After requesting invoices for 3 months and not receiving them we paid estimated amounts on two phone lines and finally gave up and changed phone companies.

Then we received a collection call for the amount of $59.09 for two lines. We asked for an invoice before sending payment. We were immediately sent to their in-house collection agency (Triangle). We received at least 6 calls a day. On the day we received the invoice, we paid it. The calls continued for 10 days and then ceased. They began again after 3 weeks. I called Embarq to complain. They denied ever sending our account to collection. They said we had a credit balance. We called Triangle and they said we were on automatic dial and would be removed. They called again and said we would be removed. On the fourth call they said maybe they wanted to thank us (by harassing us) for paying.

These people are the most poorly trained, the most uncaring and the most inept I have ever dealt with.

Embarq refused me and my family new service because they say I owe them over $1000.00 dollars from a bill dating back to 1999. I have never had Embarq in my life! And Embarq is the only phone company allowed in my apartment complex. I am trying to get them to send me a copy of this 'so called bill', but when they try to connect me to customer service, I get disconnected.

I had no choice in choosing phone providers when I opened my business in Houston. Embarq has a monopoly, so I signed up for service. I have two lines, one with internet and one for fax. Apparently, I need a bundle package on both lines, including services that I do not need, to get a "special" rate for my internet. So, I am currently paying for call waiting and such on a line that I just use to receive and send faxes. When I tried to cancel these services, I was told that cancellation would increase my internet service fees (which is on ANOTHER LINE) by $10. And a basic line is only four dollars less than the bundle package that I was signed up for. RIDICULOUS!
However, that is the least of my problems with Embarq. One of the phone jacks in the office does not work. When I called Embarq to ask them to fix this problem, I was told that it would cost a $200 trip charge and $30 per fifteen minutes for repair. I told the representative that the jack was broken before I opened my business and Embarq should provide complete and fully operable lines and jacks for their customers, especially new ones. But I was told that Embarq only takes care of problems with their exterior lines and customers are responsible for the condition of the lines inside. Again RIDICULOUS!
Whenever I call Embarq, it is a huge ordeal. No one knows ANYTHING! When I ask a simple question, such as, "When did you receive my last payment and how much was it for?" it takes the representative a full two minutes before she can answer me. Shouldn't basic account information like that be easily accessible? When I call to ask them to please put my long distance and local bills together, I get a yeah, sure. And then four months of separate bills. Thus, more calls, more empty answers and more headaches.
Embarq's long distance is unbelievable. One day, I tried to fax long distance. It didn't work, but when I faxed to a toll-free number, it went through. I tried making calls, again, no long distance. So, I called Embarq, asking why my long distance was cut off. The representative had no idea why. She just said, oh, it'll come back on within one to four hours. WHAT? Okay...maybe there was a problem with the lines, I can understand. A week later, again, my long distance was cut off. I called again.
This time, the representative tells me that I asked for it to be cut off.
No, I use this fax all the time, there is no way that I would call and ask you to cut off my long distance.
Well, let me look into it for you... Ten minutes later... Someone named Mandy asked to terminate the long distance.
There is no one here by that name.
Oh, I see... Mandy has a residential line with the same number and she terminated service.
I don't understand. Someone with this number, but different area code, with a different account number terminated her residential line and now our long distance is cut off?
yeah...I think so.
That makes no sense.
Well, that's what it says on my screen.
Well, I need long distance, I need it back on.
Okay, we have to go through an automated system that will authorize the new service.
This call took roughly fifty minutes from my day. It was completely unnecessary. There is a poor woman named Mandy out there that thinks that she disconnected her line, but is still getting charged, most likely.
I do not understand how this company operates. How do these people that do not know anything get on the phone and help customers? It is completely ludicrous.
My wish for the new year is that another telephone company offers their services wherever Embarq does. No one should have to endure the incompetence of these employees and the unfair tactics that Embarq uses to squeeze more money out of its customers.

We moved in March 2008 and relocated our telephone and DSL service with Embarq. There were problems at our new location and we went 3 weeks without phone or internet service. We called several times and a repair man came out twice. It took 3 weeks to resolve, we were unable to get a credit from Embarq for the 3 weeks without service. I fail behind in my payments, though I was paying twice monthly and Embarq cut the DSL service off and is now charging me a $99 early termination fee. I have tried to pay the full balance less this made up fee but they refuse to help or compromise. I know they can waive the fee and accept my full payment today but they are swindling people instead. The customer service has been rude and lousy. The DSL service was good but I would not recommend using Embarq because you trade the good DSL service for overpriced service and rude customer service and believe you me, if you use Embarq there will surely be many times that you will have to contact the customer service dept!

Ordered telephone and high speed internet service on 4/15/2008. Did not receive modem, so I called Embarq on 5/19/08 and cancelled service. On 6/7/08, I received an invoice for $132.00, so I called again. This time I spoke with Matt on 6/26/08. Matt apologized and promised that the account will be credited. Received a another invoice again and called again on 8/13/08 and spoke with Michelle and Sarah. Michelle stated that the account will be credited. Embarq is in possession of the modem(s). Received a collection letter and called today, 10/28/08 and spoke with Chad, Sheree and Tiffany. I asked Tiffany what happened to Embarq's dedication to customer service? She replied "You are no longer a customer, so there is no customer service". I do not owe the $344.00 for charges incurred on this account. I cancelled service because I did not receive the equipment. I would appreciate the account to be properly credited. Embarq did not provide equipment for service. I did not have telephone or high speed internet service. PLEASE HELP ME IN RESOLVING THIS MATTER. THIS IS GOING ON 6 MONTHS!