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Tomorrow the cable guy is coming to install our high speed wireless internet, so I will finally be saying good-bye to AOL dial up. However, I would like to keep the AOL email service for free. I did some searching and have read that you can request to keep it when you call to cancel the dial up. I have also read that if you tell them you want to keep the email, that they won't cancel your account.
Get on the internet through the cable service and then sign onto AOL in the browser.
(go to AOL.com - Welcome to AOL)
Enter your password and sign onto AOL.
Go to the very top and click on Help. Go to Accounts and Billing. Sign onto that (need a security word) and then go to the bottom to Billing. Change it to Free.
You can go directly to AOL from your desktop, just like before. Click on the AOL icon and when you get the screen up, click on "connection" and change it to broadband.
mamom1 - knoxgarden is correct. You don't have to call AOL to make the change - you can do it through billing.
When we quit dial-up and went to AT&T DSL, we kept AOL intact. Before the installer left, I did start up the AOL software to make sure it worked -- not the installer's job to help, but he was nice enough to wait while I changed the connection location to broadband.
Afterwards I did go to Billing and changed to the $9.99/month -- not the free because at the time I still needed to use dial-up in certain places where I traveled. I didn't have a problem with AOL changing the amount charged to my credit card - it was prorated for the portion of the month I was on dial-up and the portion I was on the new plan.
I've found it easy to go back on dialup if needed.
If I'm going to be traveling and need to use my old laptop which can only use dialup, I sign onto AOL and change it before I go. When I get home, I go back to billing and change it to free.
I haven't had any problems with AOL not making the change. And they prorate it.
knoxgarden -- I'm curious if you use the AOL software or if you use aol.com. If you do use the software, which edition (I'm using 9.0), and do you see any difference between the free version and the paid version?
You can keep and use your email account and not even use the AOL software, just access it like web mail. I had a free AOL trial several years ago, canceled before it stopped being free. I still access my email by using the AOL web page, and I can access my email through my iPhone.
I used to have the AOL software on my old computer, after I canceled my account, and I could still log in and get email and surf with their browser. I think the only thing that really has to do with you having to pay for is the dial up access. If you have your own connection, you can use all their stuff for free. However, I really do not like their software (but that is just my opinion). I do use the email via the web and phone because that is the email address I have had for years and don't want to change.
knoxgarden -- I'm curious if you use the AOL software or if you use aol.com. If you do use the software, which edition (I'm using 9.0), and do you see any difference between the free version and the paid version?
I use the free 9.0 Security SE Edition AOL software. I think the paid edition includes things like firewalls and Mcafee virus protection, things like that, spyware removers. I don't use those and don't want AOL controlling those or anything else on my computer.
I don't run the AOL computer check or any of their other things. Just the software. I have thousands of bookmarks that I'm not in the mood to move to another browser. I've had the AOL email address since 1996 and through five physical moves. It's a constant where people know they can get me.
I do have other e-mails and use Thunderbird for those and also use Firefox as much as I use AOL for browsing and searching.
Thanks knoxgarden!! (can't rep you again, but I would if I could!) I just made the change to free.
I also have 9.0 SE, and I continue with AOL for the very same reasons you do (also have had it since 1990something when I went from a DOS double floppy machine to a - wow - Win3.1 OS :-) I've only been through four physical moves, but what's remained constant, like you, is my email address.
I haven't used AOL as my ISP in many, many years, yet my AOL screenname is still active and I use it for AIM. My email acount still exists too, but I never use it - it's accessible via the web; no special software required.
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