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Letshost.ie suspended my hosting without notice.

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  • 01-02-2008 12:05am
    #1
    di11on
    Registered Users Posts: 1,262 ✭✭✭


    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:
    Di11on wrote:
    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:
    Di11on wrote:
    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:
    letshost.ie wrote:
    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/Latest_News/Terms_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?


«1345

Comments

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    #2
    Tails142
    Registered Users Posts: 2,104 ✭✭✭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


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    #3
    di11on
    Registered Users Posts: 1,262 ✭✭✭di11on


    Thanks Tails


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    #4
    Boggles
    Registered Users Posts: 39,625 ✭✭✭✭Boggles


    How did they know it was you that posted?


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    #5
    jor el
    Closed Accounts Posts: 16,713 ✭✭✭✭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.


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    #6
    miju
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 8,486 ✭✭✭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,


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    #7
    Orion
    Closed Accounts Posts: 12,807 ✭✭✭✭Orion


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


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    #8
    Boggles
    Registered Users Posts: 39,625 ✭✭✭✭Boggles


    Macros42 wrote: »
    Let's hope that finds its way onto google searches :D

    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 ? :)


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    #9
    Orion
    Closed Accounts Posts: 12,807 ✭✭✭✭Orion


    Tails142 wrote: »
    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 :D

    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.
    miju wrote: »
    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 :)


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    #10
    Boggles
    Registered Users Posts: 39,625 ✭✭✭✭Boggles


    It seems letshost are a register user on boards.

    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=261146&highlight=letshost

    Post #13


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    #11
    miju
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 8,486 ✭✭✭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 :)


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    #12
    Mr Magnolia
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 10,429 Mod ✭✭✭✭Mr Magnolia


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


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    #13
    Boggles
    Registered Users Posts: 39,625 ✭✭✭✭Boggles


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


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    #14
    miju
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 8,486 ✭✭✭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


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    #15
    Boggles
    Registered Users Posts: 39,625 ✭✭✭✭Boggles


    miju wrote: »
    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.


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    #16
    Orion
    Closed Accounts Posts: 12,807 ✭✭✭✭Orion


    miju wrote: »
    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.

    I'd actually classify this as a consumer issue not a webmaster issue personally. dillon is a consumer who's just been treated very badly by a company. The fact that it's webhosting company dishing out the treatment doesn't matter.

    Besides - there's a thread there already - it's where it all started :D


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    #17
    cormie
    Registered Users Posts: 20,790 ✭✭✭✭cormie


    Just to add something positive for letshost, I've bought a few domains with them and never had any problem and found them cheap and cheerful, they accept laser which is handy and have a good online chat service too.

    Have no experience with their hosting as I didn't (and still don't) need any more than what I already had before knowing of letshost.


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    #18
    Boggles
    Registered Users Posts: 39,625 ✭✭✭✭Boggles


    I knew it, there is no such thing as bad Press!!! :)


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    #19
    miju
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 8,486 ✭✭✭miju


    Macros42 wrote: »
    I'd actually classify this as a consumer issue not a webmaster issue personally. dillon is a consumer who's just been treated very badly by a company. The fact that it's webhosting company dishing out the treatment doesn't matter.

    technically though this would be outside the realm of consumer issues as the consumer act would not apply to him as he is a business if im not mistaken (must confess i've not read up much on the business side of consumer law)

    me goes off to read up relevant section


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    #20
    Orion
    Closed Accounts Posts: 12,807 ✭✭✭✭Orion


    Businesses can be consumers too. Besides he's a sole trader t/a woodentoys.

    Anyway - reading up legislation at 1am is just sad ... really sad :p


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    #21
    CuLT
    Subscribers Posts: 9,716 ✭✭✭CuLT


    Surely a consumer is a consumer regardless of whether they're a business consumer or a personal consumer?


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    #22
    WhiteWashMan
    Registered Users Posts: 20,099 ✭✭✭✭WhiteWashMan


    miju wrote: »
    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 :)

    If you do, can you leave a copy of this here. I suggested posting up here becuase it is a consummer issue. regardless of whether its a business or not, its an issue about consummer issues. lets err on the side of common sense and the spirit of this forum rather than the letter of the law, shall we?

    Besdies, I think its extremely foul play what has been done here,and I think that these guys are only hurting themselves with this kind of behaviour.

    Any company that buries its head in the sand instead of listening to its customers is looking to fail.


