A money saver for AOL users

[starwood]

If you call them at 1-888-265-8008 and commit to keeping AOL for 12 months the price drops to $14.95. If you decide to drop it before the 12 months is up you are charged $50.00. At the end of the 12 months your price remains $14.95 with no 12 month committment.

 

[DMRick]

But be prepared to threaten to go elsewhere. This was a marketing tool AOL tried, which was suppose to involve only 2000 people, and wished they had not. They seem to have no idea thow the internet works. Interesting, eh? It was meant to get back people who left and people who called about leaving. They may be very testy when you call, may offer you $19.95 a month, or may give you nothing, except a "don't let the door hit on your way out". You are suppose to have a code from an email. At this time, they are also not guaranteeing in writing your price will stay $14.95 at the end of the year.
This has been a very interesting week for AOL employee's as they are threatened, screamed at etc. when telling people it was not meant for all : (

I've got a side bet that they will regret this, and they may have to open it up to all, if they don't want people mad and leaving. How could they not know the word would be passed around.

 

[dmure]

Thank you so much for this tip. I was currently paying 23.90 a month and was considering switching to Net Zero but hated to change providers due to having to change email address. I called and got the 14.95 rate with a 12 month commitment. No problem with 12 mth deal since we have had internet access for many many years with aol. Great rate thanks again.

 

[starwood]

I did not call and tell them I was leaving. My DH saw something about this new rate. We had no intentions of leaving and I told him that. I was also told that it will remain $14.95 after the 12 month period.

I won't have any nasty testy people calling because I'm not leaving.

 

[dmure]

I did not tell them I was planning to leave either. I simply asked them to check what I was currently paying and if they had anything that was the same plan but at a better price. I indicated that Net zero had come into our area at a better price than aol, however I did not want to change from a company that I like. Guess that is all it takes, they were very nice about it and did not act like I was requesting anything that they were not prepared to give readily.

 

[peachgirl]

I haven't paid for AOL in almost 6 months. We got DSL and called to cancel AOL. They said that they'd comp me a couple of months because they wanted me to "be sure" I wanted to cancel. So, every 2 months I call them to cancel and every 2 months they give me another couple of months.

 

[DMRick]

Those of you getting the $14.95 plan are very lucky to have not run into "snotty" AOL workers. The news said it has not been a good experience with them...this went way over who they planned on giving it to. AOL themselves said they are not giving the discount out at this time to "just anybody", but to new people and those who mentioned they were leaving. I've been with them almost 9 years, and since I have switched to Road Runner Cable, I did call and tell them that I was leaving...and that is the only reason I got it (and I was planning on leaving, now that I have another plan). I was offered $19.95 at first, and then when I said I really didn't need AOL any longer, they offered me the $14.95 deal, but as mentioned on the news, I was told it may go beyond the 12 months, but for now they would only promise 12 months.
Dmure, you mentioned Net Zero..that was one of the ways to get the $14.95. As I mentioned earlier, they are trying to keep some of the masses from leaving..and a mention of Net Zero, to them is a threat that you were thinking of leaving. All over the internet people are posting that they mentioned going to another service as a way of getting the discount. According to the one news report I heard, in order to give it, since the AOL sales people are often being taped, the customer is suppose to mention leaving or going with another company, before it is suppose to be offered. As I said, it was meant only for those who got an email from them. They did recognize that because of the mess they have gotten themselves into, and all the angry calls, they may have to open it to all.
According to many yahoo lists today, not everyone has been able to get it..it does appear you have to make some mention of a cheaper service (and I guess that is the veiled threat you are leaving). Sounds like people have been leaving AOL in droves.
You were very lucky Starwood to have been able to just call and request it..as I said, on the news reports today, most people got very angry with AOL when they were refused. Of course when they got angry, many threatened to leave..and then they met the qualifications (although according to the report, not all, including the reporter doing the story).

