I HAVE AOL I DON'T LIKE IT I HAVE NOTHING PUT PROBLEMS WITH IT. I'M ON THE $23.90 PLAN BUT LAST MONTH I WAS BILLED $9.95.I CALLED THEY SAID IT WILL BE ADJUSTIED ON NEST BILL.GOT THAT BILL 2 DAYS AGO $92.78. SO I GO TO ONLINE BILLING THEY CAN'T HELP GIVE ME A 1-800 NUMBER TO CALL,20-30 CALLS & STILL NO ANSWER. AND I CAN NO LONGER GET THE AOL HELP PAGE TO COME UP. NO MATTER HOW I TRY TO ACCESS IT. NEEDLESS TO SAY I'M FED UP!!! THE PROBLEM IS I DON'T HAVE A CREDIT CARD OR CHECKING ACCOUNT & AOL IS THE ONLY IP THAT WAS OK WITH THAT. MAYBE YOU KNOW OF SOME THAT ARE ALSO WILLING TO BILL ME BEFORE I GET CONNECTED TO THIER SERVICE. I'LL PAY 2-3 MO. IN ADVANCE IF IT WILL HELP. IT'S LIKE THERES SOME UNWRITTEN LAW THAT IF YOU DON'T HAVE A CREDIT CARD YOUR NOT ENTITLED TO A GOOD ISP. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME I HOPE YOU CAN HELP.

Answer:

One of the reasons you're bumping into that is ISPs are worried that children might be opening up accounts without their parent's knowledge or permission, since it is hard for a child to get a credit card (unless their parent gives them one, that is.. :))

If you go to the page with the city where you live, you can click on "Advanced Search" (be sure to include non-sponsors), and you can filter by payment type (check, money order, etc...) That should get you what you want - although please double check with the ISP before signing up, since I don't go back and generally reverify that the ISP still accepts those types of payment.

You're correct that you'll have an easier time if you prepay for a few months - one of the reasons that ISPs don't like checks is a large percentage of them pay for a month, then never send in a second check, and force the ISP to disconnect them for non-payment. Or the check bounces and they have to go chase an out-of-state person with a bad check... a local ISP is the most likely to accept your check since they know how to get ahold of you if there is a problem.