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MP3 of cancelling an AOL account

TrenchMouth said:
Here.
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Umm ... so ... people sensitive to "offensive" language might want to like ... not follow that link.

But I saw that show ... and I never watch the History Channel. And I have to agree ... the MIT kids were indeed "lameasses." Trying to build a crop circle with some lumber and seemingly random pyrotechnics. If you're sensitive to mystery and wonder at some point you just want to throttle some scientists (no offense, scientists).

And the genuine rage of the guy who made that phone call -- maybe I'm a sucker, but honesty gives me new conviction.
 
I was just on the phone with AOL member services and I have never been happier. I told him I wasn't planning on canceling AOL (today) and I just had a simple question (re: keeping my AOL screen-name for AIM). He more than answered my question, and offered me a plan for $5 a month ($10 less than I'm paying now).

I did, however, get in an argument with the automated operator. :eek:
 
thedude110 said:
Umm ... so ... people sensitive to "offensive" language might want to like ... not follow that link.

But I saw that show ... and I never watch the History Channel. And I have to agree ... the MIT kids were indeed "lameasses." Trying to build a crop circle with some lumber and seemingly random pyrotechnics. If you're sensitive to mystery and wonder at some point you just want to throttle some scientists (no offense, scientists).

And the genuine rage of the guy who made that phone call -- maybe I'm a sucker, but honesty gives me new conviction.
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Good call, thanks. A warning has been instated.

But yea, that guy kinda loses it. The sound of his voice is the sound of broken dreams.
 
EricNau said:
I was just on the phone with AOL member services and I have never been happier. I told him I wasn't planning on canceling AOL (today) and I just had a simple question (re: keeping my AOL screen-name for AIM). He more than answered my question, and offered me a plan for $5 a month ($10 less than I'm paying now).

I did, however, get in an argument with the automated operator. :eek:
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Why the hell do you have AOL? :p
 
yg17 said:
Why the hell do you have AOL? :p
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To be honest; I don't know. I got AOL over 8 years ago, but when I got my Mac, I also got High-Speed. I never use AOL, but I like my AOL/AIM screen-name, and if I cancel AOL, I'm afraid I'll loose it for AIM also.
 
This is true. I also cancelled my aol account about 2 months ago and it was the same ordeal. Took freakin forever to get the rep off the phone.
 
I was actually paid by someone to delete their AOL account. I wasn't going to except the money but after I was done I changed my mind. :D

But now I have experience for when I cancel my own.
 
Flowbee said:
When you cancel an account on AOL, you're not talking to a "customer service" person, you're talking to a sales person. They've been trained in high-pressure tactics to keep you from cancelling your account. I'm sure they get a bonus for convincing someone to not cancel (or to hang up out of frustration).

There's no one at AOL whose job is to *help* people cancel their accounts. If you go into it with that in mind, it will be much less frustrating.
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Not really. You're speaking to a retention rep. which is under the customer service dept. I worked retention, and the rep was offbase.
 
OnceUGoMac said:
Not really. You're speaking to a retention rep. which is under the customer service dept. I worked retention, and the rep was offbase.
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Of course AOL is going to classify this as "customer service," but no matter what name you call it, it is still very nasty high-pressure sales tactics usually reserved for used car salesmen and telemarketers trying to scam the elderly. Despicable I say.
 
TrenchMouth said:
Great call, and I raise this thread a pissed off History Channel viewer. (linked from boingboing.net)

Here. NSFW:Lang

Edit: sorry for the lack of warning.
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Wow. I learned a new word today!

This makes me want to signup to AOL. Just to see how fast I can get it canceled.
Better bring provisions....

EricNau said:
I was actually paid by someone to delete their AOL account. I wasn't going to except the money but after I was done I changed my mind. :D

But now I have experience for when I cancel my own.
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You should record it!
 
aquajet said:
Is this real? Somehow I doubt a customer could be treated so egregiously. Even if it is, the guy remained remarkably collected, considering the situation. Can't say I would be so patient.
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This sort of s**t is REAL!

The AOL reps are trained to keep all accounts at any cost.
 
hookahco said:
I have to cancel an AOL account in a few weeks.. God help them if they give me this guy to "help" me out.
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Just be ready to be "beaten" down.

I would rather go to one of those "FREE timeshare vacation offers", than to try and deal with AOL.
 
Flowbee said:
When you cancel an account on AOL, you're not talking to a "customer service" person, you're talking to a sales person. They've been trained in high-pressure tactics to keep you from cancelling your account. I'm sure they get a bonus for convincing someone to not cancel (or to hang up out of frustration).

There's no one at AOL whose job is to *help* people cancel their accounts. If you go into it with that in mind, it will be much less frustrating.
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The actual title is "customer retention".

In thinking about about it, what is the the legal aspect of the AOL customer recording the conversation? I mean that when you call the likes of AOL, they state up up front that your call may be recorded "for quality assurance".

Does this give us the right to record those conversations, without "legal" notice, since we are already being recorded?

In the end this does sound very real based on my canceling of an AOL account. The caller to AOL gave "right" to "hostile actions" by the AOL rep; by the use of s**t in many telephone center operation manuals - based on training that I have had over the years. Sad but true.
 
Chip NoVaMac said:
The actual title is "customer retention".

In thinking about about it, what is the the legal aspect of the AOL customer recording the conversation? I mean that when you call the likes of AOL, they state up up front that your call may be recorded "for quality assurance".

Does this give us the right to record those conversations, without "legal" notice, since we are already being recorded?

In the end this does sound very real based on my canceling of an AOL account. The caller to AOL gave "right" to "hostile actions" by the AOL rep; by the use of s**t in many telephone center operation manuals - based on training that I have had over the years. Sad but true.
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You know...I wonder how much easier it would be to cancel your account if you said upfront "I'm recording this call." :D
 
OutThere said:
You know...I wonder how much easier it would be to cancel your account if you said upfront "I'm recording this call." :D
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To be honest i have used this tactic in the past six months in the past year on creditors that have been searching for my ex-lover. I inform them that he no longer uses my phone number, and then inform that the call is being recorded and I wish no further calls. Surprising how the number of calls have dropped.
:D
 
This reminds me of trying to un-install the trial AOL software that came on this windows PC. In fact, it is still on there. The un-installer freezes EVERY SINGLE TIME I try to uninstall it. I eventually just gave up on it. So annoying.
 
TrenchMouth said:
Great call, and I raise this thread a pissed off History Channel viewer. (linked from boingboing.net)

Here. NSFW:Lang

Edit: sorry for the lack of warning.
Click to expand...

HAHAHAHAHAHA. OH. MY. GOD.

I've probably listened to that around 5 times now.
 
OutThere said:
You know...I wonder how much easier it would be to cancel your account if you said upfront "I'm recording this call." :D
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It's a pretty brilliant idea.

"I'm going to record this phone call for quality control purposes.

I'd like to cancel my account."
 
Sadly, I am in the same boat with AOL. They keep insisting I owe them money for their service, even though Im not a member of their crappy service! The conversations usually go something like this:

"Im not sure you understand... I canceled my AOL service three years ago."
"Okay. How would you like to pay for that?"
"How can I owe you for the last three years If I haven't been a member?"
"I understand sir. We take credit cards or checks."
"I DONT OWE YOU ANYTHING"
"I can arrange a payment schedule If you like"
"@$&%!!!"
 
God - I have AOL and.. I don't think we'll ever cancel it, i mean, no one uses the software, we just keep our email addresses, i mean, ****, we've had our email addresses for probably 8 years now.
 
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