Sort of reminds me of the Visa card/Disneythread..the power of the internet. Everyone wants the same deal the other guy got , and with the internet, there is no hiding it : )

 

[starwood]

Once again - I told them DH has heard of this deal. He checked my account and said yes. I never told him I was thinking of leaving, I never mentioned another company. He was very nice and said that after the 12 months it would stay at $14.95. I guess I'll see at the end of 12 months but until then I'm saving $10 a month.

 

[Straitlover]

Well, they don't have to worry about me asking for the offer. I signed up for the "free" 45 day special they offer all the time. I also did it through MyPoints to get 2000 Points and 3 days/2nights at a Fairfield resort (never got the Points and was not told until afterwards that the "vacation" was a timeshare w/ tour required and you had to make over $50,000 to qualify). When I called to cancel (didn't like how it worked, liked MSN much better), I got the ugliest little person I have ever talked to before. They guy kept cussing at me, calling me stupid and went on about how cheap I was for signing up to get free stuff.

I don't care if they offered to PAY me 14.95/mo to use their service. I will never ever use their service again!

 

[DMRick]

Once again - I told them DH has heard of this deal. He checked my account and said yes.

And that is just why I said you were lucky. In case you missed this part in my note..this is not something that was meant to go to everyone. Just like the codes for marketing some of the Disney rooms..this was a marketing ploy. I'll say it again, you were lucky they gave it to you so readily..others, including the newsperson who did the first story I heard, and many others on lists and boards, were not so lucky, and were not just given it, just because they called and asked for it. AOL got thousands of calls..not everyone was as lucky as you..so you should be happy about this.
Because of this the outcry from people calling "foul", AOL may soon be trapped into this lower price. I guess they should have known the power of the internet.
I posted to your post, just so people will realize that not everyone who calls, will just be given this new price..at least not as of today.

 

[DMRick]

I got the ugliest little person I have ever talked to before. They guy kept cussing at me, calling me stupid and went on about how cheap I was for signing up to get free stuff.

And that ugly little person is being talked about all over the internet. Many seem to be getting him or people like him, when they call to try and get the $14.95 special. AOL doesn't seem to be being very smart nowadays. I don't blame you, if I had that reaction, I wouldn't go with them either.

 

[fkj2]

So, about NetZero. I've seen the ads too and was thinking of checking them out? Any opinions as to their service? I can live without AOL to save $10 a month.

 

[noritake1]

WOW, thanks a bunch to the original poster, I'm saving 97.00 a year plus they gave me 3 free months. You guys are the BEST!!!! Jill

 

[lUVTOGO]

We also called because we now have MSN with DSL, and they would not take no for an answer!!They gave us 2 free months and 14.95 a month from then on. No mention of it only being for 12 months in the letter.

 

[DMRick]

WOW, thanks a bunch to the original poster, I'm saving 97.00 a year plus they gave me 3 free months. You guys are the BEST!!!! Jill

Just for asking, or by suggesting you were thinking of going elsewhere? I guess if they gave you the extra 3 months just for asking, their marketing is worse than I thought LOL.

 

[summerrluvv]

AOL will do anything to keep people from cancelling. They will give you free months and when those are up and you call to cancel, you will get more free months.

I have BYOA and pay $7.95 a month since I have optimum online, but if they were to ever raise it back up to the $14.95 normal rate for BYOA, I would definately be on the phone to cancel.

Also for those who hate AOL but want to keep their email address. They have a $2.95 a month plan where you can check your email from the web at www.aol.com. You cannot dial up or access AOL through your cable modem with this plan though.

 

[2disneyagain]

My husband signed up for a free 30 day trial with AOL last summer and he was able to continue the service for $12.95 a month. I didn't realize what a deal that was.

 

[Credit Man]

Thanks for posting. Just got my rate reduced.

 

[DMRick]

Thanks for posting. Just got my rate reduced.

Did they give to you just by your requesting it? I'm curious to see if they have given up trying to just give ot those who said they were looking around.

 

[waughzee]

I called too. I didn't get it dropped to the $14.95, but I did get it dropped to $19.90. That is a $4 savings over what I have been paying.

While I was at it, I called Disney Visa and asked about having my interest rate dropped, and they dropped it by 1%. Every little bit helps!