What are the extra fees on my cell phone bill?

Here's a quick breakdown of some of the extra fees you might find on your cell phone bill, along with some tips for lowering them. All cell phone carriers are responsible for helping local governments pay for emergency services such as fire and rescue. Most of them do so by charging each customer a bit extra every month.

How much does Verizon charge for a smartphone?

Beyond what you pay for minutes, messages and data, Verizon's Smartphone Access Line fee charges from you up to an extra $20 a month simply for owning a smartphone. According to the Tax Foundation, a consumer tax and spending think tank, the extra taxes on cell phone bills have increased by nearly 4.5% in the last 10 years to a shocking 18.6%.

Do you have to pay a fee to buy a mobile phone?

However, if you want the very latest mobile handset, it's worth bearing in mind that you may have to pay a one-off fee on start of the contract fee when you sign up. There are no hard and fast rules about this, but sometimes there is a price to pay for owning the newest mobile phone on the market.

How does a phone carrier charge a fee?

Most of them do so by charging each customer a bit extra every month. Some states mandate that the carrier charge a flat fee per telephone line, while others ask a percentage of revenue. While not all states ask that the carrier pass these charges to the customer, it's common practice that they do. Curious what charges your state enforces?