My phone line doesn't work but I'm still billed

Hello! I am looking for a bit of advice. I am under a one year contract for home phone service with a company that shall remain unnamed for the next two days in case my problem is resolved. After that, all bets are off.

Essentially, I am being billed for Internet but the line doesn't work and I can't usually get anyone to answer in tech support or customer service, or anyone to respond to emails. I also had some bogus additional fees for the phone line. I was advised by a person at the office to not to pay the disputed charges and that the bills would be checked and then I would pay the correct amount. Then my phone was disconnected and the bills kept coming, which to this point I have paid because that was the only way the phone could be turned back on. But it is still not working. It has been off for a month.

So, my question is: What are the repercussions of stopping payment all together, even though I am under contract? Will it affect anything later, for example when I try to buy a car or set up service with someone else?

Thanks for your help.

You need to get Teutonically anal. You MUST write a letter of complaint if other avenues have come to nothing. Without written evidence and a detailed log of other avenues of complaint you have pursued showing that you had no response or no resolution to your problem you won't get anywhere later. If you simply stop paying you'll be in breach of contract, they'll sue the hell out of you and you'll get a bad mark on your credit record.

Thanks so much. I will work on my documentation. A friend suggested sending a registered letter. I'm going to do that too!

Cheers!