| Posted by FirewallkeepeR, 05-15-2011, 04:24 AM | | I had no intension to put up an blog post about this provider and constant issues I had with them. But today I opened their page and I can see:
Forbidden
You dont have permission to access / on this server.
Additionally, a 403 Forbidden error was encountered while trying to use an ErrorDocument to handle the request.
Apache/2.2.17 (Unix) mod_ssl/2.2.17 OpenSSL/0.9.8e-fips-rhel5 mod_auth_passthrough/2.1 mod_bwlimited/1.4 FrontPage/5.0.2.2635 Server at prestonhost.com Port 80
So I can not stay away, and MUST share my experience.
About year ago in 2010 I ordered their Netherlands reseller account. I was in need of european location. In few months after some major issues they closed that location and moved me to some US location. I decided to keep that location just because it was cheap. They had constant issues with server, some of them they where unable to solve at all. They keep changing site design and webhosting plans. Finally I get notice of server sale. All accounts on current server was sold to company named AllWebNow. After that things get better, and with help of Ben Wade from AllWebNow currently server, where my account was located, is up and stable.
This year 2011, I saw PrestonHost announcement of Netherlands location opening. I could not stay away and Feb 22, 2011 ordered location again. Within a week or so server get down for 30 hours with partial data lose. Not just current data, full directories disappeared from PrestonHost server. In a month Server got offline again for a day or so. And on about Apr 20 I got notice of server movement. Actually, I did not knew that one of Server 3 and Server 4″ is my Netherlands server! I had no idea what PrestonHost company insider name Netherlands server have! They NEVER said directly Netherlands location is closing. They used name Server 4″. Anyways on Apr 26 I surprisingly saw server down again. After my support ticket opening I was explained that Server 4 in Netherlands server, and my account is in Chicago for a week already, and I have to change NS settings.
Starting from then, I did backups and moved my sites to Germany and other locations I have. Within some about two weeks I contacted PrestonHost, and asked for refund. I said that I ordered ONLY Netherlands server. I dont need US location. They wasted my time on moving sites back and forth. And I want this two months money back. This kids (other way I may not explain things that happening all around company, and technical support) said NO. They, including its owner Fariz Aziz (as to my memory, as they now blocked my IP to their WHOLE, site including ticket area), where dropping funs on fact that Im unable to rise a PayPal dispute on intangible product. All I left to make offense and tell what I think and feel of PrestonHost. Then I asked at least one month refund. And got another childish response We do not respond to this ticket anymore from Jonathan Christian (PrestonHost CTO & General Manager).
Well, what can I say. I feel being FOOLED this time. Netherlands location got closed 2nd time and I did not received money back. To those whom may want to order their services, you should know that PrestonHost now have Late Payment Fee of $10. So be ready to pay.
Currently they being childish again by simply blocking my access to their primary site PrestonHost.com and ticket system, located there. I may use other provider (mobile for example), if I need anything there. So their actions are completely stupid and childish.
Beware of PrestonHost.
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| Posted by RoyaleHost, 05-15-2011, 05:23 AM | | I feel sorry that you have such a poor experience with them. Do you mind submitting your domain that was hosted with them to the moderators by reporting your post, so that they can verify your review? It would also be good if you can upload screenshots of the conversation between you and their company so that the general public can have a look at how their support is like.
Honestly I am quite shocked to see that this is their kind of responses whatever the situation is, because as a host you've got to maintain a particular image and this is obviously not the type of image you should portray no matter what the situation is - taunting the client, laughing at him and then blocking his IP? Pretty sure this isn't the type of service you should be getting, even if they declare themselves as a budget provider.
Anyway their representatives should be stepping into this topic shortly to defend themselves as usual.
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| Posted by FirewallkeepeR, 05-15-2011, 06:04 AM | | My primary domain hosted with them was www.EuroServer.Net.ua. Domain was technical so it still pointing on that old IP in Netherlands. As to the screenshots, as I've said, they cut me off. Not sure if my WHMCS account still with them anyways. I told them I will be rising review here, Faris Aziz said that he lookin forward this. His nickname here is PrestonHost-Faris (former Farisworlds I guess).
I just found tread, where PrestonHost where selling me, and other it's 25 clients: http://www.webhostingtalk.com/showthread.php?t=988511
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| Posted by Faris Aziz, 05-15-2011, 06:37 AM | | Thank you for your honest review as I have been looking forward to it as you've known.
We will not defend ourself as indeed location move was our fault and customer was only notified a few days later. We will be glad to offer a month of free hosting extension for any unsatisfied clients. We have to say that we do not tolerate Threatening in PrestonHost. In tickets, you were shooting vulgarities everywhere and we do not tolerate such stuff in PrestonHost too.
