AT&T customers will see higher phone bills starting December 1 as the carrier raises its monthly recovery fee. The increase affects AT&T Mobility postpaid plans, and it applies on a per-line basis. For users, the change is noticeable right away because AT&T lists it as part of its recurring fees.
It’s like a cherry on top, as the company already charges a “State and Local Cost Recovery” fee. It says this fee helps recover taxes and required payments that AT&T pays to state and local governments.
Although in its own documents, AT&T explains that these charges are not government-mandated taxes, even though they sound similar. The fee ranges from a tiny percentage to as much as $4 per line.
Recovery fee rises again
AT&T is now raising its Administrative and Regulatory Cost Recovery Fee from $3.49 to $3.99 per line each month. AT&T stated that it uses this fee to recover expenses such as interconnection costs with other networks, ongoing cell site rent, and maintenance. It also uses the fee to cover government-imposed expenses like Wireless Tower Mandates Costs, State Consumer Privacy Laws, and Federal Privacy-Related Mandate Costs.
This change follows a series of adjustments AT&T introduced earlier this year. And as these changes stack up, many customers feel the pressure on their monthly bills. AT&T says the increase reflects rising business costs and the need to maintain service quality.
Discounts for customers who switch to Autopay
AT&T claims customers can lower their bills if they enroll in Paperless Billing and Autopay. Users can receive a solid $10 monthly discount with an eligible bank account or a $5 discount with a debit card. These discounts will help to compensate for the new fee for customers willing to change their payment setup.
AT&T also says that some customers will not be affected by this specific price change. People who subscribed within the last year or those in the Access from AT&T program for low-income households keep their current pricing. AT&T shared this detail when explaining how the December increase rolls out.
Internet prices are rising too
Well, things don’t end here, as the fee increase is not the only change coming on December 1. AT&T will also raise prices for its home internet plans by $5 a month. The company says this increase reflects higher operating costs and supports its push to maintain reliable fiber and broadband service.
According to AT&T’s support page, AT&T Fiber and AT&T Internet customers will see the higher rate on their first bill after December 1. While the increase affects many subscribers, people who are enrolled in recent promotional plans stay safe for now.
These new fees come at a time when customers already feel squeezed by rising wireless and home internet costs.
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