Here's the story:
I run a small business and signed up for Centurylink's Fiber+ service offered at my office building (since the fiber was already there). After over 2 months of waiting I finally got it installed last year in December.
My Fiber+ service provides:
1. 500 Megabit Internet connection delivered to my office via ethernet connection
2. One VoIP line
Monthly Charge is $496.00
In a nice chart emailed to me by the salesman, it showed speeds from 200Mbps to 1Gbps -- all including one VoIP line and estimated taxes of $15.00.
Also I was told that there were NO Federal Universal Service Fund (USF) fees for the internet portion (or data use) except for the VoIP line (which uses practically no data).
Well after the free 3 months provided, I got a bill for $562 -- which means I am being charged $65.34 in "Other Fees." Most of it is under the "Federal Universal Service Fund" column -- which is a whopping $53.58.
They value the VoIP line at $25.00 -- but my FUSF fees are twice as much! We rarely use the line anyway - because it is unreliable.
Now -- going on almost 45 days -- passed around to Regional Sales Managers to Legal Counsel to Billing Specialist to Regulatory Specialist (at least 12 different people) -- they finally came to a conclusion.
I've attached a copy of the email.
Look at their explanation of the charge and how they plan to correct my particular account (although nothing has been done as of this post). I view this explanation as "business as usual" and that it was not a mistake.
If you have business internet with Centurylink bundled with a POTS or VoIP line -- you are probably being charged at least a 10% fee in the name of the Federal Universal Service Fund (FUSF) -- which is fraud.
My case was originally being handled by Oregon PUC -- but they decided to send it to the OR Dept of Justice Fraud Division.
Please contact me if you are in the same boat. Take a look at your bills -- and see how much money you are owed.
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