Compuserve charged me after they claimed I don't have an account!

Sounds ridiculous, think again... I tried to sign up with Compuserve and wasn't able to ever access their services. I only got so far as signing up. Unfortunately, they did get my credit card number. That very same day, I called them and told them that I couldn't access their services. I was told I didn't have an account, so don't worry.


Well, on next month's credit card bill, guess what shows up? 9.95 charge for Compuserve. So I called them and spoke to a woman named Kia. She told that she would cancel my "account" and credit me.


This month, guess what is on my credit bill... I called Compuserve again and spoke with Abby. She told me that a) They never credit accounts for "non-usage", b) It wasn't their fault that they told me I didn't have an account because their operators don't have access to such information until 48 hours after and c) The second charge still stands because even though I cancelled on December 4, and the charge transaction/post date was on December 11, I somehow cancelled it after the second billing date. (Huh?)


And then she says that even she doesn't think it is fair to charge for "non-usage", but there is nothing anyone can do. Oh, but if I wanted to still use their services, she could sign me up immediately.


I asked to speak with a supervisor, but she told me that he wasn't authorized to credit me. Obviously Kia was a new employee because she didn't know the rules. Abby said that Kia did file a credit claim but that it was denied.


I was supposed to receive some sort of letter saying that my account had been cancelled. I never did. And Abby said that she is unable to send me a copy of the letter because they just "don't have the ability to do that."


I am in the process of disputing these charges, and my credit card company told me that they would credit me. I'm concerned that my credit card will be charged again. Also, I would like a letter stating that my account has actually been cancelled.

By the way, I don't care what the fine print on any contract says. I didn't even have a chance to use their services considering that I was told in the very beginning that I didn't have an account. I wonder how many other people are going through this problem.