Class Action Alleges CenturyLink Reneged on Benefits of Its Price for Life Internet Plan

CenturyLink reneged on its promises to lock in monthly internet prices for residential Price For Life program subscribers who remained in good standing, maintained service at the same residential address without interruption and didn’t change their CenturyLink service plans, alleged a fraud class action Friday (docket 3:23-cv-01739) in U.S. District Court for Oregon in Portland. CenturyLink promised the benefit in ads and promotions that began in 2017 and “also in the terms and conditions” that its residential internet customers contractually agreed to, it said. Price For Life subscribers gained price stability and peace of mind, prompting many of them to dismiss CenturyLink’s competitors’ offers, even “when those competitors offered better prices, faster speeds, more reliable connections, or other benefits,” it said. But CenturyLink in 2023 “quietly raised prices for Price For Life customers who had followed CenturyLink’s instructions and complied with the Price For Life terms,” it said. Many CenturyLink customers received no warning of any price hikes until they saw their monthly bills increase by $10 or more, it said. CenturyLink’s decision to break its Price For Life agreements “came on the heels of massive losses in the value of its business,” said the complaint. CenturyLink’s stock price plummeted in 2022, losing more than 55% of its value in just one year, it said. The company's stock in February lost more than 35% of its value, the complaint said. “Facing a financial crisis and desperate for increased cash flow, CenturyLink decided to extract more money from its customers in violation of its contracts,” it said. Oregon's Christopher Rosing, Jarrett Civelli and Jeffrey Haagenson bring their lawsuit on behalf of themselves and a nationwide class and an Oregon subclass composed of CenturyLink customers who subscribed to the Price For Life program and complied with the terms, yet “have still seen their bills increase,” said the class action. CenturyLink’s decision to breach its terms and conditions with customers "who loyally complied with them" is a breach of contract. Its advertising, marketing and treatment of the members of the Oregon subclass constitute violations of the Unlawful Trade Practices Act, and its receipt and retention of the funds above and beyond what it should have charged Price For Life subscribers is unjust enrichment, it said. Plaintiff Haagenson canceled his service after CenturyLink refused to honor its Price For Life commitment. He instead subscribed to Verizon residential internet service with a slower connection speed.