CenturyLink Sued by Minnesota Amid $12 Billion Class Action

Both the state and the separate lawsuit allege deceptive sales practices, as the telecom is in the midst of a $34 billion merger.

1494858869_DATA — Photographer: Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg

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By Polly Mosendz and Scott Moritz

July 12, 2017 at 5:44 PM UTC

Updated on

July 12, 2017 at 9:18 PM UTC

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CenturyLink Inc., already facing a $12 billion lawsuit alleging that consumers were saddled with costly unwanted services, now must deal with a complaint by Minnesota, the first state to sue the telecommunications company over its billing practices since the class action was filed.

The state attorney general's suit, filed Wednesday, accuses CenturyLink of consumer fraud and deceptive trade practices. "CenturyLink has regularly misquoted the price of its internet and television services to Minnesota consumers," it alleges. "In a response to a complaint from the Minnesota Attorney General's Office on behalf of a consumer, a CenturyLink employee stated that, of the sales recordings she reviews, 'maybe 1 out of 5 are quoted correctly or close enough.' "