AOL - how do they operate

robbin1

I've recently taken over the management of my boyfriends finances and found a deduction of £31.99 each month for AOL Broadband. He has been with Virgin Broadband for years but did have AOL dial-up for some years before that and thought he had transferred from AOL to Virgin. He's never had any mail from AOL and when he tried to call them after not being able to log onto his account nobody could help him, his AOL just says his password is incorrect and to call a number, but then they give him another number which is dead.

We've cancelled his direct debit now - he simply can't get any deeper into debt through silly payments like this through not keeping on top of everything (he's dyslexic and has a fear of paperwork) - but what is it likely that AOL will do now and how on earth do we contact them?

ktothema

If your direct debit has been cancelled it's likely they'll write to him about it. But that'd be at whatever address they hold previously.

Do you have his previous address details that AOL have him registered in? If so, I'd suggest writing to them explaining that he'd believed his account to have been closed a long time ago so has therefore now cancelled his direct debit and wants the account view as cancelled. Mention the previous addresses they may know him under.

Buzby

The good news is he's probably met any minimum there, and then some. The bad? As the service was available for his use he is unlikely to get any rebate as he had the opportunity to question the debit but chose not to do so.

I'd suggest he avoids ALL DD's in future, as to why firms like to insist on it - I think you now know one of the reasons why!

Norman_Castle

when he tried to call them after not being able to log onto his account nobody could help him, his AOL just says his password is incorrect and to call a number, but then they give him another number which is dead.

A friend spent months trying to cancel her aol broadband. Everytime she phoned they told her she needed to contact them on a specific day the following month, obviously still being charged per month. She finally escaped after having her home phone line disconnected.
They had an 0845 number which will be free from some phone deals. Expect to be messed about repeatedly. Every month you fail to leave earns them £31.99.
I would not use aol as a provider because of this.

This may help although it does ask for your password.
http://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-cancel-aol?op=1
Password reset may be possible

latecomer

Be warned that by cancelling the direct debit you can get into problems with your credit history as any attempted pyaments may be marked as non-payments. Although given what you've said about your OHs finances that may not be a problem.

I'd search for an email address for the head office and try that way.