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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Posts
    78

    Funny Story About HostMonster

    I cancel the HostMonster account because of the poor tech support. I think I will write a fair review about their service when I have time. BUT I want to share everyone a very funny story about their refund policy now.

    Email from HM:
    You originally paid $4.95/month for hosting. You had 6.61 months of hosting left. So, $4.95 X 6.61 = $32.72. Then, $10 was kept for the domain name and you're left with a very fair $22.72.
    Any other questions?

    My reply:
    YES!!
    If I cancel my account after using it 10 months, I will got a negative refund according to your calculation!

    Here is your ridiculous logic!
    You originally paid $4.95/month for hosting. You had 2 months of
    hosting left. So, $4.95 X 2 = $9.90 Then, $10 was kept for the domain name and you're left with a very fair -0.10.
    So I paid 12 months, and I only use 10 months, but I need pay $0.10 more. AM I RIGHT??

    Email from HM:
    If you had canceled your hosting after ten months, we would have set the balance to $0.00. We do apologize for your frustration, but we have acted only according to our Terms of Service which you stated at sign-up that you read, understood, and agreed to. These terms are legal and binding. If it doesn't strike a chord of logic for you, it is at least legally enforceable and predictable: you read the terms (so you stated), so you had all the foreknowledge to cancel in time for a greater refund.

    Unless you have a billing request, our billing agents have nothing further to assist you with.



    Here is their terms:
    # Cancellations After 30 Days. Subscriber may cancel his/her/its Services at any time, before or after automatic account renewal, and, with the exception of any Nonrefundable Fees set forth in Paragraph 3.01(A) and setup fees, if any, which are nonrefundable after 30 calendar days, receive a pro-rated refund for all other fees paid for Services, less $10 per "Free Domain Name."


    SO, I have nothing to say because their billing support is CORRECT! BUT I just think the refund policy is really funny.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2003
    Location
    SLC
    Posts
    2,278
    It is funny

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Posts
    529
    Interesting policy... ( No other comments =| )

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    CA
    Posts
    9,350
    Well if it's in the TOS and you agreed to them.... What can we say?
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  5. #5
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Posts
    4,332
    Well it is actually good that they have a policy of pro-rated refunds. Most hosting providers do not provide any form of refunds after the money back guarantee period but some providers will work with you for a pro-rated refund on a case-by-case basis.
    [ James Lee - Cloud & Web Hosting Specialist 10+ Years WHT Veteran]

    [ Magento Performance Consultation by Magento Master ]

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    Vancouver
    Posts
    973
    Unless you have a billing request, our billing agents have nothing further to assist you with.
    This is a very poor response.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Posts
    78
    It seems that someone do like this policy. I want to clarify 2 points.

    1, They put "No long term contracts - You can cancel anytime with NO cancellation fee!" on their homepage(under why we're better). I just use my common sense to consider their cancel policy. I have to say that it's my bad without reading the TOS carefully. BUT I think most people do not read the long terms when they do registration.(Maybe I am wrong!)

    2. My common sense is:
    If you buy 12 apples, and after you eat 10 apples, you want to return the left 2(as long as the store allows you to return the apples), you at least can get something.(Maybe I am wrong again!)

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Posts
    529
    That's the same thing, but you don't get your "tax" = charge for the domain name? Back.
    2. My common sense is:
    If you buy 12 apples, and after you eat 10 apples, you want to return the left 2(as long as the store allows you to return the apples), you at least can get something.(Maybe I am wrong again!)

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Posts
    4,332
    Quote Originally Posted by kamanwu View Post
    It seems that someone do like this policy. I want to clarify 2 points.

    1, They put "No long term contracts - You can cancel anytime with NO cancellation fee!" on their homepage(under why we're better). I just use my common sense to consider their cancel policy. I have to say that it's my bad without reading the TOS carefully. BUT I think most people do not read the long terms when they do registration.(Maybe I am wrong!)

    2. My common sense is:
    If you buy 12 apples, and after you eat 10 apples, you want to return the left 2(as long as the store allows you to return the apples), you at least can get something.(Maybe I am wrong again!)
    Well you will need to consider that their free domain name did cost them some money.
    It is normal for any providers who offer free domain name to less out the domain pricing if they are refunding the client.
    [ James Lee - Cloud & Web Hosting Specialist 10+ Years WHT Veteran]

    [ Magento Performance Consultation by Magento Master ]

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Posts
    78
    Quote Originally Posted by hotpass105 View Post
    That's the same thing, but you don't get your "tax" = charge for the domain name? Back.
    really? I believe if I can get refund, I will get my tax back. At least in Toronto.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Posts
    529
    Not here in Georgia.

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Posts
    78
    I think the reasonable policy is:

    I originally paid $4.95/month for 12 months. I had 6.61 months of hosting left. So, the refund is (4.95*12 - 10(domain fee))*(6.61/12)=49.4*(6.61/12)=27.21.

    So if I ask for refund after using 10 months, the refund is (4.95*12 - 10(domain fee))*(2/12)=49.4*(2/12)=8.23

    This is my last post. Thank for reading my post.

  13. #13
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Location
    Melbourne, Australia
    Posts
    10,629
    Whatever way, Good Luck with it
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  14. #14
    Join Date
    Apr 2001
    Location
    Paradise
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    12,052
    But what you are paying is the domain registration, which is free if you stay with them and $10 if you cancel the account.
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  15. #15
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Posts
    50
    whether its good or bad you agreed on it when signing up

  16. #16
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    /root
    Posts
    23,990
    I thought it is really funny but it is not.

    That is their policy which you agreed upon during sign up.

    Either way, it is just a few dollars. Just give it to them for some cola :-) and move on.

    Specially 4 U
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  17. #17
    Well you agreed with TOS so they are right and you cant say anything

  18. #18
    Hi, will anyone recommend hostmonster then or an alternative in the same price bracket with better technical support

  19. #19
    Interesting policy, Pretty funny lol

  20. #20
    Hi Crazed, u aint saying much. Can u pls share your experience with hostmonster in some detail. Dying to hear from u

  21. #21
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Posts
    115
    Quote Originally Posted by HostingBig View Post
    It is funny
    The only thing that made me laugh was your comment

  22. #22
    Join Date
    Nov 2001
    Location
    The South
    Posts
    5,408
    It makes perfect sense, you signed up for a yearly plan, so you got a discount, you didn't keep it a year, so they billed you for the time used at the regular monthly rate, since you didn't deserve the yearly rate since you didn't use it a year.

    I had this -exact- same policy when I owned a hosting company for this very reason, you get a nice discount to pay for a year but if you cancel before the year is up, your refund is calculated determined by the regular monthly rate, if you canceled between 10 months and 12 months you just got no refund at all.

    Next time signup month to month so this can't happen, you were trying to save a buck both by choosing yearly billing and by choosing a budget host like hostmonster, and you found out sometimes price isn't the ONLY criteria you should go by. Mark it up as a valuable (and relatively cheaply bought) lesson and move on.
    Gary Harris - the artist formerly known as Dixiesys
    resident grumpy redneck

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