Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority
TL;DR
- Verizon is apparently increasing its controversial administrative charge.
- This fee is purportedly going up from $3.30 to $3.60 a month per voice line.
- The company confirmed this fee increase in a subsequent email to us.
Update: December 5, 2024 (1:00 AM ET): Verizon has now confirmed to Android Authority that its controversial admin fee will see an increase this month. The company says this increase goes into effect on December 18, 2024.
Check out the statement below:
Starting December 18, the monthly Verizon wireless Administrative and Telco Recovery Charge will increase by $0.20 per line for mobile voice (basic phones, Second Number, smartphones, etc.) and data-only (hotspots, tablets, etc.) products. Verizon Home Internet services are not affected. You can review your bill and adjust your plan at any time by visiting the account section of the MyVerizon app or at verizon.com.
Original article: December 4, 2024 (1:59 AM ET): Verizon has long forced users to pay a monthly “Administrative and Telco Recovery Charge,” with complaints that this fee wasn’t adequately explained to customers. The company continued this practice after settling a $100 million lawsuit, and it now looks like this controversial fee is getting more expensive.
A Redditor discovered that Verizon’s admin fee has been increased from $3.30 to $3.60 a month per voice line. The user also pointed out that the fee costs $1.60 per data line. The carrier previously charged $1.40 per data line. Android Authority senior contributor Andrew Grush also spotted the increase on his bill. Check out the screenshot below.
Andrew Grush / Android Authority
These fee increases are small in the grand scheme of things, but they can add up over time, especially if you have multiple lines on your account. It also represents a pattern of fee hikes over the past few years. The admin fee was $1.95 per voice line in 2022 before jumping to $3.30 in June of that year. Meanwhile, Verizon previously charged a $0.06 fee for data-only lines before a massive jump to $1.40 per line in December 2022.
Verizon previously claimed that this admin fee covered costs like property taxes, network-related costs, and regulatory and industry obligations/programs. The company said that examples of the latter included local number portability and enhanced 911 functionality.
We’ve nevertheless asked the carrier for confirmation of admin fee price increases and will update the article accordingly. Have you seen these fee increases on your bill? Let us know in the comments below.
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