EarthLink Sues Charter Subsidiary Over Allegedly Misleading Customers To Switch Providers
September 09 2020 - 7:22PM
Dow Jones News
By Kimberly Chin
EarthLink LLC has sued a Charter Communications Inc. subsidiary,
alleging the communications company misled EarthLink subscribers
with false information in order to get them to switch internet
providers.
EarthLink filed a complaint with the Supreme Court State of New
York on Wednesday.
The Atlanta-based internet provider said that Charter
Communications Operating LLC had misled EarthLink customers about
their internet options in order to win business and reduce
competition.
EarthLink said Charter, which operates under the brand name
Spectrum, had falsely told EarthLink customers that the company was
"out of business," was "taken over," or that EarthLink's internet
service wasn't available in markets where it was.
"These false statements have reduced connectivity options for
customers when they need it most, damaged EarthLink's reputation
and brand, and directly resulted in lost customers," EarthLink said
in a statement.
A Charter spokesperson declined to comment.
Under an agreement struck with Charter's predecessor in 2000,
EarthLink has paid Charter fees for selling its high-speed data
service over Charter's cable network.
EarthLink said it is seeking damages, which could include a
portion of the fees it has paid to Charter. The company said it has
paid Charter hundreds of millions of dollars to use its cable
network and to have the cable operator handle billing and service
issues.
Write to Kimberly Chin at kimberly.chin@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
September 09, 2020 19:07 ET (23:07 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2020 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
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