The leeches are reaching for more
Gordon
a phone bill, a water bill and once a year we filled up the heating oil
tank.
Sewer and garbage was paid from taxes.
Today, I have a Mortgage, an electric bill, a phone bill,
a cell phone bill, an internet access bill, I could have
a cable TV bill, A water + sewer bill, a garbage collection
bill. Basicly, more services to pay for.
Of course it's not that simple.
Cable TV wants you to buy a priemium package,
Cell phone wants to tack on IM, chat, and data
packages,
And then there are those web sites like Classmates.com
Facebook, Geneology.com, 2nd life, (and for my daughter)
Club penguine, Bratz, Petz.com, etc that want to
sell priemium membership.
Hoo Boy! The leeches are everywhere!
Kadaitcha Man
halting off, and now is the whole man governed with one, ye tattled:
> Back in the early '70's my father had a mortgage, an electric bill
> a phone bill, a water bill and once a year we filled up the heating oil
> tank. Sewer and garbage was paid from taxes.
When ah were a lad, we lived in t'hole in middle o'road...
--
Hammer of Thor: February 2007. Pierre Salinger Memorial Hook,
Line & Sinker: September 2005, April 2006, January 2007.
Official Member: Cabal Obsidian Order COOSN-124-07-06660
Official Overseer of Kooks & Trolls in 24hoursupport.helpdesk
Rod Speed
> Back in the early '70's my father had a mortgage, an electric bill a
> phone bill, a water bill and once a year we filled up the heating oil tank.
> Sewer and garbage was paid from taxes.
> Today, I have a Mortgage, an electric bill, a phone bill, a cell phone
> bill, an internet access bill, I could have a cable TV bill, A water +
> sewer bill, a garbage collection bill. Basicly, more services to pay for.
Your problem.
> Of course it's not that simple.
> Cable TV wants you to buy a priemium package,
No one is holding a gun to your head and forcing you to do that.
If someone is doing that, call the cops.
> Cell phone wants to tack on IM, chat, and data packages,
No one is holding a gun to your head and forcing you to do that.
If someone is doing that, call the cops.
> And then there are those web sites like Classmates.com Facebook,
> Geneology.com, 2nd life, (and for my daughter) Club penguine, Bratz,
> Petz.com, etc that want to sell priemium membership.
No one is holding a gun to your head and forcing you to buy that.
If someone is doing that, call the cops.
> Hoo Boy! The leeches are everywhere!
Corse there was nothing like that in the 70s, eh ?
Rod Speed
from your unfruitful brain, ye purred:
> Am I having schizoid paranoia or just existential blues?
clams_casino
If you want to have your father's bill structure, live that way - use
rabbit ears for TV reception, give up the computer, subscribe to basic
telephone service, buy a car without a CD player, air conditioning,
cruise control, etc.
It's like whining because the mortgage on your $500k home is more than
your neighbor is paying on his $200k home. Apples / oranges.
Stephanie
> Back in the early '70's my father had a mortgage, an electric bill
> a phone bill, a water bill and once a year we filled up the heating
> oil tank.
> Sewer and garbage was paid from taxes.
>
> Today, I have a Mortgage, an electric bill, a phone bill,
> a cell phone bill, an internet access bill, I could have
> a cable TV bill, A water + sewer bill, a garbage collection
> bill. Basicly, more services to pay for.
>
> Of course it's not that simple.
> Cable TV wants you to buy a priemium package,
Cable is not a necessity. It is a choice. And what *they* want you to do is
completely irrelevant. We have not had any kind of t.v. into our house in
about 14 years.
> Cell phone wants to tack on IM, chat, and data
> packages,
They may want to. You gonna let them? And while we are at it, why do you
need a cell AND a land line? We have both simply because the cost of the
phone in our broadband bundle is negligible. As a homeschooling family who
does not buy a curriculum, I would say that internet is a necessity for us.
> And then there are those web sites like Classmates.com
> Facebook, Geneology.com, 2nd life, (and for my daughter)
> Club penguine, Bratz, Petz.com, etc that want to
> sell priemium membership.
>
> Hoo Boy! The leeches are everywhere!
Good thing we are too smart to let them attach to us!
