Do you also think AOL is lying when they claim cancellation frustrations are an isolated thing?

Question

This is inspired by the recent news story of the guy who was on the phone trying to cancel AOL for 20 minutes.

Feel free to share your AOL cancellation war stories and tips here, also! Most entertaining wins 10 points.

For my own part, years ago, I had been warned that AOL's success was based largely on making it difficult for people to cancel, so when I called, I asked the AOL service rep his name and asked several times over and over that my account would be cancelled, what date, etc.?

He did warn me that if I dared to log in to AOL again - even by accident - the billing would start again. So I promptly deleted the AOL icon from my desktop.

Share your stories and comments, please!

Answer 1

Pretty much everybody has trouble cancelling AOL. They have to be the toughest companies to work with.

Here are some articles:

http://www.gripe2ed.com/scoop/story/2005/8/18/23220/7949

http://www.metroland.net/back_issues/vol28_no04/features.html

http://www.jameshoyer.com/news_wsj_cancel.html

http://www.heferito.com/aohell.asp

http://www.escapeaol.com/testimonials-read.asp

Maybe your credit card company can BLOCK payment.

Good luck.

Answer 2

I do think they are lying because I called and cancelled and deleted the icon and they still sent me a bill...I did call again and they promptly credited and closed the account because there was no log-ins or use shown on the account. (I couldn't use it because of I already had wireless service which this particular AOL account wasn't compatible with). I still have the same internet provider as a side note.

Answer 3

I canceled my AOL account many many years ago. After a long discussion on the phone where I was adamant that service be canceled immediately, I had no problem with continued billing. Now, if removing their software was as easy as that was, then I would make a lot less money removing it for clients that complain that their system has become unusable.

Answer 4

IF people do not like Aol............. , click add/remove programs and uninstall every aol thing you have listed there. I was just on the phone with them for 20 minutes and the stupid automated thing cant understand you, plus aol takes WAY too much of your computer resources. The guy finally came on the phone and asked verification information, then said well you have no blance but we need to update your billing information ( WE JUST DID THIS LAST WEEK) i said. well um well uh...ok cancel my account i said...then i told him what aol stood for in my book.

after you remove everything Aol..goto your start button, restart your computer and then goto your search and search for all files starting with Aol

when they come up, alot of times you have to delete them one by one. if a box comes up, say yes to all.
then restart again and do the search again.

Answer 5

nope, they willl do anything to keep you