A couple of years ago, I bought some web-space from a company called Re-Invent Technologies (http://www.re-invent.com/) for some ASP.Net web space with SQL Server hosting. I paid for a 2 year contract.
I didn’t realise they had set me up with the dreaded auto-renew option.
About six months ago, I migrated my site to a dedicated server because I had converted it into PHP. I knew the Re-Invent contract was due to run out anyway.
I noticed a few weeks ago that I had been charged for another year of server (about £60). I never received an invoice or an email notifying me this would happen. The last correspondence I had from the company was two years ago.
So, I sent a polite email to them explaining that I didn’t use the webspace anymore. I said that there should be no traffic coming through and that I did not get an email notifying me of the new charge. I also, in an effort to get them to be more responsive, thanked them for the service and said I would recommend them to others. Could they please refund my money, or at least the money for the rest of the year from now?
What I got back was as follows:
Hello
Notices are sent automatically to the email address on file about 2 weeks prior to billing. Customers are responsible for maintaining their current contact information.
To cancel your account you would need to log into the customer portal (NOT control panel) and click on the account cancellation link on the left. This is the only means of cancellation as per the hosting contract.
Refunds are given only if the cancellation is within 15 days of the renewal date, as per the hosting agreement also.Thank You
Re-invent Technologies LLC
http://www.re-invent.com
Now, I know they are not legally required to refund my money (not sure about this, actually)– but if they wanted me to host my .Net stuff with them in the future, they would have. They could have been a little more client focused in how they dealt with this issue. It is not signed by a person. There is no one I can talk to. They have not addressed my genuine issue of not getting the emails or the invoices. There is no empathy at all in this email. Even if it had said, “I’m so sorry, our policy is that we . . .” whatever, it would still suck, but it would soften the blow.
So, I would NOT recommend this company. They blew it. I’ve paid them money to host with them, and I can’t even talk to anyone. I’m a little annoyed.
So I’m posting this for anyone who is Googling Re-Invent. Anyone who is doing a little research before hosting with them, I am giving you warning. In fact, let me just include this for SEO: “Re-Invent Technologies Review”.
I’ve hosted with lots of companies. When I’ve had issues, I usually get a ticket back with someone’s name on it. This was a legal response.
My Review of Re-Invent: Very poor customer service. They got my money this time, but they will NEVER get another penny from me.
There. I feel better.
Nice writing style. I look forward to reading more in the future.