Basically, we offered you a one month free additional hosting but you kept shooting in vulgarities so Jonathan have decided to ignore the tickets and leave it as it is. We didn't provide you a refund as you've used the service and what we offered you was a 1 month additional hosting but you decided to keep flaming at us. You even threaten to post in webhostingtalk which most of our unsatisfied clients do, we don't mind about reviews. But indeed we love reviews as you will be advertising and improving our sales for us.
Let me just paste some replies by the client:
As per terms and condition:
The clients account have already been suspended due to unpayment so there is no need for us to suspend the account.
Late Fee:
We have emailed all clients regarding the change in terms and condition. All clients are notified and have agreed that we reserved the rights to update or change the terms and condition at any time. Due to the recent large volume of late invoice payment, we have decided to charge a late fee of $10. Different companies have different policies and when you sign up you have agreed to it.
Heres a snapshot of what we emailed all clients:
That's all we have to say from PrestonHost Management Team.
Do email us up if you have further queries. (Email: management[at]prestonhost.com)
All the best to TS
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| Posted by XTremo, 05-15-2011, 07:07 AM | | So what huge sum of money is all this angst about?
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| Posted by MichelleH, 05-15-2011, 07:36 AM | | Let me get this right, all this cursing and swearing and rudeness appears to be over $6 or $7?? really? I understand your frustrated but sometimes things happen that a host can't control. I see that Faris did offer clients a free month at the other location if clients were willing to stay.
There are many hosts who do not put up with abuse and I have seen many threads of clients complaining here on WHT. If you have no respect for your host then why should they respect you?
As per their terms of service (http://prestonhost.com/tos)
they have every right to terminate your account for the way you spoke to them. This is a condition you agreed to when you signed up.
And as far as a late fee, well this happens with any bill you will ever have in life, your house mortgage, utility bills, credit cards, cell phone, and every other hosting company. It really is just part of life!
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| Posted by FirewallkeepeR, 05-15-2011, 08:42 AM | | To PrestonHost-Faris:
1. Just so everyone knew, I was the one who put that stars, so that "vulgarities everywhere" is your imagination! And all texts are of context.
2. You saying about month of free hosting... where? I told you I need only Netherlands, or at least - EUROPE, you forced me to USA without any Europe offer.
3. Threatening? Where? I told what I'm going to do. That was my conditions.
4. Again, about your 1 month offer. When I see coca-cola and pepsi t-shirts in a store, and I decide to buy a coca-cola because I already have coca-cola cap, I want it. I have paid for it. And even brought coca-cola branded socks. Now when I have socks and cap and paid for your t-shirt, you saying you're sorry, you didn't ordered enought of coca-cola t-shirts, and you offer pepsi t-shirt. But I don't want that! I need my coca-cola branded t-shirt! If you don't have it anymore, give my money back! And say sorry for wasting my time in your store. As you advertised you have this, made me pay, and now you don't!
5. About your terms. You have terminated my account in a way as I described above. As I already stated it was about 2 weeks before ANY bad word from me on you.
6. "account have already been suspended due to unpayment so there is no need for us to suspend the account"? What exactly account do you mean? I have described above as it was. What you have disabled on your side AFTER Netherlands location closure - that's your inside issues. Server stoped working - that's wen I simply moved sites to other servers with other providers. I didn't miss any payments. If you mean your Chicago server, where you OFFERED to move me - I never ever login there, as I don't need that!
XTremo: So what huge sum of money is all this angst about?
It's about principle and WebHosting provider stability and treating clients. Bu strong belive is they should refund me in full just because they WASTED my time and CLOSED LOCATION within 2 months after IT'S OPENING! Not just my account opening! They, PrestonHost, open and close VPS on locations and move clients here and there. I belive future client should know this. And such posts as this should LEARN hosts to do Stable bussiness.
MichelleH: you get piss off wasted time for site transfers, and then you get closed on location 2nd time. I want to stay only in Netherlands, or at least in Europe. After what I get in response. as i said - "Give back my money is only subject we may have". Respect for your host? Host with them, and please then talk about respect! Again! Server was closed BEFORE all that taken of context messages. Late fee - do you know any other webhost that take 300% extra in next day after payment day?
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| Posted by XTremo, 05-15-2011, 09:02 AM | | The crux of the matter here is how much stability and professionalism do you expect for the few dollars that you pay?
If you want RochenHost levels of excellence in shared hosting then you're going to have to pay those costs.
