Eff Oh,
If you're on NTL you should be able to sign up for NTLworld - 24/7 free access as long as you spend a tenner a month on phone calls (how difficult?). They'll top up the bill if you don't spend that long yacking. Is that the service that you say there is a waiting list for? It certainly does not need a new line - sounds like salesdroid BS - or should that be "smells like"?
I also use Freeserve, where you pay for the call at local rates, but I expect you know that.
In a recent magazine review (PC Pro) Demon came tops. They are a good long-term bet and offer a bit extra for your bit extra. But probably not what's required here.
As for AOL - it's worth understanding that they are not a real ISP - they are an online service that provide a *gateway* to the Internet. (To most people a mere technicality but to us tech-heads a severe no-no.) I also would not be surprised if installing AOL managed to muck up (to use the technical term) my existing set-up. And it doesn't (as I understand it) allow you to choose your own web browser, email client, etc. If all you want is simple, limited & cheap Internet access, then at 15 quid a month - you could probably still do better.