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Review by BigC23 
member for 1.9 years, 15 visits, last login: 1.8 years ago
updated 1.9 years ago
 Rustburg,Campbell,VA
 $65 per month CenturyTel "Unauthorized services that they refuse to fix" "Review, I will never recommend Century Link to anyone ever"
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I will never do business with Century Link again even if I move to a place that has no other internet service possible and I will be telling everyone I can to stay away from them.I have never received the advertised speed from these people. For one on a 3 mbps line I quite often got below 1. I decided in December to stop service and called to request that they disconnect as soon as my next payment was received. The customer service rep said they would not reconnect. Now they are trying to charge me because they didn't disconnect the line.
In an effort to rectify the situation I explained that I had requested it be disconnected to two different managers both of whom said, in essence, it's my fault for not realizing they had reconnected it and paying through my bank rather than over the phone with a representative. Because of that I am responsible for that service. They then said that they have no record of a call requesting the disconnect and that if anyone had accessed the account they would have record. I requested a copy of the records which a Mr. Woods said would take a week to get to me. I have still yet to hear back from anyone on that and can clearly see that I called them twice in early January to discuss this, prior to the payment, by looking at my own phone records.
As an aside they also threatened to pull a record of any sites visited from that line since they reconnected it in an effort to prove that I have used it since then. I told them to go right ahead however this is also a great business practice. First, it's really comforting to know that they are keeping the private information of their customers or simply bluffing with customers that they are doing so. Second, I love the idea that if they keep sending service to a house indefinitely after a requested disconnect and anyone in the house uses it that is proof that they have now agreed to a whole new contract. That sounds perfectly legal.
I live in central Virginia and Shentel offers cable modem at 39.95/month for 8mbps. If you live there that is what I would go with. These types of business practices are outrageous and I will be filing a complaint. Do yourself a favor and save yourself the hassle.
Update 6/22/2011
So, Century Link waits until the absolute last day to respond to the complaints that I filed and then calls me in the middle of the day while I'm at work. On their response the note that they tried to call me and I did not call back. I did call back but by the time I did they were closed. Again, I'll say it save yourself the misery. Don't deal with these people.
Comments:
 | | Avoid CenturyStink like the plague... If you have any other optionas at all, use them and not CenturyLink. Their service is unreliable with latencys so high you get nose bleeds. | |
| | | Just Don't pay them anymore. What's the problem? If you don't want service don't pay them anymore and it will stop. You might have to change your credit card number if you had setup automatic payment but it's just a phone call to the credit card co. | |
| | | | Re: Just Don't pay them anymore. If they are the only internet in the area like here you are screwed. They suck and for people who love the net and love computers it is wrong to have to deal with these scam of a internet provider they call Centurylink. They have people over a barrel in some places. They need to be investigated. | |
| | BigC23
join:2011-06-01
Rustburg, VA Reviews:
 ·CenturyLink
| said by ArizonaSteve:What's the problem? If you don't want service don't pay them anymore and it will stop. You might have to change your credit card number if you had setup automatic payment but it's just a phone call to the credit card co.
The problem is that if you just don't pay them they then ruin your credit. | |
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| | The worst When it was Embarq it was great and stable service. If you had a problem they would send a technician to your house to check things out. Now that we have Centurylink the DSL is intermittent, speeds are up and down, there are packet loses. There are constant problems with the equipment and servers in our area. You might as well bang your head against the wall to have them help you. Even if they know you have a problem they still may not send anyone out to fix it. The internet is totally unreliable. They want to take your money, but don't want to make your service worth what you pay for. I would rate these people at "0". It is the worst! | |
| | BigC23
join:2011-06-01
Rustburg, VA Reviews:
·CenturyLink
| Re: The worst When I spoke to them last week I told them to shut the account down now at least so it's not still running things up. The first manager I spoke to said it would be. I asked how I know that this isn't just going to happen again, them saying that it is disconnected and it not really being done, and she said because a manager has just told you it is disconnected. Yesterday I received a new e-mail from customer service saying it wasn't and a bill with new charges on it. Hello! | |
| | | | On my end it is just the opposite. Under CenturyTel all was smooth and now things have gotten worse.
