Suspend My Account?

[Meksilon]

I'm kind of angry right now, so instead of just posting a long rant, I'll let the following screenshots tell the story:

This is a billing reminder that your invoice no. # which was generated on 18/01/2008 is due on 21/01/2008.

Your payment method is: Google Checkout

Invoice: #
Amount Due: $17.87 CAD
Due Date: 21/01/2008

You can login to your client area to view and pay the invoice at (url)
Received yesterday, paid promptly:

http://plamdi.com/fws/paypal.png

I also confirmed this by logging into my bank account:

http://plamdi.com/fws/westpac.png

Please note the date in the bank account for the transaction reads "23 Jan 2008", this is normal - however the funds were withdrawn the previous day instantly via paying through Mastercard via Paypal. The currency conversion fee has not yet been deducted from my account, presumably it will be deducted today since they've put in 23-1-08 as the date of the payment. Paypal reports the payment in my time - it was paid in time (ie on the 21st) according to my Host's time zone perhaps not within business hours, but they didn't tell me to pay before close of business - just to pay on the 21st and I did.

Today I find two new messages in my email:

This is a billing notice that your invoice no. # which was generated on 01/18/2008 is now overdue.

Your payment method is: PayPal

Invoice: #
Amount Due: $17.87 CAD
Due Date: 01/21/2008

You can login to your client area to view and pay the invoice at (url)

Your login details are as follows:

Email Address: *
Password: *
And:

This is a billing notice that your invoice no. # which was generated on 01/18/2008 is now overdue.

Your payment method is: PayPal

Invoice: #
Amount Due: $17.87 CAD
Due Date: 01/21/2008

You can login to your client area to view and pay the invoice at (url)

Your login details are as follows:

Email Address: *
Password: *
Needless to say I'm NOT VERY F. PLEASED. Furthermore when I log into billing this is what I see:

http://plamdi.com/fws/unpaid.png

I've replied to the email, forwarded the paypal confirmation and I'm about to send a "support ticket".

But I'm P.OFFED right now. I've asked for their TOS before and they've never sent it to me - as such they never disclosed their ridiculous "account suspension policy" - and if they had I never would have agreed to it since they suspended my account in THEIR ERROR.

[Meksilon]

Okay the issue was resolved quickly - HOWEVER, suspend my account without first attempting to confirm payment? VERY unprofessional.

--edit--

allow me to suggest a change in policy:

1. Confirm payments that were made, and sent correctly through the checkout system but are marked as unpaid only because of an error with their WHMC software, before sending payment reminders OR suspending accounts.

[Cam.]

Would you mind mentioning the company?

[Jan]

One of my sites was suspended once and it wasn't anything I did (or didn't do), it was glitch in WHMCS which autosuspended all accounts on my server. I was freaking angry, I can tell you.

[Meksilon]

Actually NetX, I intentionally didn't mention the company, I hope you understand. The situation was resolved. However, I am not one bit happy they suspended my account without prior notice - nor did they confirm the payment that I had correctly made. This can be treated as feedback, and anyone can offer their opinion - there's no need to mention specific companies.

[Dan]

One of my sites was suspended once and it wasn't anything I did (or didn't do), it was glitch in WHMCS which autosuspended all accounts on my server. I was freaking angry, I can tell you.

We are actually contemplating on switching from WHMCS to another billing/support system as there are too many loopholes and issues with WHMCS

@ The OP:
I doubt, as Jan made clear, that it was your hosting providers intention, but a glitch in WHMCS.

[Meksilon]

They could have confirmed the payment from the Paypal verification, and then manually updated the system's invoice to "paid" - which is exactly what they did do once I sent them an email saying "WTF?". I'm also assuming they could disable auto-suspensions - that's just bad policy. The electricity in my home doesn't get turned off the instant they think I've missed a payment.

[iBrightDev]

this type of crap happens all the time. have to keep your cool, or you will do something stupid and get suspended permanently.

[Eclouds]

^^ That is correct. You can't get mad for a billing mistake. Those happen all the time and it isn't your host that is to blame but rather their billing system. I have to say, Clientexec is not much better.

