DSL Extreme - BEWARE OF THEIR RETURN MODEM SCAM!!! Chatsworth California

DSL Extreme "Billing" is the WORST of all with a bunch rude and arrogant people. I had them for almost 10 yrs and had to cancel because I couldn't get anything more than 6Mbps download where we live. Called and scheduled a termination of service, everything went fine, they email me the address and RMA # (which is the same as your account number) so you can return the modem.

I sent the modem back, wait for a few days then call Accounting to settle the early "terminating" fee (even though I've been with them for almost 10 yrs), they said that I own them 136$ for "early termination fee" plus $99.90 for the modem...told them that I did returned the modem, she then asked me if I have the tracking number...said I don't but I can have it the next day for her. The next day I called and give them the tracking number and told them the name of the person signed for it, she put me on hold for 30 min. and then came back and said "Sorry about that, we did receive your modem"...so I went on and give them my c/c to pay the early termination fee., she told me that my account is now officially closed and cleared.

Guess what...a month later I received a letter from a collection agency for $99.90, turned out that DSLE sent my account to the collection agency. Called DSLE and talked to someone named "Maria", she pulled up the account and said she sees all the notes that the modem was returned and the early termination fee was paid...but she doesn't know why my account was sent for collection, took my phone number and promised that she'll call me back the next day....2 days passed by without a call from anyone from DSLE...so I called and got a different person this time, asked to speak to Maria but was told that she is not available...

explained my situation again and she had me on hold 3 times, came back and told me a different story today and it was totally different from my last conversation with them..This lady wouldn't give me a name and she said that the amount that I paid was applied to the modem, not the early termination fee (???)...refused to let me speak to the Manager.....Anyway, I'm going to fight back, contest the charge and write a letter to the collection agency, Affiliated Credit Service in MN, to explain the whole thing plus reporting to the BBB about their scam practice.

For all of you out there with DSL Extreme as your internet provider, BE VERY CAREFUL when you deal with DSL Extreme....Keep all the tracking records forever for your protection if you decide to cancel and return the modem....These people are con artists....they know that we will throw away the tracking after we paid the final bill, thinking that the account is now closed and cleared.....Well, we're dead wrong....these crooks will wait for a few months then send your account to collection agency claiming that they never receive the modem.....There are tons of reports about this scam from DSL Extreme and I'm baffled that they're still in business and ripping off people.

P.S. I loved listening to Leo The Tech guy on radio on the week-end but will not listen to him anymore since he is a big endorser for this company...what a shame!!!