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    #23
    cgarvey
    Registered Users Posts: 3,886 ✭✭✭cgarvey


    di11on wrote: »
    A very distressing thing happened me today.
    Indeed .. and sorry for adding to that stress in the other thread (you weren't painting a full picture at the time)!
    Any attempts to undermine, slander, libel, threaten, or cause harm
    So (legally) they'll going with the undermine or cause harm bits? The post was completely factual so it certainly wasn't libel, and unless you've gone and told some nasty fibs / threatened them, they must feel undermined or felt you've caused them harm. I think it can be easily demonstrated that they've caused themselves harm, and you're most definitely entitled to your fact-based opinion.

    Maybe we (still) don't have the full story, but LetsHost aren't helping themselves here!


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    #24
    GuanYin
    Closed Accounts Posts: 15,552 ✭✭✭✭GuanYin


    Have directed several friends I have who do freelance work to these threads and also posted on a thread in a GP mailing list RE: surgery websites.

    I'm glad to say that letshost have basically gotten themselves bad press among those people.

    I've heard it said before, for every unhappy customer you will lose business from 10 people. I imagine with their performance re: this issue it's probably closer to hundreds of potential customers.


    Still, I'd like to hear what they have to say for themselves.


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    #25
    pug_
    Registered Users Posts: 636 ✭✭✭pug_


    I was directed to this thread from another forum, so it's safe to say they've done themselves no good by their actions.

    So technically doesn't that mean they've broken their own terms and conditions? :D


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    #26
    MOH
    Registered Users Posts: 6,464 ✭✭✭MOH


    It's a bit rich considering their own website states:
    Our prices are "real", and not inflated like other Irish hosting companies who are profiteering
    Surely that's at least as defamatory as the OPs comments?!

    I'll be looking for hosting shortly, they're off my list too.


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    #27
    Chosen
    Registered Users Posts: 695 ✭✭✭Chosen


    CuLT wrote: »
    Surely a consumer is a consumer regardless of whether they're a business consumer or a personal consumer?

    A business customer is covered by a different legislation than a consumer:

    - A consumer is covered by consumer law entirely.
    - A business customer's rights and obligations are bound by the T&Cs that he agreed at point of sale with the provider.

    For example, the consumer law states that you can return any goods in the first 7 days since the invoice date, for no special reason ("I don't like it").
    The T&Cs might state that in the case of a business customer, you can only return the goods in case of the product's non-conformity with the product description ("You advertised 50mpg and I get 35mpg"). In other words, more responsibilities fall onto the business customers, than the consumers.


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    #28
    Orion
    Closed Accounts Posts: 12,807 ✭✭✭✭Orion


    Yeah - but this isn't a court :p. This is a forum for consumer issues. And I would consider this a consumer issue regardless of whether the OP was treated badly as a person or a business.


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    #29
    Oryx
    Subscribers Posts: 19,425 ✭✭✭✭Oryx


    @Di11on. Id move your site pronto. If these people are going to hold you to ransom on a whim, they are not the sort to do business with anyway.

    Also, as libel has been mentioned you need legal advice to make sure you are actually in the right here. Common sense would say you are, but you need to make sure in the letter of the law. Your solicitor can also advise better than we can if letshost have broken your contract or were within their terms to pull your site.

    These things are sent to try us. I know its a fuss, but hope it blows over soon.


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    #30
    jor el
    Closed Accounts Posts: 16,713 ✭✭✭✭jor el


    miju wrote: »
    his sig quite obviously has his website link it guys :):)

    Hadn't seen his sig when I posted, should have gone to Specsavers I guess...

    Anyway, I have a link to Wellington Grey's website in my sig, but I'm not him nor do I have anything to do with his website. Letshost have linked an anonymous post on an internet board to a website hosted by them, and then contacted the owner of the site telling him to remove said post, without verifying they are one and the same. This is extremely bad form and, as said here, he should move hosting provider immediately. He should also seek actual legal advise and perhaps pursue Letshost in the courts for the loss of business when they, unjustly, took his site offline.


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    #31
    EKRIUQ
    Registered Users Posts: 4,386 ✭✭✭EKRIUQ


    I´m disgusted with their actions and I was going to try out a different host but you can be sure letshost won´t be the one, and I won´t buy anymore .ie´s from them either unless there´s a proper explanation


This discussion has been closed.
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