AOL demonstrates its calculated business of rip-off through its own website Ripoff
When I signed up with AOL, I was offered a 'free' 3 months of Internet service. At the end of 3 months, I decided that I really did not need this service. I cancelled my service and received a letter of acknowledgment of service cancellation. I realize now that this was simply a formality to convince me that my days with AOL were over. Not so. AOL continued to bill my checking account -- EVEN WHEN I CHANGED ACCOUNT NUMBERS AND DEBIT CARD NUMBERS!
My bank investigated and resolved the problem, i.e., my account was not longer debited. However, the fact that AOL could continue to access my account is a VERY big concern to me and should be an equal concern to other subscribers.
When AOL sees that their billing to your account has forced your account to be overdrawn, they immediately identify you as an unattractive client. If they can't routinely and reliably charge you a monthly rate, then they assume that you are not a prospect for any of their other "Special" services.
The fact that AOL, or any company for that matter, doesn't have a regular 'billing' system, as opposed to a debit system, is our first clue that these people will go after us for as long as they can and collect as much as they can. The fact that we need 'clues' is insulting to our intelligence.
I have friends who now realize that their checking/credit accounts have continued to be debited after they have cancelled accounts, and they are having monumental problems.
How much evidence do we need?
Connie
Arlington Virginia