CompuServe

I use CompuServe at work because I get so much spam. I used their mail controls to blocks spammers but it no longer works. I can't get through to service without waiting over 30 minutes every time I call. They just don't give a ** about their service. If it were up to me, the service would be pulled. But most of our contacts now have our CompuServe emails and it would hurt business until we could get it changed.

Since 2006, I have been having problems with emails and constant disconnects because Compuserve is having problems. Calling the technical support line is useless as the folks in that department are not only incapable of resolving such problems but suggest changes which produce more problems! Their English is accompanied by such horrendous accents that it is at times impossible to understand what is said.It is impossible to speak to a human being when the number in Ohio is called; you just are referred to menu to menu to menu.

Because of its technical support deficiencies I have lost almost 4+ years of important documents which, obviously, can not be replaced. I have spent hours upon hours trying to get someone at Compuserve who is learned enought to resolve all the problems I have; all to no avail.

The loss of material is incalcable.

Banner ad from Sprint (in Spanish) hangs up my email messages so I have to keep refreshing my screen until a different banner ad comes up so that I can see my list of emails. I've wasted enormous amounts of time (that I can't afford to waste) refreshing the screen so I can get my emails. I tried to contact customer service-tech support---they are a joke--don't speak or understand English very well. They kept saying they understood my concern but asked questions that did not relate to the problem, nor did they fix it. I've been fed up with CS for years due to lack of effective customer service, but it's such a hassle to change my email with thousands of contacts. They're forcing me to do so now, since their system is getting nearly unusable.

I cancelled my service via US Mail per their website. They continue to bill me. I dispute charge with my credit company, which finds in my favor. Compuserve indicates they will send me to collection. I fax all the appropriate paperwork to them that I mailed and instruct them to AGAIN cancel. They continue to bill my credit card company. I cannot get them to quit billing my credit card company.

Compuserve & Circuit City jointly promote a $400 rebate on any computer purchase with a contract for 3 yrs of Compuserve 2000.

I purchased a computer under this program with the expressed understanding from the salesperson that my existing Compuserve account could be transferred. I explained it was mandatory for business purposes that my email address either not change or my mail be forwarded. I additionally checked with a Compuserve rep as to the accuracy of this belief and continued the purchase under it.

After having signup problems and talking the Compuserve support supervisor, I'm told only NEW accounts qualify under the program. To keep my existing e-mail I need to pay 2 memberships. To forward email I can sign up for the new program, but not get a rebate. NOWHERE in the ads or rebate forms does it specify only new accounts are eligible.

I have wasted a lot of time on the phone. I spent $499 for a computer believing this was more economically feasible with the rebate than upgrading my old system. Now, I'm faced with forgoing the rebate, or paying two subscriptions for even a time to be able to catch e-mails in my old account and inform senders of my new address. I risk losing significant business contacts this way.

I've used Compuserve for 5 years on a month to month plan. Silly they won't accept my tieing into a 3 yr commitment as enough loyalty to honor their rebate fully. I feel this was extremely deceptive advertising.

In July I ordered a Compaq computer from an advertisement I saw in the paper. he agreement was if you paid $849 and had a major credit card, and sign up for Compuserve for 3 yrs with a monthly cost of $21.99, you would purchase the computer for $249 after $600 rebate.

The $600 rebate was to come as follows. the $200 was from Compaq when you receive your computer and send in the rebate form. I sent in the form and received the $200 check. I signed up with Compuserve and sent in the rebate form from them to receive my $400 rebate on 8/18/99. In Sept, I started calling Compuserve asking about the status of my rebate.

They first will ask your zip code and they first said they had not received my form, after searching more they discovered they had me under the wrong zip code. Instead of the 29040 zip code, they had my under 29046. They promised to correct that. I called back around 1 week and they said my application had been sent over for approval.

I waited another week or 2 and called back, they again told me they had no record of my application, I asked them to check under the 29046 zip code and they found it. I asked to speak to a supervisor and asked her to please make sure that the address got corrected that time and the supervisor told me she would.

I called back another week or so and they still had me under 29046 and kept apologizing for the delay, said they had an overwhelming response to the ad. I was frustrated by this time. The next week or so I called back and they said they had no record of my application under either zip code. They said they were just a company answering the phone and taking information for Compuserve.

I did as the company asked me to do, i have to work for them for the next 3 yrs, in which they faithfully take out their payment from my credit card each month, I want this complaint on file for 2 reasons. #1 I want my $400 rebate immediately, #2 if I have more problems or unsolved problems that it be documented what kind of service and what reputation they have.

After signing up for Compuserve Internet service, I began to receive outrageous bills for Internet use. I had originally signed up for unlimited service. I then received a bill for $180.01 for one month. After calling the rudest information line of all time I was told there was absolutely nothing they could do about the sitation and that what I had signed up for was limited access with an hourly charge after the first 20 hours of use. I have still found no resolution for this problem. I am trying to investigate my rights.

Luckily, I mistakenly cancelled the checking account I had set the account up on and the money was never taken from the account. I'm sure this will be turned over to a collection agency. I contacted CompuServe again to request a written bill, I was rudely notified that they do not mail out invoices. Do I have any rights?

Marc should send a certified, return-receipt-requested letter to CompuServe setting forth the facts as he has outlined them above. If nothing else, he can use the letter as evidence in disputing collection actions.

In August I purchased a computer from Circuit City in Poughkeepsie and signed for internet service with Compuserve be-cause they offered a $400. rebate. I have not received the rebate as of (late December), and have contacted Compuserve without success. I am very angry and frustrated, to put it mildly.

