AOL Techs SUCK! Theysucktheysucktheysuck...

The BBQ Pit
1

This is a chat I had with an AOL tech earlier today. This guy (I edited his name) was nice enough, but how freakin’ long did it take for him to figure out what I was asking? And how many times did I have to say it? And what’s with confusing me with another member?? ARRRRGGGGHHH! (I was going to switch to Earthlink, until someone told me it’s even slower in this area…dammit…)

AOLTech has joined this session!
AOLTech: Hello my name is Achilles. Thank you for using Member Help Interactive. May I have your first name please?
You: My name is Laura.
AOLTech: Hello Laura. How may I help you today?
You: AOL seems to think I am inactive while online, and boots me despite clicking “yes” on the pop-up warning.
You: (The “You have have been idle…do you wish to remain online?” pop up)
AOLTech: OK, what are you doing when you received this message?
You: Reading a web page
You: I’ve since tried clicking on an AOL link (like whether) when the box pops up to try to remain active…
AOLTech: It should appear normal, if not you need to click the Text format toolbar and please choose the background to be white and you will be all set.
You: Huh??
AOLTech: sorry, wrong window…
You: I figured
AOLTech: When you are reading or typing email you are not sending any kind of a command to the AOL server, so it considers your computer idle.
You: Right. So when the box pops up, I click to another link to try to remain active (like weather)
AOLTech: Yes, especially if you are using the Internet Explorer…
You: I did this twice a few minutes ago. Then, I was typing a message for a message board and was kicked off without warning…
AOLTech: You can send information in the internet or send IM to your friends whiles reading…
You: …no pop up box. The sign on screen said “You account has been disconnected due to inactivity.”
AOLTech: writing a message or composing email is not an online activity
AOLTech: you can do this while offline…
You: Sir, I was remaining active by clicking on other AOL links…accessing weather channels, other websites, etc.
You: I was doing this while typing the message. I do not have access to the message board offline.
AOLTech: while composing email?
You: It was not an email.
You: It was a post to an internet message board.
You: What flusters me is I was kicked off despite clicking “Yes” on the "Do you wish to remain online?’ question.
AOLTech: Like what I have said, typying message…
AOLTech: However, you can still read message board offline…
You: It ignores my yes, apparently. This is a problem that has only surfaced since I upgraded to 5.0.
AOLTech: You can download the Message board…
AOLTech: we have this feature already on AOL 3.0 and AOL 4.0
You: I understand that I can, but the problem isn’t the message board. It’s that AOL isn’t acknowledging my “Yes” answer and boots me anyway.
You: Again, this is a problem that has surfaced only with AOL 5.0.
AOLTech: This feature is implemented universally across AOL to help increase availability of modems during peak times. This feature cannot be disabled.
AOLTech: Often, members will sign on to AOL and then leave their computers unattended, which prevents other members from using the service. I do understand that it can be frustrating to receive this message even when you are active.
You: I understand it cannot be disabled. I am not asking to disable it.
AOLTech: The message asking if you would like to stay online comes up every 45 minutes and will only start when the AOL access number you are connected with reaches 75% of its maximum capacity. To stay online, simply click Ok or Yes when the window appears.
AOLTech: You may also want to consider searching for alternate access numbers in your area. If you are using a Third Party application through AOL, you
can leave AOL maximized in the background, and those timer windows should pull the AOL software to the front.
You: The problem is I DO click yes, and it boots me anyway.
You: I use 6 different acess numbers.
You: Again, the problem is AOL is not acknowledging the “yes” response and boots me 5 minutes after the pop up window.
You: Even if I’ve clicked “yes.”
AOLTech: Does it bumps you offline after you have click the YES
You: YES…that is what I’ve been saying.
AOLTech: OK, please hold on… I’ll check on this…
You: Okay. Thank you.
AOLTech: do you want to speak with are MODEM department?
You: ? This is a modem problem?
AOLTech: There could be a problem…
AOLTech: This is most likely a problem with your AOL setup, and troubleshooting will need to be done while you are not online. While the modem is in use, we cannot get information from it, or make any changes to its settings.
AOLTech: Please call our Tech support at 1-888-346-3704 and they can walk you through the checking out and setting up of your modem.
You: I’ve called tech support and had my modem adjusted twice. It hasn’t worked.
AOLTech: OK, please hold on…
AOLTech: I’ll check on this…
You: The tech I last spoke to (on the phone) said there might be a problem with 5.0. She’d report it, but said that was all she could do.
AOLTech: OK… :o)
You: She recommended that, in the meantime, I go to another site (like weather) when the box pops up. That’s what I’ve been doing.
AOLTech: Have you tried reindstalling the AOL software?
You: And it kicked me off (just a few minutes ago) anyway.
You: Yes. I’ve done 2 clean installs on 2 separate machines.
You: (The problem surfaces on both)
You: No change.
AOLTech: But you are 14 minutes online already and not yet bumped offline.
.
You: I’m in a chat room. It doesn’t bump me off here.
AOLTech: OK…
AOLTech: So you are being bumped offline only if you are in a web…
You: Well, if I’m on the web, or otherwise spending a bit of time reading.
You: (not IMing, chatting, etc.)
AOLTech: are you using the Internet Explorere or AOL’s Browser?
You: I’ll get the box, click “yes,” and get booted within a few minutes regardless.
You: MSIE
AOLTech: OK, please try to use the AOL’s browser when trying to read pages…
AOLTech: MSIE is an 3rd software browser…
You: Well, it still boots me when I’m not on the web…for example, if I’m reading a
long Email or AOL news article.
You: Any amount of idleness–on the web or otherwsie–that normally results in the box.
AOLTech: OK, reading and writing email is not an online activity…
You: ? Isn’t MSIE the browser that came with 5.0?
AOLTech: Yes, but its not internal
You: Yes, but reading AOL news is.
AOLTech: No, its not…
You: It seems that if I do not click to another link…if I sit still, essentially, for a few
minutes, I get the warning…then booted.
AOLTech: by the time you click a link, that i the only time it is active…
You: It has been suggested to open a private chat room with just me in it, and I’ll
be read as active until this bug is corrected.
You: Would that be effective?
AOLTech: This is not a bug
You: I do hope it’s not; that’s just what the last tech I spoke to referred to it as.
AOLTech: Try sending IM to yourself from time to time, let us say, every 15 mins
You: Hmm, that’ll work too, then. Thank you for the tip. :slight_smile:
AOLTech: You are very welcome…
AOLTech: I hope you understand…
AOLTech: Is there anything else that I may assist you with at this time? :slight_smile:
You: I understand how the warning system works. I’ve had AOL for 4 years and have never had a problem with it until the last month.
You: No, I think that’s enough for now. :stuck_out_tongue:
AOLTech: I apologize for the difficulties with our software. You cand send suggestions to Keyword: SUGGESTIONS tell our programmers your feedback ab

