AOL Hell

[realFedUp]

http://goldenstateblog.latimes.com/
Michael Hiltzik, business writer for LA Times
Monday, February 27, 2006

My Golden State column for Mnday, February 27, starts below after the headline and continues onto the jump.

I try to limit myself to no more than one column a year about my personal travails as an ordinary consumer; otherwise the temptation would be too great to skewer in print every phone company, bank, telemarketer, and government agency I deal with, driving all other subjects out of the newspaper.

The Federal Trade Commission's 1997 complaint against AOL for mulcting subscribers reads almost quaintly today, referring as it does to dial-up charges and per-minute fees. Particularly touching is AOL's techique of turning 3 minutes and 1 second into 4 minutes. (Page 15.) The SEC's 2005 complaint, which Time Warner settled, is the latest in a considerable line of charges about inflated subscriber claims.

As I write, the online version of this column has already been posted at latimes.com, and begun to generate emails from readers with their own tales of woe, including one from a lady who was prevented from canceling her deceased father's account because AOL would accept the request only from the subscriber himself.

continued with his column about AOL

[Viva_La_Revolution]

1. I've been saying it since 1991...

AOL IS EVILLLLLLL!!!

Had their service for 2 months....$350. And they filter everything through their gateway.. nazi fascists!

[realFedUp]

2. why is anyone still using this service? gads. get brains people.

[zonmoy]

6. about the only things keeping me on

is the mccaffee viruscan and the fact that I can get online radio stations through them that don't stop for 5 minutes every five minutes

[philarq]

3. Does anyone still use AOL?

I have a policy of not doing business with anyone with an AOL account. Saves on the hassle of dealing with idiots.

[realFedUp]

4. yeah, I still have pals who use it...they are kinda tech challenged.

[philarq]

5. These are the people that think it's funny to be stupid.

You know the type that always says how they can never understand computers---haha.

Who always talk about having their VCR flash 12:00---haha

Who can't figure out their complicated bank statement--haha

These are the people who think Bush is doing a great job.

I will never understand how people can find it funny to be dumb and to then be happy to tell other people how dumb they are. I will admit I hate complicated cell phones, and therefore own one of the simplest ones there is, and I will admit that I really liked my last rotary dial phone, and would still be using it if my phone co. let me, and I will also admit my calculator only has 4 functions and I paid 140 Pounds for it in 1975--and still use it every day. I also use a pencil and a small notepad to take notes and addresses and not a PDA. But I have taken the time out to educate myself about the items I need to use in everyday society, and I feel a little ashamed and embarassed when I an unable to work something.

Ok--rant off---not picking on anyone--just needed to get that off my chest.

[depakid]

7. Not exactly a mark of credibility, is it?

Although you still see them out there- and sometimes among people who otherwise seem to be talented professionals.

I often wonder if they realize that so many people look at that askance these days.