Private equity is a huge inflation driver. I'm thrifty, and for years I enjoyed a $10/mo phone provider, ~$12.39 with taxes. I even evangelized this carrier with some young parents who were struggling to get financial traction while paying off student loans.
Our affordable plan came to an end when the rates tripled! Turns out a private equity firm bought the company, jacked the rates on every customer, and sold it off again. This was not a fundamental cost being passed on in slightly increased fees -- it was private equity extracting millions from the people who can afford it the least. Across my financially optimized life, I see this happening repeatedly.
Personally, I can afford a more expensive cell phone bill. But I would imagine that many who have a $10/mo plan do not have many other options. I would like to punish the banks who are funding attacks on consumers. If by no other means, then by letting them fail.
It’s not private equity’s fault, it’s the continued imposition of increasing taxes and government-mandated fees:
“The wireless market has become increasingly competitive. The result has been steady declines in the average price for wireless services. Over the last decade, the average monthly revenue per wireless line has fallen from $47.00 per month to $34.56 per month. Unfortunately, this price reduction for consumers has been partially offset by higher taxes.” - Tax Foundation (2023)
Taxes coincidentally causing a 3x price change right when private equity buys a company is quite unlikely. Especially since I doubt every other company has tripled their prices.
Every other carrier hasn't tripled their prices - this one unnamed and unsourced company did. You can get a $10 or $15 cellphone plan right now, so his claim is false, or that PE company has magical powers to completely outprice the otherwise competitive mobile phone market.
However, "Taxes, fees, and government surcharges make up a record-high 27.60 percent of the average wireless services bill... Since 2012, the average charge from wireless providers decreased by 29 percent, from $47.00 per line per month to $33.36 per line. However, during this same time, wireless taxes, fees, and government surcharges increased from 17.18 percent to 27.60 percent of the average bill, resulting in consumer benefits from lower wireless prices being offset by higher taxes and fees".
Our affordable plan came to an end when the rates tripled! Turns out a private equity firm bought the company, jacked the rates on every customer, and sold it off again. This was not a fundamental cost being passed on in slightly increased fees -- it was private equity extracting millions from the people who can afford it the least. Across my financially optimized life, I see this happening repeatedly.
Personally, I can afford a more expensive cell phone bill. But I would imagine that many who have a $10/mo plan do not have many other options. I would like to punish the banks who are funding attacks on consumers. If by no other means, then by letting them fail.