Stop 2nd internet Co.

Originally Posted by rob62521

I'm not sure how much better AOL is now, but I had similar problems when I tried to quit. They wanted to give me a "free two month" bonus to see if I would give them another try. Free to whom, it wasn't to me! It was still being charged on my credit card. Then, when I called they tried it again and again and I kept refusing. It was quite a hassle to get off their billing cycle. I agree with you, they are a sneaky (or were).

I would stay away from AOL. I had them a few years back, when I moved out of my parent's house (I paid for the account at home and took it with me). When I moved I was using dial up for about a month, but my plan had been used on broadband at my parent's. I switched the plan online and thought everything was taken care of. By a major stroke of coincidence, I checked my bill online the day before my account was to be debited. If I hadn't checked, they would've debited $1300. You read that right. Apparently if you switch the plan online, there is no guarantee of when they actually process your request, and you are charged fee upon fee for the usage you are using under a different plan then you have, until they decide to get around to switching you. BUT - if you call in your request, no problem, done same day. I placed a stop payment on my account, fought with AOL on the phone for 3 hours. A) if I had known that I needed to do it by phone I would've because B) who in their right mind would choose to instead pay ridiculous amounts of money and C) who would pay $1300 for AOL, nevermind for a year, but for a MONTH??!! At first, I tried to settle with them for half the amount, just to get it taken care of, even though I felt it was very wrong. After all my fighting, do you know they had the AUDACITY to DENY my payment?? Like any payment at all, not because they were forgiving the 'debt', but because they would instead have their collection company handle it. 2 years later, and that still blows my mind how they responded. Long story short, I wrote a letter to AOL, provided a hefty packet of documentation (had emails also) and wrote the BBB. I did receive one collection letter, of which I sent them a copy of all my correspondence to AOL and the BBB. I included the advice " You can see from my correspondence that I have no intention of paying a wrongful debt when I did no wrong, and you can continue to send me letters, but be advised you will only be wasting your postage." I did not receive any more letters afterwards. And it is not on my credit report.

Want to know the funniest part of this story? I think one of the customer service reps felt sorry for us (there was one really nice girl that we spoke with), because while we never paid a dime of the $1300, our account was CREDITED 2 months later $400 something dollars... too funny. We MADE money on it.

[gakline]

Originally Posted by cicy33

I do know that my cable company had told me a while back that if I got a router I would still have to pay extra if I had the same isp address for both computers. anyway out of the that? I mean I already pay enough in my opinoin for the service. and both computers are in my house.

I haven't heard of paying twice, but then again, I don't have 2 computers. If you buy a wireless router, ask the sales person if they've heard of it, or how to get around it. One way would be to only allow one computer on the internet at a time. It can't hurt to ask.

[rob62521]

This story is absolutely terrifying -- AOL has certainly decided it can take over the world if we let it! Glad you came out the victor!

[cicy33]

But then the point to having the router would be gone. I wanted to be able to be on the net with my husband at the same time. I will check on that though with the sales people. Yes, AOL is a nightmare if you want to cancel. I have done their try me free thing numerous times with mypoints.com program to earn extra points. It always takes me forever to get cancelled!!!

[Tree0164]

I just wanted to let everyone know that Netzero is now offering (again) free internet access for 10 hours a month. It is a nice back up if your high speed goes down.

[cicy33]

That is a nice back up plan. Do you have to have dial up? I wonder if they actually get people to sign up for that plan? I mean can you imagine only being online for 10 hours a MONTH??? that is so funny to me.

[Tree0164]

hmm I am on 10 hrs a day!! LOL

[rob62521]

I wish I could be on 10 hours a day! It's scary to think of life without it now that we've had it.

[Tree0164]

The thing is I work online

[cicy33]

I know, I can actually remember the days when there was no internet and I can't imagine how we got it all done! Of course I think that I was less busy too.