NB: Recent events with AOL are reported below the review
I just like to say that AOL is one of the most badly run and organised ISP providers I have come across. I have had AOL as my service providers for just over one month and have not had one moment of surfing bliss with it.
I initially installed the whole package (AOL 9.0) including their anti-virus package on my brand new laptop. It not only managed to leave some virus in to delete all my boot files <EEK>it also managed to delete the LAN connections I already had setup on my laptop for use at work. It also stopped my machine from making any DNS queries so I could not browse the internet unless I knew the IP address of the site I wanted to visit.
I then re-formatted, re-installed and re-programmed everything on my laptop. I also opted to install AOL 8.0 this time around and tried to get a VPN connection to my work desktop so that I could work from home. But every time I got a connection going the browser would disconnect me after about 5 seconds. On phoning the AOL ’’support’’ staff, I was given a variety of ’’run in a circle and come back’’ advices including:
a) Contact Microsoft since it is their problem
b) We don’t support VPN connections
c) Disconnect your firewall/anti-virus software and it might work
d) This is not something we can fix, speak to your IT department
e) You are not listening to us (oops, I thought it was supposed to be the other way round)
They then promised to give me a callback from a ’’senior’’ technician who would solve the problem except I am still waiting for the call, which is at the moment 24 hours overdue!
AOL Broadband gives a very unreliable and unstable service. Most of the problems seems to arise due to their browser software. So the only thing you can use over the internet connection that AOL provides is the AOL Browser! Ask them for a way to use the service without using their browser and they can’t help. To top it off, the technical support staff handling problems arising due to their browser software are clueless, defensive and downright rude.
STAY WELL AWAY FROM AOL. Believe me the extra couple of pounds you think of saving is so not worth the hassle. I, on the other hand, am stuck with this low-grade ISP providers for the next 11 months of my life. I am seriously thinking of paying up the 200 odd pounds and cancel the service. Atleast, I would be able to get a broadband connection with a more reliable and friendly company!
MY broadband connection with AOL as it stands now
So ok, I was a little upset when I wrote this review and possibly not in the best objective frame of mind but I did mean it when I said I was seriously thinking of coughing up 200 pounds to get out of my 12 month contract. However happily I do not have to. After getting absolutely no where with AOL support staff in any of the call centers around (glasgow, waterford, india, kerela), waiting endlessly for that senior technician to ring me and also finding out that AOL do not have a COMPLAINTS department. I, out of desperation, posted my woes on a messageboard provided by none other than AOL for their long suffering members.
Guess what? I got a reply almost immediately! A kind soul out there helped me route my connections through a windows DUN connection instead of through the extremely buggy and useless AOL browser. So now my VPN connections work! I am now in surfing bliss. WOW! You won’t believe how EASY it was. So now the question is ’’why is AOL support such a pain in the neck?’’. All they had to do was guide me through the easy set up. It would not have taken more than 5 seconds to set it.
Ok I exaggerate, perhaps more like a minute. After all isn’t it in their best interest to help me get the most out my AOL service so that I can rant good reviews about them to friends and family. I might have even wrote about a good service if they had given me one! Oh well, as it stands I am happy for the moment about getting around my problem but I still would be leaving AOL at the end of my contract. If anyone thinks they would like to see the solution of how to get AOL connection in the UK without using their software, let me know in the comments and I will add it in this review. Well I will link it in.