[Dan]

I'm also assuming they could disable auto-suspensions - that's just bad policy. The electricity in my home doesn't get turned off the instant they think I've missed a payment.

How is that bad policy? I have Automated Suspensions and Terminations enabled. What's bad policy is when clients don't pay their bills and the system has to suspend their account. That's bad policy on the client side.

[Decker]

Unless your billing system has a fault.

Best bet is a grace period before automated suspension, say 7 days with a reminder on unpaid accounts on day 1,3 & 5 after account due :)

[Dan]

Best bet is a grace period before automated suspension, say 7 days with a reminder on unpaid accounts on day 1,3 & 5 after account due :)

That's exactly how I have it set.

But anyways, back to the original topic.

So, is it all sorted or what?

[James]

WHMCS - Tried them when they first came out. Wasn't very impressed with their knowledge when I was asking them questions. Cancelled and never looked back.

[BMR777]

WHMCS is the WORST billing system EVER! I have been hosted with 2 hosts who use this system and here's what has happened to me:

1. I paid my bill, then a week later the system suspends my account for no apparent reason
2. I set up an account and set up a PayPal subscription. My host informs me that WHMCS for whatever reason won't charge me the tax. Then it suddenly starts to charge me the tax, so the paypal subscription I had set up previously only pays 85% or so of my bill.
3. I set up a PayPal subscription for billing. I am supposed to be billed automatically. The next invoice generated for me, however, comes due 1 day before PayPal is supposed to pay out. Then my host changes the date on the invoice manually. A few days later WHMCS re-creates the original invoice, so now I have 2 invoices due for the same amount a day apart.

All of the above happened to me within the last 2 months.

If you're running a host, DON'T USE WHMCS. It's got problems.

BMR777

[Decker]

Or it's down to the way the host configured it! Less complain about it than praise it soooo.....

[Meksilon]

You can't get mad for a billing mistake.Who are you to tell me what I can get mad about?

Once my bank's ATM was in error and the $20 I'd tried to take out was deducted from, my account and no money came out. I promptly walked into the branch and complained - and they said "well we can't reimburse you until it gets refilled next Thursday, and then we'll do that for you automatically". They didn't reimburse me next thursday, and so the Friday I went into the branch and complained, again, and then they finally pulled their fingers out and fixed the problem.

I was about to close my account and open it somewhere where they don't screw me over. But I decided I could let them have ONE mistake. I read all of their terms and conditions - I have a copy in my room - nowhere does it say I have to wait for an ATM to be refilled before receiving my money - if there's a next time and they handle it the same way I'll tell them they can F. themselves, close the account - and open one with someone else.

Those happen all the time and it isn't your host that is to blame but rather their billing system.
Oh, so I'm to blame? Is that right? I'm to blame for their billing error - that's why my account was suspended instead of their account? Is that what you're saying???

How is that bad policy?
Because when my account is suspended for not paying the day after I've paid, I consider that bad policy - don't you?

[Decker]

Want some dip for that giant chip?

[iBrightDev]

decker my man, you deserve rep for that great comment, but, i have to spread some around first. :( thanks for the laugh though. :D

[Jan]

You hosts who are defending this, have you ever had your account suspended? And can't get an answer until the billing department opens? It is the most horrible feeling when you know there was no earthly reason why it should be suspended. Look at the other side before you judge.

[Decker]

Not just in hosting Jan, it happens all over and unfortuantely it's now a part of life (gotta love technology), and yes the type of situation has occured to me on more occassions than I'd care to remember.
Anyone who expects everything in the world to run 100% smoothly is delerious!

[Jan]

Other businesses don't have a "this account has been suspended" sign sitting there for all the world to see for hours on end!

[Decker]

Point taken, but some other businesses have a lot worse than that when it goes wrong ;p

[Dan]

With all due respect Jan, the OP is blaming the host when it is quite clear that it was not the fault of the host.
Plus, to automatically suspend a clients account because he or she has not, as far as the billing system is concerned, paid their bill is far from bad policy.
Plus, it seems that the OP is creating threads like this and then shooting from the hip when someone disagrees with him/her. That's bad policy.

