We've been HAD (webhost robbery)!

Orbyss · Post by **Orbyss** » Sun May 14, 2006 2:46 am

Alright, guys, I'm reposting this from a journal of mine:

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So, we decided we had to switch hosts for orbyss.net and go with a company that would take PayPal (because 1&1 are arseheads that do not, for whatever reason) and we currently cannot pay with credit card or debit card. We looked around a fair bit and came across the small Vision Web Hosting, and ultimately decided to go with it to support a smaller webhosting company and because it stated straight-up what you get with whatever package you choose.

BAD
IDEA

But we could not have known. For over two weeks we were not getting service on our account because of the registration being thrown around and no one communicating that there were problems. We could not get a hold of our new hosting company either by telephone or "24 hour chat service" (which is total bullshit, it's one person who is never there). It escalated into us contacting the BBB, and our statement is as follows:

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"I signed up to have my web page hosted at this company....Right off the bat they sent me a bill for the wrong amount, one year of service instead of the one month I specified. I went to their chat to inquire and was resent the correct bill, which I paid immediately....A week later, after unsuccesfully trying to e-mail and call the company, I still had no page or request to transfer it to them. I chatted with them online again, they claimed they were putting it through again. Two days later I finally got the request from the new registrar and forwarded it to them, as they requested. They suggested I get my old host to change the nameservers to point to their servers. I did that and my old host sent me an e-mail saying the servers are no good. This company claims '24/7 Tech support,' yet there is only one person on the online chat and they are mostly absent. I have called their number half a dozen times, never an answer or reply to my messages. The answering machine does not ID as a company and now the mailbox is full on it. They are unreachable and all I want to do now is cancel with them and get my money back. They have ignored all of my pleas to have them call or e-mail me, even when I threatened to contact you. I don't know the names of anyone there. I fear that I will not be able to get my web page back from them; they now own the registration.

I would like my money back and to make sure this company relinquishes control of my web page. I would like to speak to them on the phone and get an explanation and apology. I would like to be assured they're legitimate."

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Shortly after this, we got a hold of her (there is only one woman running this company, despite her lies to the contrary) and said we wanted a refund. She actually argued with us, and since this was on ICQ, she seems to have blocked us.

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[20:12] Orbyss: Will I get the amount sent over paypal?
[20:12] 73709572 : yes
[20:13] Orbyss: When?
[20:13] 73709572 : in next 24 hours
[20:13] Orbyss: Why that long?
[20:20] Orbyss: ...
[20:28] Orbyss: Hello?
*** NOTE: This user is offline. Your messages will be received when he/she logs into ICQ.
____

Blocked us.

Of course, this was after saying that she would send the refund in 24 hours time. It's been over 48 hours at this time, and we haven't seen a dime back, nor is this person reachable.

I'm at the end of my wits. We've had $40 stolen from us because we gave our business to a small hosting company. The BBB cannot contact this person (whose name, by the way, is "Aleksandra Pesalj," and lives in a small townhome in Indiana...or did, but who has now probably flown the coop) and I'm not so sure her local police can do anything about this either.

So, anyone reading this and looking for a webhosting company, you are now warmed. Stay with the big guys.

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Update: we still have no refund and it's been over a week. We have not been contacted. We dug deep and did many hardcore searches on names and addresses available, and found out the entire company is a scamjob. That entire company....and many others, fronting as totally legit companies. It tooks some real digging, but we found a review site:

Clicky

The BBB is unabe to contact them and I believe all the addresses and names are possibly fake. They've taken our &#&$*# domain name, and I will never get http://www.orbyss.net. And so far, it looks like there's no legal action we can take, no way to get our money back. I'm just sick. I didn't think that wanting to support a small company would screw us this hard. I'm very sad, and we don't know what to do. We're stronly considering calling the FBI, but I have a feeling they'll laugh us right off the phone.

If all y'all could pass this around to various forums you visit and MAKE SURE no one does business with these "companies":

http://www.astrahosting.com/
http://www.astrahosting.net/
http://www.visionwebhosting.net/

it would be very appreciated.

Aside from this, they also do PayPal scams via e-mail (you know the deal). Take a gander here to see what I mean.

I don't want this to be a case of "well, you should have done your homework," because it's not an obvious thing. We did the homework we needed, it never crossed our minds that a webhost that easy to find would be a scam artist job. There are lots of people out there getting screwed and no one is doing a damn thing about it. The more people that know about this, the better.

I thank you all in advance for reading this, and for reposting it where you can (for those who can and do).

Post by **Loopz** » Sun May 14, 2006 10:05 am

Thanks for posting this Nat, i just hope you get your money back. Those kind of people (or person!) really p**s me off. Let us know if you get any updates.

Orbyss · Post by **Orbyss** » Mon May 15, 2006 12:46 am

Bah, it's not the money I'm worried about, it's the idea that they will screw other people over, and more than likely even worse. I don't want to see that happen. Some of those reviews were jarring -- people losing quite a lot of money after getting reeled in, and losing their domains.

True, you live, you learn, but I figured I'd let others know just in case they or a friend have any danger of falling into the trap. I'd rather see them closed down and never get my money back than get my money back and have them stay doing what they're doing.