EarthLink / Windstream Services
Reviews and Complaints

Earthlink's outsourced tech support to both the Philippines and India is abysmal. I first signed on to Earthlink over 10 years ago when they were based in CA (possibly Sacramento?) and I used to rave about the tech support and customer service. These days, however...

Some of the issues include the overall difficulty in dealing with their outsourced CSR's and tech support, their half-baked attempts at tech solutions (particularly a past repeated issue with emails being designated spam or junk that weren't), and the 2 weeks that it took to cancel all of my business with them.

In summary, dealing with Earthlink has extremely frustrating and something that I will not go through again.

Is anyone else having problems and getting a run around from Earthlink regarding incorrectly deactivated accounts? They deactivated my account incorrectly without notice and now it has taken more than 5 days to get my website up (not up yet) and my emails coming through. Seems their customer service is not customer service at all, but would be best called customer complaint stalling. Been promised resolution in 24 hours three times and still nothing. Online chat is useless also - they promise and don't deliver. Tried getting moved up to supervisor four times, but got handed off to someone who spoke broken english and claimed to be a supervisor, but could not get anything done.

anyone else getting the run around?

I was also looking at my bank account, and have noticed a charge from earthlink.net [protected] GA. I called the number only to go in circles. I went on line and got a earthlink phone number. I called them, and gave them the information trying to locate an account for me, I knew they did't have. They then asked for my bank account information, I did not give it to them. I have called my bank about this, we are working together to fix this problem.

How can I cancel an account.

I would like to cancel an account with People Pc. The account number is 8216117. I don't believe I need there services an more. Thank You. Mrs Linda Lekai.

I tried Earthlink's wireless service they offered in Philadelphia. After I ordered the service, I had problems not being able to get access to the Internet or it taking FOREVER to load. I called Earthlink about five times about the issue and then canceled my service a few months after not bring able to get online.

Every time I would call to cancel they would keep me on the phone with a customer service rep and ask me to keep trying the service. This happened at least four times. I would call to cancel, they would transfer me to a sales rep and offer me another month of their crappy service. They suggested a modem would correct the issue I was having. They offered to send me the modem for free to try it out. I agreed.

The modem came and so did my credit card bill. It turns out they actually charged me for shipping the modem on my credit card (when they said they wouldn't charge me) and additionally they were charging me for an extra user (the extra user, by the way, had my name). I disputed the charges with Earthlink and they removed them. I was so displeased with their service and mess ups with my bill that I canceled again and returned the modem (unopened and unused) to them. Since then they have sent me bills for the modem stating I owe them for it. I have written the Earthlink several times stating I returned the modem to them. They have now sent my case over to a collection agency. I am concerned that this will affect my credit. And I am refusing to pay this bill since I returned the modem to them.

Earthlink has showed incompetence as an Internet Service Provider, and obviously has some management/billing problems. Their customer service, while friendly, does little to resolve issues and seems meant to prolong the agony of the customer provider relationship.

I canceled earthlink as a service provider back in June 2007 and they continue to withdraw money from my checking account. I had the bank change my ATM card twice and somehow they get the new card number both times and withdraw money from my account. Regions Bank said they didn't give them the number and Earthlink says someone gave it to them. Someone is full of it. I called Earthlink last night and ask them how they can continue to rip me off. They said I never canceled even though I haven't had any service since June. They asked for my confirmation number and I couldn't find it. I canceled again last night and got another confirmation number. I am now going to the bank to see what's up with them getting my ATM numbers.

There is too much too print here, But it took them 5 months to get me DSL initially. I moved about six months later to a home on the same block and advised them, they said NO Problem 'I know that we can help you Sir' Two months later after having no phone line we contacted AT&T and got service within a week, But, we had to get a new tel # after having our old one for 10 years. We continue to be charged over $100 per month for service that was supposed to be $49.99 and which we don't even have! Further-more my web mail is a mess all three mail addresses each receive the mail for all of them. And Now, 2 weeks ago, my main web site which they have hosted for 8 years is inoperative and my secondary site has disappeared, I have spent hours No days! talking to people in India, the Dominican Republic and here in the US all without satisfaction. The feedback reports are totally ignored, I get one each time I make a query, I have recently responded with threats and rude remarks thinking someone would contact me. NO WAY! WHAT DO I DO?