No disrespect to PrestonHost but they set out their stall to be cheap.....so you need to have realistic expectations of the levels of consistency at the lower end of the market.
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| Posted by net, 05-15-2011, 09:35 AM | | It is not about the price.
If you sell something, you need to better give the right product.
I am not against Preston but I think I understand the situation of the client because he is asking for a europe location but got a usa location instead.
So, he is looking for that product which he paid no matter what is the price may be.
I recommend both parties to settle it via PM.
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| Posted by HostXNow_Chris, 05-15-2011, 10:42 AM | | Exactly. And it happened not only once, but TWICE!
@PrestonHost, are you offering Netherlands location or not?
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| Posted by RoyaleHost, 05-15-2011, 11:01 AM | | If the Netherlands location isn't being offered anymore, I think it is only right that a refund is made to the client. We are not even talking about hundreds or thousands of dollars for that matter, this is just a few bucks and it may not mean much to this budget company but it means a lot to the client. So why make it troublesome for the client to begin with? Policies are there to serve as a guide, they do not have to be absolute - I think flexibility is key here.
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| Posted by Server Management, 05-15-2011, 11:10 AM | | I think this happens when a host chooses to resell from another reseller/provider who is leasing from a datcenter or something...
The more hops in the chain the more which can go wrong, Hence I like to go as direct with datacenters as I can, You cannot get any more direct than the likes of Hetzner, etc...
@Faris Was you using TMZ because I know they have just closed their NL Location?
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| Posted by FirewallkeepeR, 05-15-2011, 11:48 AM | | Just to let everyone know. I don't want anything from PrestonHost now. I will never use their services again and I don't want my money back.
All I want with this post is publicity. Posibble clients (victims) should be aware what they can expect from this company. Hosters Like PrestonHost should beware of cliens postings such reviews online, they simply should have fear agreement one-to-one withoug go public. In this case Faris waned fame. I have also re-posted this post on others sites just in case. So PrestonHost getting it's fame now.
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| Posted by TomTomson, 05-15-2011, 01:30 PM | | In such a case I recommend to not choose a US company who also offers some hosting in the Netherlands, but go directly with a reputable webhosting company located in the Netherlands with servers in the Netherlands.
Tom Tomson
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| Posted by BlazeUK, 05-16-2011, 02:53 AM | | I feel bad for you, I do believe PrestonHost should have refunded the full amount if you wasn't located to a Europe server. I have a UK reseller with them, let's hope nothing goes wrong!
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| Posted by maniondagger, 05-16-2011, 03:56 AM | | In my opinion that do not depend on this. That depends on the web hosting provider and on the way how they can operate.
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| Posted by shaokhee, 05-16-2011, 12:04 PM | | PrestonHost: When your customer order apple, but you don't have apple and you only have orange. I think you should either offer if your customer want to take it or refund.
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| Posted by Faris Aziz, 05-16-2011, 08:11 PM | | Can you read the full story before making your own opinions?
He got netherlands service and after sometime we moved all clients to a different server in different location.
We didn't provide a refund as it have been more than 45 days and he contacted us right after he have used and utilize the service - by then the account have been suspended. Is it being fair to you if I have used your service for whole year and request a refund?
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| Posted by starline, 05-17-2011, 09:36 AM | | If the client used the period paid for the service already, I feel there is no need to have any refunds.
On the other hand, if he paid for an year and you transferred him to US on 11th month, It is fair to ask for a prorated refund.
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| Posted by FirewallkeepeR, 05-20-2011, 04:16 PM | | Now, when you google PrestonHost you get #4 and #8 are copyes of this rewiew. So I reached my goal. Future clients will think twice before ordering with PrestonHost.
Hm, I thought they closed UK too. I did not get any offer of moving to UK.
May be that's even better, as I already had boubts with PrestonHost, when NL server was down for 24 hours twice within 2 months. Such companys may offer testing only environments.
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| Posted by Server Management, 05-20-2011, 05:11 PM | | Great advertisement and promotion for them
If your only goal was to slander them on here and try to make them look bad then to be honest your "review" holds no weight around here whatsoever, You want to be carefull that they dont proceed to sue you for intentional infliction of emotional distress
After all it only prices around 2 Hours of a lawyers time plus a postage stamp, the cost of this is pocket change for a sucessfull business.
Last edited by Server Management; 05-20-2011 at 05:15 PM.
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| Posted by M Bacon, 05-20-2011, 05:58 PM | | I am adding this clause to my terms of service today. I had an incident where a client opened multiple tickets with different emails cursing at me. I cannot tolerate abusive behavior and guess what? It was over $6. One curse word. They are gone for good. Not playing this time.
