Problems with the New HostOrb.com

akioohtori · #1 07-13-2003, 10:41 AM

I've been a HostOrb customer for a couple months now... and there is just some weird stuff going on with my account. My question is in the subject, but I'm just going to go over my history with HostOrb.

For those who didn't already know... a while ago HostOrb had issues because their domain had been hijacked when a change of hands happened with the owners. Once they came back from vacation, they were really apologetic and responsive and things were back online before I even noticed they were down, honestly. But they said that HostOrb.com was moving to Redwoodhosting.net. Okay...

But then, one day I decided to check my client information. On HostOrb's site they always had a place where you could log-in and see your account status as far as payment and client information. So I went to Redwoodhosting.net -- which didn't exist. I was alarmed, but since I could still access my FTP and my site was working... I didn't panic too much. I just checked to see if HostOrb.com was back, and low and behold it was.

And THEN the problems started. I'm not really sure if the site is back up and proper, but it's definitely been wonky. All of a sudden my log-in didn't work for client information -- even though I could access my site... and I feel partially to blame for not following it up as much as I should have -- I was happy after the domain hijack that my site was working, and at least I could still access *that*.

But I share my account with a friend, who maintains an add-on domain on the account. He was having technical difficulties that I didn't know how to answer, so he posted a ticket at their Support Desk. He told me that they told him that there was no such domain registered - neither his, nor mine. That puzzled me, because... well, it just didn't make sense. How can I be accessing an account which doesn't exist? But then it occured to me that they were trying to protect my privacy... but it didn't seem like they handled the situation very well, regardless.

So I went myself to post a ticket, describing some issues I had with one of their forum scripts (they have phpBB and Invision Power Board... the former wasn't working properly)... I've also been having weird things happen with my mailbox, and I asked if I should be posting tickets on behalf of my friend who shares my webspace. Usually, when I had posted a ticket in the past, I would recieve a verification email -- but this time I didn't... but I could see that the ticket was there, and I checked on it several hours later to make sure it was.

But I never got a response, or a reply. And today, I tried to check the ticket status -- but I couldn't log-in to my Support Center account either. So now I'm really confused.

So, in short - I can access all the aspects of my account accept the documentation verifying it exists at all...

I wanted to know if any other customers who decided to stay with HostOrb, or are currently with HostOrb have had any such problems. I'm going to Instant Message the screenname provided on the HostOrb.com site... and possibly call them, because this is just getting WAY too weird.

Hostorb · #2 07-13-2003, 10:52 AM

akioohtori, your account is with Redwoodhosting, not Host Orb.

Your Domain servers in listed order:
NS1.REDWOODHOSTING.NET
NS2.REDWOODHOSTING.NET

akioohtori · #3 07-13-2003, 11:12 AM

But uh... this is where I'm confused. They don't have a site. o.o; You wouldn't happen to know where it is would you? I have the DNS, and like I said before... my site is up and running. I just can't access any of my client information - or know *where* to. o.o;

TAH-Max · #4 07-13-2003, 11:27 AM

http://www.redwoodhosting.net/ loads for me...

TAH-Max · #5 07-13-2003, 11:29 AM

Hang on, it redirects to HostOrb....Yup that's something HostOrb need to sort out. Try emailing them, if you don't get a response within 48 hours then go elsewhere. If they refuse to cancel your account / stop billing you and are totally unresponsive, do a chargeback.

akioohtori · #6 07-13-2003, 12:24 PM

charge back?? what's that??

Mark_TVI · #7 07-13-2003, 12:38 PM

Slow down a second with the chargebacks.

First send them an email, try support@redwoodhosting.net.
If that doesnt work then try contacting them this way;

Registrant (BK437-IYD-REG)
Branko Kotur
Branko Kotur
sub@dragonsvalley.com
1131 Adelia St
Downers Grove, IL 60516 US
+1.6302412687

akioohtori · #8 07-13-2003, 12:40 PM

i can't slow down what i don't know.

but thanks for the info! i'll email him first thing, and let y'all know how it goes.

thank you Watcher, TAH.

Coach · #9 07-13-2003, 12:53 PM

This issue again? Watcher_TVI is correct though. Branko is now the contact for them after he bought out hostorb back in May. I've got a different email for him though.

Email skie[at]dragonsvalley.com.

And if http://www.redwoodhosting.net just redirects to hostorb.com, how are they two seperate companies?

*is confused by all this once again*

akioohtori · #10 07-13-2003, 12:58 PM

I'm just as confused as you are, Coach.

Mark_TVI · #11 07-13-2003, 01:03 PM

I don't think they redirect, the Domain stays redwoodhosting.net. It looks like a redirect because the HostOrb web page is what redwoodhosting.net is using for their own.

What IS confusing is that both companies are active. Did HostOrb just sell off all it's existing clients so they could just start over? Or are they out of the business?

akioohtori · #12 07-13-2003, 01:15 PM

Well, when that old domain was working, they were using that layout on Redwoodhosting. So when you went to Redwoodhosting.net - that's the page you'd see. They said they were going to change it when they had the change.

But they've really got to work on keeping the customer informed, I think.

Hostorb · #13 07-13-2003, 01:27 PM

Hostorb.com has not now, or has it ever been affiliated with redwoodhosting.net

Coach · #14 07-13-2003, 01:30 PM

Why are they using the hostorb name and website? If hostorb is still in business, how did they get your old customers and web site design and...

Eh... this one is too difficult to keep up with.