ENG-HAM-PORTSMOUTH-GOSPORT-L Archives

From:
Subject: [PORTSMOUTH-GOSPORT] AOL again
Date: Sun, 4 Jan 2004 14:51:58 EST

Dear Listers

I hope the season of good will with the list administrator has extended
beyond the festive season and I will not be unsubbed because of this mailing
BUT...I believe there is a serious problem with AOL's attitude towards Rootsweb
which needs to be addressed.


AOL members are frequently bounced by AOL. AOL members are not always aware
of this unless they visit Rootsweb helpdesk. This is probably why so many
people "test" to the list as they are unaware of this facility.

On three occasions I have attempted to seek an answer on AOL's on line help
desk. On pushing them to explain why ROOTSWEB lists are affected they refer to
you to their bland web page about SPAM. On pressing them further I am simply
cut off !!

As part of their automated customer care(?) system you will get an on line
form to complete. In a reply I challenged them to write or telephone me for an
explanation. Needless to say nothing happened. In response to another query
direct to "AOL feedback" they responded "This member is currently not
accepting e.mail from your account" !!!!!

Trying to communicate with their customer care by Telephone is no better ...
Its based in India....

To be fair to AOL, I've never been exposed to too much Spam. I gather they
recently installed more Spam filters. Ironically about that time, my other 4
AOL accounts began to get the usual "body enhancing drug" SPAM e.mails.

I now have the name and postal address of AOL's customer care department in
Ireland and propose to try and get a definite response once and for all. If I
don't get a reasonable reply then I shall have to seriously consider changing
ISP's

1) Are there other AOL members having the same problems?
2) Are other ISP's having problems with Rootsweb. Do they have better
customer care?
3) IMPORTANT If you are a non AOL account holder have you had problems with
bouncing mail to AOL members, either through the list or privately?

I have knowledge of 3 private (non list) people trying to contact me whose
mail has bounced by AOL for no particular reason.

Before I write to AOL, I am trying to establish how big the problem is. Would
you care to e.mail me with your opinions. Please do not clog the list with
your replies but respond to me OFF LIST to



If you want me to include your e.mail in my letter to AOL please let me know.
I am simply trying to act as a clearing house for any other discruntled AOL
users in an attempt to get a reasonable explanation.

We all enjoy our geneology pastime and it is a shame if AOL still persist in
blocking legitimate Rootsweb mail as spam. This scenario is even worse if
private e.mails are blocked as well. There are rumours in America that companies
have lost business because legitimate e.mails have been blocked.

And finally... apologies again to the list admintrator for this outburst.. I
really think this needs to be sorted out...

PJR (UK)

POLITE REMINDER replies direct to me please at ...
assuming AOL don't block them of course <g>

PPS I have just tried to subscribe to another rootsweb list and get the reply
"Could not perform the operation because the default mail client is not
properly installed" Is this AOL being silly yet again? Sunday 4th Jan 19.50
GMT

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