AOL- Billed me after cancellation now, 5 years later, sent to collections agency!

I never used AOL. I signed up for their free trial but even when I did, I never used them. I called them and cancelled well before the last date. I get a letter one day out of nowhere, from NCO financial systems, that they are collecting debt of $95.60. I was shocked when I got this statement, so I immediately followed up. But the only number on the letter is for NCO, so I called and spoke to them and they said that it was for charges from Dec. 22 2001, and that it was closed Dec. 28, 2003. Of course I called AOL after, and they said that they had billed me for $23 a month for 3 months, and that’s where the charges were from. And that they never received a phone call to cancel. I told them that I never used these services even when they were free, and that I am not paying these charges because it is not right and a scam. I asked them to transfer me to someone else, or give me another number, and the guy on the phone said that all he can do is accept payment. And that there is nothing else he can do.

Okay that doesn’t even make sense. First off, they bill me for 3 months, what made them stop there if I never cancelled, secondly, why was the account open for 2 years if they weren’t receiving any money?, also why did they close the account after two years, who authorized that?

Even the person I spoke to on the phone was able to confirm that I indeed never used the account. He said there shows no activity on the account at all, but there is no record of a cancellation. I cancelled this before without even using it. They said that they sent numerous statements, but there was no response. There was no way I couldn’t have gotten my mail if they did send them because the mailbox is right in front of my door! So I don’t hear from them for years, and then now they are saying I owe them money.

So I am getting sent to collections for a service that I never used, and that was open for 2 years without my knowledge. I don’t owe this money and feel like I am getting scammed. Any advice?