Bad web connection leads to big phone bill (AOL)

The Telegraph online (Nashua, NH) ^ | 04/20/04 | Anne Lundregan

[NewHampshireDuo]

Reminds me of the time our son came home from college during the 1 month xmas break. He forgot to log in with our local number and used his college local number instead. Imagine our surprise when we got the first bill - $1200...Fortunately, we aren't on AOL (hate it), and Verizon was gracious in helping to get the charges off our bill. Good thing, as the next month's bill for our phone contained the last of the charges - another $500!

Kids..............!

[FourtySeven]

I can sympathize with your situation, and indeed, is why I say to this guy, "tough luck, take it up with Verizon. Maybe you can get a reduced bill".

As far as not being responsible at all for the charges, no way, Jose! I did this myself, foolishly, also with AOL. I was foolish to not check the new number that AOL "recommended" and it ended up costing me close to $400.

I paid the bill and learned my lesson. I also ended up getting rid of AOL over that, as I couldn't get a good connection with them unless I went for a toll call.

[Lunatic Fringe]

AOL displays the number it is dialing... did he not notice?

[Ciexyz]

My net service clearly states the access number that is being dialed.

[wingster]

Communications companies, Verizon in particular, are not exactly blessed with the best and brightest in their corporate customer service offices to say the least.

[Core_Conservative]

AOL - hemoriging customers - should try to work with him and Verizon to at least come up with a payment plan, and maybe a little "good will", but then again, that is why we have the winders OS - so that we don't have to know how are computers work - more of the dumbing down of America!

[eastforker]

Talk about something kooky, my wife installed the newest version of our e-mail last night and some how or another the computer wound up dialing 911. At three or so this morning HPD was outside our house shining spotlights. When she explained to the officer she did not call 911 but was on the puter, the cop said that it happens all the time.I never heard of such a thing.

[Atlas Sneezed]

Why not get free Internet long-distance, and then connect up with that?


;-)

[BlazingArizona]

“We regret that we cannot credit Mr. Pedersen’s account for the long-distance and toll charges that he received,” said Nicholas Graham. “These charges did not originate from AOL, and, therefore, no compensation can be provided.”

Yes, it is AOL's fault. A bug in their program caused it to choose the wromg phone number, or present you with a list that didn't have the right number in it. Take AOL to Small Claims.

[Agnes Heep]

When I see the word "auto" in a program, I cringe. Never assume that anything is going to work automatically. Modern systems are simply too dynamic to account for every contingency.

[1Old Pro]

The phone company should have a computer program to identify ISP phone numers and if a customer is getting charged for a toll call they could send out a notice telling them . This would save alot of potential mistakes, be a great consumer service by the phone company, and ISP could file their log in numbers to the phone companies.

But this is too simple and would prevent "big" telephone from making obscene profits.

[The Great RJ]

Why would anyone seriously want to use America Offline??? It's over priced, generally slow and junk filled. Unfortunately many newbies feel intimidated by other systems and cling to AOL even if there are far better systems available. Get with a local provider--broadband if possible and ditch Internet Explorer for a free download of Mozilla as your browser and e-mail support.

[afraidfortherepublic]

Running the program should not have resulted in Pedersen’s access number being changed, an AOL spokesman said.

Almost the same thing happened to me, although I caught it right away and only had to pay about $10 in charges. I had picked up an access number that was a toll call, even thought the town was only about 20 miles from here and the area code was the same. To make it even more confusing a different area code in the adjacent city offers free service. Luckily the bad number was about 5th or 6th on my list, so the auto dialer didn't hit on it very often.

[afraidfortherepublic]

...ditch Internet Explorer for a free download of Mozilla as your browser and e-mail support.

How do I do that, and what will it get me?

[FierceDraka]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!

Amateurs! AOL-using IDIOT! Friends don't let friends use AOL, is what I've been saying for years now.

Here's a clue: DON'T USE DIALUP.

See, I've done tech support for dialup users, and let me tell you, I wonder how some of them manage to tie their own shoes! Or keep from drowning themselves by looking up during a rainstorm! In fact, I've met dogs and cats smarter than some of the dialup users I've had the misfortune of dealing with.

Yes, yes, I admit it. I have a deep, bitter contempt for dialup - not only the users, but the service itself. It's slow, clunky, and is completely dependent on the quality of your phone line. If you're in an older home, you're screwed - good luck getting ANY connection better than 24kbs.

My own PC came with a modem, and do you know what I did with it? I YANKED THAT SUCKER OUT OF ITS PCI SLOT, AND SMASHED IT WITH A SLEDGE HAMMER! Get cable or DSL - more bang for the buck by far, and it's always on.

[DTA]

First it was porn sites who tricked users into rerouting scams (computer dialed in long distance access numbers in Ukraine, resulting in exorbitant charges)

Finally, Corporate America saw an opportunity in that.

The message is clear: get rid of dial up and send AOLes to dumpster.

[HungarianGypsy]

You think that's something I kne a lady who's phone automatically dialed 911 when the batteries would get low.

[eastforker]

Some do not have access to cable or DSL,or a clear view of the southern sky for a dish, like me. I hate my dial up.Right now I have a 16,800bps connection,yes it sucks but it's all I can get.

[IDontLikeToPayTaxes]

Go here:

http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/

Firefox is the name of the internet browser.

I have been using if for about 2 months on the recommendation from somebody on Free Republic.

It's awesome ! Microsoft Internet Explorer is SO SLOW, filled with pop-ups, etc.

Firefox is so much faster, easy to use, and NO POP UPS!

Hope this helps.

[SWake]

Have you tried replacing your telephone wire inside the house? My connection speed almost doubled when I ran some new wire from the demark (the point outside the house where the TelCo's responsibility ends and your wire hooks up) to my PC.