I used to use Champion Host. They don't give me half of the stuff they promised. They don't answer the phone. They don't answer e-mails. They are a nightmare. I need to know the best way to cut off all payments to them. I am only 15 and if I have to get my parents to cancel the credit card then I will never be able to run a website again until I have my own credit card (parents parents parents). Can I call the company and cut off payments to just Champion Host? What should I do???!!!

Please help me out.

Call your CC company and request a chargeback. Cancel all future payments.

LOL This is exactly why I want to do it through a "direct debit"

As long as you were within the hosting company's terms of use there should have been no problems. If there were, I would have asked them for a refund. If they refuse simply get your credit card company to run a charge back because they didn't provide what they claimed and/or do what they claimed. If it was because you didn't read the TOS correctly that's just the way these things go.

Also one last point. If you were within there TOS and they refused to cancel your account in accordance with it, I would have asked your bank/credit card company to block them charging you again.

Some good advice I recieved ;)

Get your parents to call your bank, and block all future payments to Champion Host. Further, if Champion Host are using a payment service such as Revecom for example, you can call or email Revecom, and they can sort this out for you. :)

He doesn't want his parents involved. Good call. Parents can be freaky about nothing simply because they do not understand :D

Originally posted by Blackman
LOL This is exactly why I want to do it through a "direct debit"

I don't think you can do a chargeback on a direct debit though? Also if a host is reputable, or if they're using a payment service like 2Checkout or Revecom, you really shouldn't have anything to fear.

I'm really sick and tired of hosts like ChampionHost giving the entire industry a bad name. We're not all like that you know.

Does this get them off:

Disclaimer

Champion Host will not be responsible for any damages. Champion Host makes no warranties of any kind, expressed or implied for services we provide. Champion Host disclaims any warranty or merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. This includes loss of data resulting from delays, and any and all service interruptions caused by Champion Host and its employees. Champion Host. reserves the right to change or update policies without notice If any terms or conditions are failed to be followed it will result in grounds for immediate account deactivation.

They promise: (I am only putting things not open to interpretation)
PleskControl Panel (got it)
15 Minute Setup (3 days)
Online Billing and Account Management (never)
Apache, PHP 4.0.6, MySQL , Perl (mysql and perl never setup)
Pre-installed cgi scripts (none)
Webalizer Web Stats (got it)
Unlimited Autoresponders (got it)
Front Page Extensions (got it)
Unlimited E-mail Aliases (never saw anything of it)
Unlimited E-mail Forwarders (got it)
Password Protected Directories (nope)
CGI-BIN (yes, with no access to mysql almost worthless)
Shopping Cart (never seen)
Pre-Configured CGI’s (none)
PHP4 (got it)
Anonymous FTP (nope)
Unlimited FTP (got it)
MySql (nope)
SSL (got it)
Mailing List (nope)

My main concern is the lack of mysql access. They talk about excellent service and they haven't answered the phone in my 100 calls and now the phone # is disconnencted.

RIDICULOUS

How do I know if they are using a payment service (like you said they might)?

Originally posted by DWood
How do I know if they are using a payment service (like you said they might)?

On your credit card statement, does it say "ChampionHost, Inc.", or something else? If it says something else, ring the number that appears beside the charge, and chances are they'll be able to sort it out with your parents never knowing. :)

Originally posted by avara


I don't think you can do a chargeback on a direct debit though? Also if a host is reputable, or if they're using a payment service like 2Checkout or Revecom, you really shouldn't have anything to fear.

I'm really sick and tired of hosts like ChampionHost giving the entire industry a bad name. We're not all like that you know.

What is about these payments that make my purchase safe from fraud? And what hosting companies go through these services?

Thanks ;)

Originally posted by Blackman
What is about these payments that make my purchase safe from fraud? And what hosting companies go through these services?

Basically, companies like 2Checkout and RevEcom have invested large amounts of money in credit protection.

Furthermore, they're always available; so basically if you sign up with a hosting company, and you're not receiving what you were expecting and you can't get a response out of your host, just ring the processor (2Checkout or RevEcom), and they'll refund your card and prevent future charges by that host. Additionally, your host won't be able to charge you for bandwidth overages automatically, or charge your credit card for services without your permission.

