Okay, okay, I know I shouldn't

[FearofFutility]

have AOL, but after today, I'm done with them. My daughter has KOL (Kids Online),and has caused our service to be temporarily frozen for Terms Of Service violations a couple of times. The last time her infraction was calling someone on a message board a "biatch". I restricted her from the computer for a week and told her not to do it again. This morning when I attempted to sign on, I was notified that there was another Terms of Service violation. I called to find out what the problem was and to have my service restored. Her infraction this time........shocking, I tell you......she posted on a message board the following: "I hate KOL!" I laughed when told this, and the gentleman on the phone said, "It is not acceptable to say this." WTF?!

[bryant69]

1. I'm sorry you have committed another Term of Service Violation

It is not acceptable to say "WTF?!" Please note this for the future.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[FearofFutility]

5. That did cross my mind as I was posting.

:mad:

[in_cog_ni_to]

2. It's the new and improved Internet(s) NAZIS!

That's just ridiculous.

[MyNameGoesHere]

3. AO(hel)L also

will gladly give your personal info to anyone including government agencies. No one should ever use this bloated piece of crap. And if you are stuck because they are the only ISP (and i really hate calling them that) i really feel for ya.

[txindy]

4. Ah, AOHell. Typical behavior from them.

I've never had it and will never get it. I know too many people with stories like this to even consider using AOHell. I just don't see any advantage.

[FearofFutility]

8. The only reason I have it is

we got one year free when we bought our computer, and I never bothered to change after the year was up. I just got motivated!

[txindy]

21. I don't blame you, esp. with a free year of service. They are enticing.

Their commercials are full of promises, too. Unless you've had personal exp. with them or know someone who has, it is very difficult to truly judge them before you sign up. I understand completely.

[Toots]

6. You want to back the GOP then pay AOL

There are so many better and cheaper ways to the Internet.....You will be amazed at how free it feels to not use AOL...

[FearofFutility]

10. I have felt guilty about using them

but was too lazy to change. This is now my #1 priority. They will not get another dime.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

7. AOL is Eeeviiilll!

Run to your phone right now and cancel! (you will have to do this 4-5 more times before they actually get you cancelled)

Back in the prehistoric days of the internet, when the only thing online were University sites and MIRC chat rooms, I had AOL. I used it only in the middle of the night, to keep the longdistance bill down, but when I got the bill, they charged me for 'data transmission' the freaking bill was $300 when it should have been less than $100! took me 4 months of bitching to get rid of them. I went without the internet until I moved to a city a year later.

They also make you go thru their portal to reach the web, they know everything you do online.

AOL is Eeeviiilll!

[ScreamingMeemie]

17. We had to do it 8 times...and still had to threaten legal action, before

they said,"You'll be back..." and hung up on us.. That was years ago. :hi:

[babylonsister]

9. Big Brother is watching - scary times indeed. nt

[FearofFutility]

12. I really gives me the creeps

How in the hell did they find her post among thousands of posts?

[babylonsister]

14. And who are they to infringe on free speech? Who made them

the arbiters of correctness?:grr:

[FearofFutility]

22. It's appalling n/t

[WernhamHogg]

19. Someone probably reported it

Some people have nothing better to do with their time then report anyone and everyone for even the slightest TOS violation. I know that from experience (I dumped AOL about a year ago).

[FearofFutility]

24. I know that's what happened with her

other TOS violations, but I just can't believe someone would report her for saying "I hate KOL". Little brown shirts in training, I guess.

[tulsakatz]

11. haha........

it's not acceptable to voice an opinion? That's just ridiculous!!!

When I got my computer, I got a free subscription to AOL. I think it was free for 3 months. After 1 month, I switched to another service provider.........

[FearofFutility]

13. You were smart

I've been just plain lazy about it.

[tulsakatz]

29. well, I had heard a lot of stories about how bad AOL is.....

...and even when I got the free subscription, I knew I wouldn't be keeping it.

And after I got rid of it, I found hidden stuff that came from AOL in my files that I had to delete manually!!!

[Atman]

15. No, after today, you THINK you're done with them

Change your credit card number, now. I am TOTALLY SERIOUS. AOL will continue to bill you for months, and blame you for not putting your cancellation in writing, or not notarizing it, or not sending it certified mail, whatever. Then they'll turn you over to a collection agency, and continue to bill you.

My mother tried to leave AOL and all this happened to her, and I've heard similar horror stories over and over and over again. They will fuck you up, try to break you down until you think it's just cheaper to pay them off. Then they'll keep billing you.

