CenturyLink to Pay $550,000 Fine for Unauthorized Phone Charges [telecom]

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By Jon Reid

CenturyLink Inc. will pay $550,000 to resolve a federal investigation into complaints that it placed unauthorized charges on customers' landline phone bills, the Federal Communications Commission announced Aug. 13.

Some CenturyLink customers complained of being billed for long-distance phone services provided by other phone companies that they didn't authorize. The process, known as cramming, runs afoul of the Communications Act. Customers also said they had trouble getting timely refunds from the company.