Web Host Chicanery
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When I started using my current hosting service the price was $9.95/month - it still advertises that price on the home page, though it does say "first year." When I was billed $153 for this year's service I was surprised, so I started searching the site. Nowhere could I find a page that lists a higher price, so I searched the Knowledge Base for "Renewal Price" and variations on that theme. Nothing. So I opened a support ticket to ask why I was billed so much. Here's the response I got: Dear customer, thanks for using our hosting service. Kindly be advised that the promotional price is only good for the first year of service. Our site clearly stipulates this disclosure. So you should renew your account with $11.95/mo. Also we will charge customer $10 renewal fee. The renewal fee is for implementation increase load speeds and performance for your websites making them able to withhold more internet traffic. You could get more detail via (knowledge base article link). Now I'm not opposed to paying the higher price; their service is excellent, and their support among the best. But I don't think I should be charged an extra $10 to "withhold" more Internet traffic, and I do think it is rather deceptive to hide true pricing in a Knowledge Base article. Is it just me, or does this sound a tad crooked to anyone else?
"A Journey of a Thousand Rest Stops Begins with a Single Movement"
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When I started using my current hosting service the price was $9.95/month - it still advertises that price on the home page, though it does say "first year." When I was billed $153 for this year's service I was surprised, so I started searching the site. Nowhere could I find a page that lists a higher price, so I searched the Knowledge Base for "Renewal Price" and variations on that theme. Nothing. So I opened a support ticket to ask why I was billed so much. Here's the response I got: Dear customer, thanks for using our hosting service. Kindly be advised that the promotional price is only good for the first year of service. Our site clearly stipulates this disclosure. So you should renew your account with $11.95/mo. Also we will charge customer $10 renewal fee. The renewal fee is for implementation increase load speeds and performance for your websites making them able to withhold more internet traffic. You could get more detail via (knowledge base article link). Now I'm not opposed to paying the higher price; their service is excellent, and their support among the best. But I don't think I should be charged an extra $10 to "withhold" more Internet traffic, and I do think it is rather deceptive to hide true pricing in a Knowledge Base article. Is it just me, or does this sound a tad crooked to anyone else?
"A Journey of a Thousand Rest Stops Begins with a Single Movement"
It sounds crooked, unsavory, dishonest, and unethical. Renewal pricing should have been made clear at the outset, before you agreed to the contract. Unfortunately, given the laissez-faire nature of modern, international economics (also known as "screw the suckers") it seems all too typical.
Software Zen:
delete this;
Fold With Us![^] -
When I started using my current hosting service the price was $9.95/month - it still advertises that price on the home page, though it does say "first year." When I was billed $153 for this year's service I was surprised, so I started searching the site. Nowhere could I find a page that lists a higher price, so I searched the Knowledge Base for "Renewal Price" and variations on that theme. Nothing. So I opened a support ticket to ask why I was billed so much. Here's the response I got: Dear customer, thanks for using our hosting service. Kindly be advised that the promotional price is only good for the first year of service. Our site clearly stipulates this disclosure. So you should renew your account with $11.95/mo. Also we will charge customer $10 renewal fee. The renewal fee is for implementation increase load speeds and performance for your websites making them able to withhold more internet traffic. You could get more detail via (knowledge base article link). Now I'm not opposed to paying the higher price; their service is excellent, and their support among the best. But I don't think I should be charged an extra $10 to "withhold" more Internet traffic, and I do think it is rather deceptive to hide true pricing in a Knowledge Base article. Is it just me, or does this sound a tad crooked to anyone else?
"A Journey of a Thousand Rest Stops Begins with a Single Movement"
When you signed up, did you ask what the price would be after the initial 1 year period? The use of the word 'withhold' is probably an honest mistake; unfortunately, too many people are being pushed through the educational institutions without ensuring they can effectively communicate. Tim
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When I started using my current hosting service the price was $9.95/month - it still advertises that price on the home page, though it does say "first year." When I was billed $153 for this year's service I was surprised, so I started searching the site. Nowhere could I find a page that lists a higher price, so I searched the Knowledge Base for "Renewal Price" and variations on that theme. Nothing. So I opened a support ticket to ask why I was billed so much. Here's the response I got: Dear customer, thanks for using our hosting service. Kindly be advised that the promotional price is only good for the first year of service. Our site clearly stipulates this disclosure. So you should renew your account with $11.95/mo. Also we will charge customer $10 renewal fee. The renewal fee is for implementation increase load speeds and performance for your websites making them able to withhold more internet traffic. You could get more detail via (knowledge base article link). Now I'm not opposed to paying the higher price; their service is excellent, and their support among the best. But I don't think I should be charged an extra $10 to "withhold" more Internet traffic, and I do think it is rather deceptive to hide true pricing in a Knowledge Base article. Is it just me, or does this sound a tad crooked to anyone else?
