Ohio Charges AOL, Compuserve With Deception

Polyploid Pimp writes "The Buckeye State has filed a complaint against AOL and its CompuServe subsidiary. Ohio claims that AOL is deceiving consumers with the ever familiar "Free Trial" cds, as both ISPs charged consumer's credit cards/bank accounts after cancelling the "free" service. The state is seeking $25,000 for each alleged violation plus refunds for the consumers. Check it out at The Register and the official press release."

I've had no problems

[Shiifty]

I used the "3 month AOL free trial" 3 times while I was in school, signing up with a different credit card each time. I canceled on time and I never had a charge on any of them, and in fact, they sent me gifts like a free CD wallet.

I imagine there are hundreds of thousands of people that have used this free offer, and with only 250 complaints over the past two years (probably many more that haven't filed complaints), I'd say thats in the 'whoops, we screwed up' category. I doubt it was intentional, and some are probably because of the person's fault (like a friend of mine who got charged for the month because she canceled late).

It's about time this happened.

[oDDmON oUT]

Charging users credit cards for "free" accounts is simply an extension of previous business practices, designed to raise a revolving, interest free, source of cash and is nothing new for AOL as far as I'm concerned.

In 1997 I fell prey to using AOL. Then I found Netcom and the internet, so I cancelled my AOL account.

Imagine my surprise when the credit card statement came in and another AOL charge was on my account. I immediately called them, asked why I was being charged after cancellation. The telephon

Re:It's about time this happened.

[Anonymous Coward]

My $19.95 was nothing in the great scheme of things. However, multiplied by X number of thousands of accounts cancelled in any given month, that $19.95 could balloon into a floating, interest free chunk of capital of immense proportions, available to use for 30 days. Even if not used, the interest off of such amounts wouldn't be trivial either.

But what makes you think it was company policy vs rogue managers pocketing the difference themselves?

Re:It's about time this happened.

[oDDmON oUT]

It may not be "policy" per se, but it has been part of AOL from the get-go and continues to this day. A quick google will get you some interesting results [google.com].

Whether it's a rogue manager or not, it's being done under the corporate banner and therefore the responsibility of said corporate entity.

hmmm

[Speedy8]

So will the states get the money or the customers that wehre decieved?

Re:hmmm

[rmohr02]

I would assume the states get money for the criminal violations they're pursuing, and customers will get refunds.

In other news

[Joe the Lesser]

Ohio's cable system, operated by Time Warner, apparently went down last night for unknown reasons...

Supposed to be funny...

[Joe the Lesser]

This was a joke. AOL is actually AOL-Time Warner. But I'm being sarcastic in the fact that the company as a whole would inflict revenge on the state, and pointing out that fighting one corporation nowadays means fighting multiple corporations.

Re:Supposed to be funny...

[Viqsi]

Cute. But technically it wouldn't work, because there's quite a few competitors around here who'd be Quite happy to pick up the slack. ;) (WideOpenWest [wowway.com] especially comes to mind...)

Re:In other news

[nutsy]

Here in Cowtown [voyager.net] we are indeed serv(ic)ed by Time Warner Cable. But it isn't the only one in this area, much less in the entire State. We ain't that small. :)

Trials

[mopslik]

...the ever familiar "Free Trial" cds.

So now there will be a "very expensive trial" to evaluate the "free trial" claim?

ObSimpQuote

[J x]

<nelson>HA HA!</nelson>

Odd...

[ihatesco]

I sworn that the state of OHIO was going to sue AOL because AOL didn't say that a connected computer BROADCASTED AN IP (so your privacy was violated)...

I've had problems

[SRziGGy]

I have used AOL (AOL HELL) for the free trial. They charged my credit card for the next month. This was before the month end too. When i called they told me that they will continue the account till u cancel the account. This is bull becuase the free time is up they sould ask if u like to contine the account

Great, bust their balls for this..

[ukyoCE]

I am far too sick of companies going so far in their "retention" programs that they simply keep charging you even after you tell them to cancel the service. AOL did this to my mom at least 3 times before she finally got rid of the service. They claimed things like "oh, well someone get online with the account again after you called so we figured you still wanted it" (oh no, someone uses the service for as long as they've already paid for it??). But they literally just kept charging for the service month

Signed up for AOL once

[jgoemat]

I signed up for AOL once, CompUSA was giving $200 off the laptop I was buying for trying out AOL for 30 days, no-risk. I think I was a little late cancelling (I forgot) and was charged once, but when they saw I hadn't even signed into the service once they credited my card back.

In the best interest of citizens?

[pdabbadabba]

It seems to me that the victims in this case would be much more likely to get their compensation in ths case if the State didn't insist on attaching huge fees onto it just because they can. If it were just a demand for theur money back (and maybe a little exra for their time), the average Joe would get his money back a lot faster.