- Minnesota AG Keith Ellison reached a settlement with international telecommunications company CenturyLink, Inc. and related companies (collectively, “CenturyLink”) to resolve allegations of deceptive advertising and billing practices in violation of Minnesota’s Consumer Fraud Act and deceptive trade practices law.
- The complaint alleges that, among other things, CenturyLink billed consumers for amounts other than those they were quoted, imposed hidden fees to effectively increase the price above the promised fixed price, and did not honor promised discounts.
- Under the terms of the consent judgment, CenturyLink is required to disclose all charges, fees, and material terms in its sales and advertising materials and provide consumers with an “Order Confirmation” containing a complete summary of the price consumers will pay. It must also honor all promised discounts and stop charging hidden internet fees. In addition, CenturyLink will pay $8.9 million, including $8.05 million to the state and $844,655 in direct refunds to Minnesota consumers.
- As previously reported, CenturyLink recently reached similar settlements with Washington AG Bob Ferguson and Oregon AG Ellen Rosenblum.