Federal Universal Service Fund Fee

[danielle]

Are any of you charged a Federal Universal Service Fund Fee along with the cost of collect calls from prisons?

For a fifteen minute call from Wayne, it costs me $22.35. There was also a charge for this Federal Universal thing for anywhere from $2.65 to 12.43. It's not along with every single collect call, but enough to add an additional $30.00 to my phone bill. Wayne is in a state facility, and I don't get this charge. Help! I pay too much into this scam as it is!

[David]

I've never heard of this!? Could you give some more details on this? Sounds like a serious scam!

David

[danielle]

All I know is what is on the phone bill. Here's what I have.

My phone service is through BellSouth and under "Miscellaneous Charges and Credits" it has this "Federal Universal Service Fund Fee" listed with a Service Provider of US Long Distance (#1155). Their customer service number is 877-694-7322, and all I have ever gotten is a recording to leave a name and number and they'll call me back (which they have NOT done).

These fees were charged to me in the amounts and on the dates below:
3/30 - 5.31
4/2 - 12.43 (Wayne called twice that day)
4/13 - 2.65
4/17 - 6.48 (we were disconnected after the first minute and he called right back)
Total: $26.87

Wayne also made collect calls on the following dates, that I wasn't charged that fee: 4/1, 4/6, 4/8, 4/9, and 4/20

The total fees for all of his phone calls for one month: $253.14

On the itemized calls list are Wayne's collect calls, which are 22.35 each (which is 4.14 more than what the recording at the beginning of the phone call states it will be). The recording says the call will be 5.89 for the first minute and .88 for each additional minute, which comes to $18.21. The are also from the carrier US Long Distance. The recording states that the company is "Q-West."

On April 17, we were disconnected after one minute (the phone wasn't working - he could hear me but I couldn't hear him) and the fee for that minute was $9.89. He called back from a different phone and we spoke for 15 minutes.

At the beginning of my phone bill, there is a "Federal Universal Service Charge" that is 53 cents. The explanations that BellSouth gives for this fee is as follows:
This is a per line charge to recover the amount telecommunications providers must contribute to the Federal Universal Service Fund, which helps keep local phone rates affordable for all Americans.

If you have any info on this company or these outrageous charges, please let me know. Any help is greatly appreciated!

Thanks.

[CREAMYALMONDZ]

Geez Danielle those prices are outrageous!