Letshost.ie suspended my hosting without notice.

[di11on]

Hi folks,

A very distressing thing happened me today.

Someone posted a thread (here) asking for advice about .ie domain providers.

I responded to the thread - the following was the oringinal text:

Originally Posted by Di11on

Don't go with letshost.ie if the performance of your website is important to you. Their servers are US based and it is my experience that performance can be very sluggish.

I subsequently received a phone call from my hosting provider (Letshost.ie) saying it was "their advice for me to edit or remove the post". I thought, "why should I?" but I edited it nonetheless to the following text:

Originally Posted by Di11on

If speed and performance are important for your website, I wouldn't recommend letshost.ie. Their servers are US based and it is my experience that performance can be very sluggish. It even times out on me from time to time.

I posted a second thread, not specifying the thread or the company, if it was invasion of privacy to be called on the phone in relation to a thread posted on boards.ie.

Shortly afterwards, my outlook account started prompting me for my password. To my horror, when I checked my website, there was a letshost page saying the account was suspended (now terminated).

I received no prior warning. In the phone call, there was no mention that my account might be suspended.

The first communication I received from letshost.ie telling me why my account was suspended, was after the fact and the reason given was as follows:

Originally Posted by letshost.ie

Hello,

I refer to your hosting account with us for woodentoys.ie and the terms and conditions of hosting which you have accepted:

http://www.letshost.ie/The_News/Late...ms_of_Service/

"Abuse:

Any attempts to undermine, slander, libel, threaten, or cause harm to a Lets Host server, customer, employee, or the company directly is strictly prohibited and is grounds for immediate termination without refund. In addition, we will pursue all attempts to the fullest extent of the law."

On this regard we have terminated your hosting account with us. We are seeking further legal advice on the matter. Your files/EPP transfer codes will be available for download at your request.

Regards...

My website is currently suspended and my business offline - because, apparrently, I posted a negative comment about them. They have pulled the rug out from under my 100% online business.

What is my position?

[Tails142]

small claims court or something, contact a solicitor

Libel can only occur if you state a fact, not an opinion

e.g. opinion - it is my experience that performance can be very sluggish

fact - their servers are based in the US

If their servers are based in the US then you havent made a statement that would hold you libel.

For example you could say, I have found Letshost.ie to be a bunch of tossers and I would never give them my business

But you couldnt say, Letshost.ie is run by a bunch of crooks who eat babies

[di11on]

Thanks Tails

[Boggles]

How did they know it was you that posted?

[jor el]

If they're seeking further legal advice, then you'd better lawyer up, and pronto. Small Claims court is for conusmers, since in this instance you're a business, you can't use that. A Solicitor should look at the T&Cs on their website and advise.

How did they associate your username here with your website? There could be breech of data protection/privacy here. If that's what happened, you'd have a much better case.

I see you're website is now up and running.

[miju]

his sig quite obviously has his website link it guys

to the OP , it is very, VERY bad form from a host to do what they done. however, you did breach their terms & conditions and as such they can do as they done.

it's true what they say over on the webmaster forum that it is better to fork out extra cash for an Irish based host than the cheaper ones (this being one of the reasons).

i'd suggest the best thing to do is to simply shift hosts to hosting365.ie or blacknight. don't know if you done the site yourself or got someone else to do it for you but if you need any help / advice on moving hosts feel free to send me a PM or post on the webmaster forum,

[Macros42]

[edit]wtf - don't know how that double post happened.

[Boggles]

Originally Posted by Macros42

Let's hope that finds its way onto google searches

Site seems back up now. I'd seriously recommend transferring it to another hoster pronto.

I think I understand what Tails is saying.

Like You Could Say.

It is in my opinion that letshost.ie are a bunch of petty, bitter, twisted individuals and anyone that gives them custom needs their head examined.

Am I correct in thinking that is not libel ?

[Macros42]

Originally Posted by Tails142

But you couldnt say, Letshost.ie is run by a bunch of crooks who eat babies

Let's hope that finds its way onto google searches

Site seems back up now. I'd seriously recommend transferring it to another hoster pronto - copy the files over and you're back in business. Then let them suspend what they like.

As said previously the SCC is for personal not business cases. I can't see them taking any further legal action as you were speaking about your personal experience with them and that is not libellous. The reason it's back up is probably because their lawyer choked on his croissant when they told him what they'd done.

Originally Posted by miju

if you need any help / advice on moving hosts feel free to send me a PM or post on the webmaster forum,

And for maximum coverage. That'll be forum #4 on boards that they're getting coverage

[Boggles]

It seems letshost are a register user on boards.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showt...light=letshost

Post #13

[miju]

i'm half thinking of moving the thread there as the guys there would be better placed to advise on this sort of thing to TBH.

though it might upset some of the natives so am awaiting a PM back from one of the mods there

[Mr Magnolia]

I can't imagine how this publicity will be received by potential and existing customers.

[Boggles]

Don't they say there is no such thing as bad press?

[miju]

well i can tell you that i will as a direct result of the threads today ever use their hosting for any of my clients websites (i like to try out different hosts from time to time )

i'll also be adding them to my list of bad hosts to steer clear from when people / business associates ask me to recommend a host (and for the record i get asked about 2-3 times a month)

so yes there is such thing as bad press

[Boggles]

Originally Posted by miju

well i can tell you that i will as a direct result even use their hosting for any of my clients websites (i like to try out different hosts from time to time )

i'll also be adding them to my list of bad hosts to street clear from when people / business associates ask me to recommend a host

so yes there is such thing as bad press

Mr. Conkie Managing Director will not be please to hear that.