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10-13-2009, 01:49 PM #1New Member
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Web host holding my files for ransom!
Hoping this is the correct place to post this; I couldn't find anything more relevant.
So heres the short story:
1) I had a VPS account at hostmysite.com (now hosting.com) for 2+ years.
2) My credit card expired so they suspended/disabled my account because they couldn't charge it.
3) I decided that I wanted to find a new host.
4) I asked for my files.
5) They said no because the account is disabled because of non-payment for 40+ days and that I'd need to pay the balance and then reactivate my account at the new pricing structure (which is $30+ more per month).
Is this even legal? Seems like extortion to me, but then again I am not a lawyer.
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10-13-2009, 01:52 PM #2Web Hosting Master
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I don't think it is but some hosts legally delete all your files when you expire your account and don't renew. I didn't renew my hostmonster account and I downloaded the backup the night before and what do you know all my files are gone the next day when they expired.
If they still have your files thats a plus you might be able to pay for just one month and get them back?
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10-13-2009, 02:02 PM #3Retired Moderator
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Is this even legal? Seems like extortion to me, but then again I am not a lawyer.
Pay up, learn your lesson: keep your own set of backups.
It is definitely not extortion. You didn't pay them, and now you're asking them to do you a service. If they were to agree, they'd be doing you a favor.
I don't mean to sound harsh, just telling it like it is.
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10-13-2009, 02:05 PM #4Web Hosting Master
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10-13-2009, 02:27 PM #5Web Hosting Master
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If your account was disabled for 40 days due to non-payment, you can't really expect much. As others have said they have the right to terminate your account after such a long period of non-payment, at which point you would have no chance of getting your data back.
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10-13-2009, 05:59 PM #6Web Hosting Evangelist
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10-14-2009, 09:47 AM #7Junior Guru Wannabe
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The hosting company is well within it's rights. Technically, they could charge you more because you lapsed payment, or charge you a reconnect fee, or even a site recovery fee. Obviously that is not the kind of business practice that will keep customers around, but it could legally happen. The only suggestion I can give you as far as getting your site back without paying them the hosting fees you owe them is to try www.archive.org. If your site was really simple (which I doubt since you were on a VPS) you might get lucky there.
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10-14-2009, 10:28 AM #8Web Hosting Master
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5) They said no because the account is disabled because of non-payment for 40+ days and that I'd need to pay the balance and then reactivate my account at the new pricing structure (which is $30+ more per month).
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10-14-2009, 10:28 AM #9Newbie
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Forty days?
Whatever you owe, you should pay. If you can indeed pay for a month or so of continued service, do that. Then find another host and move.
In the future, keep scheduled backups (which would have made this less of an issue).
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10-14-2009, 10:51 AM #10Retired Moderator
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ok, did you read the TOS? im sure it states in there that they have the right to do that. Always read the TOS before you come onto a public forum and throwing phrases around like "Is this even legal?" and "Seems like extortion to me"
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10-14-2009, 11:35 AM #11Newbie
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Hosting is Kinda like a Storage unit, If you fall behind on your payments there not going to give you access to get your couch, bed & ect out tell you have paid the balance on your account. I guess hosting is a bit better though since most storage unit companys will auction off what you have stored, so say good bye to that 32" flat screen lol.
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10-14-2009, 03:31 PM #12Web Hosting Evangelist
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10-14-2009, 03:55 PM #13Junior Guru Wannabe
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Why no backup? I keep multiple backups in multiple locations. You've never safe until your data is in at least 2 locations.
Brian G.
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10-14-2009, 04:41 PM #14Junior Guru Wannabe
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The host is well within his rights to do this. He is within his right to do this on day one of non-payment, although most hosts have leeway.
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10-14-2009, 08:01 PM #15Web Hosting Master
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Why not? Your water provider can cut off your supply if you don't pay your bills, and you then won't have any water for your coffee-making business maybe.
Oh well, you've already been told by practically everyone here. Hard lesson learned the hard way, but...it's not necessarily the end of the world.
Up to you to decide how to go about this. But yep, it's legal.
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10-14-2009, 11:07 PM #16Aspiring Evangelist
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I think you're lucky to even get another chance, since you didn't have any backups reserved, you pretty much have no choice but to pay for it. I don't see anything wrong on their part. Like others have mentioned, some even delete the files as soon as your account got expired.. At least now you know what to do next time. But paying your host all the time for a good service is a must..
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10-14-2009, 11:59 PM #17Disabled
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Do you think he can ask for some water that he wasn't able to use last month? Just like he asks for his data....
A service is a service, im not sure why people think hosting is different. Data is your, sure, but you paid for a service and they don't need to give you access to their servers fore free. What they should do is send you the DVD with the data if you don't want to reconnect the service. Lets say for a 30$ fee.
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10-15-2009, 01:30 AM #18Web Hosting Industry Expert
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To be honest, I'm surprised that they still have a copy of your data after 40 days of non-payment. Some providers do have backup systems that keep data that long but it's *very* rare as near as I can tell as most providers dump backup data after 1 week and dump accounts for non-payment within 2 to 4 weeks (14 to 28 days).
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10-15-2009, 04:41 AM #19WHT Addict
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At least they have your data even after 40 days you didn't pay up. Just pay them now, get your data and move out.
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10-17-2009, 11:48 AM #20Junior Guru Wannabe
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40 days of non-payment and you want your files?
I agree with everyone else, pay your bill, learn your lesson, get your files, and move on.
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10-18-2009, 03:03 AM #21WHT Addict
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i think hosting.com have been very kind towards the OP as they have still not deleted the data even after 40 days of non payment.
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10-18-2009, 03:13 AM #22New Member
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Yes, everyone is correct about this it is pretty much industry standard for you to pay your bill as well as keep your own backups in the event of failure. Sure hosts provide these services as failsafe's but in the end you are responsible for your data. If you do not pay your bill you generally will not get someone to allow you access to the account without paying your debt. This exists across all manners of businesses not just webhosting. To say that they are holding it ransom is a bit over the top.
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10-18-2009, 06:05 AM #23Junior Guru
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I have seen this post on another forum,but I saw similar replies.You are lucky that they still have your files.What if they told you they have deleted your files?
You ended the payment so it means that the cooperation is over.They do not have responsibility to keep the files.If you want your site online again,why not just go with them.At least they kept the files for you for months and all the problem was just because of your credit card expired.█ HostEase Hosting - Professional Web Hosting
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10-19-2009, 02:05 AM #24Aspiring Evangelist
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I think the price is pretty small to pay considering you can get all your data back
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10-19-2009, 02:18 AM #25Webhosting Professional
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Your data should've been deleted by now, they've been pretty considerate to keep it this long. Most companies just delete accounts after a week of being overdue.
If your data is important, pay up, get your data and then cancel the account. And the title of this thread is a bit severe, ransom? Really? I don't believe thats fair on a company who still has your data after 40 days of non payment.[[ Reyox Communications / USA based cloud servers & support / 9 years of hosting websites ]]
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