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  • From: "Tony Spencer" <tony AT tonyspencer.com>
  • To: "'Internetworkers: http://www.ibiblio.org/internetworkers/'" <internetworkers AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: RE: [internetworkers] BellSouth Scam
  • Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2004 18:54:48 -0500

I got the same letter.

An even bigger scam in my mind is the ridiculous price for 'business' DSL.
I am moving to a new office this week and was amazed to find that 'business'
DSL runs $79.95 per month for the exact same service I get in my home. NO
static IP.

I thought I could be slick and order online as a residence but it recognizes
the phone number as business and slaps me in the face.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: internetworkers-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org
> [mailto:internetworkers-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf
> Of Alan MacHett
> Sent: Wednesday, March 17, 2004 6:49 PM
> To: internetworkers AT lists.ibiblio.org
> Subject: [internetworkers] BellSouth Scam
>
> Bend over and take it till you bleed. We're BellMafia and we
> can do whatever the $%#* we want!
>
> I just got this lovely letter from BS. I am primarily
> concerned with the first part of the letter. Although we're
> talking about less than $3 per month, I was skeptical. My
> analysis of it follows the letter:
>
> /BEGIN/
> Dear BellSouth FastAccess Customer:
>
> We hope you are enjoying your FastAccess Service. It is our
> pleasure to provide your high-speed Internet service, and we
> thank you for subscribing.
>
> We are writing to inform you that BellSouth will begin
> charging a regulatory cost recovery fee of $2.97 per month
> for your FastAccess Service. This fee is intended to offset
> the cost BellSouth incurs in complying with regulatory
> obligations and includes the recovery of the Federal
> Universal Service Charge. This regulatory cost recovery fee
> is not a tax or a charge imposed by a government entity.
> Please be aware that this new line item will appear on your
> monthly FastAccess bill effective March 26, 2004.
>
> In addition, if you signed up for BellSouth FastAccess Service between
> 9/1/03 and 3/26/04, you may be receiving special pricing
> based on where you reside. BellSouth will discontinue this
> special pricing effective March 26, 2004. You will continue
> to keep your current pricing after this date; however,
> changed to your FastAccess service plan after March 26 may
> result in the loss of special geographical pricing.
>
> BellSouth is committed to helping you maximize your Internet
> experience.
> It is our goal to provide you with a quality product as well
> as the best possible customer service. Than you again for
> choosing BellSouth FastAccess Internet Service.
> /END/
>
> [1] In the second paragraph they contradict themselves by
> saying it's a cost incurred by complying with regulatory
> obligations, yet it's not "imposed by a government entity".
>
> [2] I did some online searching and finally called the
> Federal Communications Commission's Consumer Information
> Bureau, at 1-888-225-5322. I had to listen to a lengthy, but
> informative, spiel about the Universal Service Fund, but ...
> http://bellsouth.broaddaylight.com/bellsouth/FAQ_41_389.shtm
> http://www.fcc.gov/wcb/universal_service/welcome.html
> http://ftp.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/usfincrease.html
>
> [3] ...she had some interesting comments on my query:
> [a] $2.97 seemed high to her, and
> [b] when I mentioned it being applied to my DSL bill, she
> said that was the first time she'd ever heard of that.
>
> Of course, I'm going to call or write BellShaft to contest this crap.
> They can just kiss my ass.
>
> -Alan
>
> ---
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>





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