Attn.: Attorneys, et. al.: Why are these fees legal?
A while back, I heard a comedian on television complaining about mileage charges for renting a car. The comedian asked, “Why are they charging me extra for mileage? Do they think I’m renting a car just to park it in the garage?” In all seriousness, I think the comedian had a point. One rents a car for the purpose of driving it, so why does one get charged separately for renting and for driving? Isn’t this a case of charging a person twice for the same thing?
Here’s another good one: Why does the Federal Communications Commission permit cell-phone companies to charge for incoming calls? Have you ever in your life been charged for an incoming call on a land-line phone (a phone that’s plugged into a wall jack) unless you specifically accepted the charges? Ms. Tech-Challenged here will text-message in an emergency only, so, obviously, I’m not expecting any incoming messages, yet I’ve just been charged over $10 for incoming text spam. (So help me, if one more person texts me an ad for “blue pills,” I’ll bonk ‘im over the head with a wet noodle.) I’m royally ticked. Does the U.S. Postal Service charge a delivery fee to the recipient of junk mail? Why is it legal to charge a person for incoming phone calls that s/he might not consent to receive, given the option?
For the record, I’ve filed an official complaint with the FCC.
Here’s another good one: Why does the Federal Communications Commission permit cell-phone companies to charge for incoming calls? Have you ever in your life been charged for an incoming call on a land-line phone (a phone that’s plugged into a wall jack) unless you specifically accepted the charges? Ms. Tech-Challenged here will text-message in an emergency only, so, obviously, I’m not expecting any incoming messages, yet I’ve just been charged over $10 for incoming text spam. (So help me, if one more person texts me an ad for “blue pills,” I’ll bonk ‘im over the head with a wet noodle.) I’m royally ticked. Does the U.S. Postal Service charge a delivery fee to the recipient of junk mail? Why is it legal to charge a person for incoming phone calls that s/he might not consent to receive, given the option?
For the record, I’ve filed an official complaint with the FCC.
posted by Shira Salamone at 5:35 PM
3 Comments:
Because, its not illegal. The auto rental companies charge the fee so they can advertise a lower rental fee, and then still make a bigger profit. The charges are disclosed prominently when you sign the contract. And not all auto rental contracts include them - you can rent a car with a fixed number of miles before the charge kicks in.
The cellphone charges work the same way. Once again, not all companies charge for incoming calls, you can shop it. But their system is being used whether you send or receive, and that's how they charge. Its disclosed when you sign up, or when they decide then can make more case by doing so, in which case the notify you in the flyer with the bill that you always throw out before reading.
Its called commerce.
The previous comment was by me.
Too Old to Jewschool Steve
"Because, its not illegal." Not to mention that "Its called commerce." Sigh. Tell me about it. :( Still, I figured I had nothing to lose by kvetching, either on my blog or to the FCC.
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