Stephanie
> In article <Xns9AF1D5D52D23...@194.177.96.26>,
> Gordon <go...@alltomyself.com> wrote:
>
>> Back in the early '70's my father had a mortgage, an electric bill
>> a phone bill, a water bill and once a year we filled up the heating
>> oil tank.
>> Sewer and garbage was paid from taxes.
>>
>> Today, I have a Mortgage, an electric bill, a phone bill,
>> a cell phone bill, an internet access bill, I could have
>> a cable TV bill, A water + sewer bill, a garbage collection
>> bill. Basicly, more services to pay for.
>
> utility bills, everything else is a luxury. You can live without cable
> TV service. You can get along without cell phone service.
>
>> Of course it's not that simple.
>> Cable TV wants you to buy a priemium package,
>> Cell phone wants to tack on IM, chat, and data
>> packages,
>> And then there are those web sites like Classmates.com
>> Facebook, Geneology.com, 2nd life, (and for my daughter)
>> Club penguine, Bratz, Petz.com, etc that want to
>> sell priemium membership.
>
> cable TV and I can certainly afford it. My folks manage to muddle
> along quite well without any cable TV at all and they have a pay as
> you go plan for their cell phone. Neither my folks nor I pay for any
> web sites; not necessary, they're pure luxuries.
Pay as you go plans are not necessarily cheaper btw. Most will have the
minutes you buy expire if you don't use them. The best package is going to
depend on usage.
Aratzio
Man"
<shaking.b...@alt.butts.worthless-caped-crusader.com.australia>
bloviated:
>Gordon, ye fool-born fools on both sides, four of thy five wits went
>halting off, and now is the whole man governed with one, ye tattled:
>
>> Back in the early '70's my father had a mortgage, an electric bill
>> a phone bill, a water bill and once a year we filled up the heating oil
>> tank. Sewer and garbage was paid from taxes.
>
>When ah were a lad, we lived in t'hole in middle o'road...
Ah, luxury, you had a hole AND a road.
Gordon
news:4LWdnRcol4hTEwTV...@comcast.com:
> Gordon wrote:
>> Back in the early '70's my father had a mortgage, an electric bill
>> a phone bill, a water bill and once a year we filled up the heating
>> oil tank.
>> Sewer and garbage was paid from taxes.
>>
>> Today, I have a Mortgage, an electric bill, a phone bill,
>> a cell phone bill, an internet access bill, I could have
>> a cable TV bill, A water + sewer bill, a garbage collection
>> bill. Basicly, more services to pay for.
>>
>> Of course it's not that simple.
>> Cable TV wants you to buy a priemium package,
>
>
> Cable is not a necessity. It is a choice. And what *they* want you to
> do is completely irrelevant. We have not had any kind of t.v. into our
> house in about 14 years.
That's the way I lived until I was about 14. Then when I
moved out, I didn't bother to buy a TV. But when I got
married I found that the wife came with a TV. Now, you did see the
words "could have" in my rant above? See I finnaly got smart
and pulled the plug on the CATV. I'd like to get rid of the
TV entirely, But there would be no end to the whining by the
Wife and kids. To I have a set of Rabbit ears hooked up to
a DTV converter box. So at least they got the locals and some
priemium content on the sub channels. They also watch some
TV content via the internet.
>
>
>> Cell phone wants to tack on IM, chat, and data
>> packages,
>
>
> They may want to. You gonna let them? And while we are at it, why do
> you need a cell AND a land line? We have both simply because the cost
> of the phone in our broadband bundle is negligible.
Same here. It's a ballance between the cell phone and the
Landline to get the best rate. LD is free on the Cell,
esp to my MIL and some other family who are on the same
carrier.
I'm looking into getting fios for internet. It costs the
same regardless of whether the phone service is bundled
with it. So with fios I could possibly save some money
by switching to a VOIP provider.
> As a homeschooling
> family who does not buy a curriculum, I would say that internet is a
> necessity for us.
>
>> And then there are those web sites like Classmates.com
>> Facebook, Geneology.com, 2nd life, (and for my daughter)
>> Club penguine, Bratz, Petz.com, etc that want to
>> sell priemium membership.
>>
>> Hoo Boy! The leeches are everywhere!
