Name And Shame! Aol

BexTech

Art wrote:

I think in this instance the 0845 is cheaper than the alternative national rate number you have given.

I emailed Plusnet to ask about their 0845 number. Their reply states:
'Local rate. It is a standard BT 0845 number so is charged by BT at the standard local rate charge.'

regards,
Art.

The 0845 WILL cost you more than the true number. Remember since 12 months ago with true geographical numbers it will cost the same to call London from Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow etc as it does from London itself.

When calling the 0845 number during the day will be 3.95p/min and at the evening and weekend say you will pay 1p/min, yet call any 01 or 02 number and it will be 5.5p four an hour evening and weekends. If you use 18866 to call the 01 or 02 number it will cost only 2p per call. 0845 WILL cost more than standard number, the term local rate and national rate number are misleading and these descriptions could be disappearing soon.

Calling Sheffield from Essex will cost the same as calling a next door neighbour in Essex.

Why pay 3.95p/min using the 0845 number when you can pay 2p/call with the 01 number, or if on inclusive call package the 01 number will come out of that the 0845 number will not. Do not be mislead by the name local rate, or as they changed the name to many years ago "Low-Call".

derek22

Hi,

AOLs actions gives some individuals who want to stay with them the chance to save some money.

If you are paying for their Platinum service and still within your contracted 12 month period and either they are unable to provide 2Mbps or you where simply happy with 1Mbps. Contact them and ask them to reduce your charges, they may give you some speal about how it isnt their fault they cant upgrade the speed its your line thats the problem so they cant reduce the costs etc.

If you then mention the changes to the T&Cs and say you wish to cancel there is a good chance they will agree to your request. Well certainly did with me, after a pause talking through with a supervisor.

I assume the same will go for all their price plans. By the way if you are still waiting for your speed upgrade, they may have already tried but failed because your line wont take it. They dont seem to be under any compulsion to let you have that information, I wonder why, so you must ask.

derek22

Hi,

for those that wish to change provider take a look at

http://www.e7even.com/

on their 512Kbps they are presently offering 1Mbps for the same price as 512Kbps. If you pay upfront for 24 months (£240) there is no connection fee and at £10 per month that works out about the same as 10 months gold subscription costs.

You could also see if they wave the connection fee if you are a migrating customer for the other price plans if you have your MAC.

I am not recommending them from personal experience so perhaps if you know off them you can add some comments. I know of one person who has migrated recently and so far trouble free.

Art_2

derek22 wrote:

Hi,

for those that wish to change provider take a look at

http://www.e7even.com/

on their 512Kbps they are presently offering 1Mbps for the same price as 512Kbps. If you pay upfront for 24 months (£240) there is no connection fee and at £10 per month that works out about the same as 10 months gold subscription costs.

You could also see if they wave the connection fee if you are a migrating customer for the other price plans if you have your MAC.

I am not recommending them from personal experience so perhaps if you know off them you can add some comments. I know of one person who has migrated recently and so far trouble free.

Maybe a cheap monthly charge but they charge £1 per minute for technical support. This is outrageous!!

Also many ISPs do not tie you down to 12 month contract. What happens if you have a problem and want to leave them?

Regards,
Art.

gritts

Just been on Live Help and was told T&C's had not changed and therefore could not leave my contract???!

Ellie2758

that's nonsense gritts. I had a reply to my email stating as such. wish i could find it and I would post it here but it has disappeared into the ether. also, the address I replied to is no longer accepting post. i wonder why!! bet they were inundated.

Ellie

pricefighter

gritts wrote:

Just been on Live Help and was told T&C's had not changed and therefore could not leave my contract???!

Have a look in this thread at Poppy 9 posting of the 23/6/05 9.55pm. which shows full details of AOL E-Mail re this. Also look at Daniels posting of 23/6/2005 at 10.40pm which confirms you can get out of contract.

derek22

also find reponse from aol below when asked to confirm that I could cancel, my contract started in January 2005, so if you get someone who says you cant then ask to speak to a supervisor.

---We respect your right but can I just note that our upcoming charges for customer support are still among the lowest of any Internet provider from just 1.5p to 7.5p per minute. We believe that with all its free features (security etc,) and exclusive content package, AOL still represents excellent value for money. However as the new number represents a change to the current AOL Member Agreement, you have the right to cancel your contract with AOL within 30 days of the email notifying you of this change. Should you wish to cancel your account please call Member Services on 0800 376 5432 before the 1st of August 05.
---

Ellie2758

:think: Just found my email from aol with the MAC key - guess where? In my spam folder. Why??? :think:

Ellie

bbb_uk

It appears to me that because they don't want people to leave (naturally) then they are saying that they can't get out of their contract. Saying this would have some (if not most) people just accepting it and then continuing with their contract. For those that knew it was wrong would take it further to find out they could in fact cancel and AOL's response about initially being told we couldn't cancel would be blamed on bad customer services training (in other words they get away with it and sweep it under the carpet).

Remember, that when you signed-up for AOL you were offered a certain speed and free customer services (they proudly advertised that). The reason why you signed-up with them was because of these things and since then they have increased the speed but because this wasn't detriment to you, it meant you couldn't get out of your contract. Changing from a freephone number not just to a chargable number that could cost only 2p (based on a geographical call to them) but instead to a chargable number that costs nearly 8ppm from a BT landline and even more from a mobile and they are gaining revenue from people ringing them now.