--
This posting is of my own opinion and in no way connected to any employer. | |
| | | BigC23
join:2011-06-01
Rustburg, VA | Re: The worst Still waiting for a response and getting charged each month. Hopefully the additional charges are cleared up too. | |
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Review by (hidden by request)
(review was emailed from domain gmail.com)
lodged 1.9 years ago
- Waconia,Carver,MN
- $70 per month
- (24 month contract)
 "Quick, easy setup"- "DSL is supposed to be consistant, but in my area is much worse than cable."
- "Do not trust CenturyLink, they are over selling their capacity"
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I routinely get results from SpeedTest.net ~0.8 Mbps, on a 10 Mbps contract!
It is the worst internet service I have every had, bar none. Centurylink
technicians have confirmed a long standing problem with the network,
which experiences congestion at peak hours. The service will break 10 Mbps
download at odd hours, so there is not an issue with the phone line.
CenturyLink has oversold their capacity, and does not have enough bandwidth
for the markets they are serving.
Comments:
| | poor bandwidth I'm seeing the same issue. I can't use Netflix at any time of the day as it requires around a 2 MB connection. My wife can no longer work from home which is costing us money in gas. Century-link needs to resolve their issue. Their lame test of checking the speed between your pc and the switch is useless. They stand behind that test saying everything is fine, knowing for a fact that they know the truth. I'm going to send a letter (not e-mail) and once i know they received it I will give them a few day to respond. If i hear nothing, I'm filing a BBB claim along with a claim through the FCC. I hope others do the same. This has been going on for way too long and it's only going to get worse. | |
| | | slow ,doesnt keep top speed  The worst internet service ever , you complain , you get excuses , and charge a higher price than most in city . They won't fix it ! | |
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Review by SteveTx007
member for 2.8 years, 9 visits, last login: 1.9 years ago
updated 1.9 years ago
- Overton,Rusk,TX
- $92 per month
- "none"
- "paying for 10 meg d/l and routinely get speeds around 30k"
- "stay away from this service"
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service is great when it works, but that's rare. customer service reps are of no help. they realize they can't handle the volume of traffic on their servers but have made no attempts at upgrading. if i had another option for high speed in this area i would drop centurylink.
Comments:
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Review by (hidden by request)
(review was emailed from domain gmail.com)
lodged 1.9 years ago
- Tallahassee,Leon,FL
- $30 per month
- "Nothing is good"
- "Charged for service we never recieved and refuse to recify the matter"
- "Unauthorized charge and refuse to rectify"
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Do not ever use their service!!!! They would charge you for service you
never received and refuse to rectify the problem. They will not send bill or
notice to you, but they surely will send the fraudulent bill info to collection agencies!
Here is my experience:
When we were in the process of buying our current house last spring/summer
time, we tried to get internet and satellite serve we contact Centurylink
because they had a package deal with Direct TV. Later we found out that we
couldn't have satellite due to trees around the house. We canceled the serve
all together. A year after moving into the house, we got a call from a
collection agency, stating we owe Centurylink money. We never received any
service from the company, and we never received any bill or notice from
Centurylink. We called Centurylink, and found out the "account of ours" was
opened at a fraudulent address (in our old apartment complex but not the
apartment we used to live in). Centurylink promised to take care the
bussiness at first. However, after another month or so, we got a call from a
different collection agency, stating we need to pay the bill to Centurylink.
We called back to Centurylink,their manager on the phone told us they need
to do some "investigation" and they would call back. Of course, nobody
called back. We called again this afternoon, their "highest-level manager"
on the phone told us she couldn't help us and there apparently no one in her
company we can call to resolve the problem. She said she would report the
matter to another agency in Centurylink and "hope" the problem will be
resolved, but when asked what if the problem doesn't get to resolved in a
timely fashion what we and her company will/need to do, she's dumbfounded.
This is a fraudulent case that customer is the victim. Centurylink neither
acknowledges their fault then rectify the matter, nor shows they care about
or are willing to help their customer.
