As per yet another recent thread, people signing up with stolen credit card details and or using bought hosting accounts for adult material or spamming is an issue for any hosting company.

I was thinking (just as an idea) would it be a good idea to gather all potential client details first before invoicing the client for the hosting account. That way they would have to complete an online form, name, email address, home address (hence allowing me to confirm there location), preferred user name and possibly even primary domain name they are going to use. I can then set up there account and then send them an invoice via email using PayPal.

Of course i understand that this would length the procedure but would it not also deter at least some people who are signing up with stolen details etc.

Once everything is confirmed and payment recieved i can then send them through there login details and other required information.

Good idea or bad idea?

Isn't this how it's done anyway?

Isn't this how it's done anyway?

erm im not sure... i presume in most cases you can pay straight away and then you get the login details sent through... im talking about getting all the info via a web form first, reviewing there details then sending them the link/info to make the payment.

Some hosts are quite automated arent they? payment is made and an automatical email is sent with all there login information in it... no human intervention at all...

That would be called moderated sign ups my friend :). A lot of hosts are already doing this (me being one). When you have your payment system setup to do "Moderated" or "Manual" sign ups, basically after someone signs up using the form on your website you may login and clarify that information (for example, I call all of my clients). If all turns out to be correct, then you may go ahead and just simply activate the account.

Wrong username there.

I do not understand why hosts do go automated, sure it looks good but in the end it gets abused. I myself never had automated signups because of fraud. I like to do my own clearence checks first and I like to know exactly whos joining my server.

That would be called moderated sign ups my friend :). A lot of hosts are already doing this (me being one). When you have your payment system setup to do "Moderated" or "Manual" sign ups, basically after someone signs up using the form on your website you may login and clarify that information (for example, I call all of my clients). If all turns out to be correct, then you may go ahead and just simply activate the account.

Sounds like this might be a good idea then, other than just allowing them to directly pay straight out using paypal and then setting up there account!

Have you always done it like that? if not have you noticed an improvement and reduction in fraudulant signups? whats your hosting url?

We would never go down the automated route, simply a question of reducing costs where we can on chargeback possibilities etc.

All our orders are manually verified before we even think about sending out the user details

From the looks of your post, you are NOT collecting any data from a client (name, address, phone etc). :eek:

From the looks of your post, you are NOT collecting any data from a client (name, address, phone etc). :eek:

erm who are you talking about?