When I first initiated services through Earthlink for DSL service it was bad from the start. That should of been my sign. My account was billed before I even received my box and I was paying for service that I couldn't even access. After 12 months (found out later it was) my account was billed for 29.95 a ten dollar difference than what I agreed upon. I called and spoke to a"Johnnie" he told me that after a year it automatically cancels the special price of 19.95. I told "Johnnie" that you can't just deduct from my account with out notice of the price change. "Johnnie" told me that I should of called to renew my special price. I was never told that I was to renew or anything of the sort. Then in Feb of 09 I was doubled billed. When I called again to complain I spoke to a "Joy". She preceded to inform that because Feb. was a short month the computer had thought it was another month and billed me twice. I was refunded the 19.95. Then in March of 09 my account once again was billed 29.95. I called again this time speaking to a "Jimmy" and he told me that I was billed the regular price since a year had gone by from my special price. I responded with how can that be I only spoke to "Johnnie 3 moths ago when he told me the same thing. I cancelled my services that day on March 29 of 09. "Johnnie" told me it would post 7-10 business days. Well I call today April 15 of 09 and spoke to "Bobby" who informed that there was never a refund processed or requested. "Bobby" then hung up on me when I requested to speak to a supervisor. I called back and got "Joy" who informed that there was never any information noted on my account except that I terminated services. I demanded my money be deposited back into my account. "Joy" guaranteed and promised that I would have my refund this time in 7-10 business days. I asked "Joy" for their business license number she told me she didn't have it. I asked for the owner / operators name "Joy" refused to provide that, I asked for their business address. "Joy" refused to provide that. I informed "Joy" that unless the business is ran out of a house then yes she didn't have to provide it. "Joy" didn't have a response to that. Needless to say I was given yet again another confirmation number! I would like to know if anyone has started a class action lawsuit I sure would like to put them out of business.

I am receiving a billing for Earthlink. I have never used their services.

freecreditreport.com is not free, i tried it one time and they hounded me for months.

and people wonder why there is so much violence in the world today.
greed has become so influential that it is taking over the face of the entire
planet. they serve a master whoom they cannot see, therefore their eyes
are blinded to the darkness around them.

BUT JESUS CHRIST IS THE TRUE LIGHT, HE WILL DELIVER YOU IF YOU
WOULD ONLY COME TO HIM, HE IS THE ONE WHO KNOWS YOU BEST,
AND THE ONLY PERSON WHO IS ABLE TO HELP YOU IN YOUR AFFLICTION,
& TIME OF TROUBLE.
JOHN14:PEACE I LEAVE WITH YOU, MY PEACE I GIVE TO YOU;NOT AS
THE WORLD GIVES DO I GIVE YOU.LET NOT YOUR HEART BE TROUBLED,
NEITHER LET IT BE AFRAID.
PSALM 9:9THE LORD WILL ALSO WILL BE A REFUGE FOR THE OPPRESSED,
A REFUGE IN TIMES OF TROUBLE.

I sent them a certified/return receipt letter in October of last year telling them to cancel my DSL service and send me a confirmation letter stating they did. Got the receipt back indicating they received my letter (stamped by Gerald M Bryant Jr.), but they never sent me back a confirmation letter and they have continued to bill my credit card. Also the expiration date on the card changed in April of this year so I figured there was no way they could continue to bill my card and I never provided them the updated expiration date. Guess what, when I checked my account online, someone had changed the expiration date on my card without my approval! This is billing fraud!