Comments:
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Review by (hidden by request)
(review was emailed from domain gmail.com)
lodged 2 years ago
- Foley,Baldwin,AL
- Contract price not specified.
- "Nothing. The visiting tech was nice but he left us no better off."
- "Phone support is all over the place - literally. They are mostly half-assed at best."
- "This is a company that's gotten too big to offer reliable service and support."
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We pay for an 8Mbps line and we're lucky if we can get barely 5Mbps. The
support guy I just talked to was no help. All he did was have me take a
bent paperclip and hold in the reset button for one minute. I'm very
disappointed in their tech support. If you're lucky, they won't buy your
local phone system.
We had a tech guy come to the house and he claimed we were getting 8Mbps up
to the modem but like I said, I can barely get 5 Mbps with a straight hookup
to the modem, one computer and a cat 5 cable.
I had a wifi setup running here and since he came out and swapped for one of
their new modems, it's been worse than before. Basically, Centurylink sucks!
I took the router out of the equation and hooked straight to the modem and
nothing changed. I tried to get the DNS server addresses from a guy on the
phone a half hour ago and he absolutely refused to give them to me saying
only that the reset would help and that we "can't know that information". I
felt like I was talking to Donald Rumsfeld. I'm still getting time-outs on
email and even just bringing up Google.com. Then it will work and then back
to the time-outs. I've never seen anything like this before anywhere I've
lived.
Avoid Centurylink at all costs!!!
If anyone has any ideas on how to improve my connection I sure would
appreciate it.
Comments:
jwko
join:2007-04-02
Cecil, AR | Beware! Don't give out your home phone number to anyone that say their from Centurylink. Especially a new member with only 1 post!
A TRUE employee from CL won't or shouldn't ask for the phone number.
Report this guy! | |
| | jwko
join:2007-04-02
Cecil, AR | Re: Beware! This was a response to a post that has been deleted. | |
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Review by Ctltechsup
member for 2 years, 1 visits, last login: 2 years ago
updated 2 years ago
- Altamonte Springs,Seminole,FL
- $40 per month
- Choice One Communications
- "Tech support reps are good the tier 2"
- "Management"
- "If yor told 48 hrs plain on a week"
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Centurylink management is the worist the tech the tier 2 techs know what there doing most been ther for years the tier 1are outsource and they doint care no matter how much the cust complains I myself a tech have put in so many complaints about them as told by manger and nothing ever gets done all the magment cares about is there big fat checks and the survys that you the cust take it's a waste of you time cause you may get tech support and there unable to fix the issue eg tech never showed up slow speeds there so many to name and one of the question is would yOu recommend centurylink to you friends and family and if you say no and give the techs all good reviews the only one the care about is the recommend and they hold the tech for it like if a the speed outage in tx that's been going all since sept last year it's not there fault the company fault and the tech take so much heat form it and if a tech tells you 24-48 hrs it's a week there some many tech so stress out cause they take the heat for a crappy network and management to make there big fat checks so remember when you take a survey and you say no I will not recommend centryurylink you not hurting the company but the tech and leve a commit doint cause they doit listen to it I was told be a manger they doint care about it just that the cust would not recommend
Comments:
|  ArtfulDodgerIt's an art form
join:2007-06-13
Los Angeles, CA
kudos:1 |  W. T. F...
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| | | A translated version: Centurylink management is the worst! Their tier 2 techs know what they're doing. Most of them have been there for years. Their tier 1 techs are outsourced and they do not care, no matter how much the customer complains.
I am a tech and have put in so many complaints about them through my manager and nothing ever gets done. All that management cares about is their big fat checks and the surveys that you, the customer, take. It's a waste of you time because you may get tech support and they're unable to fix the issue, then they dispatch a field tech who never shows up.
There are so many slow speed issues across the country. It's too many to name.
One of the questions on the survey is:
Would you recommend Centurylink to you friends and family?
If you say no to that question but give good reviews to the tech on the remainder of the questions, it doesn't matter. Management is only concerned about the Centurylink recommendation and hold the technician responsible even if its a known speed issues, like in Texas, which has been going on since Sept 2010.
