Complaint Review: Aol Netmarket - Trilegiant - Norwalk Connecticut

This leaves you wide open, so I assume you have saved a photocopy of that refund check, receipt, or some other documentation. This is important because to an extent it is an admission of some kind of wrong doing, no matter how vague. AOL has a Post Office Box designated to have your name removed from their various types of mailing lists, and Third Party programs. I forgot about that. As a member you would have access to that info, unfortunately I can't, or I would have posted it a long time ago. Maybe you could share that with us. I was a member years ago, and was adviced by a Parental Forum Advisor to write to this specific address. You have to go through old fashioned snail mail, it might help if you sent them a written letter specifying that they are not authorized to give your personal account information out, at the least without your express/implicit permission. Getting a signature out of them might not be possible, but you could at least buy a Post Master's Mailing Certificate. It only cost $1 not much more. They just might reject the option. Member Service Agreements can vary, but you won't know until you try. I just wanted to add this, so that you might avoid another repeat. It's great to hear you got your refund! Please get back to us if you can find that "Opt Out Address" members can access. Thank you!

I got my $500 check from Trilegiant. This has been going on since June 2003, received the check 2/21/04. However, I am still bothered by the fact that neither AOL Netmarket (Trilegiant) or AOL will take any responsibility. I specifically asked for a letter to show the business's where I bounced checks that it was not my fault. I got another wishy washy, "we offer savings to AOL subscribers" letter. I got two paragraphs on the wonderful benefits of subscribing to their programs. Then they said that a person cashed this check, I requested it be taken off and it was. No mention that they charged the wrong account, made it sound like it was my fault. No mention of the next two charges which made me bounce checks months later. It's pretty much as wishy washy letter the same as AOL sent to the BBB to make themself look better and did absolutely nothing to clear my check writing name. In response to the above rebuttal, the AOL TOS states that they do give our names/addresses to REPUTABLE companies. To me, a rebutable company is not being investigated by numerous state attorney generals offices but, whatever makes AOL money selling our names/addresses count. One of these companies, either Trilegiant or AOL needs to respect our billing account information but it appears, unless it's a wide investigation, they will continue to not take any blame nor do anything to protect it. I suggested if Trilegiant notifies AOL to bill our account, AOL send an email authorizing the charge to a master screen name as my truck company does when I make a payment by phone. I have been told they will not do this. Seems to me a simple solution if AOL was truely interested in protecting our billing information.

Didn't mean to alarm you with the term. If you are prepared to informe different areas of the media, for example television news agencies, newspapers, and non-AOL Message Boards; whether you are still a member makes a difference. This process is a part of networking, and building your case. IF you are still a member, you may not be allowed to press charges. AOL has different enrollment plans, which might detail a specific agreement. The agreement MIGHT be that you are not allowed to sue them, if this is what you are planning. Certain banks have this requirement in their agreements. Wells Fargo MIGHT be one that has this stipulation, in recent times. Some reserve the right to make changes and hold you responsible for remaining updated on those changes. This means you will not be notified. We don't know what your "Terms of Service". They do tend to track their members more closely and do not denigh the process. They say it is for security. If you agree to become a member, it is a requirement, that you accept it. A part of that tracking involves reading your email. IF you have been emailing to this site, for example, they would be aware. It is not illegal, if you agreed to the terms, upon enrollment. In addition, some media agencies might be convinced, that AOL is not really that bad, if you decided to remain as a member. This is your choice. It can work for you or against, depending on your specific contract/membership plan, and what you are trying to accomplish. Since you are still enrolled as a member make sure to print out all of your legal documentation. Print and review your "Terms of Service", "Member Agreements", and "Payment Plan". If there is statement explaining that your membership information will be given out to "Third Party" associations, like Trilegiant, this would have to be taken into account. Remaining as a member is not necessarily a bad thing, because at the least, you will still have access to the necessary legal documentation, but I still recommend withdrawing, in the future. I've heard on other Message Boards that there is something going on, but I'm unsure about the details. Hope it works out. Rip-off Report Volunteer

I'm not sure what you mean by my networking will be treated? I have not gotten rid of AOL (yes I know it's not a smart move) and was wondering what you meant by my networking being compromised? I've noticed some wierd things going on with my AOL lately but don't know.

