JustHost... disappointment

[kosvam]

Glad that you will read this long text :cy:

Almost one year ago (Nov 3, 2010) I bought a 24months hosting plan from JustHost.com and I paid $70.80 for the hosting plan, plus $19.59 for a daily backup service which I didn't notice to uncheck during the checkout process.. With the pruchase they are also offering you a free domain registration or transfer.

Almost 9 months later (Aug 8, 2011), they canceled my plan as my website was using more resources than they allow. So, as they terminated my account there, according to their money back guarantee they had to refund me for the rest period of the plan I had paid.

However, on my surpise I received only $24.25 back. So I asked them why, even if I canceled the hosting plan on the 9th month of the 24s, I got only the 1/3 of the $70 that I paid for it.

On Oct 19 I got the answer that they charged me $20 for the "free domain" that I registered. However their online chat representative (billing specialist), had ensured me very clearly that, even if I cancel the hosting plan, I'm not paying anything for the domain. So, I emailed them that conversation that luckily I had saved, and three days later I got a new explanation about the small refund:
"You were not charged for you fee domain, however, the $20 is for your daily backup."
After many emails, trying to tell them that I have already paid $19.95 for the daily backup, they came with a third explanation on Nov 3rd:
"Yes, your email makes sense except for the fact that you had already used the greater portion of the hosting. As such, we would not refund the entire amount of hosting for a one year period, because most of that time had already elapsed. As such, you did receive a pro-rated refund for the time left on your account. That is why you received the amount of $24.25, because that is what the pro-rated amount for hosting was."

As you can understand all this mockery had make me tired and angry. Now it isn't so much the money but the feeling that they are just trying to come up with a reason why they refund me only $24 of the $70 I paid for a 24 months plan.

Today I talked with them again, and their explanation changed again to the free domain registration fee.
To me it's very derogatory for one company to admit that their representative informed me wrong, but they not to care even to apologize for that. Cause for me one apology would be enough, even if their "specialist" made a -I hope- mistake that cost me $20, cause if I knew that I have to pay $20 for a .com registration I wouldn't have done it.

 

[RadianFM]

I'm sorry to hear that, friend.

I've read the similar bad stories about Justhost in some hosting review websites, forums and blogs, so I never use JustHost until now.

 

[numberonebestsuperte]

Looks right to me

I am hoping my answer helps anyone reading this post.

You said you paid $70.80 for 24 months or $2.95 per month. You used 9 months, so 15 x $2.95 is $44.20 minus the $20 for the domain registration, that leaves $24.25, which is what you say you received.

For all who read this, domains are free ONLY if you keep the hosting for the period involved. If it was $20, then that would have been $10 per year for registration. Hosting companies have to pay registrars for the domain name registration.

For everyone, if you find that you do NOT want the domain registrated, and you accidentally paid for it, you usually have about 3 days to cancel, and the hosting company will not have paid the registrar for it.

Hope this helps if anyone finds themselves in the same situation.

 

[fcolor]

Unfortunately most overselling hosting providers who claim to offer a everything "Unlimited" and a bunch of free add-ons, sometimes apply hidden TOS. You should be very careful and toast questions when before making a purchase. Most providers apply "Free Domain" only if you have a hosting account with them. When you cancel and get your money back, you should expect them to ask you to pay for the domain name, which is yours anyway.

 

[ldcdc]

However their online chat representative (billing specialist), had ensured me very clearly that, even if I cancel the hosting plan, I'm not paying anything for the domain.

It is very likely that the representative you're referring to was not properly trained, or misunderstood your question. Always rely on the written contract, rather than advice from an employee who is not invested with the right to negotiate contracts.

Virtually all hosts will retain a sum of money for the domain you get "free" with your hosting, if you cancel early (or in this case apparently, have your account terminated). The reason for this is simple. If there would be no cost involved, people would signup, get the domain, and then cancel, basically getting a free domain. News of this technique can spread and the company starts to lose money.

I'm pretty sure that they have retained the $20 for the domain registration. Be glad you have the domain.

Your story does speak a lot about the level of training that technicians get there. It would appear that their own policies are a bit of a mystery to them.