AOL Members and EX AOL Members
There is a small problem with America Online that has an end result with America Online making money off at the customers expense. With most versions of America Online once you attempted to log off, you will see a box that will ask you if you would like to create a new account with one of your current screen names. If you choose to click the banner or mistakenly click the ad it will automatically choose a screen name and create a new account with it. There are no additional windows or agreements to sign, it will automatically do its and then sign you off.
You may then attempt to sign on seeing that one of your screen names is gone, but where did it go? It was created into a whole new account. Now you have two accounts. With this new account you have the first 45 days free, and your first account still bills your monthly. So in month one you are billed 23.90 and then the next month you see your regular bill of 23.90 and later in the month another charge of 23.90. So two charges in one month from AOL. Most people don't want two accounts.
Now youre mad and call AOL and wait an hour on hold, waiting, waiting... You get in touch with someone and find out that "you" created a second account with out knowing it, and "you" have been billed twice. The rep will make it this sound like a normal situation, and because of your misunderstanding of the ad, they will give you 1 or 2 months free. And you make take it, and they also cancel your second created account. Well you got a refund in some way or another and got the problem solved, however AOL just made a profit. Giving "Free Months" to the customers costs AOL a lot less than refunding your monthly fee.
But, you don't want your free months and you want to money back into your account or the charge taken off the credit card. No problem they can refund that one extra charge that appeared on your card or was drafted from your account. But, are they refunding the interest made off your own money? They also will not refund any overdraft fees that may have occurred as well. So either they can give you free months and make a big profit or they can issue back your money, and make money off the interest of your money. Take that maybe 10 cents interest they made and take that times a thousand members. I wouldn't mind having a share of that would you? However AOL has 33 million users, and I personally know that the problem has effect more than just a thousand members. Imagine the money made off 10 thousand members with that problem. Its money in the bank, with no problem. It cost AOL a few dollars to give you free months verses giving you the money back, however in both cases they make money. Maybe a little or maybe a lot.
Like most of you, I wouldn't notice a problem like that and many wouldn't notice until it they happen to look at their statement and see for the past six months they have been billed twice for two AOL accounts. Now you call in, and guess what, the maximum amount of credit they can issue back is two months. They can either give you two free months or they can give you 47.80 back for two charges. Thats their credit guidelines. And youre stuck paying your normal monthly fee, plus 4 extra payments, just because you clicked a button.
Interesting? Trying calling up AOL and ask about the credit guidelines and the "SOSA" problem...
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