Comcast's Latest Sneaky Fee: $2/Month 'Voice Technology Fee' We've long noted that one of the favorite pastimes among broadband providers has become sneaky, below the line fees. These fees let companies falsely advertise one price, then charge customers significantly more once the bill comes due. Comcast has certainly been no exception to this practice, charging users since 2013 hidden surcharges like the "broadcast TV fee," which Comcast uses to bury a portion of its programming costs below the line to falsely advertise a lower rate.

Not to be outdone, Comcast is introducing a new fee in the new year for users that bundle Comcast voice service. Or at least it was planning to do so until news of a lawsuit over such fees popped up this week. Users in our forums note that the cable giant has begun informing consumers that it will be charging a $2 per month "Voice Technology Fee" starting on January 1, 2017. "As we continue to make improvements to our products and services, and as programmers charge more to carry their networks, our cost of doing business increases," a since-scrubbed notice on the Comcast website stated. "As a result, prices for certain services and fees will be going up, and a new Voice Technology Fee of $2 will apply to XFINITY Voice customer accounts." The company also appears to have scrubbed language from elsewhere on the Comcast website, where the company previously claimed the new price hike "recovers our investments in network and technology associated with providing voice services." The problem is, that's what the rest of your bill is supposed to be for. Using nonsensical fees to covertly jack up the advertised price post sale is false advertising. It also lets the ISP or cable company raise your rates while you're still under contract. But in 16 years of covering the sector I've yet to see the tactic get so much as a second look from broadband regulators at the FCC, who apparently believe this kind of misleading pricing isn't worth cracking down on. Comcast has previously tried to claim that hidden fees of this kind are just the cable giant's way of being "transparent" with its customers. But advertising one price then socking customers with a higher bill is about as far from "transparency" as the cable giant can get. "This information was mistakenly posted," Comcast told me when asked about the new fee and why mention of it disappeared from the Comcast website. "Final plans and notices haven’t been completed yet, which is why it was taken down. We are still finalizing plans/details and will notify customers about any changes in a notice that would be sent directly to them." "This information was mistakenly posted," Comcast told me when asked about the new fee and why mention of it disappeared from the Comcast website. "Final plans and notices haven’t been completed yet, which is why it was taken down. We are still finalizing plans/details and will notify customers about any changes in a notice that would be sent directly to them."







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Most recommended from 75 comments

MrkFrnt

join:2000-11-26

Winston Salem, NC 19 recommendations MrkFrnt Member gas price Why is it the only place I know how much I'm going to pay is at the gas pump? If the sign says 2.09 9/10 (not discussing how I can pay 9/10 of a cent today), I am going to pay that and only that. Stores know how much sales tax is, so is there a price tag that says 99 cents, I'm not walking out without paying at least $1.10. How is this not false advertising? jmiller

join:2013-06-25

Minneapolis, MN 9 recommendations jmiller Member Sounds familiar It's the Internet Cost Recovery Fee's brother!!

camper

just visiting this planet

Premium Member

join:2010-03-21

Bethel, CT 8 recommendations camper Premium Member Where the is a fee, there can be a future fee increase

Once a fee is instituted, it is a lot easier to increase the fee than it is to increase the monthly charge for a service.



The broadcast fees have been particularly insidious in this area, as they have been rising very quickly, sometimes over 100% increase in a year or two.





SoJersySteve

join:2013-07-25

Mount Laurel, NJ 6 recommendations SoJersySteve Member Comcast's "nickel and diming" you to death Maybe it's time to just drop their Voice Service and force everyone to dial our cell phone # and not have a landline anymore. Papageno

join:2011-01-26

Portland, OR 5 recommendations Papageno Member This company's greed and shamelessness is laid bare "Voice technology fee," really? Then WTF does the rest of the monthly charge for VOIP pay for? If you can't make money charging your current rate, RAISE IT in an open and honest way, not through this sleazy practice.