AT&T charges $4.99 a line a month in one fee alone. On four lines that is about $240 a year on a single line item, and it is not a tax. Very little is written about AT&T bills specifically, which is why this exists.

The charge on every line

AT&T calls it the Administrative & Regulatory Cost Recovery Fee.

• $4.99 a line a month.
• About $60 a line a year.
• On four lines, roughly $240 a year.

The name sounds official. It is not. AT&T sets the amount and keeps it, and no government requires it. The word regulatory in a charge name does not mean a regulator asked for it.

Access from AT&T

If money is tight, AT&T runs a low-cost programme called Access.

It is up to $30 a month depending on your address, and free at some addresses for qualifying SNAP and SSI recipients in its service area. Speeds go up to 100 Mbps where available.

It also stacks with the federal Lifeline discount of $9.25 a month, which not every provider allows.

The call

Ask for retention. Say you are reviewing what you pay across your lines and are deciding whether to stay.

Check the itemised bill for lines nobody uses before you call. Each one costs the plan rate plus $4.99 plus tax, every month.

Write down the date, the name and the confirmation number.

Questions people ask

What is the AT&T Administrative Fee?

The Administrative and Regulatory Cost Recovery Fee, $4.99 a line a month, about $60 a line a year. AT&T sets it and keeps it. It is not a government charge.

How do I lower my AT&T bill?

Check the itemised bill for unused lines, then ask for retention and say you are deciding whether to stay.

What is Access from AT&T?

A low-cost internet programme, up to $30 a month depending on address and free at some addresses for qualifying SNAP and SSI recipients. It stacks with Lifeline.

Is the AT&T regulatory fee required by law?

No. The word regulatory in the name does not mean a regulator asked for it. AT&T sets the amount and keeps it.