I recently switched from Birch Communications to AT&T because AT&T gave me the same price as Birch, BUT add free internet, saving me $50 per month. Birch is trying to charge me a $450 termination fee. I am fighting it but though other people should know what they do. They say their charges are valid but it seems to me that they are just mad and want to get back at me. The representative all but admitted to me that they were upset that I had switched carriers and this was my punishment for leaving them. I told them they could not hold me hostage.

Birch Communications... RUN! Don't even call them asking questions. I did, and somehow ended up with them saying I had agreed to their contract, and if I don't want the service it will cost me $1200! Even though I didn't, and it wasn't even installed! So after much back and forth, I went with it, and they have been charging me all kinds of outrageous fees I knew nothing about ever since. I've made numerous phone calls trying to figure it out. Supposedly they put my account in review, and in the mean time, they cut service off to my business! Then charged me $40 and made me pay the entire amount in dispute before they would put service back AT MY BUSINESS! Horrible customer service.

Birch communications had phone out on and off for 6 weeks!!! It is impossible to get the repairs done in a timely fashion, even after it was documented that the problem was with their internal equipment, computers, not with the actual lines to or inside my house. It was impossible to make long distance phone calls, caller ID did not work, now there is no dial tone!

Customer service leaves you on hold for up to 40 min (I gave up at that point as I was on a cell phone) and then when they answer, cop an attitude of why are you complaining!!!

To add insult to injury, they did not adjust the bill for all the time the phone wasn't working. I would recommend that NO ONE EVER contract with this company! They are AWFUL!!!

The complaint is not really with Birch Telecom, but with me. I was perfectly happy with ATT, but Birch seemed to have a better program that could save me money. I should have paid more attention to my termination clause with ATT. That has cost me money and it will take sometime to recoup my charge. I have no complaint about their service, but make sure you know what your contract is with ATT before you change. Overall I probably will not save any money with these guys. But, I have signed a three year contract will probably go back with ATT when done. But that is such a long time away. I will definitely wait the three years to change. Stories of Birch aggressively going about collecting terminated fees abound. Wsh I had seen all these complaints before I signed on. However, their BBB record is pretty good. Just one of those buyer beware things.

Our office signed up with Birch 5 years ago and I had no complaints about the service. However, I was never told that they offereed DSL and so when we needed more than dial up internet, I called Birch and ask what my renewal date was. Was told that it was up for renewal on 2/16/2010. This person never even ask why I was wanting to change my service. Soooo, in January I faxed in a request to terminate on our renewal date of 2/16/10 and signed up with ATT. All was well, received my final billing and paid it. THEN 30 days letter get a notice that we owe $550 in early termination fees. Of course I immediately called and related what had happened and that their employee had quoted me the 2/16/10 date. They called me back and said yes I was told that 2/19/10 was the date for renewal, but that that was in error and we owed the $550. Ask why it was all my fault and they "said" that someone had called a few days after receiving my fax and left a voice mail stating that the renewal date was 2/16/11. Well I never received any such voice mail. But of course they were totally unwilling to work with me or make any concessions. Will tell everyone I know to stay FAR AWAY from Birch.