Here's another one of Clark's rip-off alerts! For years, AOL has made it difficult for people to get out of their contracts. To add financial insult to that injury, the internet service provider charges a whopping $24-$25 dollars for dialup. Who in the world would pay that when there is basic DSL available in many markets for $10-$15 dollars? Unfortunately, some 12 million people still do fork over their cash for dialup! Maybe it's because when you call up and try to drop AOL, the customer service representatives transfer you repeatedly and are argumentative. Then finally when you think you've gotten out of the contract, you're billed again next month. In fact, there was an internal conspiracy going on where financial incentives were given to employees to cheat the American people.

Now AOL has entered into a settlement where they've agreed to reform their business practices -- even though they didn't admit to any wrongdoing. Meanwhile, they're only paying a minimal fine and not one of their executives has been jailed for allowing the conspiracy to steal. If you're one of the people who has had money stolen by AOL after you cancelled the service, the settlement also allows you to get restitution from the company. Look for a link to the customer restitution form on Clarkhoward.com when AOL makes it available! Why is it that a big company can steal without any meaningful consequences? As Clark says, individuals who practice the kind of trickery AOL has for years would find themselves with some new jewelry -- handcuffs. Updating a related story, Sprint has recently been firing their customers for making too many customer service calls. Now New York State is trying to make Sprint waive the cancellation fee for those customers the carrier wants to drop. Clark fully believes the cancellation penalty should work both ways.