I called Centurylink's customer service number on Wednesday, August 11, to report a problem with my phone line. After a 20+ minute hold, I explained my difficulty. I was then transferred to someone else in another department. After explaining my difficulty again, I was transferred to a third individual. After explaining my difficulty AGAIN, I was put on hold. Moments later, the call was disconnected.

I called back. After another 15+ minute wait, I explained my difficulty to another "customer service" rep, who assured me that a Centurylink repairman would be at my house the next day between 8am and noon.

I re-scheduled all my morning appointments in order to be able to meet the service tech. At 2:30 pm, I called customer service. After another long wait, the "customer service" rep told me that it would be Friday between 8am and noon.

Again, I re-scheduled all my appointments and spent the day waiting. By 5:30, it was apparent no one was coming to fix my phone. Since it was the weekend, I would have to wait until Monday.

I called back this morning and found a very nice young lady who was very helpful and sounded understanding. She actually spoke with her supervisor and called me back, assuring me that someone would be out today.

I received a call from our regional repair offices, who told me that they were following up and would call me right back. That was this morning. It is now nearly 4 pm and I have yet to get a call.

I am convinced that Centurylink could not care less about their customers. They know that we have no choice but to use them because they have a monopoly in our town.

This is not the first time I have had problems with Centurylink. Their DSL service is slow and unreliable and calls to get it fixed are totally ignored. They have THE WORST customer service of any company I have ever written a monthly check to.

The worst customer service representatives I have ever dealt with in my entire life! The outgoing message on their customer service line actually says they pride themselves for their "excellent customer service" -- what a joke! Over the course of 2 business days, I have spoken with 8 individuals from their company. I was treated with rude sarcasm and placed on extensive & excessive holds. I finally contacted the corporate office in Monroe, LA -- The receptionist who took my call said she would have Donna from 10Q call me back. She went on to say that Donna was the wife of the police officer that sits at next to her all day long!! Can you believe that the receptionist has an actual police officer at her side? She said it was protection from irate customers who may want to take their frustrations out on her. Wow! This is the most bizarre work environment I have ever heard of! I worked in the Nation's capital for over 12 years in the 80's. There were some unfortunate security issues -- but nothing would have warranted that level of security in a corporate business office.

Donna called & left me a voice mail with the same customer service number I had been dealing with all along. Instead of leaving a direct dial number or even attempting to call me at a later time. So I called back & spoke with Kaye, the receptionist. She informed me that Donna had been very busy all day -- to which I said I also had been very busy over the 2 full days I had been seeking assistance to no avail. I think I need to remind them that my time is as valuable as theirs. Those hours on the phone with their poor excuse for customer service are hours I will never get back and they don't care!

Needless to say, I have opted to cancel my service with their company. They have no customer service and their COO is only concerned with the almighty buck - she needs to realize that the bucks come from the customers - not the acquisition of other companies. You are losing and will continue to lose customers fast!! So long!

Centurylink has the worst customer service/technical support in the universe. Seriously, I have had 4 weeks 3-4 hours per day talking with one incompetent person after another. They all are from the states and all are friendly and have good English. However 90% of the time you are speaking with someone who has no clue on support, it's like they hired taxi cab drivers to become DSL experts! The support has come to the point that the phone people get to a point where they cannot help so they just hang-up and force you to call back, wait another 20 minutes or so before talking to another taxi driver!

The latest round of support does not even compare the first round with the actual monthly charges. I was lied to about the monthly amount and the length of contract. I was told that I would pay 44.95 per month with a 12 month contract or 54.95 for a month to month contract, then while talking with someone in support they told me I was on a 79.95 three year contract! If I had a choice I would cancel everything, but I need internet to run my business. It's just a shame that a company so large can have so much incompetence! I don't think anyone intentionally lied to me, but the middle managers all have different agenda's and information, so the person that talks with the customers has no clue on Centurylink policies, prices or support.

Here's a copy of the email I have just sent to the CEO of Centurylink telco. Next stop, FCC!

Dear Mr. Post,

I have spent over a month, and well over 10 hours on the phone to various departments at your company in a vain attempt to get telephone service set up for our new home in Greeneville, TN.

My first contact with your company was on July 4, to set up service on August 2. I was assured that this was PLENTY of notice. It would be no problem at all to set up service that far in advance on our newly constructed house. ...So we arranged for our electrician and security systems people to meet us on August 2nd to tie everything in. ... Did I mention that my husband and I took a day off from work to drive 5 hours from Atlanta to Greeneville to do this? Did I mention that electricians get paid by the hour to sit there and wait for telephone people? Well, there you have it.

August 2 comes and goes, no service call, no explanation. August 3, still no service, no explanation. August 4, finally reached someone at your company who could read! (Joy!) "Oh, someone cancelled this order. So sorry. Don't know why. We've had some problems with database conversions since we merged"

Really? This from an NYSE listed phone company with illusions of becoming a communications company???

But wait. Have no fear... on August 4, four different people, with different levels of competency and literacy, assured me that on August 6 there would be service. "Yes, we understand you're not there. Yes, we have your cell phone number, just in case. Yes, we understand this is new construction. We understand that you already paid once to have an electrician twiddle their thumbs all day. We understand that there is no cell reception at your location, so having a land line is kind of important and we are obligated by law to provide it if you request and pay for it."

Care to guess why I am writing to you today????

Someone... someone likely drawing a salary from your company (from your shareholders)... scribbled a note that no-one in your company can presently decypher. If you're curious, try it yourself! You can look it up under our potential, someday, maybe in the future, number of xxx-xxx-xxxx. That should be fun. As a result of said note, the project was put on hold until August 20th. No-one bothered to call. No-one bothered to contact the writer of the note to say "what the %$# does this mean"? Today I spent over an hour just to get someone to admit it.

Tell me, Mr. Post, is Centurylink a company I should be happy with? Or does CTL deserve its very own "centurylinksucks.com" web page or facebook group? Should I tweet your list of analysts to see if they can help me out? Or will someone finally do something that shows a shred of competency? How hard is it to get phone service???

I'd like to hear from you.

For several months now, I have been calling the customer repair "service" number in an attempt to have a problem with my service corrected. Nothing gets resolved and I have just spent almost 30 minutes on hold. I finally got a number online for the executive offices and was told by the Kay, the switchboard that she would only "agree" to connect me to customer service...are you kidding me??????? This company needs to do some serious training !!