Verizon is raising its fees… again

Verizon is raising its monthly fees again starting December 18. The telecom giant is increasing its “Administrative and Telco Recovery Charge”. This fee adjustment impacts both voice and data lines.

The latest fee hike has drawn mixed reactions. Many customers who noticed the fee bump took to social media platforms like Reddit to express their concerns. “I just looked at the online PDF of my current bill, and was met with a note that the Verizon fee is going up again,” said one customer.

Verizon raising fees again: Details on the hike

Voice lines, including smartphones and feature phones, will see the fee rise to $3.50 per line. Data-only products like tablets and hotspots will incur a $1.60 charge. Home Internet services are excluded from the increase. This increase follows a notable jump two years ago when Verizon raised the same fee by $1.35 per voice line. A Verizon spokesperson confirmed that the changes aim to offset operational costs.

In a statement to The Verge, Verizon said the fee covers direct and indirect costs, including property taxes, wireless number portability, and regulatory expenses. While the increase may seem minor, families with multiple lines could feel the cumulative effect. For instance, a family with five lines will pay an additional $1.00 per month, while a single-user account will see a $0.20 increase.

Limited impact on other services

The fee hike affects wireless voice and data-only products, including smartphones, feature phones, tablets, and hotspots. However, Verizon Home Internet services remain unaffected by this change.

The smartphone carrier clarified this in a post on its website, emphasizing that the fee adjustment is standard practice to address evolving business costs. Still, the timing and frequency of these increases have sparked frustration among customers.

The new fee structure applies to all Verizon wireless plans, regardless of tier. Customers will see the updated charges reflected on their January 2025 bills. While the hike might not break the bank for most users, it adds to the growing costs of maintaining wireless services.