FAQs about upcoming account and bill changes

Starting December 2023, CenturyLink will move one or more of your accounts to another billing system to provide a more streamlined customer experience. Not all of your services will be impacted. Notifications will be sent to advise you of the specific accounts that are affected by this change. These enhancements will help us provide a more streamlined billing experience.

General questions about the change

Account changes will occur starting in December 2023 for Business customers, and May 2024 for Wholesale customers. Before your account change, we will notify you with updated account information, including your new account number(s).

Notifications are sent based on how you receive your bill: postal mail, electronic, or email if an email address is available on your account.

No, the billing system change will not cause any disruption to your service.

Billing and payment questions about the change

Certain invoices from CenturyLink will be impacted, and notification of the specific accounts will be sent soon.

If you use any of the following products and services from CenturyLink, these are moving to our CABS billing platform, and the invoice will come from Lumen.  

Sonet (SHNS, SST, etc.) 
Wave/OWS 
Geomax 
Ethernet Ports-over-Sonet (EPoS)

Other impacted products and services will move to our new CenturyLink Ensemble billing platform, and the invoice will continue to come from CenturyLink.

Yes, your account number(s) will change. We will provide a list of your existing accounts and the associated new account number(s) for your records. Expect this information in September or October 2023; you may receive multiple notifications.

Yes. If you currently have a Summary Bill, it will still be available. You may be set up with multiple accounts depending on how your current Summary Bill is structured. This will be reflected in the account list you will receive detailing your account number mapping.

Sub-department summaries will be carried over to your new summary account. In some instances where accounts have billing in advance and arrears, we plan to split those into separate accounts.

Sub-account information on your existing Summary Bill will discontinue. All services will be included under one new account.

Yes, if you are using Lumen Control Center, our online customer portal. Your bill history and Customer Service Records (CSR) are available for 13 months. If you don't use Control Center today, and you want to be able to view your CRIS invoices prior to conversion to Ensemble, you will need to get set up in Control Center ASAP.

For business customers, you can sign in to Lumen Control Center to view your bill online or sign-up at www.lumen.com/login/.

For Wholesale customers, reach out to your Customer Service Manager to get set up in Control Center. Once signed up, you can view your accounts on www.lumen.com/login/.

Yes, if you pay your invoice online using your financial institution’s bill payment service, you must update your account number when you pay the next CenturyLink bill.  
You must also update the CenturyLink company name and remittance address information. Your first new invoice will reflect the correct company name and remittance address.

To avoid any ACH or Autopay delays, you will need to ensure the following Company ID’s are updated with your Financial Institution or used when making one time payments:

  • 9282505000 - Recurring/Autopay
  • 1880016491 - One-Time Payment in Control Center
  • 3005040801 - One-Time Payment in EPP (through rep)
  • 1880016483 - One-Time Payment in IVR (automated phone system)

 

No, we will automatically update the billing system with your new account number only for our CenturyLink Ensemble billing platform.

Please note: This will only update automatically if your AutoPay is through CenturyLink. If your monthly automatic payments are set up through your financial institution's bill payment service, you must update your account information with that service. (see the question above regarding bill pay through your financial institution).

For our CABS billing platform, AutoPay is NOT available. 

Monthly bill due dates can occasionally change based on several factors. Please confirm the due date on your first billing statement so you can plan accordingly.

Yes.

For our Ensemble billing platform, your AutoPay payment date will change. Your AutoPay payment will occur on the due date noted on your new bill.

For our CABS billing platform, AutoPay is NOT available. You can make one-time payments through Control Center, by check, or electronically. 

Yes, Your bill format will change. Examples of the bill formats are available at:

Ensemble Sample Bill

CABS Sample Bill 

No, your current service and terms and monthly recurring charges will not change as a result of the move to the new billing platform.

It can. The format could change depending on the method you receive your bill today. The following delivery options are available with your new billing:

CenturyLink Ensemble platform

  • Control Center:  If you use Lumen Control Center today, you can continue to use it tomorrow. You can sign up to use Lumen Control Center to view your bill online at www.lumen.com/login/.

  • Electronic Data Interface (EDI):  If you use EDI today, you will continue to use EDI with your new billing.

  • Paper invoice:  If you receive a paper invoice today, you will continue to receive a paper invoice with your billing. 

     

CABS billing platform

  • Control Center: If you use Lumen Control Center today, you can continue to use it tomorrow. You can sign up to use Lumen Control Center to view your bill online at www.lumen.com/login/ 
  • Online CABS E-Bill: You can receive a PDF of your paper invoice, customer service record (CSR), and remit document. This requires a coordinated set-up and a new user ID and password separate from Control Center. You may initiate a request for access to CABS E-Bill by requesting the Bill Media Form at CABSMedia@lumen.com. We recommend using a group or team email address.
  • Paper invoice:  If you receive a paper invoice today, you will continue to receive a paper invoice with your billing.
  • EDI: EDI is not available on the CABS billing platform

 

No, you do not need an updated W-9.

If you have additional questions, contact us at:

 

Wholesale customers: Wholesale.dispute@Lumen.com

Business customers: care.inquiry@lumen.com