I canceled my internet service with people PC int svc on April 17 2009 and I'm still being charged on my credit card bill. Please correct and refund the amount paid for 2 months.

i have 18dollars and90 cents out of my checking acount each mo. how do i get this canceled

. I tried to cancel my account at the end of April or beginning of May. When doing so I was told I have all this "value added" stuff on my account that I never signed up for. So I realized that instead of reducing my monthly bill you just gave me more crap that I wouldn't use. The rep I talked to that day said to keep my service for 2 months for free anyway to see if I liked my new provider. I told him I wasn't going to use this service again but he was convincing so I decided to keep it for 2 months just to appease him. I just realized that I did get charged for the last 2 months because of the "value added" stuff I never signed up for in the first place. I thought earthlink looked out for its members. I now realize that they are as crooked as any other company in the world. Thank you for leaving a bad taste in my mouth. When I am told 2 free months it should be FREE.

It sucks I know (first hand actually). I sometimes think of this type of abuse as the "cancel-at-any-time-until-you-actually-want-to scam. HEre is the link to internet related class actions. I hope one is close to your fact pattern. Good luck.
http://www.classadvocate.com/?direct=y&category=product&product_root%5B%5D=406

Attempted to cancel my earthlink access on July 31, 2008.
Earthlink billed my credit card 5 days later for the next monthly payment.
Contacted customer service, they informed me that my service was from 7/30 to 8/30 and that my account would be consider closed as of 8/29/2008.
This of course, was not the story I received on 7/31/2008. I was assured on July 31st my account would be closed as I requested.

I am going through the exact same thing right now. I ordered DSL and was told that i could not get it because I didnt have AT&T. They have been really rude to me. How could they get away with this crap.

I signed up for earth link, didn't have service for 3 months, I mean nothing, no internet, pbone. So I called to cancel, told them do not bill me at all. Now I'm in collections & would like to pull my hair out. I don't know how they are vetting away with all of this ?!😠😠😵😵😡😡😠😠😠

I ordered internet service from Earthlink.net, beginning December 2017 up until May 2017. When I first placed the order with Earthlink, they kpt cancelling it, saying I was the one who cancelled it. Nothing I did convinced them that I did not cancel my service. They charged me an early cancellation fee of $175.00 three times. Todate I have not been able to get my money back. They would schedule a date for the technician to visit my home, the guy showed up and told me that they said I cancelled my service, which was a lie. I would like to know how to get my money back. I had tried over and over again, to no avail.

This is a small thing, but it does violate my original agreement AND I've seen the same complaint on several consumer sites, which means Earthlink is raking in a bundle for this. Here's the story:
I signed up for combined Earthlink Internet and phone services last February for a guaranteed rate of $49.99 a year. I now have a new charge of $5.00 on my invoice for a 'Network Access Charge'. After a very unsatisfying live chat in which I was informed that this fee is mandatory and that, yes, it will be an additional monthly charge from now forward, I stated that this violated my original agreement. The representative actually AGREED with me but said the charge would remain in effect neverthless. $5.00 more a month is not going to break me, but there is a principle involved here and I'm angry about it. I don't understand an agreement in which one party can change the terms in mid-stream.

Is there any recourse? I've already read other recent complaints on the same issue. Can we band together and fight this? Is the FCC a place to start? I might have let this go had I not had numerous previous issues with Earthlink already.

Phone service from EarthLink was not working: dropped calls, calls where we could not hear caller, could not make calls to cell phones at all, echoes, noise. Tried their technical service help, escalated to next level, told that they had changed settings which would fix the problem, but no improvement. Very time-consuming and difficult to get any help, long waits, transfers to empty lines, terrible phone trees. Wanted to cancel service, they insist on $149 termination fee. Make it very difficult to cancel service in any event. Now stuck with non-working phone, uncontrollable charges, what a total nightmare. Never again.

On June 6th, I switched from AT&T to Earthlink home phone service. It was the WORST decision I have ever made. I am so frustrated with them I could scream, and I have no one to turn to because there is no one to complain to. Here is my story.