Edit: Nevermind. We have this clause already.
Last edited by M Bacon; 05-20-2011 at 06:02 PM.
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| Posted by Faris Aziz, 05-21-2011, 06:51 AM | | We saw your blog post too. It's too sexy - we can't stand it. You must have wasted some time thinking of such titles.
If your intention is to bring us down, try harder. Remember, you are offering free advertising.
Have a great day
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| Posted by Server Management, 05-21-2011, 08:15 PM | | Argeed, Posts on here along with blog posts, Your S.E.O must doing well at the moment
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| Posted by Dustin B Cisneros, 05-21-2011, 08:18 PM | | Lol you don't even know whats in your own TOS
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| Posted by SteeLeR, 05-21-2011, 09:12 PM | | Really bad for the client. I feel shame for prestonhost can not even make a prorated refund? C'mon guys, is just a few bucks that have more value than a bad review. You guys need to go for some business training.
I've experienced the same with them long ago: http://www.webhostingtalk.com/showthread.php?t=957407. They seem to not even try to learn!
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| Posted by Faris Aziz, 05-21-2011, 11:18 PM | | Are you teaching us how to run business?
This review was posted after we ignore their threatening. Let me say it once and again, you didn't even bother to read. We love free advertising by clients, feel free to post more links.
Have a great day ahead - Feel free to bump if you have more to say
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| Posted by PrestonHost_Jon, 05-21-2011, 11:28 PM | | We will not go beyond ourselves and our terms of service to help clients that are belligerent.
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| Posted by SteeLeR, 05-21-2011, 11:30 PM | | I'm just suggesting HOW you can run a BETTER business. That's why you do not have to take that attitude as challenging with your customers. Oh sorry, I was meaning, I do not like that attitude, Is better that way? I remembered you do not like us to teach you to run a business. My apologies again.
Have a nice day!
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| Posted by M Bacon, 05-22-2011, 11:38 PM | | Do you own a web hosting company? Please try running one. It isn't easy as it looks.
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| Posted by M Bacon, 05-22-2011, 11:41 PM | | Yup. Too much Information.
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| Posted by SteeLeR, 05-25-2011, 11:27 PM | | I'm trying to run one, since one year ago, it is not fully established yet, but my clients never complained about a bad service.
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| Posted by FirewallkeepeR, 05-26-2011, 07:01 PM | | Good for you.
PrestonHost is too proud to face it's constant failures. They unable to admit they failed on service line offered. They pretend that is the way it should be. It's not. Having a good business is treating clients we ll. I felt used is this situation. I came to rent this server location for a long time. Not for two months. Just less then month before server closure, I asked Faris to tell me that server will be running fine. He simply forwarded me to their TOS and it's uptime part. I stayed with them, but decided to wait with moving more sites there. And server get closed. The "company" does not say sorry, they do not admit it's their fault to waste my time with them. They really think it's fine to move clients across globe without their agreement.
This Faris's jokes about free advertising is all he has heft.
He missed it here - it's not a show biz.
Posts like this is bad fame in business, where stability is a key.
PrestonHost - became stable, or help your clients out - shutdown.
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| Posted by bluemer, 05-26-2011, 09:26 PM | | I still don't understand this. If the OP/Reviewer purchased hosting in the Netherlands for a year, and you then changed locations from the Netherlands to another location then the OP is owed a refund. If you weren't so butt rape about your policies you may understand why the OP is upset. If you go get new tires for your automobile, and your sold Good Years, but they really are Good-Years(a knockoff) wouldn't you be upset that you didn't get exactly what you paid for? If you wouldn't have "screwed" the OP they wouldn't be upset. Whats the OP's payment period up after you moved, or before? If before then you suck, if after then you have every right to move.
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| Posted by Faris Aziz, 05-27-2011, 04:21 AM | | It's amazing how this review improve our sales.
Thank you OP
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| Posted by HostXNow_Chris, 05-27-2011, 06:21 AM | | All good as long as it doesn't bite you in the backside in the long run.
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| Posted by FirewallkeepeR, 05-27-2011, 07:11 AM | | You're welcome. The more clients you have, the faster they spread the word of your constant failures. Those who going to go with PrestonHost and loose clients, data and time - I warned you. Don't store anything worth there.
I belive there is no website, that deserves bad webhost.
PrestonHost's services are same as their price.
Not every cheap host offer cheap service.