>
>
> Good thing we are too smart to let them attach to us!
>
>
Right.
This whole rant came out of a conversation I was having with
my Father. I was commenting to him about my daughter who
wanted me to buy her a priemium membership for a kiddie
web site. Which, of course, led to the comparison of various
monthly bills then and now.
Coffee's For Closers
go...@alltomyself.com says...
How are they leeches?
The water/sewer and rubbish costs being billed separately doesn't
mean, in and of itself, that you are paying more (although with
inflation you are.)
Are those other services forcing you to buy them against your
will?
Also, I generally use the term, "leech" to mean someone who only
takes/demands, without offering anything at all in return.
Although I have known leeches who insisted that they were selling
the wonderful "service" of allowing other people to feel the joy
of "helping."
--
Get Credit Where Credit Is Due
http://www.cardreport.com/
Credit Tools, Reference, and Forum
George Grapman
first class stamps several months ago and have used two.
clams_casino
>
>The water/sewer and rubbish costs being billed separately doesn't
>mean, in and of itself, that you are paying more (although with
>inflation you are.)
>
>
>
Replacing taxes as fees is an old trick. It's a gimmick used by some
towns to hide real tax levels.
For about half the population, it probably doesn't matter much. For
those who deduct taxes via long form, however, it's a costly practice.
When I lived the "low tax" state of TN, it seemed like every service
was a fee, from trash pick up to library membership. We even had a
water fee (double the water bill) because we lived in the county (where
taxes were "lower" than the adjacent city).
terryc
> Back in the early '70's my father had a mortgage, an electric bill
> a phone bill, a water bill and once a year we filled up the heating oil
> tank.
> Sewer and garbage was paid from taxes.
>
> Today, I have a Mortgage, an electric bill, a phone bill,
> a cell phone bill, an internet access bill, I could have
> a cable TV bill, A water + sewer bill, a garbage collection
> bill. Basicly, more services to pay for.
These are essential.
>
> Of course it's not that simple.
> Cable TV wants you to buy a priemium package,
> Cell phone wants to tack on IM, chat, and data
> packages,
Those are not essential
> And then there are those web sites like Classmates.com
> Facebook, Geneology.com, 2nd life, (and for my daughter)
> Club penguine, Bratz, Petz.com, etc that want to
> sell priemium membership.
These are money wasters. You must have money to burn.
>
> Hoo Boy! The leeches are everywhere!
If you watch the cents, the $$$ take care of themselves.
AllEmailDeletedImmediately
news:ovzmk.7132$3l5....@newsfe06.iad...
> Coffee's For Closers wrote:
>
>>
>>The water/sewer and rubbish costs being billed separately doesn't mean, in
>>and of itself, that you are paying more (although with inflation you are.)
>
> Replacing taxes as fees is an old trick. It's a gimmick used by some towns
> to hide real tax levels.
we used to pay our garbage separately, but because people weren't paying,
it was bundled in with our taxes.
>
> For about half the population, it probably doesn't matter much. For those
> who deduct taxes via long form, however, it's a costly practice.
you're allowed to deduct your taxes, but you have to take out the part
that is paid for things like water, sewer, and trash removal. our tax
bill lists them out separately. you're NOT allowed to deduct any part of
your tax bill that is for those types of items. it's in the irs code; read
it myself.
> When I lived the "low tax" state of TN, it seemed like every service was
> a fee, from trash pick up to library membership. We even had a water fee
> (double the water bill) because we lived in the county (where taxes were
> "lower" than the adjacent city).
we have library taxes, but it's not a membership. it's just the part of
your
taxes that go to support the library. there's also the part that goes for
fire protection and schools. i think some places also have ambulance.
clams_casino
>"clams_casino" <PeterG...@DrunkinClam.com> wrote in message
>news:ovzmk.7132$3l5....@newsfe06.iad...
>
>
>>Coffee's For Closers wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>>>The water/sewer and rubbish costs being billed separately doesn't mean, in
>>>and of itself, that you are paying more (although with inflation you are.)
>>>
>>>
>>Replacing taxes as fees is an old trick. It's a gimmick used by some towns
>>to hide real tax levels.
