CI Host — Scum Of the Earth

Ok kids, so, you were all kind and gracious enough to help pay for our new server, and for that I am incredibly grateful towards all of you; really, really touched. But well, I kind of have some bad news. Now don't get angry at me, but well, I made a mistake in my first choice of hoster, and am now getting robbed for $200 of the money put towards our relocation. Before you read the following, I'd like you to note that I've found a new and infinitely better hoster, RackForce, and that the server will be online shortly, at which time I will begin to move our shit over. However, at this particular moment, I'd like to convey to you what transpired, as I stated it in my complaint to the Better Business Bureau, earlier today:

I recently purchased Dedicated Web Hosting through CI Host. The cost of the package was for roughly $150/mo with a $200 setup fee. After my account was configured and I logged into my server to install some necessary software, I discovered that the configuration of the server, as well as the "managed services" provided by the company would not be sufficient for my needs.

This feeling was exacerbated by the fact that upon every occasion on which I tried to reach their customer service staff by telephone, I was placed into a call queue that disconnected me after staying on hold for 5 minutes. This has happened well over 12 times thus far, 8 times today alone. When complaining about this fact to their receptionist she merely apologized and returned me to the call queue where I was disconnected once again.

Infuriated, I went to cancel my account, and in the process of filling out their online cancellation form, discovered language in an argeement I would be required to sign in order to cancel, which requires that I waive my entitlement to a refund of my setup fees. However, on the company's website, prior to signup, there was a bolded statement: "Risk free contracts! - 30 day money back guarantee on all servers." There is no asterisk, nor link, nor small print which notes that this is not an entirely true statement.

When, after several attempts, I was finally able to contact a service representative, I was informed that in signing my contract with the company, that I had consented to all company policies, even though the specific policys relating to the waiver of setup fees upon cancellation was not stipulated within the contract itself.

I believe this to be a completely misleading business practice and am incensed by such 'contractual trickery'. It is a completely dishonest way of making money and constitutes a breach of good faith.

How completely fucked up is that? They want $200 for switching on a computer only for me to find out it doesn't work! Well, I don' t intend to stand for it, and on my way into work tomorrow (as I took the day off to work on moving over to the new server today) I plan to file a form at my bank branch to stop payment on the transaction. Since I can not guarantee that I will be successful in doing so, however, I would like to ask those of you who give a fuck—and I hope that's everyone, from full-fledged neckers to our regular and irregular visitors, to e-mail both billing@cihost.com and sales@cihost.com and insist that they terminate my contract (name: Daniel Sieradski, account: #ci61883463, domain: youraunt.net) with a full refund, including setup and monthly fees. Let them know that you think it is an entirely reprehensible business action, and that you fully intend to make all of your associates who are currently hosted by their company, as well as those who you know are looking for hosting, aware of the underhanded manner in which their company conducts business. Please, help me get our money back.