This rumor was apparently sparked by AOL's recent decision to offer premium services (such as online gaming) at a surcharge over and above the flat rate it now charges for membership. But the company has given no public indications whatsoever that a similar fee will be rolled out for chat room privileges.

To confirm this, I wrote America Online asking if the company is willing to go on record as denying the rumor. I received this terse reply from an AOL representative:

I am writing in response to your recent e-mail to America Online. Thanks for your inquiry. Currently AOL has no plans to assess any premium charges for online chat.

Now, the word "currently" in that statement clearly suggests that the company wishes to reserve the right to reevaluate its policies in the future; nevertheless, the response unambiguously refutes the claim made in the chain letter, namely that "AOL has proposed an extra charge" for chat.

So, based on all available information, the rumor is false and the chain letter is a hoax.

My advice to AOL users, regardless of their fears and suspicions, is to refrain from hampering the service's already-beleaguered email capacity by circulating pointless chain letters such as the one above. AOL is aware of how its members feel about the surcharge issue.

My advice to America Online, which has proved itself hell-bent in recent years on securing the title of "world's largest online service," is to rethink its priorities and work harder -- much harder -- at earning the trust of its existing community of users.

There's an old prizefighters' saying: "the bigger they come, the harder they fall."

Listen up, AOL.

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