Entries from December 2009 ↓
December 8th, 2009 — Telecommunication
What are some of the fees Comcast impose on their customer? The answer is difficult as it depends on the particular Comcast service you have, plus, Comcast doesn’t exactly make these clear on their website. So far, we have description of the fees for Comcast Digital Voice. Will add more going forward.
Comcast Digital Voice Fees
The taxes, fees and surcharges assessed on your Comcast Digital Voice service are comparable to those charged by most voice service providers that provide a full suite of services, including access to services for the hearing- or speech-impaired, and enhanced 911 service.
Listed below is a description of the most common taxes, fees and surcharges assessed on your Comcast Digital Voice service. For specific pricing information, please contact your taxing authorities.
- The Regulatory Recovery Fee recovers costs that Comcast Digital Voice incurs in order to ensure the adequate support of various public services and to support various regulatory programs. These costs may include charges imposed by state and local governments to help pay for emergency services such as fire and rescue, and for the relay center that transmits and translates calls for hearing-impaired and speech-impaired individuals. The Regulatory Recovery Fee also recovers costs related to state programs that guarantee affordable voice services for all Americans, including consumers with low incomes, those living in areas where the costs of providing telephone service is high, schools, libraries and and other programs. The Regulatory Recovery Fee is not a tax or a government-required fee.
- The Universal Connectivity Charge recovers costs that IP enabled voice service providers are required to contribute to the Federal Universal Service Fund which supports federal programs that guarantee affordable voice services for all Americans, including consumers with low incomes, those living in areas where the costs of providing telephone service is high, schools, libraries and rural health care facilities. The Universal Connectivity Charge is not a tax or government required fee.
- A State Sales Tax is imposed on voice services and is mandated by state government.
- A Local Sales Tax is imposed on voice services in some jurisdictions, and is mandated by local government.
- Gross Receipts Taxes and Excise Taxes may also apply to voice services in certain jurisdictions.
- In certain jurisdictions, the state or local government may require IP enabled voice service providers to apply a 911 surcharge directly on IP enabled voice services. In these jurisdictions you may be assessed a 911 surcharge in the Taxes, Surcharges and Fees section of your invoice. In this case, you will not be assessed charges related to emergency services in the Regulatory Recovery Fee.
- Comcast Digital Voice service does not asses a Subscriber Line Charge, which is a fee that many voice service providers charge in order to allow their customers to converse with callers that use other networks. By not charging this fee, Comcast Digital Voice service provides savings of up to $6.50 per line, per month or more.
December 7th, 2009 — Banking
Yes. Surprise surprise. Another online savings account. Like others, Ally Bank does not have minimum or monthly maintenance fee. But it does have other banking fees when you want specific services done. Below are the fees:
Ally Bank Online Savings Account Fees
| Fees |
| Each transaction exceeding six per statement cycle. |
$ 10.00 |
| Bounced check |
$ 7.50 |
| Services |
| Cashier’s check |
$ 10.00 |
| Domestic outgoing wire |
$ 20.00 |
| International outgoing wire |
$ 45.00 |
| Paper statement copy. Remember, it’s free to see your statement online. |
$ 2.00/page |
*Why only 6 transactions per statement cycle?
The limit is actually set by federal law for electronic and telephone transactions, as well as checks issued to third parties, from all U.S. savings and money market accounts. Deposits are unlimited. Please remember, you will be charged a $10 fee for each transaction that exceeds these limits by Ally Bank.
December 5th, 2009 — Banking
FNBO Direct online savings account is another popular high-yield online savings account, currently offering a 1.40% APY savings account that’s considered the best of 2008 via Kiplinger’s Magazine. The account has no monthly fees or minimum balance requirement (although you need to open the account with at least $1), there are however some other additional fees for certain banking services. They are listed below:
FNBO Direct Online Savings Fees Disclosure
| Overdraft Item Fee (maximum 6 per day)/td>
|
$30.00
|
| Return Item Fee (maximum 6 per day) |
$30.00
|
| Dormant Account Fees: |
|
- Initial Dormant Account fee
- Monthly Dormant Account fee
|
|
| ATM or VISA Check Card Replacement |
$10.00
|
| Foreign ATM |
|
- Cash Withdrawal (per transaction)
- Balance Inquiries (per transaction)
|
$2.50
$1.00
|
| International Service Fee (card transactions) |
2% per transaction
|
| Domestic Wire Transfer (Wires after 3:30 p.m. CST will process the next business day): |
- Incoming
- Outgoing
- Tracers
- Wire Research (per hour)
|
$15.00
$25.00
$20.00
$20.00
|
| International Wire Transfers are not allowed for FNBO Direct customers |
| Copy Requests (per request) |
$5.00
|
| Next Day Transfer Fee (per withdrawal) |
$10.00
|
|
| An Overdraft Item Fee may be created by ATM withdrawals or by other electronic means as applicable.
We may charge an international service fee equal to 2% of the amount of the transaction on any international transaction, such as a withdrawal from an ATM outside the United States or a purchase from a merchant located outside the United States (for example, an internet purchase from a foreign merchant). This fee applies regardless of whether the transaction occurs in U.S. Dollars.
Transactions made in currencies other than U.S. Dollars will be converted to U.S. Dollars under the then current regulations of VISA. Those regulations currently provide that the conversion rate may be either the wholesale market rate or government-mandated rate in effect the day VISA processes the transaction. The currency conversion rate in effect on the processing date may differ from the rate in effect on the transaction date or the posting date. The VISA/PLUS ATM Network currently uses the rate in effect on the transaction date. |