14 July, 2017
A CenturyLink spokesman indicates the company is "disappointed that the Attorney General has chosen a press conference to communicate her concerns instead of contacting CenturyLink directly".
Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson sued CenturyLink on Wednesday, arguing that the internet, phone and cable provider frequently billed Minnesota customers at higher rates than its sales agents quoted.
The lawsuit doesn't look good for Centurylink Inc.
Since Heiser's initial lawsuit, numerous states have since come forth to join a growing class action against the company, each state adding numerous stories supporting the claim CenturyLink has been routinely over-billing consumers.
It alleged that "CenturyLink has regularly misquoted the price of its internet and television services to Minnesota consumers".
According to the lawsuit, CenturyLink fraudulently charged some Minnesota consumers more than the price they company quoted them at the time of the sale.
Swanson's legal complaint also points to internal e-mails from CenturyLink employees who acknowledge the problem. The insider stated it was standard practice to routinely charge customers for services they neither ordered nor wanted in order to help employees meet unrealistic sales targets. Swanson has obtained several calls of the company's representatives speaking to customers. For instance, a CenturyLink customer tells the AG's office that he was told by a rep that service would cost $14.95/month for the first 12 months of his contract.
The lawsuit cites thirty-seven examples where customers were overbilled by the company - errors CenturyLink refused to fix despite being provided with written proof of the original offer. These calls confirm cases of people being quoted lower prices, but then not receiving them. The lawsuit is seeking to stop this practice and have CTL pay customers back for overcharging them.
