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Taxes &
Fees
The Sneaky Way Carriers Make More Money  Most Discount and Prepaid plans are a much better deal than the regular prices from the major carriers. With all carriers, Prepaid is now becoming the norm but they're trying to make more money by inflating their Taxes and Fees. Some charges make sense, others don't. Some are required by law, most aren't. Here's how to deal with these extra charges: Find the Charges for Taxes and Fees: Most carriers do not readily reveal their extra charges, and sometimes they won't know them until they know your location. If you can't find them, try these: ▶ Go ahead and make an order and see if there are extra charges in the shopping cart at checkout. ▶ Read the Terms and Conditions. Even if they don't show the actual numbers, they should list the fees and their purpose. ▶ Call and ask. They'll need to know your location to determine your local taxes and 911 charges. Compare the REAL Numbers: ▶ If a carrier charges $25 for a plan and their Taxes & Fees are only $1.50, that's a fair deal. ▶ If a carrier charges $25 for a plan, and their Taxes & Fees are $7.00, you might be paying more than necessary. ▶ If a carriers shows, "Taxes & Fees Included," their plan for $30 is cheaper than the carrier with the $25 plan and $7.00 Taxes & Fees. Duh. How to Reduce These Charges: ▶ Avoid carriers with "Activation Fees", or see if they'll waive them. ▶ Sign up online, not on the phone or at a store. ▶ Choose a plan that Includes all Taxes & Fees, IF it's cheaper than the added fees of another plan. ▶ In some locations, taxes, local charges, 911 fees and sales taxes are much cheaper. You might try signing up with a different address, like work, a friend's house, school or a 2nd home. Most likely, you won't need to get mail at that address unless they mail you a SIM. ▶ Consider a carrier with lower Taxes & Fees. Which Carriers Include Taxes & Fees: ▶ Cricket, the discount Prepaid from AT&T. ▶ Visible, the discount Prepaid from Verizon. ▶ Total Wireless, a discount carrier from Verizon. Read Reviews for All These Discount carriers. |
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