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elevationyesterday at 6:29 PM2 repliesview on HN

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.


Replies

twoodfinyesterday at 10:44 PM

Why did the phone provider sell to a private equity firm?

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alex43578yesterday at 11:49 PM

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)

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