Complaint Review: AOL

On May 13, 2003, I noticed a charge of 69.99 with a phone number on my bank statement. I called the number since I did not have AOL service to find out what this charge could be for.

I was notified by several people that this was a charge for my son's service that he ordered a free trial for in Dec 2001. I did not and would not authorize this service payment for my son. My son did not order the service either. He is 31 years old and pays his own bills.

I made 1 payment of my son's AOL service using my checking account when he received a bill that he could not pay and told the person that I spoke with via phone to discontinue use of my checking account number after this payment. ( I was making one month's payment, only, and I made sure they understood this.) Several months later I noticed charges on my bank statement for my son's monthly AOL charge. This was strange since I knew that he hadn't had a phone for several months.

I called AOL and they stopped his account. I told them again to remove my checking account number from my son's AOL account, and again they said they would do it. My son had previously called them and told them to cancel the service but they had not done so. They refused to refund any of my money even though they knew that he had not used any of teh service. AOL then gave my checking accunt information to AOL Netmarket without my permission.

I was told by every employee that I spoke with (4) in all, that these erronious charges could not be removed from my account for 15 business days. I demanded my money back today. Kim told me they would not do this. I asked for money back from the previous year's erronious billing and they would not do that either without having to complete a fax and send it over for the manager to consider. I still don't know if I'll get my money back on this one or not. I spoke with a person who identified himself as a manager, but he did not sound like one and he actually told me that my son was the one comitting the fraud. I hung up on him.

I have not recieved any money back from AOL and have not received any money back from AOL Netmarket. I want all monies taken out of my checking account returned to me. I have never had an account with this company.

Consumers are being lied to and charges are being taken out of unsuspecting people's account without their consent or knowledge. I believe this may be illegal. I have contacted the Attorney General's office to find out. Beware of AOL and AOL Netmarket.

Debra
Highlands Ranch, Colorado
U.S.A.