Are you still a member of AOL? It is also important that you carefully review your Terms Of Service Agreement. They call it "TOS" and there are different levels of TOS agreements and violations. You have to know the detail on that before you move on, because they might try to hold that against you. Know your State laws, in regard to protection and entitlements as an OK Citizen. This might be why your AG hasn't responded. Your laws might not insure such protection. Review Federal Laws as well at the www.ftc.gov site. The information is available cost free. There would be no Lawyer's fees lost. Too bad the other guy didn't share more info on your AG. It sounds like you have it together, just make sure to protect yourself further, because you're right, they're giants. AOL has teams of lawyer's working around the clock. There's strenght in numbers. If possible, try to find others in your area or through a Messageboard, who share your experience. If you have withdrawn your membership from AOL, it is important that you know, they are STILL in your Registry, and entire C: Drive. For a good clean start, you might consider hiring a LOCAL Microsoft Certified Technician to clean them out. Your system will run better, and you will be less prone to viruses. You would have to take your tower/hard drive to the shop. This will also grant you more security. I was told by a Microsoft Certified Technician, that if you don't remove them from your system, they are not completely gone, and have a back door into what you own. It was worth every penny to have them work through my Registry Editor, and take AOL OUT. My computer runs better now. I hope this works out. You have a lot of work ahead of you, but sound well informed and determined. Rip-off Report Volunteer

I am the one who initiated this current complaint and as of January 16,2004 I have heard nothing. I think that's far longer than the 10 days in November that AOL said Trilegiant would contact me. I have NO faith in the Attorney General of OK as someone else also noted. I am only sending them copies of what is in CT AG's hands on my complaint to try to make the case against Trilegiant stronger. CT appears to be going forward against Trilegiant. Hopefully OK's AG will be forced to if CT does. I have all my letters ready to send to all news agencies including news magazines and web type magazines. I will not allow AOL to cover up that they are selling our names to a company they know is being investigated and will not allow that information to be posted on any of their message boards to warn others. I had also submitted it to the FTC long ago and sending letters to my senators asking why the FTC never responded to me and informing my senators that a complaint has been filed with the OK AG's office. I am not a person who takes something sitting down and could care less if they are a huge corporation. As a single parent, I don't have the extra $500 to just "cover" these checks as I was told by AOL especially around Christmas time.

You have valid and resourceful points. This is why you might consider writing a separate Rip-off Report about the neglect of the Oklahoma AG. Let us have a list of those consumer affairs neglected. The more Rip-off Reports on a company, the better. That list might shrink down to zero, with the right amount of publicity. Hope to see that Rip-off Report soon. Rip-off Report Volunteer

Look at the cases the AG goes after. This is just not high profile enough for Drew. He will bend to public outrage... if it gets enough publicity. The MCI and WorldCom debacles only got action because those scams were all over the press. I dare anyone to prove me wrong. Contact the Oklahoma Attorney General. See what he DOESN'T do. W.A. Drew Edmondson Attorney General of the State of Oklahoma 2300 N. Lincoln Blvd, Ste 112 Oklahoma City, OK 73105 Oklahoma City Office: 405.521.3921 Tulsa Office: 918.581.2885 Consumer Protection: OKC 405.522.0085 | Tulsa 918.581.2917 Main Office Fax: 405.522.4534

It sounds like you're on top of this one, and have it under control. My concern is with your AOL membership. AOL is not safe, and they DO give out account information. You have to request that your information not be given out, by writing to a specific address (just a post office box). As long as you remain with AOL, you will always be at risk. AOL cannot guarantee privacy. They view your personal email, with the excuse, that they are looking for child porn and other illegal activity. They also follow you when you surf the Internet. Most other online services refuse to invade your privacy that way. I only $9.95 monthly and can have up to 6 email boxes free, and a web page. My service has a Shield Security placed, not to follow me, while I access different sites. According to a Microsoft Certified Technician, whenever they give you an upgrade, they're just downloading more Spam, and tracking into your system. If you leave, you might need a professional to cleanse them from your entire system. You might consider changing online services. It wont be easy. They will denigh your resignation for 3 months, before they let you go. This is a regular pattern for them, according to my credit card dispute department. If you do leave, put it in writing. Half of the viruses generated on the WWW are from AOL members. Some sites have banned them altogether, according to the Microsoft Technician. You're right on target with BBB. They cannot accomplish much, because they are not a "ruling entity", also because they look out for the businesses. The AG is a better choice for arbitration. Like you said BBB has good records, and that is just about it. In addition, if you stay with AOL, you might consider changing all account information. Don't let them have access to your debit card--go through your credit card. Credit cards dispute charges for you. The good ones provide this service. AOL has a bad reputation with all of them. Send them a written certified signature required letter specifying your Ex is NOT to bill or accept anything from your account. They are not authorized to accept and process any billing in your name connected to your EX. I hope you sue them, and it sounds like you might not be asking for enough. Bill them for those overdraft fees, and ALL of the months of poor service, when this billing chaos transpired. It adds up. Make them pay. Hope to hear good news soon. Happy New Year Rip-off Report Volunteer

I am not endorsing using the BBB other than a tool to verify that complaints for Trilegiant are being sent to the AG's office in CT. The BBB did absolutely nothing for me.