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FCC Will Tackle Cell Phone 'Bill Shock'
MexiCali59 writes "The FCC is expected to launch a proceeding at its Thursday meeting that could force wireless providers to change their billing practices. The agency wants to prevent consumers from unknowingly racking up oversized bills on their phones when they go over their minutes, a situation the agency calls 'bill shock.' The agency released a survey earlier this year that showed one in six American consumers had been surprised by a cell phone bill. The FCC's proposed rules would require carriers to send text or voice alerts before and when minutes are used up. Notifications would also have to accompany out-of-country charges, and carriers would be required to clearly disclose any tools they offer to simplify billing."
People could pay attention to the fact that they send 500 text messages in a single day.
The world is how you make it
So are people becoming so lazy that they can't be bothered to check their used minutes, so they need the government to make sure they aren't surprised?
GENERATION 25: The first time you see this, copy it into your sig on any forum and add 1 to the generation. Social exper
So You the customer signed a contract with the cell phone company. You agree to a certain amount of minutes at a certain rate plus additional fees should you go over those minutes. You use your phone. You go over the minutes. But when the cell phone company sends you a bill it's stealing? Don't you have the ability to track the amount of minutes as the month goes by? Even if you don't that's not exactly the cell phone companies fault as you signed up to do business with them.
500 dollar reward for tip(s) leading to the arrest of the person(s) who stole my sig.
You must have a much larger screen than I do, because I want other info on the screen instead. You also must have either an e-Ink display or a much better battery than I, because I want my backlight off most of the time I'm on the phone.
Ideally, you would have a way to see the display you mention, not that it be there "at all times".
I'm confused by your metaphor. When are you accidentally racking up cell phone charges? I'm aware of when I use my phone more than I'm aware of my caloric intake and - later in the night - my bar tab. I'm not sure how to translate the fake high calorie carrot sticks into something pertinent to the cell phone discussion.
Last week called, the want your comment back.
There is no evidence that there is such a thing as a "natural monopoly". The "natural monopoly" theory was popularized to justify the government creating the AT&T telephone monopoly back in the beginning of the 20th Century. The government wanted a telephone monopoly because a monopoly is easier for the government to control than a host of competitors.
The truth is that all men having power ought to be mistrusted. James Madison