>>
>>
>
>we used to pay our garbage separately, but because people weren't paying,
>it was bundled in with our taxes.
>
>
>>For about half the population, it probably doesn't matter much. For those
>>who deduct taxes via long form, however, it's a costly practice.
>>
>>
>
>you're allowed to deduct your taxes, but you have to take out the part
>that is paid for things like water, sewer, and trash removal. our tax
>bill lists them out separately. you're NOT allowed to deduct any part of
>your tax bill that is for those types of items. it's in the irs code; read
>it myself.
>
>
>
If they break it out as a fee, it's not deductible. We have no charge
trash pickup, free library usage, etc that's part of our taxes - not
broken out as a fee.
It depends where you live. In some areas, taxes cover a lot of
services. In other places, they report (artificially) lower taxes by
charging services as fees.
AllEmailDeletedImmediately
> AllEmailDeletedImmediately wrote:
>
>>"clams_casino" <PeterG...@DrunkinClam.com> wrote in message
>>news:ovzmk.7132$3l5....@newsfe06.iad...
>>
>>>Coffee's For Closers wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>>The water/sewer and rubbish costs being billed separately doesn't mean,
>>>>in and of itself, that you are paying more (although with inflation you
>>>>are.)
>>>>
>>>Replacing taxes as fees is an old trick. It's a gimmick used by some
>>>towns to hide real tax levels.
>>>
>>
>>we used to pay our garbage separately, but because people weren't paying,
>>it was bundled in with our taxes.
>>
>>>For about half the population, it probably doesn't matter much. For
>>>those who deduct taxes via long form, however, it's a costly practice.
>>>
>>
>>you're allowed to deduct your taxes, but you have to take out the part
>>that is paid for things like water, sewer, and trash removal. our tax
>>bill lists them out separately. you're NOT allowed to deduct any part of
>>your tax bill that is for those types of items. it's in the irs code;
>>read it myself.
>>
>>
>
> If they break it out as a fee, it's not deductible. We have no charge
> trash pickup, free library usage, etc that's part of our taxes - not
> broken out as a fee.
better check with the irs on that. i'm 99.99% positive that you have to
estimate the costs even if it's not broken out. i seem to remember not
knowing that and deducting everything the first yr we lived here (it
being the first house we owned that had the sewer in the tax bill), and then
finding out that i should have estimated the amt of taxes that were going
for the sewer charges (we pay water, and at that time, garbage, separately)
and not deduct that amt. the difference in taxes would have been that i'da
owed maybe 10.00 more, so i didn't see the point in bring all that to the
irs's attention and let it slide that first yr.
and that's what i did until the boro started pulling it out separately. at
which time i found out my estimates were a little low as i was using what i
had been paying at the house we had lived in before we moved, but it was off
by less than 5.00/mon. the charges for fire, ambulance, school, library,
etc are deductible, because everyone pretty much pays taxes for those
things.
it's been a few yrs, and my brain isn't what it used to be. but do call the
irs to find out for sure.
clams_casino
>better check with the irs on that. i'm 99.99% positive that you have to
>estimate the costs even if it's not broken out. i seem to remember not
>knowing that and deducting everything the first yr we lived here (it
>being the first house we owned that had the sewer in the tax bill), and then
>finding out that i should have estimated the amt of taxes that were going
>for the sewer charges (we pay water, and at that time, garbage, separately)
>and not deduct that amt. the difference in taxes would have been that i'da
>owed maybe 10.00 more, so i didn't see the point in bring all that to the
>irs's attention and let it slide that first yr.
>
>and that's what i did until the boro started pulling it out separately. at
>which time i found out my estimates were a little low as i was using what i
>had been paying at the house we had lived in before we moved, but it was off
>by less than 5.00/mon. the charges for fire, ambulance, school, library,
>etc are deductible, because everyone pretty much pays taxes for those
>things.
>
>it's been a few yrs, and my brain isn't what it used to be. but do call the
>irs to find out for sure.
