Complaint Review: AOL

I canceled my AOL account almost one year ago.(2/04) I did that because they had billed me on the wrong date and had told me I would be given an extra free month. I had attempted to cancel my AOL several times, but their customer service people always offered me some inducement to stay, ie: free months. I was having financial difficulties because I had become disabled. My bank advised me to cancel and tell AOL that I no longer would permit them to debit my account. My bank claimed to have had numerous situations like mine with other customers. I even closed the bank account in question. About three months ago I started to get these phone calls that I assumed were telemarketers and hung up on all. The calls came every day and almost every early evening.

Sunday 10/30/05 I got another. I returned the call and was told I was speaking with Allied Interstate Inc. They would not tell me who they represented and continued to ask for my "account" number or "reference" number since I had neither.

I told them to not call me again and I hung up. Today 10/31/05 I received a letter from Allied Interstate telling me they represent AOL and that I owe $259.80 for my subscription! I owe these people nothing. I did have a reduced rate that carried with it a $50.00 penalty if I cancelled early, however one of their(AOL)customer service people told me that fee would be waived because of my disability issues. Not only did I have the problems with my bank, who credited the late fees I was charged because AOL did not do what they stated,the countless phone calls,now have 30 to supply Allied Interstate with some proof that I don't owe AOL. This was all settled with them at the time. I do not owe them.

Barbara
Binghamton, New York
U.S.A.