Originally posted by Blackman

And what hosting companies go through these services?

Thanks ;)

Voxtreme - http://www.voxtreme.com/
SplashHost - http://www.splashhost.com/
MCHost - http://www.mchost.com/

Among bajilliooians of otheres...

Thanks!! VoxStreme is amazing!

One thing, how can I be so sure that 2Checkout.com will definatley stop me from fraud?

Is there some sort of definate easy cancelation, sorry about so many continous questions but I have had problems in the past :( :)

Thanks,

Does open enterprises ring a bell? Their site is acaretail.com. Click on products then open enterprises. It is around the same date, the price is close but slightly off, and nobody else would be making a payment to such a company.

There are more hosts who support 2Checkout other than Voxtreem as well. ;)

One thing, how can I be so sure that 2Checkout.com will definatley stop me from fraud?

2Checkout doesn't allow their customers to add charges to your card. They also won't be able to see your card details.

Is there some sort of definate easy cancelation, sorry about so many continous questions but I have had problems in the past :( :)

Thanks,

Usually you would contact your host and have them cancel your account. If they don't respond, every time your card is billed you get an email from 2Checkout which includes a phone number you can ring to cancel/get a refund. :)

Great info thanks! ;)

But! Is there anyway I could loose out, could 2Checkout mess me about?

Thanks, :)

Originally posted by Blackman
But! Is there anyway I could loose out, could 2Checkout mess me about?

I'd say that would probably be almost as unlikely as your bank deciding to steal your money.

lol:D :D :D

Thanks so much for the info! I am one step away at getting myself a new host :cool:

One last thing, do you know anything about voxtreme? They seem very good!!!

Thanks, ;)

Originally posted by Pilgrim
He doesn't want his parents involved. Good call. Parents can be freaky about nothing simply because they do not understand :D
If my son or daughter came to me in this situation (company billing our credit card but not providing the service as promised) asking for help, I would be thrilled that they were trying to get it resolved in a responsible manner. I don't consider trying to conceal a problem that involves your parents' credit card a "good call." That's just my opinon.

Dwood: If you've got a Plesk control panel, you can set up MySQL databases and password-protected directories yourself, directly from the control panel. The thing that may block you from setting up a MySQL database is if the hosting service set your allotment to 0 (I don't know if this was the case or not). If you log on to your control panel and click the Preferences button, you should be able to see how many databases you have been allotted.

Intelligent, your view reflects your knowledge of the internet. I know far more about getting this resolved than my parents. If I went to them, they would view all internet activity as risky and would not allow me to get a new host once I get this situation resolved. My dad is already bordering anal about my web business....he has considered stopping it multiple times for no other concrete reason than he is just worried about it. There is nothing my parents could bring into the situation, so I don't think I will tell them unless push comes to shove.

When I saw that subject line, my first thought was Run Like Hell!!! :)

I lucked out with the fact that my credit card company switched my card less then a month after I signed up with CH so he couldn't charge it after I cancelled. But I also didn't get a refund for unused time (long story).

Sorry kid. Protect you AND your parents by changing the card number.

I had Champion as a provider for 3 days, and quickly found out about their lack of response once they get your CC number. It's been 60 days, and I'm STILL getting overdue notices from these losers. :bawling:

Luckly, I had the foresight to change CC numbers quickly and prevent further thievery.

What is the difference between blocking charges from them and changing the number?

Originally posted by Intelligent Hosting

If my son or daughter came to me in this situation (company billing our credit card but not providing the service as promised) asking for help, I would be thrilled that they were trying to get it resolved in a responsible manner.

Although personally I would tell my son to take responsibility and sort out his own mess both you and I know how things work on the internet because we are both webhosts and are both daily involved in sending and receiving online payments.

Unfortunatly not all parents are so enlightned. Once someone offered to drive 300 miles to bring me the money for 3 months of hosting so they didn't have to use the creditcard online :rolleyes:

Originally posted by DWood
What is the difference between blocking charges from them and changing the number?

Blocking just blocks it from them. They still have your number however as well as all the info they need to authorize its usage anywhere they wish to online. Getting a new number assigned to you insures that they don't have it and they can't use it.

Now how to go about telling this to my parents in order to get a new CC #.......I am not looking forward to this. Thanks for all the help everyone.