>
>
Quote from Publication 17
"An itemized charge for services assessed against specific property or
certain people is not a tax, even if the charge is paid to the taxing
authority. For example, you cannot deduct the charge as a real estate
tax if it is:
*
A unit fee for the delivery of a service (such as a $5 fee charged
for every 1,000 gallons of water you use),
*
A periodic charge for a residential service (such as a $20 per
month or $240 annual fee charged to each homeowner for trash
collection), or
*
A flat fee charged for a single service provided by your
government (such as a $30 charge for mowing your lawn because it
was allowed to grow higher than permitted under your local
ordinance)."
>
>
>
"You must look at your real estate tax bill to determine if any
nondeductible itemized charges, such as those listed above, are included
in the bill. Exception. Service charges used to maintain or improve
services (such as trash collection or police and fire protection) are
deductible as real estate taxes if:
*
The fees or charges are imposed at a like rate against all
property in the taxing jurisdiction,
*
The funds collected are not earmarked; instead, they are
commingled with general revenue funds, and
*
Funds used to maintain or improve services are not limited to or
determined by the amount of these fees or charges collected."
*
AllEmailDeletedImmediately
"clams_casino" <PeterG...@DrunkinClam.com> wrote in message
snip
> Quote from Publication 17
>
>
> "An itemized charge for services assessed against specific property or
> certain people is not a tax, even if the charge is paid to the taxing
> authority. For example, you cannot deduct the charge as a real estate tax
> if it is:
>
> A unit fee for the delivery of a service (such as a $5 fee charged
> for every 1,000 gallons of water you use),
>
> A periodic charge for a residential service (such as a $20 per
> month or $240 annual fee charged to each homeowner for trash
> collection), or
>
> *
that would include a $360 annual fee for sewer and/or water and a $600 annal
fee for trash pu pd to a private company.
> "You must look at your real estate tax bill to determine if any
> nondeductible itemized charges, such as those listed above, are included
> in the bill. Exception. Service charges used to maintain or improve
> services (such as trash collection or police and fire protection) are
> deductible as real estate taxes if:
> The fees or charges are imposed at a like rate against all
> property in the taxing jurisdiction,
>
> The funds collected are not earmarked; instead, they are
> commingled with general revenue funds, and
i have no idea if my boro does this. they have to pay the private trash
company to pu trash. it's not provided by the boro. i don't know about
the
sewer and who supplies that. i know water is provided by a private utility
that state regulated and we pay that ourselves.
>
> Funds used to maintain or improve services are not limited to or
> determined by the amount of these fees or charges collected."
the trash fees collected maintain and improve nothing having to do with the
boro. all goes to the private trash company. maybe the boro gets to skim
a little to ensure that all residents pay the trash company; you pay even if
no one is living in the house.
sounds like you'd need a cpa to figure this thing out.
The Real Bev
> Hoo Boy! The leeches are everywhere!
Just say no.
--
Cheers, Bev
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Todd Flanders' hobbies include being quiet on long rides,
clapping to songs and diabetes.
Gordon
news:pan.2008.08.07....@woa.com.au:
> On Wed, 06 Aug 2008 06:01:14 +0200, Gordon wrote:
>
>> Back in the early '70's my father had a mortgage, an electric bill
>> a phone bill, a water bill and once a year we filled up the heating
oil
>> tank.
>> Sewer and garbage was paid from taxes.
>>
>> Today, I have a Mortgage, an electric bill, a phone bill,
>> a cell phone bill, an internet access bill, I could have
>> a cable TV bill, A water + sewer bill, a garbage collection
>> bill. Basicly, more services to pay for.
>
> These are essential.
Maybe not CATV.
>>
>> Of course it's not that simple.
>> Cable TV wants you to buy a priemium package,
>> Cell phone wants to tack on IM, chat, and data
>> packages,
>
> Those are not essential
Agree.
>
>> And then there are those web sites like Classmates.com
>> Facebook, Geneology.com, 2nd life, (and for my daughter)
>> Club penguine, Bratz, Petz.com, etc that want to
>> sell priemium membership.
>
> These are money wasters. You must have money to burn.
I'm not paying for any of these. I have better
things to spend my money on.
Seerialmom
There were always companies that wanted people to buy from them;
nothing new here.
Some of those listed are actually better deals than they were in the
70's, for example the phone bill.
There was no such thing as "unlimited long distance". Back then you
paid for the phone line and could have unlimited local calling, but
most opted for either measured or even party lines to keep the cost
down (when you compared the cost to what the average wages were).
