Charged extra for AutoPay??!!

bigj1985

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Mar 12, 2010
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Hey guys I was wondering if someone may be able to help me out with Verizon's reasoning here. I recently set up 2 smartphones with Verizon's pre-paid month by month plan.

I set up auto pay for both phones and I was informed by the Verizon representative I would be charged $5.45 for each phone each and every time they took money from my account. Obviously I thought this was outrageous so I asked him what the possible reason could be behind such a rediculous fee.

The big red rep informed me that it was the "state of Indiana" charging me this fee And NOT Verizon. Upon further inquiry all I was told is that if I lived in the state of Colorado or something I would not be charged the fee.

I have attempted to google this new "tax" or whatever it could be in the state of Indiana and I come up with nothing. Maybe someone with the same experience could help me out??

I think $5 every month for each phone just to give my money to a company is beyond excessive. If I had phones that worked on a different carrier I would immidiately leave Verizon for this reason alone. Not only doesVerizon have excessive data charges but on top of that all I have to throw away an extra $10 every month. Absolutely rediculous!
 
Its not Indiana charging you for auto pay. That would be incredibly stupid to believe, more so since they just gave us all a state tax refund.

He's probably telling you about the phone taxes, that are on ALL phones and ALL accounts and you misunderstood. Or its a Verizon fee. In which case auto pay it for free from your bank. I know FOR A FACT there is no state auto pay tax.

Http://cellbills.com/cell-phone-blog/68-cell-phone-tax-charged-per-state.html

http://taxfoundation.org/article/state-and-local-governments-impose-hefty-taxes-cell-phone-consumers
 

tigerg

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Feb 24, 2013
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I would take myself off auto pay and see if the charge goes away.

Autopay is bad, they will sneak charges onto your bill and not tell you, only to automatically take money from you and hope you never notice.

Verizon has a terrible history of this.
 

bigj1985

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Mar 12, 2010
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Thanks for the help. This is not actually my account by my mothers and step fathers accounts. Me and my wife gave out old Droid X phones to them after we just upgraded. Neither one of them want contract but want to have smartphones; and what better price than free. The only problem is the Droid X is locked down to Verizon. Or so I thought.

Not only am I cancelling "AutoPay" I'm cancelling Verizon for them all together. I found a better company that works off of Verizon towers and charges $25 less per phone per month for the same thing.

Verizon has the most rediculous priced pre paid plans I have ever seen anyways. They take major advantage of people for sure.