AOL Internet Service Dishonest, Fraudulent Billing, Theivery of checking account funds Dulles Virginia
Back in the early nineties, AOL skimmed money from my checkbook when I ordered services for $9.95 per month. At that time, they hit my checkbook up fraudulently for over $200. They never apologized, and I never saw a dime of that money they took. I had to close my account and pay $140 in bounced check fees due to their dishonest practice of disregarding customer contact regarding billing.
AOL became synonymous with foul company tactics and I told everyone I knew.
Fast forward to 2001. My son decides to try AOL, against his mom's protests.
It appears, my protests were well- founded.
I'm sorry to say AOL has not changed a bit in 10 years.
They are still luring in new business with promises of great service and low cost, only to have these folks ripped off while they happily pay their stockholders many dividends gotton from the accounts of the trusting consumers they claim to "service".
Long story short - Son loaded AOL on computer for about a month, then removed it from his hard drive. Checking account was charged one month, then two, then three months!!! All the while, AOL was told via their customer "service" reps that the withdrawals would stop and they didn't.
Finally on March 1, he spoke to an intelligent individual who processed the paperwork properly and he was refunded 2 months.
Happily, we decided perhaps give Time Warner another chance - Get Road Runner, perhaps Cable TV. Maybe AOL-TW is not such a bad company after all.
WRONG! :(
Today in his bank statement he finds he has been charged another $28.90 on March 12. This *after* the refund.
AFTER we thought things were fixed and AOL was a well-run company, we are again disillusioned.
Ever wonder why companies choke on profits eventually??? Lawsuits. Lots of them.
Although our complaint is small dollarwise - multiply us by several million subscribers and realize eventually this little scam creates big money for the greedy individuals who profit from it.
Sad.
Donna
Malta, New York
2 Updates & Rebuttals
Billy
Anchorage,Alaska,
AOL bought Time Warner not the other way around
#3Consumer Comment
Fri, April 19, 2002
I have been with AOL since the start of the company, I have not had any problems with them. Every time I call them they are very responsive and nice. I use cable modem so I only pay $9.95/month for the service. In the set-up feature it spells out all charges and what each option is. Plus you can cancel on-line, my sister is like alot of people and just doesn't like the service she cancelled on-line it took 30 days after to stop billing. Also wanted to say alot of people think Time Warner bought AOL that is not true AOL bought Time Warner. I was wise enough in 1992or 1993 to buy AOL stock when they were a new business, they have made some good retirement money for me
Howard E.
Solvang,,California,
How to Get to AOL
#3Consumer Suggestion
Sun, April 14, 2002
AOL is now part of the merger of AOL Time Warner, a $106 bill merger. I suggest that copies of all complaints be sent to the CEO's of both Time Magazine and Warner Bros. as well, printed out from your complaint to The Rip-Off Report.
Those who wish to go an extra mile can print out several or more of older reports, to help document your case. These companies do not want their record besmirched, and will undoubtedly bring up these matters at a Board meeting, presided over by Steve Case, founder of AOL.
1) Don Logan, CEO, Time Magazine, Time-Life Bldg., Rockeferrer Ctr., N.Y., N.Y. 10020-1393.
(2) Bob Daly, CEO, Warner Bros., 4000 Warner Avenue. Burbank, CA 91422.
(3) Richard Atkinson, Treasurer (same address as Time Magazine above. He is their Treasurer.)
Be courteous. Ask for help. Ask for an Ombudsman to arbitrate these matters. You might also send them, or have friends send them, the CD's from AOL to show your displeasure.
Certainly, if a false charge overdraws your bank account and results in bank charges and/or merchant charges for bad checks, AOL should be responsible for them. Tell them you EXPECT that and send them a copy of the Bank Statement showing the charges! Document everything.
The more people you involve, the more executives who know about it, the better chance to get something done about it. Send copy of report, a short letter, and Please Help Me Resolve This? If everyone uses same heading, they'll recognize it as a group effort, and that's always better.
Steve Case did not answer my letters, but I guarantee that when Time and Warners forwards these on to him from the CEO's office, he'll get the message. (Send a copy to Ted Turner too, as he is a very large stock-holder.)
Wait 14 days for an answer; if none is forthcoming, repeat the treatment! Be persistent.