Cancelling AOL
 

Saw this on 60 Minutes. One of the reasons why AOL needs to go bankrupt...

I used to work for a GM division but we were sold off last year. When I worked for GM we could get unlimited AOL internet for $3.00 a month but after they raised it to $24.95. I went through a similar experience trying to cancel it.

I don't have sound on this work computer. Can someone give me a clue to what it's about?

Guy called AOL to cancel. Took about 10 minutes to get to a live person then the AOL jerk spent about 20 minutes trying to talk the guy out of canceling his account.

AOL fired the guy later but the damage is done and it shows what jerks AOL really are. I used to fly some of them and when they go out of business I will make a rather large toast !

Guy was trying to pull the plug on his account and the aoHell rep was doing the best to keep him.....

Not surprised to hear it. I've never been a fan of aol but the g/f and mom and other family members use it constantly. I don't like the controll they have over an individuals computer or thier net surfing habits.
I recently got SBC Dial Up at the new house. Thier software (SBC/Yahoo Dial Up) won't let me change the home page settings and it won't allow me to open more than one application at a time. They suck as bad as AOL.

Bet there is a way. ATT used to try this crap and there is a way around it.

What have you tried to do so far? "Tools, internet options" then set the home page where you want it under internet explorer?

I never use any ISP supplied software for reasons exactly like those.

I would install Mozilla Firefoxand use that browser as opposed to what comes integrated into the package.

I detest Yahoo/SBC(formerly Prodigy) about as much as AOL. Pure $hit.

I've talked many a person into dropping AOL. the biggest hurdle is usually changing ones AOL email to another service. IM is easier as you can install/use via the web without an account.

I tried to d/l IE7 directly from Microsoft but after the 30 min d/l (dial up remember) my browser wouldn't complete the operation. I didn't spend any time trying to find out what was up only because it was late and I didn't want to get into it.
When I open the tools and internet options box the section for "Home Page" is greyed out and I can't access it.
Like I said they suck.
I'll try Firefox next.

Kevin,

Get a full blown copy of IE or Firefox from somone and install it.

Using the crap that they give you is terrible. Greying out that area just shows what jerks they are by not letting you have a choice in your home page.

How to cancel AOL:

(3) copies of intent to cancel, including the cancellation date

(1) copy each to:

AOL

The bank (if you have automatic payment)

State Attorney General

All sent certified, return request required

Kevin,

PM your address to me. I'll burn a copy of Firefox on CD, and mail it to you.

Done
Thanks Ed

Can't you just download from http://www.mozilla.com/firefox/ ?

Just d/l it to the work computer. we'll see how it goes.

I tried to cancel AOL after getting cable last month. The lady said, you have 3 months on your contract, but I can get you in at 7.95 for 3 months so you can at least get something for the 25 cancellation fee. I said Ok.

Got letter in the mail saying we are commited for another year.

Called them back and said, I don't want another year commitment and I was clear about it at the time. Lady said don't worry, max amount to cancel is $14 and you can't be charged more than that. I am surprised you weren't read your contract, so here we go, bla, bla, bla, bla,bla, bla, bla, bla,bla, bla, bla, bla,bla, bla, bla, bla,bla, bla, bla, bla,bla, bla, bla, bla,bla, bla, bla, bla,bla, bla, bla, bla,bla, bla, bla, bla,bla, bla, bla, bla,bla, bla, bla, bla,bla, bla, bla, bla,bla, bla, bla, bla,bla, bla, bla, bla, ---lady----bla, bla, bla, bla,bla, bla, bla, bla,bla, bla, bla, bla,bla, bla, bla, bla,bla, bla, bla, bla,bla, bla, bla, bla,bla, bla, bla, bla,bla, bla, bla, bla,bla, bla, bla, bla,---lady, I don't want to change anything now---bla, bla, bla, bla,bla, bla, bla, bla,bla, bla, bla, bla,bla, bla, bla, bla,bla, bla, bla, bla,bla, bla, bla, bla,bla, bla, bla, bla,bla, bla, bla, bla,bla, bla, bla, bla,bla, bla, bla, bla,---LADY, I GOT TO GO, SOMEONE NEEDS ME! bla, bla, bla, bla,bla, bla, bla, bla,bla, bla, bla, bla,bla, bla, bla, bla,bla, bla, bla, bla,bla, bla, bla, bla,bla, bla, bla, bla,bla, bla, bla, bla,bla, bla, bla, bla,

Click!


She went on a rambling like that street evangelist on the old Cheech and Chong album. No kidding! This person was hand picked for the job.

I am still stuck with them for another month or so.

Several years ago ('01) I decided to take up AOL on their free 6 month offer - on a CD which came w/my new Dell.
I had been with MSN for a year. My g/f had AOL and she liked it.

I loaded it up and was impressed with the beautiful on-screen colors...had it on for several hours playing w/it.
Went to shut down and a box popped up with that loading percentage bar doing its thing moving from left to right (sorry, not computer savvy so I don't know the technical term).
I thought, "WTF is this?"
I tried to stop it, tried to exit, no dice. About the time I thought of just shutting down my computer, it was done with its downloading.

Next day I used my MSN account to Google on AOL complaints...Holy Crap!, tons of them.
I called AOL to terminate and got the same hostage treatment y'all have posted here.

I found a site where a tech guy gave details on how to find all the hidey holes into which AOL sticks their crap.
Took me a day or two - part time - to delete them all (again, not computer savvy).

For a month or so, I kept getting boiler room calls from AOL to rejoin, etc.
.
My g/f had been w/AOL for years and years...she liked it.
Recently she couldn't access it...she called them to find out that they cancelled her because she was "...sending out SPAM emails via her AOL account."
What she was doing was sending unread emails to herself for future reading because apparently AOL only keeps them for so long. She spoke w/several reps and hit a wall - they all were rigid w/their policy and their interpretation of what she was doing...they gave her little audience.

She then signed up w/ATT and PeoplePC to try out.
She has had trouble w/her Toshiba laptop/Win98 ever since her AOL divorce.
She thinks she may have to reload her OS...(what do I know?)

Oppressive company, AOL. :mad:

They don't call it A O Hell fer nutin'....