When I set up a POP mail account, my iPad makes it an IMAP.

I successfully got my email from embarqmail.com [a section of Century Link] for years. Suddenly, a week ago, I started getting a message "Cannot get mail. The mail server at mail.centurylink.net is not responding. Verify that you have entered the correct account information in Mail settings." I did check, and the automatic "verification" changed "pop.embarqmail.com" to "mail.centurylink.net." I tried to change it back. No help. I have deleted the account, turned off the iPad, turned it back on after 10 seconds, and re-entered the basic info. [More than once.] The iPad said "Verifying," and the account appeared to set up. But it doesn't get mail. I have no choice as to POP or IMAP when setting up the account. I talked to CenturyLink, and she said "Sounds like your iPad is defaulting to IMAP, and our accounts are POP." I looked, and above my embarqmail account the iPad says "IMAP." Please note everything worked fine until about a week ago. I am on iOS 8.4. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you.