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# Santa Monica man wins $77 small claims case against AOL
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/aol-charges-on/
- Published: 2003-01-13T16:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T01:18:14.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Crime, Santa Monica, #archive-import

A Santa Monica man who claimed America Online withdrew monies from his bank account without permission was awarded $77 last week by a Santa Monica judge.

George Wood testified the on-line giant took money from his bank account during October and November of 2002 without his consent.

“I signed up for a free trial offer,” Wood said. “And then I called to put it on hold, because I couldn’t use it.”

But Wood said AOL didn’t respond to his request. Months later, Wood found his account had been drawn upon to pay for a service he wasn’t using. Though he asked AOL to refund his money, Wood said “they just wouldn’t give it back.”

America Online did not send a representative to court. Commissioner Donna Groman ruled against the corporation for the full $77 in charges.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on January 13, 2003.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/011303.pdf?ref=smdp.com)