After Getting Called Out, Verizon Rescinds Non-USF-Replacement-Fee Fee

from the refund-time dept

Wed, Aug 30th 2006 3:11pm — Carlo Longino

Early and often, Verizon got criticized for replacing a USF recovery fee on its DSL customers' bills with a strikingly similar "supplier surcharge". BellSouth pulled a similar move, though it yanked it a couple days later. Now, following criticism from the FCC and the apparent anger of its commissioner, Kevin Martin, Verizon says it, too, will drop the fee. Where it gets amusing is Verizon's press release, where a C-level exec says "We have listened to our customers," which apparently happens so infrequently that it's worth noting in a press release. Seriously, though: how long before the company drops all its other fee-based nonsense and just shifts to The Onion's pricing plan?

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11 Comments

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Anonymous Coward, 30 Aug 2006 @ 3:33pm

it's about damn time... although i still haven't recieved any e-mail informing me of such a thing...
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charlie potatoes, 30 Aug 2006 @ 4:20pm

My God, AC, you're saying they didn't bother coming to you first? Frankly I'm shocked, having seen the weighty opinions with which you sanctify this forum.
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Anonymous Coward, 30 Aug 2006 @ 5:41pm

well, as a verizon customer, i knew well before techdirt or any other "news" source that they dropped the usf fee and replaced it with the "let's put some money into our already fat pockets" fee... you'd at least hope that they'd inform their customers that they're going to be dropping the latter fee rather than letting them find out from a 3rd party. but hey, not everyone has the brilliant logic skills that you posses mr. potatoes.
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what are we talking about?, 30 Aug 2006 @ 6:05pm

Are you two in love? Or do you just enjoy the playful banter?
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Anonymous Coward, 30 Aug 2006 @ 6:23pm

is it that obvious? ^_^
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charlie potatoes, 30 Aug 2006 @ 7:56pm

its a slow day and a boring piece. and i love to see my name on the screen...besides, you can only scream,"fuck you, towel head," so many times...i think. it doesn't even rile anyone anymore...
now the bit about the japs stirred up some hostility...actually i should have just concentrated on their propensity to eat our whales... that really does piss me off.
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Anonymous Coward, 30 Aug 2006 @ 8:40pm

I like to eat whales, you fuckin' towel head.
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Anonymous Coward, 30 Aug 2006 @ 8:57pm

i just like to make oil from them...
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Anonymous Coward, 30 Aug 2006 @ 9:23pm

I just hunt em for sport.
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charlie potatoes, 30 Aug 2006 @ 9:27pm

you sis got some fine puss but you mama does that thing with her tongue.
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Sanguine Dream, 31 Aug 2006 @ 6:44am

Shouldn't that be...

Seriously, though: how long before the company drops all its other fee-based nonsense and just shifts to The Onion's pricing plan?

nonsense based fees?
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