On Tape: Rep Won't Let Customer Quit AOL

[EveningStar]

An incredible video from CNBC shows an AOL customer trying to cancel his account, but a phone rep won't let him do it. What customer Vincent Ferrari got when he tried to cancel his account was a lot of frustration...
You're not going to believe this. Go to NBC10.com. (http://www.nbc10.com/news/9406462/detail.html)

[Wolfcounsel]

AO Hell needs to be bankrupt desperately!

[Kathy29]

They shouldn't have fired the guy, he really was trying to help the company. He just needs some instruction that no means no and cancel the account means cancel the account.

[EveningStar]

They shouldn't have fired the guy, he really was trying to help the company. He just needs some instruction that no means no and cancel the account means cancel the account.
He was probably following instructions.

[USPatriot8320]

I remember having an AOL account.... Every time I tried to cancel it, it was well take 3 months free, blah blah blah... It takes forever to get your account cancelled through them... It should just be automated.

[Rhino]

Never had it. Never will.

[BEST45CAL]

That's just how AOL is.

I remember when I canceled my AO-HELL and the customer service idiot couldn't get a clue until I told him that we get cable Internet free of charge through work.

After I told him that, he offered me a FREE 56K modem and something like 3 months free service. I just laughed at him. I couldn't imagine someone being that stupid.

[Foquet]

This has been AOL's SOP since 1987.

They are like the Online Mafia, in that trying to leave their 9th Circle of Hell will leave you with cyber-busted knees and a bank account that will scream.

Their tactics have been used and refined by modern-day telemarketers as their success at roping in so many dolts who have no business even having a PC on their desk works better than flashing a gov't ATM card at a Katrina "victim".

[Charity]

I cancelled my account long ago and they tried to get me not to. I had to get ugly with them too.

[Foquet]

Somehow, the thought of Charity getting really pissed like that keeps me awake at night. :D

[DesertFox]

I threatened to sue the bastards when they tried this shit on me and kept charging my card.

[Timberwolf]

Somehow, the thought of Charity getting really pissed like that keeps me awake at night. :D
Ditto that...btw, welcome back. Just READ your sigline. Don't be a stranger, aiight?

[Charity]

Somehow, the thought of Charity getting really pissed like that keeps me awake at night
LOL now you guys know I can get mean when it calls for it. I try to be nice but sometimes they just won't let me.

[Rink]

I threatened to sue the bastards when they tried this shit on me and kept charging my card.

Had it been me I would have ripped up my card and canceleed that and got another card, i.e. made it impossible to get money out of my account via that card.

And you wonder why I pay my ISP only in checks and never through debit? Because I dont trust these companies with my debit card or automatic withdrawls out of my account.

[Foquet]

In other words, they operate just like the IRS.

No wonder so many lefty mail addys end in AOL.com

[GrocerySacker]

Tragically, the customer service guy was probably doing as he was told. I work in a call center myself...we actually have scripts that we have to follow when on the phone.

[ConspiracyBuff]

We need more of this type of news, nothing makes me laugh like tense phone conversations when a customer is getting pissed.
"Okay one day your going to look back and realize that I was just trying to help and you should have listened to me"
hahahaaha classic AOL BS.

Thanks for the laugh ES.

[Foquet]

Good to be back among friends...Wolfie. And you have always been a good one here. :)

:thumb:

Ditto that...btw, welcome back. Just READ your sigline. Don't be a stranger, aiight?

[Timberwolf]

Likewise. :biggrin:

[Foquet]

Thanks Wolfie. :)

And to destroy in the worst and most horrid way possible, the Left.

[Peachdiane]

It takes forever to get your account cancelled through them... It should just be automated.
It was in the beginning. One could cancel following the online steps. Then they changed it to where one had to call to cancel, so they could persuade the customers not to. :shame:

I know a few people who had to call the credit card company and stop payment because AOL kept charging them.

Tragically, the customer service guy was probably doing as he was told. I work in a call center myself...we actually have scripts that we have to follow when on the phone.

Scripts aren't meant to be followed. :D There's a grocery delivery guy that went through weeks of script training and he's never followed it. He's a hoot and gets more customers his way. ;)