by I received an insert from Ameritech yesterday in my bill. In part,
it read:
"The monthly $1.80 Touch-Tone Service charge will be
eliminated over the next three years. Starting
January 9th, you'll pay $1.00 less per month. The
remaining Touch-Tone charge no longer will be shown
separately on your bill. Instead, the reduced monthly
charge of $.80 will be included in your "access line"
charge."
My interpretation of this was that all customers would see their
"access line" charge increased by $.80/month. However, I spoke to an
Ameritech residential service representative, who told me the $.80
would be added to my "access line" charge. In other words, the
"access line" charge will be $.80 more for those with Touch-Tone
service. Then, sometime in the next three years, that will disappear
too. (Probably the next time the "access line" service increases -- I
predict by $.80!) In the meantime, Touch-Tone customers may not
realize they are paying extra for it.
Incidentally, the installation charge for Touch-Tone has been dropped
(not sure if that's temporary or permanent), so I relented and finally
got it. I guess the $.80 is within my threshhold of annoyance for
having to switch my phones back and forth between tone and pulse. ;-)
Bradley J. Bittorf | Phone: 216.646.4629
Allen-Bradley Company/Rockwell Automation | FAX: 216.646.4484