Billing Error?: Charged USF Fee, Regulatory Cost, etc. on Accessory purchase

[jrusch]

A couple of weeks ago I called US Cellular to buy a car dock and holster for my Electrify. I was told the total cost would be $74.97. I was asked if I wanted it put on my bill or if I would be using a credit card. I chose to use a credit card.

When I got my US Cellular bill, I was charged $74.97 (plus state and county tax). The bill also had a credit for $74.97.

However, I was charged a Federal USF Charge, Regulatory Cost Recovery Fee, Police & Fire Protection fee, and a WI USF Surcharge on the $74.97.

Is this correct? I understand those fees are mandatory on the cell phone services portion of the bill, but I don't think they are required for hardware purchases.

[Electricsheep]

No, they aren't required for hardware purchases... I can't say for sure that it isn't a billing error but I would guess that the charges are all showing in the same section of the bill and it just makes it appear as if those fees were assessed to the 74.97, but really weren't.

I don't even think there would be a way for those sorts of additional fees to be charged in relation to an accessory purchase.

[jrusch]

They definitely charged me those additional fees/taxes for the accessory purchase. Looking at some of my previous bills, it looks like they also charge those fees when I bought new phones from a corporate store, but not when I bought a new phone from an agent store.

Here is the section of the bill where the taxes/fees for the accessories appered:

Other Charges & Credits
General Fees and Credits
MOT MO 853 CAR DOCK (Invoice #DS18-I-000670514) 49.99
SCP MO 853 SH HOLSTER COMBO (Invoice #DS18-I-000670515) 24.98
Federal USF Charge 0.06
Regulatory Cost Recovery Fee 1.40
Police & Fire Protection Fee 0.75
WI USF Surcharge 0.02
Sub-Total General Fees and Credits 77.20
Total Other Charges & Credits 77.20

Here you can see the total is $77.20. I find it odd that when I called and used my credit card my credit card was charged $74.97 ($49.99 + $24.98), with no mention of the additional fees.

[BigE]

Have you called and asked that the charges be removed?

Sent from my HTC Desire

[Clay™]

I would bet that the following appear on each and every bill regardless of when you purchased equipment.

Federal USF Charge 0.06
Regulatory Cost Recovery Fee 1.40
Police & Fire Protection Fee 0.75
WI USF Surcharge 0.02