Complain about a product or service

Earthlink Mailstation

Earthlink • Tech Support • Cancellation disputes • Billing problems • "Free" trial • Other offers • DSL cancellation • DSL installation • DSL speed • Mailstation

Anne of Tampa FL (10/26/03):
I purchased Mailstation from Circuit City with 2 rebates for $50 each -- I only received one. When I called to complain, I was told it was mailed and they are not responsible for items lost in the mail. I wrote their Service Dept. requesting proof that they actually sent the check. No proof - no answer. I am sure that if I owed them money and claimed I sent it, they would demand proof from me.

I feel they were deceptive in offering both rebates in order to get the sale. Now I have a one year pre-paid contract with earthlink already charged to my account and, in addition, I have found the Mailstation VERY limited in its use for emails.

Emerson of Cumberland MD (9/10/03):
I purchased an Earthlink Mailstaion on Feburary 2, 2003 at Circuit City in Altoona PA for the amount of $105.99. With purchase and activation, the buyer would receive a $50.00 rebate from Earthlink. Everything was submitted properly. The bar Code and copy of the sales slip was mailed to them on Feb. 24th, 2003 for the rebate. The purchase was paid for by a Discover Credit card belonging to my relative, who was purchasing this item as a gift to me.

Numerous calls have been made to this company and they always say the check will be coming in a week. I called in July, I was told that It would be 4 more weeks. My call in August, they said it would be received Aug. 26th, that it had already been mailed. My call to them on 9/10/03, I asked to speak with a supervisor who tells me they want my credit card number. Since I am looking at the sales slip, with the last four numbers of the credit card, I gave them those four numbers and they tell me they do not agree with those numbers, therefore they will not even speak to me about this rebate.

The numerous times I have called they even gave me a case Number which is 58778507. They will not honor that number and would not accept my credit card number as they say it is not the number they have on file, but said they would speak to me if I gave them my pin number, Which I have no idea what it is, and I must call from my home phone. (I called from work but gave them my home phone number). The bottom line is they do not want to honor the rebate, and they have been giving me one excuse after another. This has been since February. Again, the credit card number is not incorrect. My relative has already paid Discover so it had to be correct.

Carole of San Jose CA (8/9/03):
I ordered by phone 1/24/03 Mail Station -- $99 less rebate $50 = $49. I also ordered 2 yrs of service so now total is $308.82 & it was charged to my MC. Box came from Earthlink WITH NO $50 REBATE COUPON ENCLOSED. I WAS PROMISED in Feb 03, RIGHT AFTER SALE, THAT THEY WOULD JUST CREDIT MY MC/THE $50 WITHIN 6-8wks since I did not get rebate coupon. NOT!!

I have called the complaint dept every so many weeks for the last 6 months and am told the very same story. One complaint clerk even promised me several months of free usage for my convenience. More recently I have been told I can't get it because I don't have a coupon and that I waited too long!! I HAVE HAD IT ALREADY. I AM GIVING YOU NOTICE THAT I AM GOING TO RETURN THE MAIL STATION TO THE ORLANDO ADDRESS THIS WEEK AND WOULD LIKE ALL OF MY MONEY BACK. The MailStation has only been used ONCE, BUT THAT IS BESIDE THE POINT.

Earthlink/Cidco has not met their agreement with me and I should not have to keep mine. When I called directly to Earthlink, they told me they do not take responsibility for Cidco and that they are a separate entity. Now I better understand the stalling by Earthlink and my being told to just be patient by complaint dept after talking to Chief Investigator of the Orange Co Consumer Fraud Unit in Orlando. I am sending them my complaints and I am also working with San Francisco's ABC TV consumer affairs dept. My husband and I are going to also cancel our Earthlink monthly usage.