The only reason you "need" many of the things you mentioned are to
"fit in"; you'd be suprised how simple life can be when you disconnect
yourself from the wired community.
George Grapman
Not only was there no unlimited service there was also tiered
pricing. Cheapest calls were 11 p.m. to 8 a.m.. Next was 5-11p.m. and
daytime were the most expensive.
When I moved to CA from the east and my phone rang at 8:02 p.m.t was
usually a caller from there. Likewise I tried to call early in the
morning or on weekends. When was the last time you checked the time
before calling other than to to be sure you were not calling another
person to late/early?
Seerialmom
>
> - Show quoted text -
Not at all these days. But I sure do remember making it a point to
take advantage of those "half price" long distance holidays. And how
many times would you run into "all circuits are busy" when making
those calls? Ah...those were the days!
terryc
>> These are essential.
> Maybe not CATV.
Woops, that one slipped through.
Free2Air is the pits here, but no way am I paying for cable or any other
paid service. Seems content is just as bad. Severe shortage on quality
content leads to every bit of crap being accepted.
Might be time to experiment with a sat dish.
We actually justify a slow, but bit better than basic internet connection
on the basis that the monthly fee is less than a months worth of
newspapers.
Gregory Morrow
George Grapman wrote:
The cost of phone calls has gone down by factors of tens, hundreds even...
I remember those Bell System ads in _The National Geographic_, touting c.
1958: "Three minute station - to - station calls from Boston to St. Louis as
low as $2.70 at low Sunday rates!"...that's about $18.00 in today's money.
Another quaint "phone thing" is the concept of "daytime" and "evening" phone
numbers...with cells such a concept is rendered moot.
--
Best
Greg
clams_casino
>
>The cost of phone calls has gone down by factors of tens, hundreds even...
>
>
>
>
My phone bill is higher today than it's ever been.
George Grapman
clams_casino
Yes, but we make very few phone calls - usually it's much cheaper /
faster (especially for reservations, etc) / easier to use email.
George Grapman
since I work at home but pay much less than I did 20 years ago.
clams_casino
Our 1998 bills averaged $22.05 / month with 115 min LD / mo.
Year to date 2008, they've averaged $28.56/mo for just 35 min long
distance / month. Our base rate is currently $9.17/month with $16.02 in
fees / taxes using a 5 cent offpeak & 10 cent / min flat rate LD calling
plan. Last month, our bill was $27.68 = $9.17 base rate, $1.48 for
LD calls (19 minutes) and $17.03 in taxes / fees.
Businesses have obviously made out well as the LD cost/min has dropped
significantly, an advantage for big users. Casual users have realized
a significant price hike due to all the fixed cost fees.
That's not including a Trac phone that we now have for convenience when
traveling, although it is rarely used & was not available 10 years ago.
Seems like most cell phone users are probably paying $50 and up / month,
although they are probably using them 500 hrs / month considering one in
every 10 drivers seem to be driving around just to talk on their phones.
clams_casino
Just found some 1980 data - $18.88/mo. While I don't have those
individual bills, I believe my calling pattern did not change
significantly between 1980 vs. 1988 with probably twice the LD calling
of today (We don't call our children these days as much as we contacted
parents back then as we communicate more via email these days). My
current billing has a "special" $9.17 base rate since it has a measured
plan (90 local minutes with 4 cents/min for overage) vs. an unlimited
local calling plan in back years, although I doubt we have ever did >90
minutes local calling.
An unlimited local calling plan today would add another $10+/mo (closer
to $40 total /mo today with half the LD of past years - effectively 2x
from 10-20 years ago).
George Grapman
clams_casino
> How much do you pay per minute for toll calls?
Not sure what you are asking for. My tracfone calls are high as a
per-minute variable cost vs. other plans, but very low when the monthly
fixed fees are considered due to my very low usage.
It's a similar situation for my current land-line usage vs. 10-20 years
ago, where the current per-minute variable cost is agreeably much lower
vs 10-20 years ago, but with a much higher monthly fixed cost.
