New $2.55 "butax" add-on for Verizon DSL users

[thekingofpain]

Recieved an early billing statement from my ISP (im on a semi first person basis with company owner "Leonard") with an added $2.55 tax and explanation (it---the tax---comes from Verizon)
I replied via email:

RE: $2.55 butax---Hi Leonard, just a comment---since I rarely get a 768k connect, it seems like its time to give Charters "4$ amonth digicable internet service 3 month trial" a whirl on another machine---(of course its 34$ amonth afterwards) but is sounding more reasonable for a disabled social security recipient such as myself...

Leonards reply:

Okay. I'm sorry. Would you like to disconnect your account now?

Leonard

Im thinkin---->WHEW!---bad day eh Leonard?

My reply:

Sheesh, dont take it personally I know its beyond you---just adding my thoughts at the moment, as you know ive been on a severely limited income for almost 20 years and IT dont increase in proportion to my bills which can make equal access yet saving almost $200 ayear look pretty good...

(yer pretty quick to offer to dump an original subscriber supporting you this long IMO dont ya think)

I didnt have a choice then---now I do... *Tim

Leonards reply:

Yea. I know it was fast.
I'm sorry about that too. I meant if you'd like to switch, I'll do what I can to make the transistion smooth. It might be a good idea to switch over anyways. It's getting harder and harder to keep up with the DSL and the cost demands. Verizon raised the cost of DSL to me at the beginning of the year and even though I'm losing customers, my bill keeps going up. Isn't that odd.

Thanks and sorry for the curt reply.

Leonard

Well,
Ive been paying Leonard $50 amonth for almost 3 years now, I was subscriber #4 when he first offered DSL back in the day, I hate to ditch my static IP but it looks like he is giving me the headsup to go ahead and dump his service due to it fizzleing out...all us Verizon subscribers using DSL will get this butax increase---I know my rant is with Verizon not my ISP, im alittle pissed off because they are screwing the little guys (in this case---Leonard, no wonder he has an attitude) that got them going---I couldnt buy their DSL service directly then, THEY sent me to Leonard---its all changed now...

Sucks rocks...

[CMonster]

"Sucks rocks..." -ya know that really does.

My ISP is hiking my $39 a month to $49 a month and the connection is only about 324K most of the time....

I thought that as DSL popularity rose it would mean prices going down.... guess we are back to a "Ma-bell" mentality again. Maybe I should try cable...

[thekingofpain]

Made an appointment for a Sunday afternoon install of 1mbs/384kb Charter Cable (free install 60$ amonth, 43$ for 768/128) looks like itl cost me 8$ more amonth and a 100$ modem purchase (or a 5$ amonth lease) but im looking forward to hopefully better service...