CenturyLink: bill went up

Collect

• bills before and after
• the notice of change

Steps

1. Check the bill or email for the 30-day written notice. If there was none, dispute the increase as a billing error.

   PhoneCenturyLink account and tech support ("CTL Only" region on the contact page) +1-800-201-4099

2. Ask for a lower plan or current offer. Write down every offer with the name and date.

More contacts for this issue

Facts you can cite

• Policy

  Increases to monthly recurring and non-recurring charges are effective upon 30 days written notice, including email and messages on or with the invoice.

  Source: centurylink.com, verified 2026-10-12

• Policy

  For Quantum Fiber, a customer who does not accept a materially adverse change during a commitment must cancel within 14 days of the notice to avoid an early termination fee.

  Source: quantumfiber.com, verified 2026-10-12

• Process

  CenturyLink disputes go to court, not arbitration. The customer must first present the claim in writing; a lawsuit may be filed only if the claim is not resolved within 60 days after CenturyLink receives the notice. Both sides waive a jury trial.

  Source: centurylink.com, verified 2026-10-12

• Policy

  CenturyLink reimburses filing fees for a small claims lawsuit filed in line with the agreement's dispute terms, whether or not the customer wins.

  Source: centurylink.com, verified 2026-10-12

• Process

  Quantum Fiber disputes need a Notice of Dispute to AT&T and 60 days after a complete notice before arbitration; legal action must start within two years of the event.

  Source: quantumfiber.com, verified 2026-10-12

Rules in force

• FCC "all-in" pricing rule for cable and satellite TV
  47 CFR 76.310 (FCC 24-29, MB Docket No. 23-203, 89 FR 28660, April 19, 2024; compliance dates at 89 FR 87983, November 6, 2024)

  Cable operators and satellite (DBS) TV providers must show the total "all-in" price for video programming as a single line item on bills, and as an aggregate price in any promotion that states a price. Providers may add an itemized breakdown, but the aggregate price must be stated. Bills must also say when a promotional price ends.

  Source: ecfr.gov, verified 2026-10-12

  2 citable points

  • Policy

    Cable operators and DBS providers must state an aggregate price for the video programming they provide as a clear, easy-to-understand and accurate single line item on subscribers' bills, including bills for legacy or grandfathered plans. They may add an itemized explanation of the elements of that line item.

    Source: ecfr.gov, verified 2026-10-12

  • Deadline

    If a price is introductory or limited in time, the bill must state when it ends (the length of the discount or the date the price changes), and must show the post-promotion rate 60 and 30 days before the end of the introductory period.

    Source: ecfr.gov, verified 2026-10-12

• FCC broadband consumer labels
  47 CFR 8.1 (Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act section 60504); amended by FCC 26-48, 91 FR 52251 (August 13, 2026)

  Fixed and mobile broadband providers must show a standard "broadband consumer label" for each plan they sell, at every point of sale (website, stores, phone sales) and in the customer's online account. The label shows the monthly price, introductory rates, fees, data allowance and typical speeds. An August 2026 FCC order will relax some display rules, but most of those changes had not taken effect on 2026-10-12.

  Source: ecfr.gov, verified 2026-10-12

  4 citable points

  • Policy

    Each provider of broadband internet access service must create and display a broadband consumer label for each stand-alone plan it currently offers, prominently displayed, publicly available and easily accessible to consumers, in the format the FCC prescribes.

    Source: ecfr.gov, verified 2026-10-12

  • Policy

    The label contains critical information about the plan, including pricing, introductory rates, data allowances and performance metrics. Phone sales representatives must cover the monthly price, typical speeds, latency, data allowance, contract term and early termination fees.

    Source: federalregister.gov, verified 2026-10-12

  • Deadline

    Under the current text, a provider must archive labels for at least two years after a plan stops being sold to new subscribers, and must give an existing customer on that plan the archived label within thirty days of a request. The August 2026 order eliminates the archiving requirement once its amendments to 8.1(a) take effect.

    Source: ecfr.gov, verified 2026-10-12

  • Policy

    The FCC's August 2026 order (FCC 26-48) will let providers summarize the label orally on phone sales, show passthrough fees as a single "up to" amount split into government and third-party charges, use a link or icon instead of the full label at the point of sale and in account portals, and drop the machine-readable spreadsheet and archiving requirements. Its changes to 8.1(a) are delayed until the FCC publishes an effective date; its changes to 8.1(b) took effect September 14, 2026.

    Source: federalregister.gov, verified 2026-10-12

If that fails, escalate

Go up one step at a time. Keep the reference numbers and dates from each contact.

1. Customer service

   PhoneCenturyLink account and tech support ("CTL Only" region on the contact page) +1-800-201-4099

2. Retention team

   OnlineHow to cancel your CenturyLink service (call or chat)
   EmailQuantum Fiber customer service email (billing disputes, cancellation, equipment) fibersuccess@quantumfiber.com

   CenturyLink publishes no retention number.

3. Written complaint

   EmailCenturyLink written Notice of Claim (required before a lawsuit) legalaffairs@lumen.com

   CenturyLink requires a written Notice of Claim before any lawsuit.

4. Federal regulator

   RegulatorFederal Communications Commission, Consumer Complaint Center +1-888-225-5322

5. State agency

   Your state’s utility commission. Find it in the list of state agencies (also as JSON: states/<code>.json, for example states/ny.json).

6. State agency

   Your state’s attorney general. Find it in the list of state agencies (also as JSON: states/<code>.json, for example states/ny.json).

7. Small claims court

   The CenturyLink agreement sends disputes to court (bench trial, jury waived), not arbitration, after a 60-day resolution window. CenturyLink reimburses small claims filing fees when the terms are followed.

8. Arbitration

   MailQuantum Fiber Notice of Dispute (AT&T legal department) Legal Department - Notice of Dispute, AT&T, 208 S. Akard, Office

   Quantum Fiber (AT&T) customers only. Send the Notice of Dispute first and allow 60 days after a complete notice.

Watch out

Related

• Bill went up at other companies
• Internet, cable and satellite TV — how complaints work
• CenturyLink: billing error
• CenturyLink: cancellation problem
• CenturyLink: equipment return