American Satellite - Hughes Direcway - Earthlink - installation, billing problems

Complaints.com received the following consumer message on October 11, 2002:

From:

RE: American Satellite - Hughes Direcway - Earthlink - installation, billing problems I found your web site by searching Google. I was glad to see so many complaints. I too have a "hell" story. Just like that fellow with satellite difficulties I got the same run around on installation from American Satellite. They want to tear up my roof to put up the most god ugly tripod tower in order that there be a secure mount. ( Towers are not permitted in my town.)

The old electrical station (3" steel pipe) attached to the house so well that a force 4 tornado is needed to rip it out wasn't adequate in their view. Secondly they couldn't even install the earthlink software because they didn't have any and earthlink did not send me any. I sent American Satellite packing.

Oh, yeah,. I forgot to mention they wanted an extra $200 for the install. I called Earthlink day after day without ever getting a connection to a live person. In some cases I was on hold 4 hours before hanging up. ( Just to test how long it would take to talk to a live person.) I wonder if I could have held out for 24. I finally left a message and told them to forget it and cancel all install and service. Note that I never had service to start with.

Well, my Amex bill comes and low and behold $598 is charged to my account plus an additional 69.95 for the first month. I call billing and told them no way this is a non starter and refund me immediately. I did not want anything to do with them. What I got was 'Too bad. You owe us money for a year. pay up' . I said no and that they were trying to extort money from me. I got nowhere. I wanted to talk with their corporate lawyer. Nope. Not a chance. I called AMEX and got a full refund from them on the spot. Apparently they've heard of this company's fraudulent behavior.

Now What, Well I called Hughes Direcway, and get setup with them. I install the dish ( I have a pro SAT finder ) lock in the signal and am up and running in less than an hour. Problems. None! Service is good. Had a few minor problems. Got talk all the way up to a VP. Had a heat related problem. They were ready to send me a new unit. I resolved it by moving the unit a cool dry location in the basement utility room.

End of story? Nope. Earthlink continues to bill me for internet connection even though I go directly to Direcway and am billed by them ($59.95). They also want a $400 disconnection fee. Disconnect from what? Then they re instated the account without asking or providing service and again are asking for $69.95 a month. ( Had to cancel AMEX to prevent further charges. This has been going on since January 2002. This is October. Now I am getting calls from a collection agency. Earthlink is a rogue company bent on unscrupulous business tactics, fraud, outright theft, bullying, extortion and blackmail. I refuse to pay them one thin dime.

If any one out there is interested in joining me in a lawsuit please contact me at Email User . I have also been in contact with my local district attorney and the state attorney general. Wouldn't it be nice if they had to refund everyone who has had a problem large or small.

I'd like to here from anyone about issues with earthlink.

Regards,

Don