Topeka — Kansas residents who use prepaid wireless phones and phone cards will pay a little more next year.
Starting New Year's Day, the state will begin collecting a 1.06 percent fee on prepaid phones and phone cards.
The Department of Revenue announced Tuesday that the fee revenue will be used to help develop emergency dispatch centers with equipment, system upgrades and licensing and training fees.
Lawmakers approved the new fee earlier this year.
The fee applies to newly purchased phones with preloaded minutes or rebates for airtime. It also applies when phone cards or prepaid phones are recharged.
Comments
thebigspoon 5 years, 7 months ago
Collecting free ????
Alex Parker 5 years, 7 months ago
Oops. Thanks for the catch, thebigspoon.
Cait McKnelly 5 years, 7 months ago
I use Virgin pre-paid mobile. Guess it's a good thing I'm moving out of state December 31st, huh?
jafs 5 years, 7 months ago
We've used Virgin Mobile for some years now, and it works very well for us.
But, we only use cell phones for emergency/travel use, so it may not translate to folks who use them all the time.
One of the things we like is that you only have to put a certain amount of money on the phone every month and a half or so, and the minutes keep adding up until you use them.
FlawontheKaw 5 years, 7 months ago
It is about time drug dealers paid their fair share too. No offense to cait, Ag, and Jaf.
Christine Pennewell Davis 5 years, 7 months ago
Good thing I stopped prepaid I guess. Has this been in news before? This first I am hearing about it.
Christine Pennewell Davis 5 years, 7 months ago
By the way FlawontheKaw not only drug dealers use prepaid ok.
meggers 5 years, 7 months ago
Yep.
Peacemaker452 5 years, 7 months ago
What is your definition of poor?
If you are walking around with a cell phone, prepaid or not, I don't think you should be considered poor. You may be making poor spending choices, but you seem to have disposable income.
And no, I don't think you "need" a cell phone.
jafs 5 years, 7 months ago
Do you "need" a phone?
What if a cell phone, especially pre-paid, and used sparingly, is cheaper than a landline?
parrothead8 5 years, 7 months ago
It's funny how people think it's okay to tell "the poor" what they should be able to afford, but nobody should dare to tell "the rich" what should be done with their money.
WilburNether 5 years, 7 months ago
Nonsense. Last time I checked, "poor" people with cell phones (what an oxymoron!) call 911 too, and it takes money to keep these emergency centers running, and to be able to handle the location data that can save (and already has saved) lives.
Your comment is so typical of people who want something for nothing. People like you are typically the first to whine and complain if there is no response to their 911 calls.
parrothead8 5 years, 7 months ago
This seems like a very selectively applied fee. Shouldn't ALL phone users be assessed a fee that will "develop emergency dispatch centers with equipment, system upgrades and licensing and training fees," since everyone, regardless of what phone they use, might potentially call an emergency dispatch center?
jafs 5 years, 7 months ago
Landline users already pay such a fee, and have for some time.
You can see it on your bill if you look for it.
parrothead8 5 years, 7 months ago
I don't use a landline, but thanks.
jafs 5 years, 7 months ago
Sure.
Don't regular cell phone contracts include that sort of fee?
Sunny Parker 5 years, 7 months ago
Anyone who has a phone pays state and fed taxes for the service.
Christine Anderson 5 years, 7 months ago
Oh, crap.
Steve Jacob 5 years, 7 months ago
The rest of the world uses prepaid phones because we Americans like paying much more for phones. Contracts? Yea right.
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