2

Ruffian,

Thats one of the damned funniest things I have ever read. It also brings back many memories of having to deal with AOL morons myself. I feel your pain, seems there is a direct correlation between the size of an ISP and the intelligence of its techs : as in the bigger, the more idiotic. Good luck to you . . . Ruff ? Where’d you go ?? :wink:

“A single lifetime, even though entirely devoted to the sky, would not be enough for the investigation of so vast a subject.” - Seneca

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I don’t know if that will help, but I personally would send a copy of that exact message to the head of technical support over there. (If there is such a person)

In the meantime, download one of those “active” programs- they have programs available that run in the background on your PC that makes AOHell think you’re busy all the time. Otherwise, uninstall 5.0 and reinstall 4.0.

I also suggest you give Earthlink a shot- it’s very low maintainence (I’ve found). It was super easy to set up, and you just use IE or Netscape to access the web. I’m happy to help you set that up if you want to give it a shot :slight_smile:
Zette

Love is like popsicles…you get too much you get too high.
Not enough and you’re gonna die…
Zettecity

4

Gee… AOL and suck used in the same sentence. Whatta shocker…

Yer pal,
Satan

5

Ruff…

The problem is more than likely out of your hands. The decisions on whether or not you’re active, and whether or not you clicked the “yes” button, are actually made at the node (the local number that you called for access.)

Most often, in cases like this, it’s a problem with the node.

You MAY be able to circumvent this by using another access number, preferably one with a different dialing extension, but it looks like you’ve already tried that.

Otherwise, you’ll just have to wait until AOL gets around to fixing the node.

It is also possible that your modem needs to be re-configured for AOL. Nothing physically would be changed, just the “modem string” that AOL uses. Even though the obvious problem just started, there could have been a deeper problem which didn’t affect anything until AOL changed something on their end.

One other possibility, which has already been mentioned, is faulty software. Dump the 5.0 and go back to 4.0 (or 2.5, if you can!) If you decide to reinstall 5.0 again, make sure that you use a different CD than the one you’ve been using–could be a faulty CD.