On June 6th, I signed up for phone service. I quickly received my new modem and instructions on how to set it up. Everything was fine, my service was up and I figured that was the end of it, WRONG! As I was talking to people on the phone, they were telling me that there was an echo on the line. This proceeded to happen for about a week before I called and complained. As usually, I got bounced around from person to person, everyone telling me that someone else can help me. I am not exaggerating, once I called and got bounced around 6 times and was on the phone for almost an house (most of it on hold being bounced around, and telling my story over and over). I have told my story to so many people, I could scream.

Anyway, they did finally manage to fix it for a short time (maybe a week) and the problem started to happen again. I threatened to cancel, but they told me they were going to charge me the cancellation fee of $145. I explained that I shouldn't have to pay for crappy service, but they didn't agree. Everyone kept telling me "I will try ... and you monitor it for 24 hrs. and call us back".

Finally, the last straw. They were supposed to send out a technician to help. He got in touch with me and told me coming out would do no good, that he would have to go to the home office and fix the problem there. Then, I get a call he locked his keys in the van and he couldn't help me. This was a Friday so I lived with bad phone service all weekend.

I then called and told Earthlink it still didn't work right and the echo was worse than ever. They informed me that Covad had switched the lines (or whatever terminology they use) and the echo was gone. Well, it was mostly gone, but still there a bit. But, they messed up my line when they did that, and I now have no ring on my phone when someone calls me and when I call someone, someone else's phone number comes up on the caller Id of the person I am calling (I tested it on my own cell phone and sure enough a different number other than mine comes up). I called tonight and they are now telling me they cannot fix it until day after tomorrow. I spoke with a supervisor and she can't even help me.

So, here I am, 2 months later paying for crappy phone service, now I cannot receive calls at home and no one will help me.

I try to complain, but no one wants to hear it. There is no "complain department", and I don't know where to even go get help. I have even given them terrible reviews and explained my story on their surveys, say their service is horrible and still no response. I have had Earthlink for many, many years and never had a problem until about a year ago. Now that I have switched the phone service, it is a nightmare, HELP!

I thought paying a "reasonable" rate for internet service was great until I got it. The beginning low rate is a come-on for no service.

Like the others have said, I've waited on line many times for over 20 minutes to get a "service" person. Sometimes after waiting for over 30 minutes I mysteriously get cut off! I've attempted to download my "free" virus and security software several times over the last two weeks but the system won't recognize my password and email address. I've had them re-set by earthlink twice and still can't get anything. I got tricked into buying another virus package from them but after I found out it still did not include a firewall, went through the whole fiasco again and cancelled it. I got so mad the other night I tried to cancel but can't get anyone to answer the damn phone!

Hi, my name is alina and i'm writing you about my terrible earthlink experience. After ordering their services they never showed up to install it and they wouldn't even bother calling to cancel my appointments. After many phone calls and a lot of time wasted i decided to cancel because i could not longer wait and had to find another service provider. I called to cancel and was supposed to get a refund but they said i had to wait until i sent the package back, and another 3 weeks after that. I called to ask how it is possible that my money is taken out in 3 days and it takes 3 weeks to get it back and the supervisor (jackie) said she is very sorry but she will make sure i will get my money as soon as possible. The date has passed and nothing happened. That means i have to call again and it will take another hour like every conversation with them. My advice is to contact any other service but this because i guarantee you it can't be any worse. They are unreliable, from the regular employee to the supervisor and is frustrating to hear them that they are sorry but can't help you in any way.

Earthlink keeps taking money out of my account. I call every month and they say they are going to refund me and they never do. They said they were going to give me two months free and what do they do charge my account again. They have stolen about 150.00 dollars. I dont know what to do anymore. I had to block them from my bank account so they wont take any more out. I really dont know how effective this is couse I just did it today. If I disconnect the service I have to pay the disconnection fee and to be honest I dont have the money to pay for this. I dont want for it to go to the credit burro. Because its under my sister in laws name.