With our limited usage, it could be cost effective to switch to two
tracfones (or more so with just one) vs. one tracfone / one land
line. A significant price hike by Verizon could trigger such a
change, but meanwhile I'm willing to pay a small premium for the land
line convenience. The math gets complicated, however due to the high
variable cost of Tracfone LD.
I'm currently paying 5-10 cents / minute (off peak vs. peak ) for
land-line LD distance calling (occasionally using a 5-cent / min calling
card if in peak times or from motel rooms, etc) which is agreeably much
cheaper (variable cost) vs. 10 - 20 years ago, but if one factors in the
fixed monthly charge (fixed + variable / total minutes), the cost is
currently about double vs. 10-20 years ago.
I could significant lower my overall per minute cost by calling more
(phone companies would live that), but why - especially with free,
easy-to-use email. Meanwhile, my < $30/mo cost of a land land is much
cheaper for us than common cell phone plans (typically $50 or more).
Two tracfones could be in our future for about the cost of our current
$29/ mo land line / single tracfone. One tracfone would obviously be
cheaper, but we are still willing to pay a premium for "conference"
calls with the kids and the conveniences of a land line.
Rod Speed
> George Grapman wrote:
>
>> clams_casino wrote:
>>
>>> George Grapman wrote:
>>>
>>>> clams_casino wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Gregory Morrow wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> The cost of phone calls has gone down by factors of tens,
>>>>>> hundreds even...
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> My phone bill is higher today than it's ever been.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> But are you making the same number of calls?
>>>
>>>
>>> Yes, but we make very few phone calls - usually it's much cheaper /
>>> faster (especially for reservations, etc) / easier to use email.
>>
>> You must have an unusual calling pattern. I make more calls than
>> ever since I work at home but pay much less than I did 20 years ago.
> Our 1998 bills averaged $22.05 / month with 115 min LD / mo.
> Year to date 2008, they've averaged $28.56/mo for just 35 min long
> distance / month. Our base rate is currently $9.17/month with $16.02
> in fees / taxes using a 5 cent offpeak & 10 cent / min flat rate LD
> calling plan. Last month, our bill was $27.68 = $9.17 base rate, $1.48 for LD calls (19 minutes) and $17.03 in
> taxes / fees.
Voip would leave that for dead.
> Businesses have obviously made out well as the LD cost/min has dropped significantly, an advantage for big users.
> Casual users have realized a significant price hike due to all the fixed cost fees.
> That's not including a Trac phone that we now have for convenience when traveling, although it is rarely used & was
> not available 10 years ago.
> Seems like most cell phone users are probably paying $50 and up / month,
Not the ones that care about the cost.
> although they are probably using them 500 hrs / month considering one in every 10 drivers seem to be driving around
> just to talk on their phones.
You'll end up completely blind if you dont watch out.
Gregory Morrow
clams_casino wrote:
Remember "adjusting for inflation"...here's a good inflation calculator:
http://www.westegg.com/inflation/
--
Best
Greg
Gregory Morrow
clams_casino wrote:
About $53.00 in present - day dollars...
--
Best
Greg
Gregory Morrow
George Grapman wrote:
Yep...and a few decades ago in the Ma Bell daze you didn't have all that
jazz such as voice mail, call forwarding, caller ID, etc. You were "locked
in" phone service - wise, it was a monopoly...
For landline I have Comcast Digital Voice for about $50.00/month, unlimited
local and LD calling (including Guam, Hawaii, Puerto Rico) with all the
bells and whistles. They are advertising $19.99 for new customers (for six
months). I could probably get cheaper if I ditched the landline and went
cellular, but I don't want or need a cellphone (at least at this time)...
Phone service, along with consumer electronics, is one of the great bargains
of this era...
Years ago futurists were saying that because of atomic power "electricity
will be too cheap to meter". That has not come to pass, but it almost has
with phone service, especially LD...
--
Best
Greg
George Grapman
like caller ID and three way.
Gregory Morrow
George Grapman wrote:
Yup, me too...and most of these features were the stuff of science fiction
or just in development c. 1980. Plus which we can choose our carriers and
our phone hardware...
--
Best
Greg
George Grapman
equipment. They eve charge a monthly fee for an extension on the same line/
Bob F
"Coffee's For Closers" <Usene...@THE-DOMAIN-IN.SIG> wrote in message
news:MPG.2303f17eb...@news.motzarella.org...
