Aol's "free" disc was put into my pc, and I got billed for 3 1/2 years of internet access I never knew that I had. I was paying for AOL-T.W. Road Runner cable Dulles Virginia

In Dec. 1999 my teenager put in the "free" AOL disc, and did hit agree for their user agreement but it was under a made-up name. AOL changed the name on the billing to match the debit card user which was me.

I never used AOL nor did I know that I had continuing service. I was charged for 3 1/2 years before I realised that it was being taken out of my account. I had been paying for Earthlink (in 1999) and then AOL-Time Warner Road Runner cable in 2000 (for three years of the same time I was charged for AOL). They refunded a year of service charges but still have $574 from my bank account...in addition to the $500 I was paying every year for Road Runner.

I have reported then to the Attorney General Spitzer but they have not been able to get anything more back. I filed a small claims in NYC, but they had changed address (Time-Warner kicked them off their official name/address in NYC)a month beofre I was able to file.

I cannot travel easily to Virginia, so I have not been able to fight these unauthorized charges. I should at least be able to get back overcharges considering that I would have only paid $9.95 vs. $23.95 while I was already paying for Road Runner...if I had only known that I was being charged. Yes, I could have been more careful to check charges on my debit card, but I stopped checking this card since I have over-draft protection.

I feel that AOL has taken advantage of my most precious thing: my free time. I am an extremely busy working single mom of two kids, and I need to prioritize everything I do. For example, I check my credit cards but not my debit card.

AOL has built their company by scamming as many of the little guys (like me) as possible. They could see that I had not used the account for the past 6 months, but were unwilling to go back to see that I had never used it. How could I do dial-up when I have cable and only one phone line? Their staff could see that my case warranted pay back but their "accounting practices" would not allow them to give me my money back.

I also got charged for two years of AOL-Auto Advantage since AOL gave them my credit card information (under the incorrect name), and I cashed their check for $2.50 which I mistakenly thought was a thank you from AOL. This amounted to another $180 in fradulant charges for something I never knew I had and never used (I had AAA-Plus) for the entire time.

Both these companies took money out of my bank account after offering "free" services. Noone should be able to ask for credit card information for free items. Of course I am a wary consumer now, but why should I be penalized near $800 for being a stressed single mom with not enough time to avoid scams?

Emily
newfield, New York
U.S.A.