Fierce Telecom reports…

CenturyLink has agreed to pay almost $9 million to settle charges that it overbilled customers in Minnesota for internet and television service, according to the Associated Press. The company said it disagrees with the charges brought against it by Minnesota attorney general Keith Ellison, but wants to settle in order to avoid the costs of litigation.

Roughly 12,000 Minnesota residents will get about $70 each from CenturyLink. If they are still customers of the company they will get a bill credit, and if not they will receive a check. These 12,000 people were allegedly promised discounts they did not receive, but according to Ellison’s office there are many other people who are due refunds. The bulk of the settlement, $8 million, will go directly to the attorney general’s office, which will use the money to distribute refunds to other customers.

According to the AG’s office, many of these customers were paying bogus fees each month for internet service. The charges were allegedly disguised in order to make them look like government fees, but they were actually going to CenturyLink. The company is accused of ratcheting these fake fees up gradually over time, and has now agreed to stop charging them.