Why does someone who never makes any long distance calls still pay the interstate tax to the phone company ?

Question

Why does someone who never makes any long distance calls still pay the interstate tax to the phone company ?

My Bill has this Under
Taxes and Surcharges:

Interstate Access Surcharge:
This charge recovers part of the cost of local facilities used for interstate calling.

Again If I never call out of state ot ever out of area WHY am I charged this tax / surchage.

Answer 1

I questioned Pac Bell about that tax some time ago because I had only local calling, no LD. The fight was useless and I still fee cheated.

Answer 2

Do you have a long distance plan with your phone company? Keep in mind that even a plan that has no charge until use will count as a "plan". Ask your phone company if that is the case. Make sure you note the name of person talked to, date, and time of the phone call. Call back another time and ask to have the long distance plan removed. It definitely should be possible to have the plan removed; you can't legally be charged for a service you don't desire to have, even if the phone company calls it a "bundle". Insist on such a fact.

If there is no plan at all, then ask why you have that tax charged. If there is a legitimate reason, which I doubt, then it's up to you fight it or accept it (local consumer group, Better Business Bueara [a private organization], congress person, Senator, or even the media [local "Problem Solvers"]). If there's no reason given, ask to have it removed. If not, then refer to fighting it even if they give a "legitimate" reason.

In summary, there's no reason for you to have that tax.

Answer 3

Yes you are responsible. It is a service that you signed up for and let someone else use. I would call the phone company and have the phone turned off. You can try to get the money from her, but if it's a small amount it might not even be worth it. Ex-girlfriend?

Answer 4

"The gross receipts tax, sometimes called an interstate tax surcharge, is not a federal tax. It applies to interstate revenues generated by long distance telephone companies within your state. You should contact your state tax office if you have questions about this tax."

http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/Taxfactsheet.html

Answer 5

No such tax appears on my phone bill. When I had my phone connected, and they asked which long distance company I wanted to use, I said "none".