> Also, I generally use the term, "leech" to mean someone who only
> takes/demands, without offering anything at all in return.
> Although I have known leeches who insisted that they were selling
> the wonderful "service" of allowing other people to feel the joy
> of "helping."
Leaches give too! Blood thinners.
Seerialmom
>
> - Show quoted text -
In 1981 I remember thinking how "Hi-Tech" I was when I got a touch
tone phone that let me "program" 12 phone #'s into a speed dial area
on the front. That phone was so cool one of my roommate's brothers
stole it! :D
George Grapman
Around that time I got a post-paid phone card. It "only" added $1.50
to the cost of a call and there was no pay phone surcharge. Being in
outside sales I thought it was a great convenience.
Coffee's For Closers
d3238a...@u6g2000prc.googlegroups.com>, seeri...@yahoo.com
says...
> On Aug 10, 8:30=A0pm, "Gregory Morrow"
> <FlyPrahaJakartaByTU104...@flyokayflycsa.cz> wrote:
> > George Grapman wrote:
> > > Gregory Morrow wrote:
> > > > clams_casino wrote:
> >
> > > >> clams_casino wrote:
> >
> > > >>> George Grapman wrote:
> >
> > > >>>> clams_casino wrote:
> >
> > > >>>>> George Grapman wrote:
> >
> > > >>>>>> clams_casino wrote:
> >
> > > >>>>>>> Gregory Morrow wrote:
> >
> > > >>>>>>>> The cost of phone calls has gone down by factors of tens,
> > > >>>>>>>> hundreds even...
> >
> > > >>>>>>> My phone bill is higher today than it's ever been.
> >
> >
> > > >>>>> Yes, but we make very few phone calls - usually it's much cheaper=
> /
> > > >>>>> faster (especially for reservations, etc) / easier to use email.
> >
> an
> > > >>>> ever since I work at home but pay much less than I did 20 years ag=
> o.
> >
> > > >>> Our 1998 bills averaged $22.05 / month with 115 min LD / mo.
> >
> > > >>> Year to date 2008, they've averaged $28.56/mo for just 35 min long
> 6.02
> > > >>> in fees / taxes using a 5 cent offpeak & 10 cent / min flat rate LD
> ase rate,
> > > >>> $1.48 for LD calls (19 minutes) and $17.03 in taxes / fees.
> >
> ped
> > > >>> significantly, an advantage for big users. =A0 Casual users have
> > > >>> realized a significant price hike due to all the fixed cost fees.
> > > >>> That's not including a Trac phone that we now have for convenience
> > > >>> when traveling, although it is rarely used & was not available 10
> > > >>> years ago.
> >
> > > >>> Seems like most cell phone users are probably paying $50 and up /
> > > >>> month, although they are probably using them 500 hrs / month
> to
> > > >>> talk on their phones.
> >
> > > >> Just found some 1980 data - $18.88/mo.
> >
> > > > About $53.00 in present - day dollars...
> >
> d ons
> > > like caller ID and three way.
> >
> n
> > or just in development c. 1980. =A0Plus which we can choose our carriers =
> and
> > our phone hardware...
> In 1981 I remember thinking how "Hi-Tech" I was when I got a touch
> tone phone that let me "program" 12 phone #'s into a speed dial area
> on the front. That phone was so cool one of my roommate's brothers
> stole it! :D
You had touch-tone in 1981? Humph... I and my twelve siblings
were still using an AT&T rental rotary-dial desk model in a
cheesy colour! Iiiifff we were lucky!
Although, I recall another residence, with the first domestic
button-pushing phone I ever used. It was actually still "pulse"
dial, and each numerical button sent a "click-click-click..."
type sound down the line while dialing. I think that was in the
late 70s.
Today, I feel a strange emotional resistance to the idea that, my
bottom-of-the-range cell phone actually needs a user's manual.
--
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Coffee's For Closers
sfge...@paccbell.net says...
I seem to recall that that went to court for the, "Carterphone
Decision," looooong before most Americans even knew that there
was an alternative to the monthly rental on the standard AT&T
supplied phone.
--
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