AOL® Voicemail Terms of Service
AOL Voicemail is an "AOL Service" governed by the America Online Terms of Service and supplemented by the AOL Voicemail terms below ("Terms of Service").
By your affirmative action of registering for AOL Voicemail, you signify that you agree to these Terms of Service.
Do not register or use AOL Voicemail if you do not agree to these terms. We may change these terms at any time. You agree to review these terms periodically at http://help.voicemail.aol.com/terms_of_service/ to keep appraised of any changes. By using AOL Voicemail after we modify these terms, you signify your agreement to the changes. AOL Voicemail is available in most areas in the United States.
Validation of AOL Voicemail Service
In order to activate your AOL Voicemail service, we need to validate that the phone number from which you are calling is the same number for which you requested AOL Voicemail. The telephone carrier you use to access the AOL service may provide AOL with the phone number from which you are calling (unless you have instructed the carrier to block caller ID) and certain additional information, such as the location from which you are calling. AOL may use this information on a temporary basis during your AOL Voicemail initial registration step and subsequent AOL sessions to attempt to automatically validate your AOL Voicemail service or to validate your service through a return call. AOL does not, however, store such information provided by the telephone carrier.
Billing
AOL will bill you for your use of AOL Voicemail as a supplemental service as defined in the AOL Terms of Service. You agree to pay for the AOL Voicemail service fee using the billing method selected by you. If you subscribe under AOL's standard billing method, AOL will bill you for AOL Voicemail, plus any applicable state and local taxes, in addition to your AOL monthly service fee, using your billing method on file for your AOL account.
If you elect to pay for AOL Voicemail through your telephone bill, you authorize your telephone company to include and collect the AOL Voicemail fee (plus any applicable taxes) on your telephone bill. Please review the disclaimers below to see if special conditions apply to you if you will be paying for services through your phone bill. Also, state and local laws may govern what rights you have if you dispute charges on your telephone bill. Please consult with your telephone company for more information.
AOL will begin billing you for your AOL Voicemail service as soon as either (1) AOL completes activating your service, or (2) fifteen (15) days after AOL notifies you to complete the activation process yourself, or (3) on your first Call Forward event, whichever event occurs first. You will not be billed by AOL for service use during any applicable free trial.
Telephone Company charges
Your local phone company may bill you a one-time setup fee and a monthly recurring fee for the call-forwarding features, which will appear on your local telephone bill. These fees vary by location and provider. Click the "Details on phone company fees" link on the previous page to see the list of the specific setup fees and monthly call-forwarding fees charged by the local telephone carriers as reported in each state. Since these fees are always subject to change, AOL cannot assure you that its list of fees is the most current and, therefore, AOL urges you to call your local phone company to confirm your specific fees.
Note: If you live in California (SBC-Pacific Bell customers only) or Nevada (SBC-Nevada Bell customers), AOL will directly bill you for the one-time setup fee and the monthly recurring fee for the call-forwarding features, which may appear as part of a separate itemized charge on your AOL bill. Charges will be $10.00 for the one-time telephone company setup fee and $2.00 for the monthly call forwarding fees effective 02/07/2003 (rates are subject to change without notice). These fees will be billed using your AOL billing information on file.
Telephone Company authorization
You confirm you are at least eighteen years old and are authorized to make changes to, and incur charges for, the home phone number you provided to AOL. AOL Voicemail is for your personal use and is available only on your residential telephone line. You authorize AOL to contact your local phone company and make the necessary changes to your local phone account to set up the AOL Voicemail service. This may result in pricing changes to your local phone charges based on your phone plan; therefore, please contact your local telephone company for details about your telephone bill. If you already have voicemail service on this line, it will be disconnected before your AOL Voicemail service is connected. If you already have a competitive online call waiting service, your busy calls will automatically be redirected to AOL Voicemail. It is your responsibility to contact the other service provider to discontinue service.
AOL makes every effort to match your telephone number to a 'local' number for call forwarding. However, there are several monthly service plan options provided by your local telephone company. For example, flat rate with unlimited local calls, or measured rate with monthly allowance on calls and/or minutes of use, then a per minute charge for all local calls thereafter. Check with your local phone company to determine your service plan. Depending upon service plan, measured rate, toll and long distance charges may appear on forwarded calls. AOL reserves the right to change the forwarded number and will attempt to forward calls to a local number.
Outbound Calling Features
The following supplemental terms apply to you if you have added any outbound calling features to your AOL Voicemail service. You understand and agree that the pricing and characteristics of any outbound calling feature will depend on the package and price plan selected by you. You will have a number of calling minutes each month to place calls to most locations in the United States and Canada by dialing the toll free number 1-800-AOL-1234 (1-800-265-1234) within the continental United States. This toll number may be subject to change. You are responsible for any other connection charges you may incur when calling AOL's toll-free number or when making long distance calls using the Service, such as charges you may incur if you use a cellular or mobile phone. You are responsible for any telephone toll charges you incur when dialing outside the United States. The number of monthly calling minutes will depend on the package and price plan selected by you. You will not be entitled to any credits or carryover minutes. This is not standard telephone service and is not a replacement for standard telephone service. AOL makes no warranty as to the availability, completion, clarity or overall quality of any particular phone call made using the outbound calling features. AOL has no knowledge or control over the content of any conversations made through the AOL Voicemail service. You understand and agree that you may be exposed to content that is offensive, indecent or otherwise objectionable and that you are using AOL Voicemail service at your sole risk. AOL will not be liable for any type of communication made through the service. YOU ARE NOT ENTITLED TO ANY SERVICE CREDIT OR OTHER REMEDY AS A RESULT OF ANY UNAVAILABILITY OF THE OUTBOUND CALLING FEATURES OR ANY OTHE ASPECT OF THE AOL VOICEMAIL SERVICE.