Most probably, however, it’s trouble on AOL’s end…good luck trying to get them to fix it.

If you like, you can call Tech Support, and ask if there are any Node Reports on the numbers you’re using–if not, ask them to file one. It’ll take 'em about 10 seconds.

-David

6

This should brighten your day!
AOL is the defendant in a lawsuit! The lawsuit alleges that AOL 5.0 takes over your PC and fucks it all up, blocking internet access from other ISp’s and such. The proposed settlement according to Yahoo Finance, is something like $1,000 per member! So this could be a blessing in disguise! May want to hang on to your membership til it pans out.
Noonch.

how did it start? well i don’t know i just feel the craving. i see the flesh and it smells fresh and it’s just there for the taking…
VvvV

7

Since this is the Pit, I just have to say I FUCKING HATE THIS NOONCH CRAP! It’s driving me insane.

OK, I’m better now.

Reminds me of couples who say “No, YOU’RE schmoopy!”

8

if your even in hell im on the third volcano to the right, come say high.

9

And in support of Smick (I hate this Lexicon crap), I like the noonch. Reminds me of Jay from all the Kevin Smith flicks, and I think it’s hilarious.

10

Oh my God my head is going to pop…

I sent AOL a complaint, with the entire conversation pasted inside. I was sent this completely irrevelant waste of space form letter in reply:

Fuck off.

Zette, tell me about Earthlink. My boyfriend tried it for a month out here, but he said it connected even slower than AOL. It was an absolute crawl. Your thoughts?

Soulfrost: I’ve reconfigured my modem string (with AOL techs assisting) at least two times, if not three, with no difference.

5.0 sucks. I’d switch back to 4.0, but I dumped the disk ages ago and it was deleted during a massive clean-up I did on my computer. :frowning:

Teaching: The ultimate birth control method.

Laura’s Stuff and Things

11

OK. First, my credentials. I use both Earthlink and AOL. I’m an administrator here, and a board monitor in an AOL forum.

Someone suggested {{In the meantime, download one of those “active” programs- they have programs available that run in the background on your PC that makes AOHell think you’re busy all the time. Otherwise, uninstall 5.0 and reinstall 4.0. }}

Using an active program like this is a Terms of Service violation, and can get your account cancelled. Besides which, she’s busy…the active timer is buggy. And, by the way, AOHell is a warez program, not just a cute-and-derogatory play on words.

The tech clearly had some comprehension issues, and I think that you showed marvelous restraint. I’d have gone for a choke-hold about a third of the way in.

If you do bring-your-own-access, then you don’t get the idle timer. Or at least I haven’t.

I use Earthlink to connect to the internet, then I connect to AOL. It’s very easy, I just change the location from “Home” to “ISP/LAN” on the AOL sign-on screen. If you can find a local ISP or free ISP, you might be able to still enjoy AOL with fewer problems. AOL has member-only forums, which is why I stick to it. I also like the MB/newsgroups reader, though it could stand some improvement. I get compensated for being a board moderator. If I wasn’t compensated, I’d seriously consider just going with Earthlink, and tell myself that I can live without my AOL message boards.

It seems that the letter you received from Suggestions is merely an auto-ack. This means that a program automatically sends out this message to ANY letter that it receives. I would LIKE to believe that a human being who can actually change things actually reads these letters at some point. I would also like to believe in the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy.

For a quick, cheap fix, I’d advise downloading a free ISP, and putting up with the ads. I think that Netzero has pretty good service.

Good luck.

Lynn

12

I recently read a list of the top ISP’s in the country on (I think) cnn.com. Earthlink was down near the bottom. The best were BellSouth, BellAtlantic, and AT&T Worldnet.

13

Puff, I found the link (http://cnn.com/2000/TECH/computing/02/02/isp.report.idg/index.html) that you were referring to.

Earthlink was not listed as one of the worst…it was #10 on the top ten list. There’s a bit of a difference. As a national retail ISP, it scored 3rd (out of 25). AOL, not surprising, didn’t make any of the lists.

Teaching: The ultimate birth control method.

Laura’s Stuff and Things

14

Ruffian, you might check the discussion about free ISPs here: http://www.straightdope.com/ubb/Forum3/HTML/004812.html

“If you’re so pro-life, do me a favor: don’t block medical clinics, lock arms and block cemeteries.” – Bill Hicks