🔍 Hidden Fee Scanner YOUR BILL
12 hidden charges carriers hope you never find. We flag every one on your Chicago bill.
Regulatory Recovery FeeLooks like a govt fee. Usually fabricated. Carriers collect $1-2/line.
Zombie CircuitsStill paying for disconnected lines. 15-25% of Chicago audit recoveries come from dead services.
Fake USF FeeBilled above the actual FCC rate. Most Chicago businesses never check the math.
Crammed ChargesThird-party fees without authorization. $2B+/year industry-wide, including in IL.
Auto-Renewal MarkupRenewed at last year's rate on a multi-year term. ILEC managed network pricing falls roughly 8% a year — but contracts run 3 to 5 years and don't. Mid-contract, you are typically 24-27% above current market for identical service.
Rate Review ClauseSome carriers can raise rates after 6 months — and you can't leave without penalty.
Equipment RentalRenting equipment you already own. Very common in Chicago multi-location businesses.
Wire MaintenanceInsurance for wiring you don't need. Almost never pays out.
Directory ListingsFees for phone book pages nobody uses. Still on Chicago business bills.
Inflated Late FeesPenalties above contract rate. Easy to catch in our audit.
Duplicate ChargesSame line billed twice. Common in multi-location Chicago companies.
Missing DiscountPromised rate never applied. Found only by line-item audit.
Sources: Gartner, US Senate Commerce Committee, SociumIT