Consumers beware of this company EARTHLINK.NET. They are a fraud. I signed up with them for phone service and internet and they do not provide either service satisfactorily. I made the mistake to give them my credit card information and they immediately charged $60.00 for no reason. They also sold me equipment that they knew I did not need. Their phone service works sporadically and they have the worst customer service. CHOOSE SOMEONE ELSE.

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 just found out Earthlink has been charging me for 3 1/2 years! I canceled service for the third time yesterday. When I called back to give them the previous two confirmation numbers from canceling service to get my money back, they told me they had no record of either one. Then they said I would have to contact them within 30 days of cancellation to get reimbursed. How convenient is that.

I have posted about this on my blog and on facebook and within a couple hours I had several responses from others who have also experienced this problem with Earthlink.

I signed up for Earthlink Dial-up service around June of 2008. I Have been trying to cancel my service since July of 2008. I was charged almost $23.00 per month, they have also double charged me at times, and I have not used their service. I have tried to call them numerous times, and I actually get hung up on when I tell them my problem! This is unbelievable. I had to go as far as to cancel my debit card and get a new one, and now they are sending me bills in the mail! I contacted them through e-mail, with no response of course, and I am just out of options. What can I do?

I attempted to sign up with Earthlink DSL service in January 2009. I was told that since I had a certain local phone provider, they could not provide DSL service for me and an account would NOT be opened. In the past two weeks, my cell phone has begun ringing with recorded message from Earthlink billing department. I called them back and was transfered to fraud department and was told I had no account with the company.

Today, I came home and pulled up my bank statement online and $65.19 was taken out this morning by Earthlink. I called to find out why and was told a supervisor would call me back in 48 hours. I explained this was unacceptable and a supervisor is always available and demanded to speak to one NOW. After arguing with this woman for 30 minutes, a supervisor suddenly appeared and was available to talk to me.

I was initially told only $21.95 of my money would be refunded since the remaining $40.00 was for shipping and handling. Shipping of what? I do not have Earthlink service!!! Then, he gave me a different figure he could refund since I did have service for the past 3 months. Again, I DO NOT have and have NEVER had their service.

After several failed attempts from this supervisor to barter my own stolen money, he agreed to refund the full amount back to me. He provided me with a 'reference number' for the refund and was told it was going to take 7-10 business days. Needless to say, I AM NOT holding my breath. I already called my bank to report an illegal transaction.