The Verizon "cover" charge

On a line primarily used for in-bound calls and faxes, I notice a $ 2.12 charge the last few months on my Verizon bill. It is called a "short fall" charge. I did not use at least $ 2 in monthly long distance so they are billing that plus taxes.  When I signed up there was no minimum required. I do not mind a cover charge to enter a bar, but for $ 25 a year you think they would at least buy me a drink or arrange some live music

I do not use the Verizon long distance because the few faxes I have used it for cost 40c a minute to Virginia and 90c a minute to Canada. Make it mindless to use and I will quit using Skype or pay per call services like Tel3. But it's Verizon's charge for my having them listed as my long distance carrier of record. The way to remove that is to call them and tell them you want NOBODY as your LD carrier of record.

You think Verizon, stung by cable companies and VoIP, would not want to actively chase away long distance  customers.  Or may be it is counting on grandmas and grandpas not even noticing the charge. Yes those poor souls that still continue to lease their phone 50 years after they had paid off their phone...