The techs take so much heat from the bandwidth exhaust issues, and if they say its going to be a 24-48 hr turn around time, it ends a being a week or longer.
Us techs are so stressed out from the crappy network & management. All they care about are their big fat checks.
So people, remember, when you take one of the surveys, don't bother leaving a message. I was told they don't listen to them anyhow. However, if you don't recommend Centurylink, you're not hurting the company, but the tech you last talked to. That is the only question that matters to them, and their big fat checks.
~Peace | |
| | | | Re: A translated version: Did you use translate.google.com for that? | |
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Review by mryoder
member for 5.2 years, 37 visits, last login: 2.1 years ago
lodged 2.1 years ago
- Rossville,Clinton,IN
- $49 per month
- (12 month contract)
 about 10 days- "Horrible pings during peak hours of greater than 1000ms"
- "They have a monopoly in my area and don't care to fix issues"
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They have obviously grossly oversold their capacity in my town and refuse to do anything about it. I've requested and received refunds for 4 out of the last 6 months internet fees due to their horrible service.
Comments:
mryoderPremium
join:2008-02-23
Rossville, IN
1 edit | Ping on a GOOD night  | |
| mryoderPremium
join:2008-02-23
Rossville, IN | Paying for 10MBit service....  | |
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Review by zipman
member for 2.6 years, 7 visits, last login: 2.1 years ago
updated 2.1 years ago
- Inverness,Citrus,FL
- Contract price not specified.
- "When it works its Ok"
- "Tech Support"
- "Below Average"
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My Dsl is 10k dl Im very close to CO and I get around 9 average when it works.
My problem is constant connection drops per day. Modem just drops connect and comes back on. My modem/router combo is Zyxel EQ660HW.
Ive called tech support they tell me to reset my modem, when i tell them ive done that they tell me its a bad modem and want to CHARGE me to ship another one to me. Its their modem I pay for it monthly, they tell me its bad and want to charge me shipping to send me one that works. The modem is fine its their connection that drops.
I left brighthouse because of issues with cable phone and internet slowdowns at primetime but I am considering dropping centurylink and going back to brighthouse.
Comments:
| | Problem resolution Call a service tech out. Tell them your DSL isn't working. There's no charge to replace the modem. Most of the time it's the customers computer. A bad filter on the phone or inside wiring (in the house) to the modem are often the cause of the problem. If this is the case it's not their responsibility unless you have maintenance.
They are a very reliable company and you need to give them a chance to show themselves as such. | |
| jwko
join:2007-04-02
Cecil, AR | Modem Replacement They sent me a replacement modem once. They shipped it overnight (FedEx) and added a $29 shipping charge on my next bill. I ended up buying a few extra used modems off ebay to have on hand. | |
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 Review by Cable2001
member for 2.4 years, 15 visits, last login: 306 days ago
lodged 2.1 years ago
- Sheffield Lake,Lorain,OH
- Contract price not specified.
- CenturyTel
- "The Raptors seem to like them..."
- "Poor customer service, most techs are clueless, high prices, and our T1 occasionally goes down with no explanation"
- "We've been moving services away from them bit by bit and will continue to do so"
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I have a longstanding dislike of CenturyLink (CenturyTel) going back to when I had them for my personal ISP. Terrible customer service and unreliable internet lead be to switch.
The company I work for has them as their ISP and phone provider since they're currently the only viable game in town. But, we've been slowly replacing their services as other technologies become available and will very likely leave altogether as soon as another provider becomes available.
Comments:
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Review by JRay
member for 2.2 years, 7 visits, last login: 2.1 years ago
updated 2.2 years ago
- Foley,Baldwin,AL
- $47 per month
- CenturyTel
- "Nothing!"
- "Continuous interuptions of service"
- "I will change service as soon as I find another ISP!"
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CenturyLink/CenturyTel acquired GulfTel about two years ago. Prior to that time, I had marvelous service from Gulftel in all phases from initial installation to tech support to speed of connection.