The outbound calling feature of AOL Voicemail is intended for residential or home office use only; therefore, you may not use the feature (a) for governmental activities, (b) for autodialing, continuous or extensive call forwarding, for fax broadcasting or fax blasting, (c) to create a paid-for voice over Internet protocol hosting or termination service, (d) to transfer or resell the Service to another, including without limitation, charging others to use the Service; or (d) to make solicitations or conduct surveys, whether for commercial or non-profits purposes.
You may not use AOL Voicemail in any manner that could damage, disable, overburden or impair AOL servers or networks, or interfere with any other party's use and enjoyment of the service. You may not attempt to gain unauthorized access to any AOL services, user accounts, computer systems or networks through hacking, password mining or any other means. AOL may take any legal or technical actions to prevent the violation of this provision and to enforce these Terms of Service.
Limits on Abuses.
AOL may terminate or impose restrictions against any AOL Voicemail account that AOL deems in its discretion is inconsistent with normal residential or home office usage patterns or is otherwise in violation of these Terms of Service. Any usage in excess of 3,000 minutes per month may be presumed by AOL as being inconsistent with the restrictions outlined in these Terms of Service.
Cancellation Policy
Discontinuation of the AOL service will also discontinue your AOL Voicemail service and your phone company fees. You may cancel the AOL Voicemail service by contacting Member Services at 1-866-825-1400, 8:00 am to 1 am EST, seven days a week, or see Keyword Billing for information about AOL's billing and cancellation policies. The cancellation policies described in the AOL Terms of Service will apply.
Use/Sharing of Personal Identification Number (PIN)
Telephone access to AOL Voicemail is protected by a PIN which is associated, by default, with the Screen Name who registered. Telephone access to AOL Voicemail includes personal information specific to that Screen Name, including (but not limited to) their email. Sharing a PIN equates shared access to all the information in AOL Voicemail, including this personal information.
Call Alert Notification
If you use the option to add other Screen Names to your AOL Voicemail account, you understand and agree that all of the Screen Names associated with your account will receive a call alert if more than one Screen Name is signed on at the time the incoming phone call is received. The first Screen Name to respond to the alert will manage the call.
Call Waiting Notification
If you subscribe to a call waiting service through your phone company, you authorize AOL to attempt to automatically disable that service before each AOL session in order for your AOL Call Alert service to work.
Changes to the AOL Voicemail Service and Terms
AOL can change or discontinue all or any part of the AOL Voicemail service. AOL may change pricing for AOL Voicemail or make any other modifications to these Terms of Service at any time by giving you notice prior to the time in which the charges or other changes would go into effect. If you choose to use AOL Voicemail after that point, you're accepting the changes. If you disagree with the changes, your only remedy is to cancel the service. Also, local phone company charges may change from time to time without notice. Please check Keyword AOL Voicemail regularly for the most current set-up and call forwarding rates.
Disclaimer of Warranties and Representations
Although America Online makes every reasonable effort to ensure that the information AOL provides you regarding AOL Voicemail (including all telephone company set up fees and charges) are accurate and current, it cannot guarantee that the information will be error-free. Pricing, availability and features are subject to change without notice. By registering for AOL Voicemail, you assume all risk arising from your registration and use of the AOL Voicemail service and arising from your reliance upon the information provided by AOL regarding AOL Voicemail.
IN ADDITION TO THE DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTIES AND LIABILITIES DISCLOSED IN THE AOL TERMS OF SERVICE (WHICH IS INCORPORATED HEREIN BY REFERENCE), AMERICA ONLINE, INC., ITS PARENT, SUBSIDIARIES, DIVISIONS, EMPLOYEES, PARTERS, AGENTS, REPRESENTATIVE AND THIRD-PARTY SUPPLIERS DISCLAIM ANY REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF ACCURACY, QUALITY, SECURITY, MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR NEED REGARDING YOUR REGISTRATION AND USE OF AOL VOICEMAIL. AOL OFFERS THE AOL VOICEMAIL SERVICE "AS IS", "WITH ALL FAULTS" AND ON AN "AS AVAILABLE" BASIS.
Since the AOL Voicemail services are delivered through your local phone system, AOL cannot warrant or promise that AOL Voicemail will be available or work at all times and all locations. AOL cannot warrant or promise that AOL Voicemail would continue to work in the event of product, software, coverage or other service changes made by your local telephone carrier.
DISCLAIMER FOR QWEST CUSTOMERS WHO ARE LOCATED IN ALL STATES EXCEPT MINNESOTA:INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDER ("ISP") CHARGES ARE CONSIDERED ENHANCED TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES. WHEN YOU ELECT TO BILL ENHANCED TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES ON YOUR QWEST TELEPHONE BILL, NEITHER YOUR LOCAL NOR LONG DISTANCE SERVICE CAN BE DISCONNECTED FOR FAILURE TO PAY THESE CHARGES. ENHANCED TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICE PROVIDERS MAY EMPLOY OTHER AGENCIES TO COLLECT DELINQUENT SERVICE CHARGES, EVEN IF QWEST HAS PREVIOUSLY ADJUSTED THEM FROM YOUR TELEPHONE BILL.
Last Updated: 6-12-2007