<p>If the following applies to you, you will now be able to get your AOL service for free:</p>
<li> You access the internet through a high speed connection.</li>
<li> You don’t need to access the internet through a dial-up connection, anywhere.</li>
</ol>
<p>This probably occurred for those of us who got high-speed internet service but didn’t want to give up our AOL screen name/email address.</p>
<p>As of about a week ago, AOL will allow you to keep your account for free if you are only accessing it through a high speed connection and not through their dial-up services. Just call (888) 265-8008 and tell them you want to change your account to this type, and your days of being billed by AOL will be over.</p>
<p>SB-
I use highspeed at home and at the office, but when I go to see my dad, a few times a year, I’d need to use his dialup. Could I just be billed when I use my dads dialup (logging in under my account) or is this not possible?</p>
<p>Thats a thought. I know I can log in under his account. I just hadn’t thought about how to get to my account. Going into aol.com and logging in hadn’t occurred to me. Its just that his connection stinks under the best of circumstances-- having to take the secondary step of going to aol.com and logging in will be even more frustrating. But if it will work- great idea. Are they saying that they wouldnt allow separate billing for dialup under these kinds of curcumstances? No way to do it?</p>
<p>If I’m understanding properly, you have your own and account and your dad has his own account - both billed seperately. Just call and tell them that you only use high speed on your account and have them cancel the charge but keep your aol screen names.</p>
<p>Yes, SB, you understand correctly. I have my own account. My dad has one separately 9which, mind you, he NEVER uses (at least not in a long time, but he wants to keep it. I have no idea how much he pays-- perhaps the AARP discounted rate. Anyway, yes- I want to keep my account with all my aol addresses and would like to pay ZERO. I was hoping I could log in as “guest” when I am at his house, like I normally do, but if I understand you, if I use the freebie AOL, I woudn’t be able to do so. Iam I following you correctly?</p>
<p>Sweet! I was afraid of having to call someone and being on hold for five hours and being asked questions like: “What do you use the Internet for?” eleven key strokes and one click later, its free. Mad props NJres.</p>
<p>Hey- update. there are actually a few options if you need to have access to dial-up at all, in addition to the highspeed connection. For $4.95/mo you can have 10 hrs/mo dial up. For $9.95/mo you can unlimited dial-up. Both offer 24/7 live help, should you need it (like to call and change your plan, or address a billing issue or what have you). The other thing you can do is, if you know you are going to need to have access to dial-up for some reason, you can call and for the one month switch from one price plan to another. So, I 'd imagine you can take the free service, and if you need to have access to dial-up, call and get the $9.95 for a month and then change it back when you are done (like when I go to my dad’s). You can’t getthe $4.95 for one month only. Thats a 1 yr plan rate. Anyway, Glad to hear there are several options, and that AOL is trying to be competitive.</p>