AOL Declared War On SuperCitizen

[Imran Siddiqui]

Because no one is suing anyone.

Well if you don't refuse to pay and AOL stands tight and even if they are sanctioned still refuses, what are you going to do?

you justify corporate crime.

What corporate crime? YOU'RE STILL PAYING!

[Moral Hazard]

If it goes to a credit bureau/collection agency, she can contest it and win. Aol's billing cockups are notorious. How they've avoided an extremely damaging class action is beyond me. Sometimes it comes back on your credit rating though, and you have to fight it again

That isn't the point though. Yes, America needs stronger consumer protection mechanisms. The only real threat to companies is class action. Having a company acting outside good faith is hardly helpful to the economy and it has to be made unprofitable for them to do so.

[Imran Siddiqui]

In my experience, 90% of such problems against corporations can be solved by yelling at the Human Resources and threatening to stop payment! They'll respond to losing money.

[Pekka]

"What corporate crime? YOU'RE STILL PAYING!"

Like I said, you justify this action by AOL. I didn't expect this one coming from anyones mouth.

[Moral Hazard]

In my experience, 90% of such problems against corporations can be solved by yelling at the Human Resources and threatening to stop payment! They'll respond to losing money.

Very true. A lot of people are afraid of this confrontation. So the shady policies remain. And the meek get screwed.

[Imran Siddiqui]

you justify this action by AOL.

I ain't justifying anything... it's analogus to walking into a bar with horny guys without any pants on and drunk as Hell. It ain't right if they have their way with you, but you aren't exactly off the hook for putting yourself in that situation. To bring it back to this situation... put your pants on .

[Pekka]

" it's analogus to walking into a bar with horny guys without any pants on and drunk as Hell."

I find this analgoue false and highly insulting.
Further comments on this case not wanted from you, thanks.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Then don't read any more from me .

[MalevolentLight]

There's been class action lawsuits filed by the state of Illinois (I think) for the exact same reason; customers requesting to cancel their subscription and AOL not cancelling it. You can't be polite and ask in a sweet voice for them to cancel the subscription. You have to be a dick and threaten legal action and stop payment immediately. And don't just speak to the common representative, demand you speak to their superiors and get their names as well for any future legal use. I had a similar problem once with AOL and their 30 day trial. You cancel and they just keep charging you until you call up your credit card company and get it off and then call up AOL and let them have it.

[Pekka]

So why is it possible that AOL keeps on doing these tricks? Why are they not facing a heavy penalty for this kind of action?

[Moral Hazard]

ML: Do you know what happened in that case, a google search didn't help. It was still pending in the documents I found, ~1999. Pekka's Mom may be able to attach to this.

[MalevolentLight]

It's really not worth getting wrapped up in class action lawsuits because the people who got screwed aren't going to see the money anyway. All the money goes to the attorneys. How do you think Edwards made his money suing all those doctors (by the way doctors all around the country are mobilizing against Edwards)? Just get it cancelled and cut your losses. You aren't going to get that money back but make sure you don't pay anymore.

[Moral Hazard]

I searched bigclassaction and whatever it was it's no longer pending. There are a few others but none of them relate to Pekka's case.

It's unfortunate that the only way to really sting companies ends up paying lawyers obscene amounts of money.

[MalevolentLight]

Yep, it's better to settle on an individual basis. Lawyers are a bane to society.

[Moral Hazard]

Yep, it's better to settle on an individual basis. Lawyers are a bane to society

In a way; but this doesn't cause the companies to change their policies.