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Breaking
News: State of Ohio Files Lawsuit Against AOL Attorney General Jim Petro Files Against AOL/CompuServe
For Improper Billing And Violating A Previous Agreement With The State
October 27, 2003
COLUMBUS – Attorney General Jim Petro today filed a complaint against America Online, Inc. (AOL) and its subsidiary CompuServe Interactive Services, Inc. The complaint alleges violations of the Consumer Sales Practices Act and that AOL has failed to honor the terms of a previous agreement with the Attorney General.
Consumers complained that the businesses failed to honor cancellation requests and continued to charge consumers without their permission on their credit cards and bank accounts. The complaint also alleges that the businesses' cancellation process was not clearly and conspicuously displayed near the “Free Trial “ agreements, in violation of the Consumer Sales Practices Act. In 1996, 1997, and 1998, Ohio along with other states entered into agreements with AOL regarding future business practices. The Attorney General alleges that, based upon information in consumer complaints, AOL has not complied with all terms to which they agreed.
“Consumers should be able to cancel an agreement with a business within contractual terms and have the comfort of knowing the business will honor that cancellation,” said Attorney General Jim Petro.
In the last two years, Attorney General Jim Petro's Consumer Protection Section has received over 250 complaints about the companies. The office filed a four-count complaint including the following charges:
COUNT ONE - Failure to honor cancellation requests
COUNT TWO - Unauthorized charges
COUNT THREE - Exclusions and limitations in advertising
COUNT FOUR - Violations of the terms of an Assurance of Voluntary Compliance
The state is asking that the companies stop further acts that would violate Ohio law and that they provide reimbursement for consumers who lost money due to the companies illegal conduct.
State of Ohio vs. AOL Compuserve case
For Additional Information on this Press Release:
CONTACTS : Michelle Gatchell, Media Relations, (614) 466-3840
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Here to Learn How to Cancel Your AOL Account
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