Verizon, the leading U.S. carrier, is implementing another billing adjustment, resulting in a slight price increase for customers. The company is raising its monthly “Administrative and Telco Recovery Charge” from $3.30 to $3.50 per voice line, as initially highlighted by a Reddit user and reported by Android Authority.
According to Verizon’s official website, this fee helps cover various direct and indirect costs, including property taxes, wireless local number portability, and regulatory compliance.
While the increase is only 20 cents per voice line, the cumulative impact can be more noticeable depending on the number of lines on an account. A family with two lines will pay an extra $0.40 per month, while a family with five lines will see a $1.00 increase.
This adjustment continues a trend of rising administrative fees. Android Authority notes that this fee was $1.95 per voice line just two years ago, now reaching $3.50. Furthermore, a fee for data-only lines, previously $0.06, increased to $1.40 at the end of 2022 and has since risen again to $1.60.
Price increases are becoming commonplace among U.S. carriers. In 2023, Verizon increased the price of some plans by up to $5 per month. In March, the company also raised the monthly cost of its 5GB Get More phone lines by $4. T-Mobile implemented price hikes for some plans in June, while AT&T increased prices by $1 per line for certain unlimited plans and introduced a higher-priced option for faster data speeds.
In conclusion, Verizon’s latest fee increase, while seemingly small, contributes to the growing trend of rising costs for mobile services. This underscores the importance of staying informed about plan changes and exploring alternative options to ensure you’re getting the best value for your mobile service.