On July 4, 1999 I purchased a computer from Circuit City in Frederick Md, partly because of the many rebates offered. Compuserv offered a $400 rebate if you signed up for three years of service. The rebate stated to allow 8-10 weeks to process the claim. Aproximately 3 weeks ago (in November), I received a postcard from Compuserv stating that they received my rebate form and would contact me in a few days. Since then, I have had no contact from any representative of Compuserv. I have called the phone number provided to inquire about my reabte and the status, and have been told that a representative would contact me. I have yet to hear from anyone from Compuserv

The people I have spoken to do not even work for Compuserve nor do they have an address nor a telephone number so I can speak to someone from Compuserve. They have hung up on me twice so far without answering my questions.

I tried calling Circuit City to find out if they have a phone number and Circuit City's corporate office does not have a number either. Nor do they have an address that I could write to. If I knew that Compuserv and Circuit City wouldn't honor this rebate I never would have purchased the computer.

Ms. R. started service on 2/14/99 with CompuServe under their introductory "100 Free Hour" plan.

As of 3/12/99, the date on which she terminated service, Ms. R had been billed, to her credit card, on three separate occasions for a total of $542.94, ostensibly generated by a line surcharge.

Customer Service Supervisor told her there was nothing he could do about this error and refused to refer her to someone in a position to help stating that her only recourse would be to write to Corporate Headquarters.

Consequences so far: $524.94 in credit card charges for a "free" service and a great deal of frustration.

I am sending this e-mail at Ms. R's request since Ms. R no longer has an e-mail address and is not likely to have one anytime soon.

ConsumerAffairs.Com responds:

You hear a lot of talk about how civility has declined in America and everyone is rude to everyone else. We don't think it's true. Most people are too damn nice. Ms. R. needs to get down to the courthouse, find the Small Claims Division and sue these individuals, who -- if we're not mistaken -- are part of a little old Virginia company called AOL.

I started service on 2/14/99 with CompuServe under their introductory "100 Free Hour" plan.

As of 3/12/99, the date on which I terminated service, I had been billed, to my credit card, on three separate occasions for a total of $542.94, ostensibly generated by a line surcharge.

Customer Service Supervisor told me there was nothing he could do about this error and refused to refer me to someone in a position to help stating that my only recourse would be to write to Corporate Headquarters.

I have incurred $524.94 in credit card charges for a "free" service and a great deal of frustration.

My sister purchased a computer from Staples On July 13, 1999 through the CompuServe Rebate Offer for my children. She did so out of the goodness of her heart especially since I do not have any credit. She was supposed to receive my $400 rebate in 6-10 weeks.

She waited until September to call and was told then that they had such a response to this offer that it should take another two weeks. She waited. Then I called again November 12 and was told by Terry that there had been a "glitch" on her account and that a rebate would be forthcoming in two to three weeks.

On November 10 I spoke with a Michelle and she proceeded to tell me that her account had shown a termination in service. That was totally ridiculous since there was no termination in my service. She checked, said they would correct this error and a check would be sent out in two weeks.

Again we waited. She received (after all these phone calls) a letter on plain white paper, no letterhead, no return address, no phone number, stating "Your CompuServe 2000 Premier account has been cancelled due to violation of CompuServe's Terms of Service Agreement." No one at CompuServe seems to know what this means. Neither do I!

Customer service told me this was sent by mistake and that a check would be reaching her within two or three weeks. We are now into December and on 12/6 on a phone call with Mike I asked to speak with a supervisor and was told I could not. They were all busy!! On 12/8 I made yet another phone call with Jackie who finally put me through to a supervisor who promised me that the rebate would be mailed to my sister and that all the above was taken care of. She said that the reason for the delay was now that the E-mail address (name) was spelled incorrectly and that this was now taken care of. However, in the interim I received all my original paperwork, receipts, etc. back from Compuserve. She said they had all the information they needed in their computer and that it was no problem. We should receive my rebate in two weeks.

It is now December 22, 1999 and I just got off the phone with CompuServe's customer service again. This time I was told that as of 12/13 my rebate was rejected. They don't know why but something to do with the e-mail name again. They have refused to give me the name of someone from the main headquarters of this company.

However, this has been the worst business experience I have ever had. I am totally frustrated and quite upset and do not know in what legal direction to go in. They certainly have lived up to their end of the deal where they take $21.95 a month out of my sister's Visa account, but have reneged on their end to send the $400 rebate promised when we purchased this computer. I would never had done so without the offer.

I have four children and this computer meant a lot to all of us. Now I owe my sister $21.95 a month plus the price of the computer which was $990.00 Both my husband and myself are working two jobs to put our kids through school, having this computer was suppose to be a joy. It turned into a nightmare, an expensive one.

Purchased computer Sept. 99, mailed Sept. 99 receipt for $400.00 rebate. Phone 8 weeks later, informed me that rebate will be in mail with 2 weeks. Received letter from Gen. Manager Les Baer Dec. 9, 99, saying I did not send the proper sales receipt. Faxed twice to the Attn: Lisa/Supv. on Dec.10,99, 14 pages. Called again on Dec. 12 to see if faxes were received, the operator (which tells me they don't have to give me their name) said the faxes were received and sent over to El Paso, Tx.

Contacted again Dec. 21 to find out status and the operator informed me they had no information on anything, and the only thing I can do is contact my Attorney General and BBB. Which I am doing.

I went with compuserve only for the rebate. I would have gone with AOL. I have waited for this $$$ so I can use for Christmas. As you see it won't be here. It has emotionally drained me. With no assist from the only phone number they give me.

I used compuserve2000 free trial offer. They charged me $75 on this month which was supposed to be free and when I call they refuse to refund.

I purchased new computer on rebate program on 8/16/99. All I am getting now is the runaround about my rebate. My credit card is charged every month for my service. But they say that I am not a member.