AOL continues to BILL for non use rip-off using the old Bank Draft after cancellation! New York
What can I say, I signed up from aol over two years ago. Finally in October of 2001, I went to my local cable provider. Called aol and canceled my account, I thought! Guess what? They are still taking money from my account.
Went to my Credit Union put a stop on the automatic draft. The credit union could only do it for six months. Contacted aol several more times. Guess what aol rep just told my today. It seems I have two accounts their taking money from. Just told the rep I wanted a complete accounting of my account. Told Jamal, (customer rep # 2889, he claims) I wanted it within a week. I'm going to balance their records against my credit union records and the date I first ordered internet service through my cable provider. When I have a final told of money taken from my account, I plan to ask from it back.
AOL will have thirty days. If I do not receive my money back I will be filing a suit in Federal Court. I will keep you informed how it goes. A suit in federal court isn't cheap, but if enough people get to get involved, the cost is less for all! Just think enough people will get satisfaction, and another case of corporate corruption will be exposed!
Randy
Virginia Beach, Virginia
U.S.A.
1 Updates & Rebuttals
Christopher
Oklahoma City,Oklahoma,
U.S.A.
AOL Billing
#2UPDATE EX-employee responds
Mon, December 30, 2002
Randy,
I hope that you are aware that once you sign up for an America Online account that you are in turn agreeing to the "Terms of Service". It and it clearly states that this is a membership fee and that if you are not using the service you are still liable for fees. Such as a gym membership, or cable tv. Regardless if you watch tv or not, or go to the gym or not, your still paying a "membership" fee. So regardless if you have used the service or not, you are still liable for the fees associated with AOL membership fees, due to the "Terms of Service". Now with your statement that you said you called to cancel your service, what AOL tends to do it what we know as a "save".
Based upon your calling to cancel your account you are directed to a group of people getting paid to try and get you to keep your AOL account. In most cases, a member calls and the customer service rep will have the benefit to offer you two free months to get you to keep your account open with AOL.
If you agree, they will apply the two months and after the two free months your monthly billing will resume. I am not completely understanding how you have two accounts open, however with my experience I do know that there is a "ad" / "pop up" that appears on the AOL welcome screen that will ask you if you would like to take a "screen name" from your one account and create a new account with that screen name.
Hence two accounts created. And by clicking on that pop up it will automatically do that without any extra steps. It also carries your billing information along with it. You get 45 days free with that second account however after that it begins to bill. Thus youre being billed twice a month. Once for your first account, and a second time for your new second account. Interesting huh? ;)
Anyways, on your base to sue America Online, you may have a good case in the instance of a second account being created with out your understanding and you should be able to get some support from further people with the same problem. However if you are going to argue your points with the cancellation and your non-usage of your account, I believe you would be over come again by the "Terms of Service agreement". Also take into consideration that if you are presenting a suit against AOL you have to present that case before the courts of Virginia. If you need further information please feel free to e-mail me.....