When my mom started having the problems, she called her CC company about removing an AOL charge, and the Customer Service woman just sighed -- she hears it all time. The first thing her CC company did was tell mom she'd be issued all new cards. For no other reason than because AOL will never stop billing the old account no matter how much you think you've cancelled. She said it happens all the time.

Beware. You may have ended one horrible journey, but you may be about to embark on another.

[txindy]

25. Everyone who uses AOHell needs to pay attention to what you've just said

I've heard very much the same thing from many people. That's why I always call it AOHell even though I've never used the service. They've EARNED that nickname.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

16. My experience of dropping AOL.

I've had an AOL account for years. I barely ever used it, and mostly kept it on hand in case I was traveling and needed a connection, and because I was too lazy to switch it to another service. However, I don't live in the US any more and they'd been causing overdrafts on a checking account I was preparing to close (d'oh) so I decided to cancel.

First, I had to find the goddamn phone number. Easier said than done. I found that typing "Cancel AOL" into google was easier than navigating AOL's infernal web contraption. Of course, the information for the phone number came from a site dedicated to (surprise) people who are having trouble canceling AOL.

First phone call...
Automated phone system thingy: Welcome to AOL. If you would like to blahblah... ("cancel" obviously not one of the choices. Not even remotely close.)
Me: I would like to speak to a human.
AOL: I didn't understand your...
Me: HUMAN. OPERATOR. NOW.
AOL: I didn't understand what you're asking. Let me get an operator for you.
Me: NOW NOW NOW!

Twenty minutes on hold. Subjected to AOL brainwashing adverts.

Operator: Hello, welcome to AOL. Blahblah.
Me: Cancel account now. Stop charging checking account.
Operator: Let me find out some details about you. What is your mother's maiden name's favorite childhood pet?
Me: FLUFFY. CANCEL NOW. NOW NOW NOW!
Operator: What is your address?
Me: The address you have on file is wrong. This is the current address. Do not send anything there or I will send it back to you along with a box of poo.
Operator: Who was the 27th president of the United States?
Me: Woodrow Wilson.
Operator: No it wasn't.
Me: Yes it was. Cancel my account.
Operator: You have to answer the...
Me: WOODROW WILSON. CANCEL NOW.
Operator: OK, let me transfer you to someone who can take care of that.
Me: You can't take care of that?
Operator: No, I'm not specially trained in the art of retaining irate customers.
Me: Fine, transfer me to the brainwasher.

Ten minutes on hold. AOL adverts.

Brainwasher: So you want to cancel your AOL service?
Me: Yes, I would like to cancel my AOL service.
Brainwasher: Why?
Me: I reserve the right not to answer that or any other marketing related questions you ask.
Brainwasher: Then I can't help you cancel your account.
Me: Fine, fine. I'm canceling it because I don't need it, never use it, and don't even live in America any more.
Brainwasher: AOL is not limited to Ameri...
Me: CANCEL NOW.
Brainwasher: What do you use the internet for, primarily?
Me: Ranting about how much I hate AOL and looking at porn.
Brainwasher: AOL can help you with those use...
Me: NOW NOW NOW. FLUFFY! WOODROW WILSON!

This was followed by about another 10 minutes of Happy AOL Question Time.

Brainwasher: Ok, so you'd like to cancel your account.
Me: Please... kill me...
Brainwasher: I'm putting the cancellation order on your account. Let me transfer you to...
Me: Can't... go... on... Must... end... suffering...

Ten more minutes on hold.

My best friend: Okay! Here's your account cancellation code. If you'd like to...
<click>

Bastards.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

18. oh.my.god

I feel for you, but I have to go laugh my ass off now...


:rofl:

[FearofFutility]

20. ROTF

:rofl: That's pretty close to what I experienced this morning. My husband came downstairs this am looking at me like I had lost my mind. I was yelling obscenities into the phone which didn't help me to get to a person any faster, but I was so damn frustrated with that computer voice.

[txindy]

23. ROFL!!!!!!

:rofl:

Yep, sounds like their typical contortions.

:rofl:

:rofl:

[Mutley]

28. That's the funniest thing I've read in days.

:rofl:

[MadHound]

26. Oh, I don't know, I love, love, love AOL

They keep sending me all these bright shiny discs, which make great targets, and that means I don't have to buy any clay pigeons when I want to get in some shotgun practice. PULL!!

[Suziq]

27. AOHell Gone

I cancelled AOHell years ago. When the rep. asked why, I told him it was for political reasons. His reply was Why? He definitely implied that they support Republicans. Oy vey . . . . :banghead: