How often do hosts turn away good business?

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Posted by ascii, 03-01-2004, 12:04 AM
Today I signed up for a reseller hosting plan with someone who advertised here on WHT. I really liked what I read about them on WHT and since today was the last day to take advantage of their special offer, I signed up. Well, after a couple of hours, I received an email which simply said: "After review, we have decided not to offer you services at this time. The Credit Card has been refunded." Well, what the heck!?!? I wish there would've been some sort of explanation at least. Was it something I did wrong? Was it that they decided to prematurely end the special offer? (Why did I even bother wasting my time researching, signing up, etc.?) I know this is gonna sound stupid, but after reading that email, I felt like I had been punched in the stomach. Is this something that is common? Do some hosts turn away business for no apparent reason? -Gabriel
Posted by WHRKit, 03-01-2004, 12:20 AM
It depends. If your order raised some warning flags, I would have turned you away, too. It might be a combination of your location, credit card, domain name or else. Ask them in a friendly, professional way to find out. Complaining here without having all the details won't help you and it won't help anyone else.
Posted by vivehosting, 03-01-2004, 01:21 AM
There is always a reason... I have done it twice this month Why would a host in their right mind turn away a customer for no reason.
Posted by mrzippy, 03-01-2004, 01:34 AM
Hello, We turn about more then 75% of our potential customers. They actually don't "sign up" for our services. They apply to be our customers and we choose if we wish to accept them or not. Only in this way can we build a very successful business and charge the costs we do.
Posted by ~Lee~, 03-01-2004, 03:38 PM
I stopped offering instant signup so I could vet applciations more closely, so now there is a dealy of about 30 minutes but I get time to consider who's applying before I let them loose. Been stung many times in the past, not so good for those who have a high application rate. Overall my application to offer ratio is about 95%
Posted by centrahost, 03-01-2004, 05:56 PM
Does not sound like a complaint to me. Sounds to me like he is curious as to why this was done without an explanation. So am I. Not that they owe ME one, it just makes NO sense to me at all. If there was an issue that raised suspicion, AVS or whatever, it is in the interest of BOTH parties to communicate further and the host did not offer that. What about another form of payment even? Whatever the case my be, the host is better off finding out more and closing or denying the deal afterwards. It's odd. Maybe more here than all of us know including ascii. ascii does not have many posts but he has been a member for some time.
Posted by cartika-andrew, 03-01-2004, 07:59 PM
Ive got to agree with Centrahost - doesnt sound like the poster is complaining - didnt mention a company name or anything.. Sounds like the poster was just looking for feedback from other hosts on why this would occur. I would expect most hosts, if they chose to turn away a customer, would explain why... maybe the issue could be resolved to mutual ssatisfaction, and maybe not - but the point is - communication is the key - and as a service provider, its the hosts responsibility to explain things clearly to their customers/prospective customers... This all may be a moot point however, as Im assuming that the original poster didnt sign up with a fraudulent card, tried to use an obviously offensive or inappropriate domain name, etc... In which case, maybe a proper explanation wouldnt be expected or required...
Posted by noguru, 03-01-2004, 08:22 PM
I too would be shocked if I took the time to research and choose a host only to be rejected. Maybe its your deodorant would you like a breath mint?
Posted by centrahost, 03-01-2004, 08:55 PM
Did somebody say Breathmint?
Posted by dreamaloud1, 03-02-2004, 01:20 AM
LOL at the froggie. I would be shocked too if a host turned me down. But then again I don't host warez, live in the US, have genuine Visa cards etc. A private business should not have to give a reason, however, and should be allowed to turn down who ever they want. Like men's only country clubs or no gay men in the boyscouts or no ugly dudes in Hooters shorts. LOL
Posted by Project X, 03-02-2004, 02:15 AM
but did you get a new owner??
Posted by noguru, 03-02-2004, 02:15 AM
ascii, You aren't a gay boyscout in a Hooter's skirt are you?
Posted by 2Grumpy, 03-02-2004, 02:52 AM
It's not that uncommon to kick out a signup, but we normally follow it up with an explanation detailing why. Most cases we would offer an alternative paymnet option checks and money orders once cashed and cleared are pretty safe money. A few orders might be turned away due to the domain showing up as a spammer or whatnot. Regardless I would at least expect some explanation.
Posted by tar4heel2, 03-02-2004, 04:34 AM
Considering the terse manner in which he was rejected, it would appear that they suspected fraud. And I can tell you that hosting companies trying to fend off fraud do not invite suspected fraud customers to submit more information, or give them reason to believe that they can turn the decisions around. You must be proactive in your request. Fraud perpetrators do not question being told to go away. They just go away. Legit customers raise hell in indignation. Be politely persistant in your request for an explanation. You may turn them around. Phil
Posted by acec, 03-02-2004, 06:01 AM
So moving this on a logical manner, how do hosts, big and small, vet their potential customers? Do you all rely on your payment gateways or do you have your own check sheet?
Posted by Hostex Australia, 03-02-2004, 06:57 AM
maybe the host was very small and simply didn't have the resources to host another website......unlikely...but possible if they were a kiddie host.
Posted by cartika-andrew, 03-02-2004, 10:49 AM
I have never heard of a customer needing to be persistant to turn a vendor around - ie convince them to take your money... If the provider is suspicious of fraud, there's still better ways to communicate that - and hoping that legitimate customers will raise a stink, just seems like bad business to me - but then again, fraud IS a big problem, and I havent actually tried that approach yet...so, who knows
Posted by centrahost, 03-02-2004, 11:24 AM
Although I agree with Gargoyle, I am curious. So what did you do ascii? What's the latest? Any news?
Posted by tar4heel2, 03-02-2004, 11:59 AM
I check every sign-up for: 1) Call the customer. Usually a fraud account will have a false phone number. 2) If phone is no good, step number 3. 3) WHOIS the domain name to be sure it's owned by the customer name on the signup. 4) If WHOIS doesn't match I email the customer telling him the phone does not work and the domain name is not registered in the customer name. I never hear back from them. Takes about 2 mins. Phil
Posted by cartika-andrew, 03-02-2004, 12:09 PM
Hi tarheel - now thats a sound process, and involves adequate communication to the customer.... Im with centrahost - would like to hear back from ascii...
Posted by dreamaloud1, 03-02-2004, 05:53 PM
BTW I am not a gay Boy Scout in a Hooters outfit. But I have on occasion been a boy scout and a Hooters customer.
Posted by noguru, 03-02-2004, 06:13 PM
All at the same time? Is there a discount at Hooters for Boy Scout?
Posted by centrahost, 03-02-2004, 07:06 PM
Not sure but I think you can work on a Merit Badge.
Posted by QualityHost, 03-03-2004, 06:18 PM
I agree that some customers actually need to be turned down. People put all sorts of weird info in their signups. The hard part is verifying that sometimes. Contact info different, Payment info different, Domain WHOIS info different, flagged as Hish Risk by your credit card processing company - thats the sort of an account that raises suspicions. I think we all get that sometimes. Salman