AOL investors:
I'm primarily involved in 3D graphics, networking and semiconductor stocks, so internet providers aren't my cup of tea, but I'd thought you'd like to hear this. Mind you, I'm not trying to vent my feelings of frustration to you guys because it is not your fault.
I tried out one of those 50 free hour deals with AOL. I had used about 10, when all of a sudden I see a $19.95 charge on my credit card. So I call the AOL up. Well, it seems that their computers were down earlier in the week, so they wrote my name down and when the best time would be to call me (6AM PDT), telling me that I'd receive a call in 24-72 hrs. Ok, no call back. I call today, but get lost in the interminable menu options. Then I call AOL local access#, get on, and type keyword "billing." I try to access my account but it says that I have a "sub-account" so essentially I have no records. Then I try to call the toll free# again, getting the extension for the operator. I am told their will be a wait of 15 minutes -- mind you this is at 8 am PDT on Sunday for a supposed 24hr network. So I have them on speaker phone while I access the net via my wireless network.
45 minutes go buy with one of those, "We're sorry, all our operators are busy..." I hang up.
Well, you can sure bet that once I get this squared away, I'm not going to recommend AOL to anybody. I don't know if Compuserve is any better, but it surely couldn't be worse. Why don't they just shell out the extra $7/hr and hire some high school kids to pick up the damn phones! Service=Success in ANY BUSINESS.
-Shalin Madan |
