AOL Free Laptop vs Bad Reputation

lofielectronic

I'd sudgest reading through the AOL Messageboards

I had used them from home for the past five or so years.

When its working its fine, when it isn't and you contact customer suport I've always found them not so much unhelpfull, but more that they want to get rid of you. Contacting support and getting through to the level of person that can help is slow, days rather than hours.

I've never liked the bloatware browser much either, if you are running a basic laptop or other programs while browsing it does slow the computer down noticably. Then the fact that if one of the frequent updates that you have to download automatically should stop AOL working you'll end up reinstalling AOL, and loosing all archived email, favorites and browser settings.

As the poster above says, decent laptops for browsing and such can be picked up for under £400 now. So it depends. Personally I wouldn't use this offer, or AOL again.

PZH

I've been with AOL for years and only had a couple of issues.

The first was a loss of Broadband - AOL dealt with BT ( They tried to get me to ring them until I pointed out that my contract was with AOL and not BT ) and I got service back after a week. To be fair, it was BT that was at fault and not AOL. However, after a quick phone call to AOL, I got three months free and a reduced price for the trouble.

Second was more recent, but not a technical issue. I called AOL and asked them to reduce my payment to fall in-line with the rest of the ISP's. They reduced my payments within minutes.

A lot of people give AOL bad press because of their own software - but you don't have to use this ( especially since they send you a router ).

Another gripe is the call centre - however, I think that they are fairly efficient, but like any call centre, level 1 support has a set number of scripts ( i.e. stating the obvious ) to go through. It is this level 1 support that 'Techies' get annoyed with - but you need to go through this to get to level 2 & 3 support - it's just a fact of life with many service providers ( And you'd be amazed how many 'faults' are actually solved by going through the basics anyway )

What you have to realise is that people are far more likely to post a bad review - and exagerate the issue ( i.e. - it's never their fault, AOL are unreasonable, etc ) rather than post a good review.

I bet I can find bad press for any ISP out there.

Basically, I think AOL as an ISP is great - never had a problem with speeds ( constantly get 5megs ), my contract is for unlimited use - and now the minimum term ( 12mths in my case ) is over, its a month by month contract.

Can't comment on the deals available - they all have their pro's and con's.

.

kianicky

i've had aol on and off since 2002 not really had much of a problem. i ordered the free laptop deal last week so awaiting my router and laptop arriving. using an old thomson router to connect at the moment. everything seems to be going fine.

kianicky

just thought i'd update. i got my laptop this morning. no probs with it so far, running smoothly

OohSoHolly

I've always defended AOL over the many many years we have had it. But since AOL UK was bought by the CPW and they began the migration, i've had nothing but problems with them. And ok, im willing to accept that it isnt going to run smoothly but there comes a time when you have to say enough is enough and i finally want to hang up my job as IT Tech. for the household and just be a normal Internet Surfer.
So i've finally taken the plunge and requested my MAC Code from AOL. Yeeeey ;D Bring on 02 Broadband.

Rainbow_Butterfly

I currently get b-band through orange for £12.99pm. I need a new laptop.. so off I pootle to Carphone Warehouse/AOL as they have a £19.99pm price incl free laptop.

Nomatter how I play about with the website, it keeps giving me a price of £29.99.

So I rang them.... ah.. the customer service lady said.. you dont live in the right area for this offer.. but you can have it for only £10pm more.

The free laptop in question she rather proudly tells me is worth £380.

So if I got it for £7pm (the difference between my current b-band and £19.99AOL) for a 24month contract = £168 for the laptop - a pretty good deal I thought.

If its £17pm extra (£29.99AOL), then I pay £408 for the laptop. :mad:

Apparently 70% of the country is included, and I am just unfortunate in my choice of address.
To test this theory, I have tried 6 other family members phone numbers in the checker, as wide ranging as Cumbria, Norfolk, Scotland, Lincolnshire, Wales. http://shop.carphonewarehouse.com/aol_eligibility.php

Now I dont know if my family are really bad at chosing where to live or if this is just a big con.:eek:

Would be very interested to hear other peoples experiences of this.. and if you can get the £19.99 deal, whereabouts in the country you are!? :rotfl:

gazza975526570

i can get it if i wanted it

Which i dont as i dont think its such a great offer

i get the same speeds for £6

Rainbow_Butterfly

Who is that with out of interest?

We are with orange, did try and move to BT but they said that the speed of our line was too slow - we can only just about get 0.5mb here.

Johnny_Doe

Gazza,

Can you clear your pm's and let me know how things are going with you know what,

thanks

Jake'sGran

I am getting really fed up of trying to compare. The idea of a free laptop is great but there are so many conditions and last night I kept being messed around between AOL (I have been with them for a long time) and Carphone Warehouse who now own AOL UK. As a very low phone user I think I am better off sticking with Primus for landline charge and calls and AOL for broadband at £9.99. This total is between £23-25 per month. Just need to buy a laptop and have no clauses to worry about e.g. 2 year contract with AOL for the laptop deal.