New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo said a subsidiary of EarthLink Inc. has agreed to end what he called deceptive marketing practices that led to overcharges for customers using its dial-up Internet service. PeoplePC is advertised as a low-cost alternative to other Internet providers such as America Online. PeoplePC - with about 1.6 million subscribers nationwide - agreed to detail more clearly the cost of its service and provide refunds to its 50,000 New York customers who were billed for what Cuomo says were undisclosed charges.

Cuomo said the company's "Smart Dialer," which promised to use the lowest-cost and fastest dial-up connection, sometimes used long-distance lines that resulted in higher-than-expected bills.

The company will pay the state $20,000 and reimburse customers as much as three months' account service charges and one month's telephone charges for calls made using a telephone access number suggested by PeoplePC.

There was no immediate comment from the company.

New York customers may get refund claim forms through the Attorney General's office, at . Completed forms must be sent by May 20 to EarthLink, Inc., 1375 Peachtree St., Atlanta, Ga., 30309.http://wwww.oag.state.ny.us