"A Journey of a Thousand Rest Stops Begins with a Single Movement"
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When you signed up, did you ask what the price would be after the initial 1 year period? The use of the word 'withhold' is probably an honest mistake; unfortunately, too many people are being pushed through the educational institutions without ensuring they can effectively communicate. Tim
Tim Carmichael wrote:
did you ask what the price would be after the initial 1 year period?
No, it's all automated, with no step for questions.
Tim Carmichael wrote:
too many people are being pushed through the educational institutions without ensuring they can effectively communicate
Especially teachers. :sigh:
"A Journey of a Thousand Rest Stops Begins with a Single Movement"
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There are a good number of reliable VPSs available for $10 or less. Your host's behavior is unacceptable... misleading, unfair, and not to mention stupid. I would think they would want to reward a good customer, not anger them.
I've used a couple of the cheap ones, and researched many more. All have limitations that eventually broke the deal. The service here is excellent, and the technologies supported are diverse. It's well worth the cost, and I believe they could proudly advertise the cost and not lose a single customer. I just don't understand why they feel ashamed of their prices. :-D
"A Journey of a Thousand Rest Stops Begins with a Single Movement"
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When I started using my current hosting service the price was $9.95/month - it still advertises that price on the home page, though it does say "first year." When I was billed $153 for this year's service I was surprised, so I started searching the site. Nowhere could I find a page that lists a higher price, so I searched the Knowledge Base for "Renewal Price" and variations on that theme. Nothing. So I opened a support ticket to ask why I was billed so much. Here's the response I got: Dear customer, thanks for using our hosting service. Kindly be advised that the promotional price is only good for the first year of service. Our site clearly stipulates this disclosure. So you should renew your account with $11.95/mo. Also we will charge customer $10 renewal fee. The renewal fee is for implementation increase load speeds and performance for your websites making them able to withhold more internet traffic. You could get more detail via (knowledge base article link). Now I'm not opposed to paying the higher price; their service is excellent, and their support among the best. But I don't think I should be charged an extra $10 to "withhold" more Internet traffic, and I do think it is rather deceptive to hide true pricing in a Knowledge Base article. Is it just me, or does this sound a tad crooked to anyone else?
"A Journey of a Thousand Rest Stops Begins with a Single Movement"
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When I started using my current hosting service the price was $9.95/month - it still advertises that price on the home page, though it does say "first year." When I was billed $153 for this year's service I was surprised, so I started searching the site. Nowhere could I find a page that lists a higher price, so I searched the Knowledge Base for "Renewal Price" and variations on that theme. Nothing. So I opened a support ticket to ask why I was billed so much. Here's the response I got: Dear customer, thanks for using our hosting service. Kindly be advised that the promotional price is only good for the first year of service. Our site clearly stipulates this disclosure. So you should renew your account with $11.95/mo. Also we will charge customer $10 renewal fee. The renewal fee is for implementation increase load speeds and performance for your websites making them able to withhold more internet traffic. You could get more detail via (knowledge base article link). Now I'm not opposed to paying the higher price; their service is excellent, and their support among the best. But I don't think I should be charged an extra $10 to "withhold" more Internet traffic, and I do think it is rather deceptive to hide true pricing in a Knowledge Base article. Is it just me, or does this sound a tad crooked to anyone else?
"A Journey of a Thousand Rest Stops Begins with a Single Movement"
Roger Wright wrote:
does this sound a tad crooked to anyone else?
Nope, it sounds a lot crooked, especially since you weren't able to find the knowledge base article on your own. If they can't even be honest about that, what else are they hiding?