AOL horror stories

[bull]

I've known for a long time that AOL is a scourge to the computer world but I only recently discovered that many other people have had a lot of problems with them too. I heard an actual phone conversation on the radio the other day between an AOL customer and a tech where the tech basically refused to cancel the customer's AOL subscription, even though the guy almost had a meltdown while commanding him to cancel it. It sounded a lot like what I went through with them about 8 years ago when (after a 45-minute confrontation) I cussed the AOL tech out because he REFUSED cancel my AOL.

And then I could never get all the AOL stuff off my computer because their software is basically a virus. You cannot get it off your hard drive unless you pretty much hire a guy come to your house and spend 4 hours removing it. A woman I work with has AOL and she couldn't get it off her computer either so now she wants to call AOL and cancel I told to forget that and just call her credit card company and have them block the AOL charge and then hire someone to remove the software.

On the flip side though, I heard about another woman who has AOL but has never paid for it in the five years she's had it. She keeps calling to cancel when the free time runs out and they keep offering her more time so she takes it and never pays.

Any AOL horror stories from you guys or is this somewhat isolated? IMO they're the Hlpag of computer internet providers.

[Silver R/T]

Had aol while back. I cancelled it even though they offered free 1 month if I stay with them. Had no problems removing their stuff from computer. Their software comes installed on most new comps anyways.

[Troy]

My experience is trying to remove that virus from various computers (none of them mine of course). Even if it says it's uninstalled it is all still there! I have no idea if their broadband is any better than their dial up but I won't even risk it. In an effort to save bandwidth they also "optimize" all of the images on the web which makes them look like a 3 year old edited them in MS Paint. This brings all sorts of joy to graphic designers who get paid to make awesome graphics only to have them mangled. AOL also caches pages (and entire web sites) which means that "dynamic" sites don't end up being "dynamic" any more. New content is only displayed when AOL deems it necessary (MSN does the same). AOL has their own browser which used to be a big pile of trash. It didn't follow any sort of standards or work like any other browser. Coding around the problems is a huge headache for programmers so in the end, you just tell people not to bother browsing your site or to expect everything to work if they do. I've heard that recording but haven't investigated to see if it's real. I do know they try all sorts of ingenious ways to keep customers after they've lured them in with the free offer.

Troy

[TruckDriver]

My experience is trying to remove that virus from various computers (none of them mine of course). Even if it says it's uninstalled it is all still there! I have no idea if their broadband is any better than their dial up but I won't even risk it. In an effort to save bandwidth they also "optimize" all of the images on the web which makes them look like a 3 year old edited them in MS Paint. This brings all sorts of joy to graphic designers who get paid to make awesome graphics only to have them mangled. AOL also caches pages (and entire web sites) which means that "dynamic" sites don't end up being "dynamic" any more. New content is only displayed when AOL deems it necessary (MSN does the same). AOL has their own browser which used to be a big pile of trash. It didn't follow any sort of standards or work like any other browser. Coding around the problems is a huge headache for programmers so in the end, you just tell people not to bother browsing your site or to expect everything to work if they do. I've heard that recording but haven't investigated to see if it's real. I do know they try all sorts of ingenious ways to keep customers after they've lured them in with the free offer.

Troy

[nh_mopar_fan]

Aol is for people who really have no clue about computers. It's the lowest common denominator.

[70charger_boy]

You guys need to download spysweeper it erases all of that aol crap off your computer and its frre for 30 days

[Plumcrazy]

I always thought of AOL as being the internet with training wheels.   

[TruckDriver]

I always thought of AOL as being the internet with training wheels.   

America Off Line

[dkn1997]

I have high speed through my cable co, so I have the Free AOL plan.  no skin off my back.  it's not the best, but I like it and it does not cost anything.  I have had it for 10 years, so changing email is not that easy....since it's gratis, I am keeping it.  although I personally don't use it, my kids and wife do.  I use firefox