AOL Says Members Can Keep Names Off Lists

America Online said it will not make the telephone numbers of its 8 million members available to its marketing partners until this fall. Several AOL customers who read about the new policy called the company’s Dulles, Va., headquarters Wednesday and asked that their numbers not be released. But they said AOL’s customer service agents were not prepared to handle their requests. America Online spokeswoman Tricia Primrose said the customer service representatives had not been informed of the new policy, since it is not scheduled to begin for a few months. AOL members who want their phone numbers removed from the solicitation lists that will be shared with Tel-Save Holdings, CUC International and other AOL partners can make the request online at Keyword: Marketing Pref or by selecting the My AOL icon on the AOL tool bar, Primrose said. The new policy is described in AOL’s terms of service agreement and will become effective July 31. AOL shares rose 63 cents to close at $67 on the New York Stock Exchange.