Nothing changed for about one year after the CenturyLink acquisition; the service has continually gone downhill from that point. Since we no longer have local tech support, I've spent literally hours on repeated phone calls (I've lost count of how many) in an attempt to get someone who would help. Most of the time, I would have to repeat my problem and make the same endless tests, reboots and connections over and over again seemingly because no one made any notes about my previous tech calls (or, more likely, could not or would not read the previous notes). During this process, my modem was changed several times.
After many months, I finally got a visit from a service tech who checked out everything inside and outside my house and agreed that the problems have nothing to do with my equipment or wiring. The tech rep did admit that the modem was an inferior type (whatever that means) and I finally got out of him that CenturyLink's facilities (primarily servers) are vastly overloaded in my area (So. Baldwin County, AL) and that CenturyLink has NO plans to upgrade their service.
To describe the problem in a nutshell, the service routinely "quits" every few minutes even though the modem remains in sync. This problem now seems to occur at anytime, day or night, and results in my having to wait up to several minutes before service continues. If I am watching a NetFlix movie, the program is interrupted several times per hour as the buffer runs out during a service interruption.
Given that CenturyLink has made it very clear that they have no plans to correct these problems, I find myself with no choice but to file a complaint with the AL Public Service Commission and any other governmental agency which might have jurisdiction over CenturyLink. And finding another ISP in my area may not be possible because cable DSL is not available (due to some rotten politics) and any other ISP would be bound to come in over CenturyLink's lines.
Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated!
Update 3/3:
I determined that I literally have no option for high speed service other than CenturyLink because the only cable provider within the city limits of the municipality does not offer internet service. I understand (but have no certain knowledge) that this situation results from an agreement between GulfTel and the local city-operated utility which provides electricity, water, sewer, garbage collection, and cable. As the saying goes, "you can't fight city hall."
After one more failed attempt to get CenturyTel to respond, I filed a complaint with the state Public Service Commission which (I hope) has jurisdiction and will take some action.
Comments:
| | Centurylink/Centurytel WI sucks as well I too am having trouble with Centurylink/Centurytel. They also refuse to answer my emails too. Their tech admitted to me that they were selling bandwidth that their equipment in northern WI couldn't deliver. This had got to be illegal! I'm paying for 3.0mb and can only get less than 1.0mb during afternoons and evenings. The only time I can get 3.0mb is the wee hours of the morning, what kind of crap is this?? | |
| | | | Re: Centurylink/Centurytel WI sucks as well I'm getting good crank from my measly 1.5er, at night it REALLY RIPS lol...1.7 and 40ms. I signed on for there new 10Mbs and will have to see how it goes. One thing I like about CL, they let me use my own modems and keep me on the one year contract for a discount, it helps. | |
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Reviews:
·CenturyLink
| Centurylink (NW Washington) Monopoly POOR Delivery & Service I've experienced the same problems as mentioned here and have been reporting on them for the past year or so @ »Review of CenturyLink by crescentdave. Reporting the company is an excellent move. Continuing to complain to customer service, adding the fact you are monitoring speeds, taking screen shots and keeping track of these stats may prove useful down the line.
I'd strongly encourage you to contact Test My ISP. It's the company the FCC has retained, in order to measure broadband service in the U.S. After their testing is completed, they will issue a report to Congress. The wireless modem they provide for free isn't bad and it documents a day by day record of service. Notify Centurylink you have done this.
Dealing with a monopoly is frustrating. Comments to some of my postings in other areas indicate you might be able to get money back if you ask for refunds every month you don't receive your advertised "up to" speeds. BTW, don't even bother listening to them talk about how "up to" speeds mean anything and everything "up to" that advertised speed. Do they use the word "consistent" in their ads? If they do, they can't deliver and they can't automatically dismiss your complaint.
My approach (since they won't give me a refund without bumping me down to their lowest speeds) is to agitate for a change in their false and misleading advertising, since they are not providing resources to take care of their traffic. I'm hoping my complaints (along with others) will force this sleazy corporation to honor it's advertising- or change it to reflect reality.
Keep posting to reflect your situation. It makes it easier for other people to understand they're not alone and they can take action as well. Monopolies hate attention focused on their duplicity. | |
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