Posted on 07/19/2006 10:24:02 AM PDT by ShadowAce
I fully agree. That's exactly how it worked with me. It's even better if when you call back the second time, their records show no account activity since you last called. It will be a short quick call and you will be cancelled on the spot.
Testify! I recently went through some problems when my ISP started reconfiguring to offer VoIP. They knocked out my internet service for almost 2 weeks. I had repairmen out to the house every day, made multiple phone calls to customer service every day. Every call to customer service I had to repeat my phone number, account number, and home address at least 3 times before I heard the phrase, "Let's see what we can do about getting your internet service restored, then we can take a look at your account and see if we can offer you any additional services."
I kept telling them the only service I was interested in was internet service, and they were doing a lousy job with that, so I sure wasn't interested in even listening to the sales pitch for cable tv or VoIP.
My experience with AOL was short, and I think more painless that it would be today in similar circumstances.
I was travelling a lot at the time, and needed service with national reach in the days before hotels went broadband. Back then if you wanted to connect in OKC, San Francisco, and Atlanta all in the same week, you almost had to have AOL.
Instead of installing their software, I called in to set up an account. After waiting on hold for roughly an hour (I love speakerphone), told them I was not particularly interested in free trials or software packages. I simply needed to set up an account, and get a logon username and password. What worked in my favor was that my intentions were beyond the grasp of the phone-schmuck.
He literally had no idea how I was going to connect without installing the software (I know because he told me so) and almost laughed at me as he took my information and established the account - I think he figured he just had the easiest sale of his life. In his mind I was some dope who was going to pay for service I couldn't use.
Then, after another 45 mins on speakerphone hold I got a tech rep, told him I just wanted to verify my system setup for when I travel, and asked if I could have the DNS information. He gave it to me in about 10 seconds. And, voila, there I was. Manual set up, no AOL software, and connected. Occassionaly I would use their automated line to get a local access number while on the road, but I never once had to deal with a 'live' person at AOL again.
Cancelling? I used a company AMEX. When my company was sold the AMEX accounts changed, and by then my need for dial up was gone.
The problem was that I called and canceled but they still kept billing my card.
That's when I canceled the card. I have never gotten a collection letter.
technically, they can. And be sure to check your credit report to see any negative items.
Never used AOL myself, so I'm thankful that I saved myself the grief!
"The first rule, you'd know it if you ever did a day in your life: you NEVER open your mouth, until you KNOW what the shot is."
OUTSTANDING!!!!!!
-we had trouble with a local company, we called our credit card company and they quit allowing payments to go through. Nice and tidy......when they called me to see about reinstating the automatic payment we laughed at them. It was great.
I just called to cancel a few weeks ago having joined in March 1998 (when I started reading FR). Punjabi offered me a deal I couldn't refuse, considering I'd lose all my email. He said 3 months free, then $5/month ever after with no raises! How can I refuse?
Here's the catch though: recently AOL has started attaching flashing advertisements to your emails. Thus if you want to read even one email, you have to click and move the letter down so the flashing ads don't blind you! Now I'm really thinking they've gone too far. Especially because hotmail offers $20/year with no ads.
Comcast cable allows you to forward all your e-mails.
My favorite Dorothy Parker quote:
I like to have a martini,
Two at the very most.
After three I'm under the table,
after four I'm under my host.
I don't have comcast. The issue is saving my aol email to a file on my computer. AOL won't let you do it. They have a .pfc file that can't be moved. I called to ask about it and the tech guy said I would be able to access all of my old emails by leaving the aol software on my computer. He said I don't have to sign on to read it.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE someone give me an AOL phone number so I can cancel NOW. It won't even load up on my puter any more and they're not listed in the Seattle phone book.
Lately they've lost most of my mail and my friends get their missives to me back as undeliverable. And I'm paying a whopping $29.50 for a family plan automatically billed to my credit card.
HELLLLLLLLLLPPPPPPPP!!!!!!
bump and waiting on # also to cancel my AOL.
1-888-265-8008
Prepare yourself for the worst. Repeat, "I just want to cancel the account today." Don't answer their questions.
Good luck, you will need it.
Also, call your credit card company after you cancel, and tell them that you want no more payments made to AOL. I have read that AOL sometimes "forgets" cancellations and continues their automatic billing.
Many many thanks....I'll let you know how it goes. I can be incredibly bitchy so should have no problem.
I`ve had them both,AOL & Earthlink,I thought Earthlink was even
worse than AOL.
Bell South, it`s very good,though a little involved to install on a Mac.
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