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| Posted by Eildor, 05-27-2011, 09:56 AM | | I'm not taking sides or trying to tell you how to run your business, but you should know that you're making yourself and your business look extremely bad with your replies on this thread.
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| Posted by bluemer, 05-27-2011, 10:01 AM | | LOL! He/She probably will think you boosted their business, and SEO again.. lol!
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| Posted by Faris Aziz, 05-27-2011, 10:06 AM | | So now you are posting a different story right now?
Since when did you lose your data? - You are making soo many new claims, is this review valid?
Oh god I love this thread
/sub
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| Posted by iJake, 05-27-2011, 10:19 AM | | I can understand both sides of the argument, however, I feel there are particular ways to go about things. Swearing at your hosting provider is not a good way to get a refund. I can understand the distress you would have gone through due to the situation, however, you can't swear and expect them to give you a refund.
I'm particular that PrestonHost can make vast improvements to their service, much like every host, and I'm particular Faris is working on those. I feel this thread is getting somewhat out of hand though and is just becoming a flamming thread between both parties and I suggest they stop. You have both expressed your sides of the story and I feel that's enough for people to make up their own minds.
Regards
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| Posted by HostXNow_Chris, 05-27-2011, 12:10 PM | | 1
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| Posted by FirewallkeepeR, 05-28-2011, 04:58 AM | | I have mentioned data loss in first post. I have mentioned client lost in tickets system, because of your NL server downtime. Any more questions? I have alot to say.
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| Posted by FirewallkeepeR, 05-28-2011, 05:10 AM | | The refund is nothing comparing to overall experience I got. Within that 2 months I got 2 days of downtime, lost some data, lost a client along with getting bad reputation. Now when they simply closed location, I lost time moving sites out, and add time spent to move sites in. Can this looses be covered my moneyback? Absolutly no. So Moneyback request is just a principle.
Yeah, I was angry, but I was not swearing, I put stars to words so whoever reads it may think for himself what that stars stand for. Each company desides how to make business. Some makes their clents angry and swearing. If I set my client up the hard way, I really expect he to me angry and swearing, especially when I can/will not fix what have been done.
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| Posted by M Bacon, 05-28-2011, 11:47 PM | | You should try advertise it inserting it on your signature on WHT.
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| Posted by NightR, 05-30-2011, 08:42 AM | | 2
And
+2
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| Posted by neumannu47, 05-30-2011, 09:22 AM | | Who gets to decide what "bad" words are?
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| Posted by aodat2, 05-30-2011, 11:02 AM | | The more I read this post, the more I feel that PrestonHost (Fariz) is being a little childish with his replies. Not trying to teach you how to run your own business but I do feel that you should either STOP him once and for all or you should STOP posting on this thread totally. It's becoming more and more of a circus.
As much as I do not agree with PrestonHost moving people around to other locations without informing them, they should consult their clients with an alternative before they did the move. Even after 45 days of usage, he still had 1/2 a month left and since you guys moved him and he didn't want it, just refund the person's 1/2 month. That would have been the easiest thing to do.
Further to that, if you think threads like this will improve sales, then I guess you're either trying to console yourself or maybe you're just trying to make the OP feel bad. Either way, stop posting it all the time and move on. You're being a total child everytime someone says something bad and you come here saying it's doing more good. I do believe that you're of age to think for yourself if doing such things are proper or not. It's totally sad that you as a Web Hosting provider is stooping so low as to almost to the point of where the OP is at, just missing the cursing part of it. You're a well respected company, leave it as such. Don't do the opposite.
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| Posted by Server Management, 05-30-2011, 11:13 AM | | I think its time this thread was closed...
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| Posted by Jennifer Robinson, 05-30-2011, 01:46 PM | | Any changes to clients accounts without his knowledge is not a good sign of doing business.. No good host will do it. .. IMHO, inform the clients well in advance about maintenance time, and the reason for maintenance.. If any certain client objects, explain him/her about the reason for maintenance.. And then perform the maintenance..
Doing changes to your server without informing clients is not a sign of honest host.
Ofc, my thoughts and suggestions are my personal opinions, and are limited to myself..
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| Posted by bluemer, 05-30-2011, 02:42 PM | | Did you not read the whole thread? It wasn't for maintenance. They moved out of the center because they wanted/had to, not for maintenance, or because the client asked.
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| Posted by Jennifer Robinson, 05-30-2011, 03:19 PM | | Did you read my last and only reply to this thread? It was specifically addressing a previous reply in general terms... not a certain company.. If you havent read my reply.. check the quoted box before the reply..
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| Posted by anon-e-mouse, 05-31-2011, 07:12 AM | | Best idea you've had all day
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