[Meksilon]

With all due respect Jan, the OP is blaming the host when it is quite clear that it was not the fault of the host.You know, Dan, I really don't like you forcing your opinion as fact. It is my opinion that the host is to blame, and should a situation occur where I've paid and my account is suspended again (for not paying) I will promptly look for a new host. I don't tolerate BS like that. The fact of the matter is no one there bothered to check that I had paid - they clearly had a paypal receipt, which had the billing ID in it - there's simply no excuse for it. Suspending an account before manually checking for payments that the billing software didn't correctly flag is IMHO bad policy.

Plus, to automatically suspend a clients account because he or she has not, as far as the billing system is concerned, paid their bill is far from bad policy.
Well that's your opinion - but it isn't mine. I consider it harassment.

[Eclouds]

Well that's your opinion - but it isn't mine. I consider it harassment.

Considering it harassment is your opinion and not a fact either. pirate2

[iBrightDev]

take into consideration that a lot of hosting companies run on iHost, and WHMCS, and other similar scripts. Sometimes there can be an error, and it may result in something of this matter. sounds like you need to maybe just take a chill pill, and relax a little. you are going to give yourself an ulcer with how much you stress yourself out, shoot, think you might be giving me one already. and from your images, looks like your host uses WHMCS, and the payment may have simply not been processed through the system just yet depending on what time it was paid. and fact is that is shows paid now, so, dont worry about it. next time, maybe try paying a day or two before it is due and see how long it takes to go though. i understand your frustration, but, not worth getting all worked up. it really isnt.

[~ServerPoint~]

take into consideration that a lot of hosting companies run on iHost, and WHMCS, and other similar scripts. Sometimes there can be an error, and it may result in something of this matter. sounds like you need to maybe just take a chill pill, and relax a little. you are going to give yourself an ulcer with how much you stress yourself out, shoot, think you might be giving me one already. and from your images, looks like your host uses WHMCS, and the payment may have simply not been processed through the system just yet depending on what time it was paid. and fact is that is shows paid now, so, dont worry about it. next time, maybe try paying a day or two before it is due and see how long it takes to go though. i understand your frustration, but, not worth getting all worked up. it really isnt.
Well said here.
I think that also that web hosting provider's billing department or manager (depends on company size) should provide opportunity for such kuind customers to have their site online while payment is being proced.

[Decker]

Suspending an account before manually checking for payments that the billing software didn't correctly flag is IMHO bad policy.

Okay and the host should charge you $5/month administrative fees for manual handling of your payment.

Is there a chance someone still wipes your bum for you as you have a very tainted view of the world and how it should be. As in if it involves you it should all go swimmingly.

Dan gave his opinion - I did not feel forced to take it as fact, and I can't understand why you did. An opinion is an opinion only, and as you have stated yourself we are all allowed it. (now I'm expecting a request to quote 'exactly' where that was said going on past responses to posts)

[Eclouds]

Who are you to tell me what I can get mad about?

Just another random person that is getting tired of your complaining. You have to be one of the worst I have met since I have been a member here.

[Meksilon]

Okay and the host should charge you $5/month administrative fees for manual handling of your payment.Look, to be completly honest - all this feedback from OTHER hosts has made me even more angry at the host I have. As if I should move to someone who isn't so incompitant they suspend my account AFTER I pay.

Just another random person that is getting tired of your complaining. You have to be one of the worst I have met since I have been a member here (longer than you).
You've been a member longer then me?

[Decker]

Just accept 'S*&% Happens!'

Then your life will get so much easier :)

[James]

I have to say, based on the info given it is sort of unfair on the client in this case. Even if the billing payment is late, a generous host should be willing to give it a few days at least before suspending an account.

I have 2 clients whose subscription payment failed right now but I know they will sort these out.

You should name the host.

[iBrightDev]

no one is saying it is fair that it happened, but, simply that ---- does happen sometimes, and maybe to just relax a little instead of being so steamed all the time.

[Jan]

Why are some of you beating up on the OP? Would you have been the same if someone else, say Blank Verse or Matt8, posted the same?

[Matt8]

Quite honestly, I see no reason to leave the thread open. It has went from a "rant" [his word] which you see quite a bit around here but multiple members of the forum, to a slug fest of arguments and comments.

Everyone is pointing fingers and it isn't going anywhere constructive.