EarthLink Plans For Now And Later With Level 3

[Mntsnow]

With 4 million dial-up subscribers and 1 million broadband users, EarthLink knows that the slower form of Internet access service will be around for years.

Given that, it is doing what it can to keep those narrowband users satisfied, so they'll stay with the Atlanta-based Internet service provider when they're ready to upgrade to high-speed access.
Read more (http://www.internetnews.com/xSP/article.php/3307791)

[davidw]

Most people who decide to get away from Earthlink get more charges on their bills.
When I called to cancel service a couple years ago, I was informed that all charges that I was paying for were just that. I cancelled the service, paid my bill, and three months later, I got a bill for service that never existed. After a few months of threatening letters and phone calls, a lawyer finally stepped in on this harrasment.
When I canceled my mother's Internet services (on similar terms), I called and was assured (last year) that all charges that would incur or have been incurred had been totalled. The account was closed and the bill was paid. Three months later, she has received (now) three bills adding up to three months worth (compounded) of service she never used nor wanted to use.

I think Earthlink is trying to "dupe" former customers into thinking they owe money in order to sqeeze those last pennies out of them. I think an investigation needs to be done - or at least a class action lawsuit pertaining to this issue.