Hoax Advisory: AOL Unlimited Access Petition
Dateline: 01/28/98An email "petition" began circulating in late December asserting that America Online intends to eliminate its current flat-rate "unlimited access" membership option. Signed "Ex-AOL Guy," the message purports to be based on inside information that AOL plans on changing its existing rate structure in March.
The message is clearly a hoax, and a fairly idiotic one at that. Its author simultaneously claims that he was fired for trying to stop the rate change and that AOL has agreed not to go forward with it if enough people "sign" his petition. Absurd, if you think about it.
An enhanced version has subsequently appeared with added comments such as, "If you call they will not tell you, they are not allowed to." It also contends that there is a "back-up plan" to keep unlimited access while charging twice the current fee. No evidence or sources are provided.
David Cassel, publisher of AOL Watch, an independent weekly newsletter known for being highly critical of America Online, was quick to label both versions of the petition "bogus" and concluded they were the work of pranksters.
I also spoke with an AOL representative, who said: "It's nothing but a rumor. America Online is not going to eliminate unlimited access."
If you receive either of the following messages, don't forward it. AOL's email problems are serious enough without burdening the system with more pointless chain letters.
DON'T GIVE IN!!!
AOL IS TAKING AWAY UNLIMITED ACCESS AT THE END OF MARCH. BY FOWARDING THIS
LETTER TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE, YOU ARE SIGNING A PETITION FOR KEEPING
UNLIMITED EACH TIME. AOL HAS AGREED TO LET US KEEP IT IF ENOUGH PEOPLE "SIGN"
IT SO PLEASE PASS IT ON! I AM AN EX-AOL EMPLOYEE SO BELIVE ME. I WAS FIRED FOR
TRYING TO STOP THIS!!!
>?>?>?>? THANKS, EX-AOL GUY ?>?>?>?> And here's the enhanced version, in circulation since mid-January...
DON'T GIVE IN!!!
AOL IS TAKING AWAY UNLIMITED ACCESS AT THE END OF MARCH. BY FOWARDING THIS
LETTER TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE, YOU ARE SIGNING A PETITION FOR
KEEPING
UNLIMITED EACH TIME. AOL HAS AGREED TO LET US KEEP IT IF ENOUGH PEOPLE
"SIGN"
IT SO PLEASE PASS IT ON! I AM AN EX-AOL EMPLOYEE SO BELIEVE ME. I WAS FIRED
FOR TRYING TO STOP THIS!!! IF YOU CALL THEY WILL NOT TELL YOU, THEY ARE NOT
ALLOWED TO. THEY WILL SAY SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT OF A "MINOR RATE CHANGE
COMING IN MARCH." BUT THE CHANGE IS THERE WILL NO LONGER BE UNLIMITED
ACCESS.
THERE IS A POSSIBLE BACK UP PLAN TO CHARGE $39.95/ PER MONTH FOR
UNLIMITED...
BUT THIS IS DOUBLE WHAT WE ARE PAYING NOW!!
PLEASE PASS THIS ON.... OR YOU M IGHT NOT HAVE THE "FREE" OPPORTUNITY TO
IN
TWO MONTHS. AOL IS KEEPING TRACK OF THIS... PLEASE SEND IT OUT.
THANKS, EX-AOL GUY More AOL hoaxes:
http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/weekly/aa012898.htm