The only way to get rid of Earthlink is to go to your bank and cancel the card or account their taking your money from and get a new account. Since 6/07 I tried to cancel. $21.95 a month! They do not refund stolen money!

I've had earthlink internet phone for two months, I've had to reset my modem at least 5 times per day no exageration. I never would have typed this but I've made about 15 phone calls today and have had some of my calls disconnected, or I'll call and the person on the recieving end can't hear me. This happens EVERY DAY I'm not lying. The only reason I'm doing this is because I just had to reset modem and I'm PISSED EVERY DAY. My sister had Vonyage and Power Phone (cheaper and better) and neither as terrible as Earthlink. I'm throwing Earthlink in garbage in 2 days.

Earthlink is a ripoff. They refuse to close my account after being told four times! They continue to call me demanding payment because I closed my credit card account after I started getting bogus charges. They refuse to let me speak to a supervisor and ask for bank account or debit card numbers to "verify" my identity. They seem to have a history of this.

Hey kulterminator (just your name reeks of prejudice),

I've been a customer of Earthlink for over 10 years.

Your post is an outright lie and you know it. Sky Dayton is or was a Scientologist who started an internet provider company and was really successful. He probably hired some Scientologists along the way. But to say that it's owned, run or somehow a front for Scientology? What?

Dayton has since sold it to someone else, not Scientologists, by the way. I think that happened about 5 years ago so if these complaints are since then, they have no connection to Mr. Dayton at all.

Some of you guys just go around the internet, making stuff up to upset people - like the guy on YouTube who said Robin Williams was dead.

Besides, isn't your comment a bit ridiculous? Replace the word, "Scientology" with the word, "Jewish, " "Catholic, " "Buddhist, " or "Pentecostal, " and people will see right through you. "Earthlink is a Jewish front organization, check for yourself."

What the hell would that even mean?

You're the fraud and should be taken off here.

Just so you folks know, earthlink is a scientology front organization, check for yourselves.

Send your complaint to the attorney general of your state and also to the Better Business Bureau. I had a similar situation with another internet provider and got NO WHERE trying to work it out with them. After I wrote to the AG and BBB, they were kissing my feet.

Why don't you sue them in small claims court?

Ask the judge for a full refund, all your costs and punitive damages.

Small claims is really easy and if Earthlink doesn't show up (it costs them too much to fight you), then you win.

AOL did this to consumers early this decade and had a class action lawsuit against them for purposely not letting costumers cancel after their free trial and charging them for months of unwanted subscriptions.

Sounded good on the phone. When the modem came at twice the price, I wrote a cancel letter and shipped to sender. Never activated the service. Started getting billed anyway. Stopped the never received service. Still billed then billed $200 for stopping early. People lied on the phone. Earthlink sucks. It is a monster.

I enrolled with People PC for a 5 month period (THEY RECOMMEDED) and paid up front, I used it for about 3 weeks and got DSL, People PC with Accelerator is TOO SLOW. My 5 months were up and they called me and said it was time to start paying again so I told them to cancel it, they said they could but it would cost me $18.90 for a month (it says on their package "NO COMMITMENT REQUIRED!") to cancel, I told the person again to cancel it and they said again that they could not, I have to call another number, I did and got a message telling me everyone was busy and to call back on another day! They called me again and said it would cost me $37.80 to cancel now BUT as a curtisy to me they would only charge me $18.80, I got sick of the cra_p and gave them a credit card number THEN they said OOPS, it charged me $37.80, I asked what they were going to do and they said they would refund me the $18.90, THEY DID NOT, I was charged $37.80 and I was told that the person I was talking to could not cancel my account that I had to call another number, I did and they asked all kinds of questions and when I asked them to cancel the account they said it was already cancelled? now the fight is on, try to get some one from Peolple PC that speaks plain enough english to understand! Anyway, People PC Charges for Service You Don't Use OR Get so "THERE IS A COMMITMENT!" I hope everyone reads this and no one signs up with PEOPLE PC and everyone that has them CANCEL YOUR ACCOUNT!

