CenturyLink Sales Practices Class Action Settlement

UPDATE 2:

• Claimants reported receiving payments of up to $67.54 as of mid-March 2021.
• Congratulations to everyone who made a claim and got paid!

UPDATE:

• The CenturyLink Sales Practices Class Action Settlement was granted final approval on Dec. 14, 2020.
• Let Top Class Actions know when you receive a check in the comments section below or on our Facebook page.

CenturyLink has agreed to pay $15.5 million to resolve allegations that they deceived consumers with misleading billing practices.

The settlement benefits consumers who had an account with CenturyLink or one of its operating companies for telephone, internet or television services between Jan. 1, 2014 and Jan. 14, 2020.

Plaintiffs in the CenturyLink class action lawsuits claimed that the company deceptively promised certain rates to consumers, only to charge a higher rate during actual billing.

The CenturyLink class action also claimed customers were billed for unauthorized, undisclosed or improper charges for services or equipment that was not actually applicable.

As a result of these charges, the plaintiffs were allegedly charged much higher costs than expected. These expenses reportedly mounted if plaintiffs chose to terminate their accounts in response to the unfair charges. The plaintiffs claim they were charged termination fees and were even improperly sent to collections without any valid reason.

These practices were reportedly a result of CenturyLink tasking their salespeople with “draconian sales quotas and revenue targets” to be met “through any means necessary.” According to the plaintiffs, “CenturyLink’s chosen business model yielded predictable results by encouraging and rewarding deceptive and other unlawful conduct.”

CenturyLink faced several class action lawsuits which were eventually consolidated into a multidistrict litigation (MDL) based in Minnesota federal court.

CenturyLink has not admitted any wrongdoing in the MDL but has agreed to pay $15.5 million to cover Class Member payments, attorneys’ fees, court costs, and plaintiff service awards.

In addition, the company will pay $3 million to cover settlement administration and notice expenses. If costs exceed $3 million, an addition $1 million will be covered equally by CenturyLink and the settlement fund.

Under the settlement, Class Members can collect a flat payment of $30. If Class Members can provide supporting documentation, they can receive up to 40 percent of whatever damage they are claiming.

In order to benefit from the CenturyLink class action settlement, Class Members need to file a valid claim form by June 23, 2020. The deadline for exclusion and objection is also June 23, 2020. The final approval hearing is scheduled for Aug. 27, 2020.

Who’s Eligible

Consumers who had an account with CenturyLink or one of its operating companies for telephone, internet, or television services between Jan. 1, 2014 and Jan. 14, 2020.

Potential Award

A $30 flat payment or up to 40 percent of whatever documented overcharges they claim.

For example, a Class Member without documentation could collect a $30 payment. If a Class Member provides documentation of $100 in unreimbursed overcharges, they can collect a payment of $40.

Payments may increase or decrease depending on the number of claims filed with the CenturyLink class action settlement.

Proof of Purchase

Billing statements, communications between the consumer and CenturyLink, proof of payment, contemporaneous notes regarding billing, or other documentation of unreimbursed overcharges.

Claim Form

CLICK HERE TO FILE A CLAIM »

NOTE: If you do not qualify for this settlement do NOT file a claim.

Remember: you are submitting your claim under penalty of perjury. You are also harming other eligible Class Members by submitting a fraudulent claim. If you’re unsure if you qualify, please read the FAQ section of the Settlement Administrator’s website to ensure you meet all standards (Top Class Actions is not a Settlement Administrator). If you don’t qualify for this settlement, check out our database of other open class action settlements you may be eligible for.

Claim Form Deadline

6/23/2020  NOTICES SENT IN MARCH APRIL

8/25/2020  NOTICES SENT AFTER JUNE 19, 2020

10/26/2020  NOTICES SENT AFTER AUGUST 26, 2020

Case Name

In re: CenturyLink Sales Practices and Securities Litigation, MDL No. 17-2795, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota

Final Hearing

11/19/2020   UPDATED

Settlement Website

www.CenturyLinkMDLClassSettlement.com

Claims Administrator

CenturyLink MDL Class Settlement – 6757
c/o Rust Consulting
PO Box 479
Minneapolis, MN 55440-0479
info@CenturyLinkMDLClassSettlement.com

Class Counsel

Carolyn G. Anderson
Brian C. Gudmundson
ZIMMERMAN REED LLP

Ben J. Meiselas
GERAGOS & GEREGOS APC

Mark M. O’Mara
O’MARA LAW GROUP

Defense Counsel

Douglas P. Lobel
David A. Vogel
COOLEY LLP

WINTHROP & WEINSTINE PA

WHEELER TRIGG O’DONNELL LLP

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