<p>The trick to a successful cancelation of your aol account or better known as "aohell" is to call their 800 tn and before you give them your name, etc., ask to whom you are speaking with... I had to call 3 consequtive times in order to get my aol cancelled. </p> <p>The first 2 phone calls to aol I allowed the representative/s to take charge of the call. </p> <p>MISTAKE #1!!!! DON'T LOSE CONTROL</p> <p>First question for me would be "what is your name & account # and what can I do for you" </p> <p>MISTAKE #2 NEVER REVEAL YOUR TRUMP CARD FIRST!</p> <p> Now they know from the start that you don't want extra/more/longer, etc., etc., etc., services/widgets whatever you fill in the blank. Now for the foolish waste of time upsell or in aol's sake "HOLD U HOSTAGE" pitch. The rep has the control - if the customer isn't interested in the so called "special of the day" the rep can simply hang up. (Refer to FYI @ bottom). This is exactly what happened to me on my first 2 phone calls to aol. </p> <p>I believe in that saying; Do me wrong once - shame on you. Do me wrong twice, shame on me. I wasn't going for 3! </p> <p>The 3rd and final call I took charge of the conversation. Once I had a "live" person on the line - I immediately asked to whom I was speaking with which I jotted down only. Making a mental note to myself to not address them by name YET I intensionally asked questions that would force the representative to access my account. </p> <p> Fingerprints/papertrail on my account was a good thing! </p> <p> Upon answering my useless billing questions I thanked the rep for their assistance. I then casually stated "Bill" PLEASE CANCEL MY ACCOUNT ASAP. My few ending questions I addressed to the rep while emphasizing the rep's name first... ex: BILL, what is the approx. timeframe I should expect my final bill in the mail.!? Last but not least: Bill, what is the confirmation number of this transaction - and wait for a response. </p> <p>My hunch was right - Bill could not hang up on me now his name was all over my account, all Bill could do was exactly what I asked him to do - which was CANCEL MY ACCOUNT! </p> <p><br /> Just an FYI: When a representative asks for your name & account number that does not mean they always pull up your account. They sometimes wait to see if they can fast talk you into an upsell of sorts... if the customer bites - BINGO! They got the sale they access your account. </p> <p> If the customer does not bite - no love lost they simply hang up... They try again with the next customer. Remember they never accessed your account so there is no "fingerprints"...</p> <p>The silly games we as consumers have to resort to!</p>

Posted by: Priscilla Sullivan 10 Jul 2006