Name And Shame! Aol

bbb_uk

Do not just cancel your broadband with AOL first. Choose which company you are going to move too and ask AOL for a MAC code (similar to a mobile number PAC code). This MAC code gives permission for you to transfer over to another supplier with the minimal of disruption and expense. Most companies, if they do charge a fee for transferring from AOL to themselves, only charge a small fee for this service.

If you just cancel your broadband and then decide which company to goto then you could be liable for activation costs of setting up broadband on your line again.

Jobywitwot_2

Kev, I'm another who is not a techniephobe, you say ask for a MAC key, do I need to email them or go into one of their helps lines? I am thinking of going to Tesco which my cousin is on, I will email her to see if she gets anything for introduciton. If we all swap that will show AOL.
I will need to get all my addresses out of my address book too before I cancel AOL then I can let all my contacts know.

bbb_uk

Jobywitwot wrote:

Kev, I'm another who is not a techniephobe, you say ask for a MAC key, do I need to email them or go into one of their helps lines?

Either one I can imagine but I'd suggest email to ensure you dont mis-hear what the operator says and jot down the wrong code. If you are within your minimum term then mention you are leaving them because of their change of t&c which is detrimental to you (ie charging upto 8ppm to call their helpline/tech support) and could they supply you with a MAC code as well.

Art_2

I've never liked AOL. However, their charge is a lot better than my ISP, Breathe, who charge 60p per minute for their helpline support. This is one of many reasons I am looking at changing to Plusnet who charge local rates and provide 24/7 support.

Regards,
Art.

SuzySF

I too am livid about the new charges. I've had an ongoing problem since Oct 04 when I first had broadband - AOL and BT keep batting it back n forth. It is an intermittent line fault (BT have stated that) and at one point a BT engineer requested I keep a log of dropout for a month. When I rung him up - he'd been moved to another department and the fault had been closed down - result I had to re- report it to AOhell. This has been done upteen times - I've kept a diary of all the calls and the time spent holding.

So incensed with the announcment I spent a little time searching thru https://www.aol.com, and finally located a U.S. based customer service managing director - his name is

P. Donnell
AOL Customer Care

email address is

aolAccessibility@aol.com

from past expreiences in the US they take Customer Care/Service very very seriously - now at last I seem to be getting somewhere - forget the AOLUK - go straight to the parent company, and as high up as you can !!!

Perhaps if he was deluged in emails from dissatisfied custmers in the UK, they would sit up and take notice - the reply I had from AOL when I email my objections to the costs didnt even address the issue useless to***rs !!!!

(i could quite quite easily turn this into a rant LOL)

pricefighter

The Chairperson and Chief Executive of AOL UK is Karen Thomson.
Main Tel No is 020 7348 8000, or Fax 020 7348 8002.Why not Tel/Fax her and tell her what you think about the idea.

Pentaqua

I'm on AOL but use Gmail for most of my e-mails. AOL has a nasty habit of blocking Hotmail. MSN and others for no apparent reason. I just weaned people off the AOL address and will eventally change to another ISP.

0870 numbers get me really anoyed and as far as possible, I use I tryto find the respective company's 0800 number and laugh like mad when they !!!!!! me around sending me from dept. to dept.

borntoshop

I received the standard email and duly sent back my objection, stating that this is just their way of subsidising the new AOL talk deal at £7.99.
I received a bog standard complaint response email.
Its the same as the premium rate with O2 genie online, i was actually told that the 50p a minute rate was to subsidise the free sims and free monthly texts.
I complained and complained and a manager rang and told me that due to mine and other complaints the premium rate would be scrapped.

Bombard them with emails i say! There profit wont be so hot, if they are swamped with emails to respond to.

Steve_Boorman

narol wrote:

i had serious issue these last 8 days with them.

lost my BB connection & idiots told me to uninstall-reinstall-unistall-reinstall-uninst........

eventually i [tentatively] suggested it could be a faulty filter!

they [ came from BT]sent me new onme y'terday [after 8 days] & bingo!!
BUT.... i was online to them over 8 days approx 15 times @ about an hour a time!!

that woulda cost about £70 !!!

problem is - im a typical brit and lethargy is my name, so loathe to try new ISP.

i'm online a lot & i get their BB Gold reduced price @ £19.99 monthly
can i get better out there in cyber world?

Can you tell me how to get this price for Broadband Gold????I have been with aol for years...never had a major problem.Always used on line help (FREE) to solve anything. I use them as my main e mail address for business so it would be a pain to change...but hey if I can get it cheaper than published I'd love to know how.

idobelieveit

I would like to thank AOL for introducing their new rip-off telephone support service. Why? I hear you asking.
Well I'll tell you. I'm a typical laggard and am still on dial up with modem (I know, I know...) paying AOL £16 a month or something silly like that.
Anyway, their little trick to screw more money out of us (not that I have ever telephoned them) has incensed me enough for ME to decide, at long last, to swap ISPs. Yesterday my wife and I set up new mail accounts with another provider. When we've e-mailed all our friends we will cancel our AOL account and go for a BB connection with someone else - the info for which I'm sure I'll find around here.
So, Thanks AOL!