http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2006/12/fl_aol.html "AOL Settles Florida Fraud Charges Consumers in Other States Still at AOL's Mercy December 13, 2006 The State of Florida has reached an agreement with America Online, resolving consumer complaints about billing issues and membership charges. The company has previously settled similar complaints with the Federal Trade Commission, New York, Ohio and other states. In addition to making consumer restitution, AOL has agreed to forgive consumer debts stemming from the issues involved in Attorney General Charlie Crist's investigation, but consumers in other states remain at the company's mercy. ..."
AOL is right down there with the JDBs. I have never used them, but I've heard plenty of billing horror stories from friends who have. I am seriously surprised that they are still in business.
They provided their customer service people with incentives if customers, calling to close accounts, did not close accounts. Amazingly, customers couldn't close their accounts. Their Shop Direct system which allowed simple clicking on an ad to cause an order to be placed, charged to the consumer's card used for AOL billing, with no additional information needed, resulted in a lot of pissed customers, whether the click was in error, by some other user of the account, or by a hacker. "One click" is too simple to ensure the proper intent to purchase. It also appears they were set up to bill via phone bills, making it possible to open fraudulent AOL accounts billed to anyone with a known phone number. http://www.consumeraffairs.com/internet/aol_cancel.html http://www.consumeraffairs.com/internet/aol_double_bill.html
