Does anyone know what the standing is on getting refunds for hosting??

My host is paid yearly - I renewed in February. So far there has been problems with one of my domains showing up but I am putting in support 'tickets' and they are being deleted with no response.
I rung them up - left a message on the answer phone with contact details - no response.
Left message on their 'support' forum - no response.
Left stroppy message on their forum - no response.

I have found a better host and would like to move anyway but their service is crap now.

How do i wriggle out of the contract?

Moon

Write down the reasons, times and dates of service outages, copies of messages sent etc - a good bundle of evidence.

It would be a good time to read your contract with them but don't worry if it has exclusions like "no refunds under any circumstances" that's an unfair contract term, not enforceable and actually purts them further in the wrong.

Calculate the proportion of the fee you want refunded, add a reasonable amount for your failed efforts trying to contact them then send them copies by recorded delivery giving them notice that this is "a letter before action" and that you will proceed to county court (which will add to their costs) if no satisfactory response within 14 days. If you think the contract has get-out clauses to protect them tell tham that you are aware of these but have received advice that they are unfair contract terms and not enforceable at law.

Then go here and file a claim:
http://www.courtservice.gov.uk/cms/3610.htm

But by the sounds of it they are going to go broke so make sure you've shifted everything to a new host first.

Also although County Court is easy, cheap, effective it is some hassle so think about whether you just want to write it off to experience, depends what it's cost you and whether that's a loss you can stand.

How do you know they are going broke??

Moon

Originally posted by Moon Maiden
How do you know they are going broke??
MoonIsn't that what normally happens to businesses that ignore their customers?

That should be fun - they host a bank website

Moon maiden

Originally posted by Moon Maiden That should be fun - they host a bank websiteThey probably DO look after that customer. Maybe they are big enough not to be bothered with hassle from small customers. Quite happy to take your money, maybe even able to charge you over the odds "because we are the big guys who know what we're doing" but if you have a problem with their "one size fits all" package it's cheaper to lose your business than to solve the problem.

I'd like to know which service provider and bank but I expect that's not permitted on the forum.