🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <RSM.89Jul28182221@turquoise.math.arizona.edu> rsm@math.arizona.edu (Robert S. Maier) writes:
>I was trying to test out the new Internet<->Compuserve mail link, and
>sent a mail message from my machine on the Internet to my account on
>Compuserve.  Unfortunately I was unable to log in to Compuserve to
>check for it.  I contacted Compuserve customer service, and they told
>me my account was cancelled last week for lack of use.  (It's been
>quite a few months since I last logged in.)
>
>No problem, or so it seemed.  I asked them to turn the account back on
>and bill me whatever their fee for that is.  But they said, no way.
>You'll have to get a new account, and a new mailbox.  But what about
>mail directed to my old account's mailbox, I asked.  Sorry, I was
>told.  Your mailbox will be new, and all mail sent to the old mailbox
>will either be bounced or fall into a black hole.
>
>This is pretty annoying.  (At one time I included my old Compuserve
>number in my .signature, and I'm sure some people still have it on
>file.)  Can a commercial firm like Compuserve, which is in the
>business of selling mailboxes, deny me access to my mail like that?


Sure they can.  You wouldn't expect the phone company to give you back
your old phone number after it had been disconnected for a year, would
you?  No, they would probably tell you that someone else now has the
number and you'l have to get a new one.

If I'm not mistaken, a letter is sent out when your account is about to
be canceled for non-use or if your credit card is about to expire.  All
you needed to do was log on, call customer service or write a letter.
Heck, in the case of non-use, they sometimes include a credit as
incentive to log back on!

The mail sent to your old ID number will not land in the bit bucket.
It will bounce back to the sender.

The way I see it, CompuServe is not in the business of selling mailboxes.
They sell an information service, and as a side effect you get electronic
mail.  (There isn't a yearly mailbox maintenance fee like those who sell
mail exclusively, now, is there?)

	- Sam