charging him the wrong rate. Channel 7 (ABC) investigated and fixed it. Aren't they great!

I once had over $800 on a new cell phone. They told me the area my daughter was calling to and from was in the calling area. It turned out is was all roaming. At the time I worked for Bell Atlantic and it was their service. After a few calls and a letter, I got all the money back and even got someone demoted (although I didn't intend to). How's your phone bill?

My phone bill is ok.

I've got 4 cells phones for my family (one is for my older son in college that uses it for his primary phone) and that runs around $200. We have the MCI Neighborhood plan at home that gives unlimited long distance, so my bills are pretty predictable. Text messages on the wireless phones for my younger son were a problem until we increased the plan.

That's horrible! Glad they didn't end up charging you.

I've never had a phone bill that high, but some years back, when they had the phone company's long distance calling cards (not the current one you buy minutes for, but AT&T calling cards), my daughter lost hers and I got billed about $200 from all these places I never heard of. She hadn't realized she lost it, so I didn't know til I got the bill.
I called the phone company, and told them the card was stolen. They simply asked me which calls were not mine, and fortunately deducted that amount from the bill.

TIS

omg!

My water bill at the store was over $100 this month. The toilet was "running". I couldn't get it to stop. I thought it might be $5 or $10 dollars more, but it was about $120 additional what I usually pay. My mom told me to go in and see if they would deduct it and they did. thank goodness. They said to come in next month too, it will probably be high again. I got the toilet fixed right away - the floater wasn't floating right...... anyway at least it wasn't $1000's over what I usually pay.

Other than when I once rang Utzopoke my phone bills have been fine. My contract is about £25 a month.

Now there's an interesting conversation. You and Poke.

TIS

Haha it was pretty surreal TIS. Here's me, the Englishman and it was as if I was speaking another language. I had to really enunciate my words for him to understand me. He even made a Rumination thread about it I believe. With a very interesting title.

When I was 12, I rang up some premium rate numbers; suffice to say some 'friendly' ladies would answer and talk to me: I think you get the idea.

I only rang a few times - I think so, anyway - but the phone company wrote to my parents saying that they had to pay that quarter's bill early - apparently the bill was going up too quickly.

The things that a hormonal 12 year old male will do.

That must be why you're a "guest of the government". :p

Originally posted by Beth E
That must be why you're a "guest of the government".
Maybe, Beth, maybe. :p

I always was curious why the women were so keen that I stayed on the phone.

Before I got a real ISP in 1995, I used AOL. Back in the early 90's there were no local toll-free numbers for me so my monthly toll charges were over $100 just to get online...

Verizon landline is about $40/mo (for local calls, fax machine, and emergency dial-up if cable goes out)... Cingular wireless is about $35/mo (used for most of my calls, incl free long distance)...

Comcast cable is the problem: $127/mo for digital cable (w/ HBO & Showtime) plus Internet. :rolleyes:

Guess the playboy/spice channels REALLY start adding up after a while :p :p

Heck, I pay $115.00 a month for Comcast with only basic cable and internet.

JG, your PM box is full

My Comcast bill is $115, but that includes HBO and hookups on four TVs

Thanks

wow, Comcast is a little steep in Baltimore. I have Cablevision; $44.95 for Internet and $49.45 for Family Cable Basic (no HBO). When I had HBO and Movies on Demand it was $122.33.

Folks, coming in the next year or two. Verizon will offer fiber to the premise. Dial tone, internet with a provision for video. Much will depend on the Public Service Commissions in your area. I'm working as a contract engineer for FTTP (Fiber To The Premise) for Verizon in Westchester County NY. Jersey will be starting soon. Their Commmission was a little slow in approving. One price I heard was $99 for everything.

Yes it is. Before I switched my internet to Comcast, for basic cable I was paying $55.00 a month. But I guess you can't say you really live in Baltimore unless you're getting robbed.

As far as cable bills go; I have Adelphia. I pay 113.00 per month, for extended cable, HBO, and high speed internet. Of course with "taxes" it's $122.00.


TIS

Cablevision now has "Optimum Voice" which is a phone service that is conveyed over their lines. It has unlimited calling in the U.S. and Canada and all the popular phone features (ie. Caller ID, Call Waiting, etc.) for $34.95/month. You can now order it and keep your old phone number if you want.

SC, that is exactly what Verizon is trying to compete against. Their voice/dial tone business is going down the chute. Wireless and Voice Over Internet Provider (Voip) are cutting into the old core business.

I don't get it! You mean your computer will be your phone????


Mary Cas: Note my sig!!


TIS

MC- Every time I leave my house now, I see the Verizon trucks working on the lines. I know they're going to be offering a package in Clarkstown and Orangetown in Rockland that will include voice, data and cable. My cablevision bill is almost $130 per month for Optimum Silver and internet access. Although I can't complain about their service, when I first signed up for Optimum Online, it was $30 per month, and they've jacked it up 50% since then. I HATE Cablevision. They've pulled almost their entire presence out of the area, including their community service and local news programs. I would love the chance to have them have to compete for what they thought they had sewn up.

It's the same with Adelphia too SB. When I got the high speed internet, I told them I just wanted HBO only, which is what I had before, but they told me that I needed to choose one of the packages (I have the silver platinum as well). Although I can't remember exactly why, they blamed HBO saying something like they won't allow just "HBO" anymore, and that I had to get a package. My bill too, has gone up at least 10 in the past year or so.

They sure have "control" of us don't they. I wish too that some good competition would get them where it hurts.

TIS

As with most of your funny stories, sounds like something that would only happen to you. At the time, did you suspect any one of your co-workers???? Was everyone in the office singling someone out (besides you I mean :p )


TIS

I think your boss should have taken you all to hooters to show how sorry he was.