Web Hosting Talk : Web Hosting Main Forums : Web Hosting : Hostgator Account Verification

[Lilly]

I bought a hosting service from hostgator and received an email from them that I need to verify my account by calling them. I called them 7 times and they just kept saying "hello" and said they cannot hear me and hang up whereas I was able to hear them clearly. I have checked my phone by calling some friends in US and they are able to hear me clearly.

When I searched on google, I came to this forum where somebody has made a similar thread and wrote beware of hostgator. I am really confused after reading that thread. He said his website was available for 10 minutes whereas I didn't even receive my account details from them. I mean the server wasn't setup. I received a welcome email that said the server would be setup in 48 hours & within 7-8 hours, i received an email asking me to verify my account.

What should I do now? I don't even know if they have charged my CC as I can't check my CC statement till 20th.

Can somebody guide me who has gone through similar situation or know anything about this hostgator verification process because I don't want to scan my passport/driving license to verify the account.

[ATH-Sean]

Hmmm I had signed up with them once before. I got all my account details instantly. Never had to go through what you are going through. If it was done with a Credit Card the funds would be deducted straight away, But won't show for like 5-7 days.

Call your Bank to also check they can tell you straight away if the funds are taken, They will usually say PENDING!

As of the Verification process, I am not too sure. Have you tried a Mobile phone or anything of the Likes?

Otherwise I cannot help soz.

[Lilly]

Yes, I used my mobile phone to call them.

[ATH-Sean]

Maybe they can hear you?

Hard to say what actions must be taken, Never had this issue. Another WHT member will inform you soon.

[Brian - Limestone]

Have you tried a different phone? Maybe you could contact them and ask if you can verify your account via email.

[Lilly]

Originally Posted by JetWash

Maybe they can hear you?

Hard to say what actions must be taken, Never had this issue. Another WHT member will inform you soon.

I don't know, but thanks for your prompt response.

Originally Posted by Brian - Limestone

Have you tried a different phone? Maybe you could contact them and ask if you can verify your account via email.

I don't think its possible to verify account via email because the email I received says, "If you are not able to call, we need you to supply the following information in your reply to this email:

- a scanned copy of a Photo ID such as as a passport, or drivers license.
- a scanned copy of the credit card that was used in the purchase

You can censor all the digits on the card except the last 4 digits and the expiration."


I don't have any problem in giving a scanned copy of my CC, but I don't want to give copy of scanned passport or driving license to a stranger.

I have opened a ticket at hostgator about this issue and waiting for a reply from them to know that if scanned copy of CC would be enough for verification.

[ATH-Sean]

No Problems, Hope it gets resolved soon!

[HostColor]

Hi,
I think that this is a standard procedure for identifying fraudulent activity (not saying this is the case with you ). You just need to wait for their answer and everything should be OK. Also, you can send them the scanned copy of your card and from your driving license and sensor it too where the sensitive information is. This should be enough to verify your self as the card owner.

[MikeDVB]

You are not the first one who go through this, we see a post about this maybe once every two weeks. You are also not the first to say that when you call they cannot hear you. I think it has something to do with your locality - which is also a big part of why you have to verify your account information.

Basically what it comes down to is that they want to verify that you are who you say you are, and get some basic information on you so that if you are in fact conducting a fraudulent act they at least have something to go on. Try a different phone, and if that does not work your only option will be to supply the requested pieces of identification.

If you don't want to do this, then it's likely you won't see your account activated.

Oh and to let you know - they charged your CC as soon as you signed up and then once you hit the fraud check the money was immediately refunded. Once you pass the fraud check you will have to pay them again, and this may seem like you're paying them twice, but I assure you that they have already refunded your first payment.

Run a search here for "hostgator" and "fraud" and "verification" you will see quite a few threads that are all saying basically the same thing as you.

[Lilly]

Originally Posted by HostColor

Hi,
I think that this is a standard procedure for identifying fraudulent activity (not saying this is the case with you ). You just need to wait for their answer and everything should be OK. Also, you can send them the scanned copy of your card and from your driving license and sensor it too where the sensitive information is. This should be enough to verify your self as the card owner.

Originally Posted by MikeDVB

You are not the first one who go through this, we see a post about this maybe once every two weeks. You are also not the first to say that when you call they cannot hear you. I think it has something to do with your locality - which is also a big part of why you have to verify your account information.

Basically what it comes down to is that they want to verify that you are who you say you are, and get some basic information on you so that if you are in fact conducting a fraudulent act they at least have something to go on. Try a different phone, and if that does not work your only option will be to supply the requested pieces of identification.

If you don't want to do this, then it's likely you won't see your account activated.

Oh and to let you know - they charged your CC as soon as you signed up and then once you hit the fraud check the money was immediately refunded. Once you pass the fraud check you will have to pay them again, and this may seem like you're paying them twice, but I assure you that they have already refunded your first payment.

Run a search here for "hostgator" and "fraud" and "verification" you will see quite a few threads that are all saying basically the same thing as you.

Having a verification process for identifying fraudulent activities is good. But I don't like the part of asking for scanned copy of passport or driving license because anybody can missuse it. There are people who can make duplicate ones too, so how can one know if thats a scanned copy of real one or not.


But anyway, five hours back I have opened a ticket and I am waiting for their response. If I don't get a response from them within 24 hours, I'll have to find some other host because I can't wait more. I mean if 3-5 days go in verification process, two or three days for my sites to be uploaded, then few days for my sites' advertising & all, I don't think much time would be left in the month for which I paid.

[Keith W]

Send an email to Brent, the owner of Host Gator, with your ticket number and explain the situation to him.

He is a decent guy and will be more than happy to help you.

His email address is brent @ hostgator.com

[MikeDVB]

There are security features built into IDs that make it impossible to copy by a scan. Realistically anybody who could make a good fake could make one of you with or without a scanned image of the real thing. Contacting Brent may help but most likely you'll have to do what they've asked or your account will not be reactivated.

[ldcdc]

I'd send the provider an email and explain my predicament. Maybe an alternative phone number/provider (on either your or their end) could be used, and you'd not face the same issue.

[dave-dave]

Hostgator does these fraud checks sometimes. The best thing to do is call them, email them or wait for the owner, Brent, to come on these forums to help you along. You could try Private messaging: hostgator.com