We had nothing but problems with this company from the start. My first clue was that their Indian accent was so thick that I could hardly understand what they were saying. I think this company is outsourced to India, so they are taking jobs away from honest hardworking Americans! We got exactly what we paid for. It was a nightmare! They made us have regular internet for a year then after a year they "let" us upgrade to a faster speed. I found out later that they dont care how good your credit is, you MUST stay current on your payment for a 1 year minimum before you can do any upgrade of any type. We thought there would be no more ethernet. NOPE! They didnt even carry wireless modems! What a crock of crap! Well, their internet always went down at least 2 times or more a week, and they never credited me for 2 days down time when the net went down yet again, and it was their fault. Poor quality products and workmanship. Gee, big surprise there! They were never late letting themselves charge my CC every month when payment was due. When we finally did get their "fastest" service, we were glad that we read the fine print, as if I had cancelled before my year was up, then I would have been charged $170 bucks for "early termination". When I told them I was cancelling, they ignored me and tried to sell me even more of their crappy service. I was getting quite annoyed by this point, and that woman in the cancel dept was getting on my nerves by this time. She would not let me off of the phone, and after 20 minutes of listening to her, I finally said "Cancel The Damn Service!" and then hung up on her. Sorry I had to get rude, but they dont like no for an answer. Do not use this company under any circumstances. Save yourself the headache and hassles. Cheaper is NOT better. We have now signed up wtih Qwest and have had NO problems at all. Guess I should have gone with them to begin with!

I was billed for 5 months of service to my credit card. I notified peoplepc and was advised that my wife charged the service. She is not even a signer on the card. Peoplepc would not cancel the transaction until the 5 months are up. I contacted the Credit Card company and filed a fraud claim against peoplepc followed up with a police report for identity theft against peoplepc. My wife advised she never talked with peoplepc. She has no need for a land line since we use aircards on our computers.

I cancelled over a year ago, and i have received a bill for $29.20. i dont have cancelled checks as the dial up fee of $9.95 per month was debited from my account! no one will call me back ! now i have been turned over for collection! my acct number is:[protected].. also the bill was sent to my po box 822894 vicksburg ms 39182
thanks in advance for all your help

After repeated attempts to get People PC to cancel the account we finally had to use a stop payment with the bank and still couldn't get past charges credited from People PC even though they were supposed to have closed it 32 MONTHS ago! When asked for a supervisor they yelled and hung up. Wells Fargo did give last three months back.

Got calls from PEOPLE PC saying I needed to update my payment information and that I owed $21. If I didn't do it, my internet service would be interrupted... well, guess what, I never had them for internet service so no big deal. Called back and the only thing the person could tell me is they would make a note. I believe this is a SCAM! Drafting my letter to NYS Atty General and anyone else I think may be interested.

BEWARE!

I canceled my online account three days prior to being charged for another month and i got charged two days ago for a closed account... looks like we got another aol on our hands and they too have lost a life time customer... i will continue to fight my situation with my bank and the people pc people... wish me luck if i have to i will cancel my bank account to stop this madness.

I don't know how I got involved with People PC but I have never inroled or requested there service.
People PC have billed me for services several times and I keep calling telling you I don't use your services. I have used sbcglobal.com for quite some time so I would apreciate it if you would straighten this out. My last bill is 51.85 and I have never used your service.

Respectfully Yours R.H.

Cancelled with them in March 08 and still getting charged 15.95. Called in April 08 still getting charged, called in aug. still no results!

On my credit card I was being billed $3.95 a month. I tried for months to get call and email PeoplePC to cancel my account. After 6 months, I gave up and canceled my credit card. And now. Today. A full 12 months later, I get a call from a bill collector saying I owe PoeplePC $25.40 How do I stop this nightmare?