Aol/time Warner & Verizon Corporation I WAS CHARGED OVER 1700.00 IN ONE MONTH FOR LONG DISTANCE CALLS ON MY AOL DIAL UP LINE Aol-dulles, Va 20166/ Verizon-greensburg, Pa 15601 Virginia
Back in the middle of the summer, I was having problems with my AOL
I could not get my emails nor stay online very long.
I contacted AOL TECH SUPPORT (which is close to impossible to do)
I was advised to try and add some new access lines -
I was also told that the AOL 9.0SE
Ii had was having problems and they advised me to also upgrade to AOLl9.1-
I did what I was told-
When I went to add more access lines - they asked me for my area code and nnx=exchange- then a GROUP OF NUMBERS COME UP-
I ALREADY HAD 5 BUT I ADDED 1 MORE-
I thought all the numbers were local or else why would they ask me for my area code and exchange.
About 2 weeks later I get a Verizon bill for about twice what I usually get.
I just recently changed my account (or so i thought) to freedom essentials for a set price to get unlimited FREE toll calls.
I then found out that this service was for my line and not my account-
The line my dial up is on did not have the free long distance-
also the AOL I had previously would log off after about 15 mins if not in use, so therev were 3 things i thought were so and were not so they are- -
1- the unlimited long distance calls from verizon were per line not account
2- the access lines are not all local lines
3- this newer version of aol does not log off after 15mins as my previous edition did if not actively using it.
OK so I paid the verizon bill that was about twice as much as usual
l, but then last week fri 8-29 I got my verizon bill and it was for over 1700.00 for 1 month because I was charged for aol dial service that was never logged off-
SOME SCAM VERIZON AND AOL GOT THERE-
I KNOW I CAN'T BE THE ONLY PERSON THIS HAPPENED TO.
I have spoken to boh companies and they refuse to work with me
I AM a great long time customer of both companies and I am a recently retrired verizon employee and I know how things are suppose to work-
I use to work in a dept that would contact a customer during the billing period if it looked like very high or unusual toll usage.
My usual biill is no morew than 70.00 a month .
I told both of them I cant pay this bill -they could care less.
I will now speak to a attorney about filing for baNKRUPTCY MAINLY BECAUSE OF THIS BILL .
I KNOW AOL AND VETIZON DO BUSINESS TOGETHER AND THEY WANT PEOPLE TO BUY THEIR DSL/high speed SERVICE
THEY HATE PEOPLE THAT STILL USE DIAL UP AND TREAT US LIKE unwanted STEP CHILDREN.
All I expect is some help to reduce this bill -I realize I will have to pay something, but not 1700.00. I just can't do that financially and I should not have to.
Daniel j xxxxxx
linden, New Jersey
U.S.A.
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1 Updates & Rebuttals
Frank
Brick,New Jersey,
U.S.A.
AOL Dial UP and the OLD phone company contract.
#2Consumer Suggestion
Thu, September 11, 2008
A while back around the 1980. the phone company starts charging an extra fee per minute to use their Lines with your computer. (That is still active).
AOL states that they have no control over the phone service you have received.
If you are not on Unlimited, You are required to pay for the service. (AOL TOS).
So My brother had the same problem, he contacted Verizon to reset his phone number so the calls can get through. then call AOL and see if your computer modem is the one hanging. (Staying on-line).
When I had dial up, I used a splitter, Just once in a while my modem would hang and stay on-line. So I would know because I would pick up the phone and still will be making the modem noises. (Just rebot your computer, if that happens again) and check to see if your phone line is working. Sometimes Unplug the phone line from the modem in the back of the computer, then Reboot. That should reset your computer's modem.
And check with the phone company that shows local area codes that should be a lower cost.
My parents live across a street from another area code. Calling someone in that area code is considered Long-distance. and it is the same street.