Signed up for a one year contract with Speakeasy in April 2007. Cancelled service with them in late January 2009. Speakeasy points to a one line item in a master agreement referenced in the work order I signed (but not included) that says service automatically renews for a one year period after contract expiration - apparently in perpetuity. They used that to bill me for 595.50 in early termination fees even though I went well past the 1 year service period.
This practice of not highlighting for the consumer considering their services that the service contract will automatically renew appears deceptive to me, or at best, poor policy for its customers. They also sent out no notice on 4/25/08 that the contract was renewed for another year.
We had not anticipated that we were on anything but a month to month service. By charging us for services from the 1/29 cancellation through April 25 (the two year anniversary of signing up) it cost us an extra 595.50 in addition to the phone service fees for the other provider we switched to.
David of Seattle, WA September 1, 2006
Like Verizon and Bell South, Speakeasy Networks has taken the opportunity to use the sunsetting of the USF fee on subscriber DSL lines to greatly increase their regulatory compliance fee (from 3.8 to 5.9% of the customer bill total, an increase of 55%!). This is a pure-profit surcharge made under the guise of a pass-through tax. HOWEVER, unlike Verizon or Bell South, Speakeasy has not recinded these extra charges even after considerable negative customer feedback has been given to them.
All Speakeasy broadband/DSL customers are being charged unecessary and unsupportable surcharges and fees, administered by Speakeasy under the premise that that are merely passing through the cost of taxes levied upon them. These fees amount to 2-3 per month *per user* and thus represent a considerable and unjustifiable economic burden on their customers.
Terms of Use Your use of this site constitutes acceptance of the Terms of Use
Advertisements on this site are placed and controlled by outside advertising networks. ConsumerAffairs.com does not evaluate or endorse the products and services advertised. See the FAQ for more information.
Company Response Welcome If complaints about your company appear on our site, we welcome your response. Please see the Response Form for more information.
For more information, see the FAQ and privacy policy. The information on this Web site is general in nature and is not intended as a substitute for competent legal advice. ConsumerAffairs.com Inc. makes no representation as to the accuracy of the information herein provided and assumes no liability for any damages or loss arising from the use thereof.
Print This 
Email This
