
Centurylink's customer experience has been marred by frequent internet outages. Centurylink's customer support can be unreliable, with long wait times and unhelpful representatives.
Centurylink's internet outages can be caused by a range of factors, including equipment failures, network congestion, and maintenance.
Customers have reported waiting up to 30 minutes to speak with a representative, only to be transferred to a third-party support team.
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Checking for Outages
You can sign in to My CenturyLink on the web or in the app to see if you're impacted by an outage.
To check if CenturyLink is down, try using a different device to access your network. Sometimes, the issue is with your equipment, not the internet.
Check all the power cords and Ethernet cables going to and from your internet equipment to make sure they're securely connected. Loose connections can cause problems.
Restart or power cycle your internet equipment, including your modem, router, or gateway combo, to see if that resolves the issue.
You can also check the CenturyLink website for service status updates. The website displays a graph showing service status activity over the last 10 automatic checks.
If you're still having trouble, try clearing your browser's cache or force a full refresh by pressing CTRL + F5 keys at the same time.
Customer Experience
CenturyLink customers have mixed experiences with their service. Many customers are satisfied with the reliability of their fiber internet, with 61% saying they "rarely" or "never" experience outages.
Some customers have reported slow speeds and frequent outages, especially with DSL internet. A customer in Oregon, Karen Kurt, had no CenturyLink DSL internet service since November 4, 2024, and experienced frequent phone outages as well.
The company's customer service has also been criticized, with some customers reporting that technicians don't show up for scheduled repair appointments. A customer in Washington, David Stromberg, reported that his phone service had been out since September 16, and that scheduled repair appointments went by with no repairs.
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Customers who do experience outages can get bill credits if the outage lasts 24 hours or more. To get the credit, customers need to report it by calling +1-800-244-1111 or using the company's automated troubleshooting tool.
A customer in Oregon, Karen Kurt, reported that she received emails from CenturyLink falsely claiming that service had been restored, even though the problem remained unsolved.
Troubleshooting and Support
If you're experiencing an internet outage with CenturyLink, the first step is to check your physical connection, as a loose or damaged cable can cause the issue.
CenturyLink recommends checking your modem and router for any lights that may indicate a problem, such as a blinking or solid red light.
Unplugging your modem and router for 30 seconds can sometimes resolve the issue by restarting the equipment.
CenturyLink's outage map can help you determine if the issue is with your local area, as outages are often reported on the map.
If the issue persists, contact CenturyLink's customer service, which is available 24/7, to report the outage and get assistance.
CenturyLink's support team can also provide you with troubleshooting steps and help you identify the cause of the issue.
In some cases, a CenturyLink technician may need to visit your location to repair or replace equipment, which can take a few hours to a few days to schedule.
Common Issues
Internet outages can be frustrating, especially if you're already dealing with slow speeds. CenturyLink's network can be particularly problematic, as seen in the case of Kurt, who experienced multiple outages after a nearly three-month outage ended.
Slow speeds can be a major issue, even if the network is technically "performing as expected." Kurt's 1.5Mbps service was supposed to be sufficient, but she found it was slower than expected, making it difficult to load web pages.
Internet outages can be caused by a variety of factors, including equipment failures or network congestion. Restarting the router might temporarily resolve the issue, but it's not a long-term solution.
Municipalities may build public broadband networks to address issues like these, but CenturyLink has lobbied against such efforts. The company claims it wants to provide a level playing field for all internet service providers, but its actions suggest otherwise.
In some cases, internet speeds can be slower than expected, even if the network is functioning as intended. Kurt's experience is a prime example, where she could only access some sites, but the speed was still unacceptably slow.
Copper Network Technician Shortage
CenturyLink's copper network is aging, and the company is facing a shortage of technicians to maintain and upgrade it. Many of these technicians are nearing retirement age, which is exacerbating the shortage.
In 2020, CenturyLink reported that it had 2,000 fewer technicians than it needed to maintain its network. This shortage has led to increased outages and slower internet speeds for customers.
The company has been trying to recruit new technicians, but it's a challenging task due to the technical skills and physical demands of the job. It's estimated that it takes 6-12 months to fully train a new technician.
CenturyLink has also been exploring alternative technologies to reduce its reliance on copper, but this process is slow and costly.
Check Outages
You can sign in to My CenturyLink on the web or in the app to see if you're impacted by an outage.
To find out if CenturyLink is down, try using a different device to access your CenturyLink network. This can help you determine if the issue is with your equipment or the service itself.
Check all the power cords and Ethernet cables going to and from your internet equipment to ensure they're securely connected.
Restart or power cycle your internet equipment, including your modem, router, or gateway combo, to see if it resolves the issue.
You can also check the CenturyLink website for outage information. The website displays a graph showing service status activity over the last 10 automatic checks.
Here's a breakdown of the information you can find on the website:
If the site is down for you too, there's not much you can do except wait. The server might be overloaded, down, or unreachable due to a network problem, outage, or website maintenance.
You can also try force-refreshing the CenturyLink website by pressing CTRL + F5 keys at the same time on your browser.
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