Do you pay monthly or yearly for your hosting..?

[Collabora]

UK law has a different view a MBG refers to all services you provide unless stated in your TOS. an annual plan is just that a plan paid every 12 months normally at a discounted rate it is not and never legally treated as a month to month plan offering. it is an annually paid product as it is paid once every year.

Like I said before, I am being fair on moral grounds, not legal grounds. To me it doesn't matter if the law allows you to keep the money.

 

[easyhostmedia]

Like I said before, I am being fair on moral grounds, not legal grounds. To me it doesn't matter if the law allows you to keep the money.

By not offering a refund after MBG, the product is being treated as an annually paid product, not a discounted monthly product.

well that's exactly what it is 'an annually paid product'

The MBG is typically within the first 30 days. Whether its 5 or 30 days its based on a monthly cycle also. To turn around and tell the customer that the MBG now applies to annual cycle after he asks for refund like I described is highway robbery

A MBG is not based on monthly cycle, it is based on the contract ( monthly,quarterly,semi-annual, annual, bi-annual, tri-annual).

In the UK a MBG of a min. 7 days must be provided

 

[Collabora]

This is what you are agreeing to. Suppose MBG = 7 days and customer cancels on 8th day. Using my example above, if paying month-to-month the customer loses $10.00. If receiving discount for paying 1 year in advance, customer will lose $96.00 (both received 1 week of service for those amounts)

I think its rotten that hosts think that its ok charge someone $96.00 instead of $10.00 for one week of hosting just because they wanted to be a good customer. Shame on you! I gladly refund the 96.00 minus one month service for total of $86.00 refund.

 

[easyhostmedia]

This is what you are agreeing to. Suppose MBG = 7 days and customer cancels on 8th day. Using my example above, if paying month-to-month the customer loses $10.00. If receiving discount for paying 1 year in advance, customer will lose $96.00 (both received 1 week of service for those amounts)

I think its rotten that hosts think that its ok charge someone $96.00 instead of $10.00 for one week of hosting just because they wanted to be a good customer. Shame on you! I gladly refund the 96.00 minus one month service for total of $86.00 refund.

but the client agreed to your TOS when they signed up and its them that chose an annual plan that pays for a full years hosting, if they cancel and leave after a day/week/month/6months, then that's their choice. if you have a 7 day MBG and this is advertised as such( which they accepted when they signed up) and they leave after 8 days, then they are not entitled to any refund. it is then a moral issue if the host refunds them, but if you refund them then why have a MBG period in the first place.

 

[Collabora]

I would have the MBG based on a 1 month subscription, as is the hosting plans. The MBGs I've seen are like this. I don't know, it just rubs me the wrong way to charge customer for the future months that are not used simply because customer paid in advance. So I just remove the discount for the months used and refund the remainder.

 

[Dedispec]

I've always felt monthly if you're not 100% certain about your host and if things go well, you can move to quarterly/semi-annual/annual.

One of our very long term clients started out for three months paying month to month, and then eventually switched to annual. Some hosts discount their prices a bit if you sign up annually, otherwise it's just a trust thing. If you trust your host and you plan to stick around for more then a few months, annual can be nice. If you're unsure how long you'll need the service or some other reason then maybe month to month is better.

Depends what market too (e.g. Shared Hosting, Dedicated Servers, Colocation, VPS, etc).

 

[easyhostmedia]

I would have the MBG based on a 1 month subscription, as is the hosting plans. The MBGs I've seen are like this. I don't know, it just rubs me the wrong way to charge customer for the future months that are not used simply because customer paid in advance. So I just remove the discount for the months used and refund the remainder.

so you are telling others how to run this when their is not a MBG listed on your own site.

I suggest you keep running your business the way you seem fit and let others run their businesses the way they want to run them and not the way you say they have to run them.

 

[Collabora]

May be immoral but not Illegal as they signed up for 12 months paying for 12 months knowing your MBG period, so after the MBG period you are under no obligation to refund anything

But I am not talking about pro-rata refunds. Example of what I would do: Suppose you charge $10/mo or $8.00/mo if paid annually (first payment is $96.00). If customer cancels after 3 months, the refund will then be based on the monthly rate. Thus the refund I would give is $96-$30 = $66. (A pro-rated refund would be $96 - $24 = $72.)

so you are telling others how to run this when their is not a MBG listed on your own site.

I suggest you keep running your business the way you seem fit and let others run their businesses the way they want to run them and not the way you say they have to run them.

MBG is irrelevant. this isn't about how to create an MBG. That's just subject-switching to avoid the argument. My point is made whether MBG is 7 days or 0 days. About a month ago I refunded a VPS user 11 months of an a discounted one-year prepaid subscription after requesting cancellation after a couple of weeks, and kept just the full price for one undiscounted month. I'll let the reader judge what is fair and moral: Refunding the 11 months for services not received, or pocketing the money

 

[easyhostmedia]

MBG is irrelevant. My point is made whether MBG is 7 days or 0 days.vI'll let the reader judge who what is fair and moral.

a MBG is relevant as if they signed up agreeing to a MBG (which is usually within TOS and stated on a hosts website) then after the MBG period they are not entitled to any refund, it is a moral issue if a host refunds, but then why have a MBG in the first place if you are not going to stick to it.

this is like if someone signs up for a VPS or dedicated server you will find hosts offer no refunds for these or addon services such as control panels, dedicated IPs etc.

 

[Collabora]

a MBG is relevant as if they signed up agreeing to a MBG.

No, its not, because I am referring to actions after MBG period for money paid in advance of the services received. I looked at some of the hosts here and I don't see anything about customer having to forfeit that money. The customer sees monthly cycle (your Chick plan would be exception ) no matter how far he pays in advance even if there is a discount for such payment.

Edit: it seems you modified your TOS. Nice! :thumbup:

 

[easyhostmedia]

No, its not, because I am referring to actions after MBG period for money paid in advance of the services received

well after a MBG they are NOT entitled to any refund as they agreed to the MBG at sign up.

if you were to purchase a TV and then after a month decide to return it as you no longer want it, do you think they will refund you for the TV, no as your contract was to purchase the TV for their price, if its not faulty then that your fault .

same if you purchase an annual magazine subscription and after a month you decide its no good to you, you wont get any refund back as you accepted their terms when you made the payment.

 

[Collabora]

well after a MBG they are NOT entitled to any refund as they agreed to the MBG at sign up.

if you were to purchase a TV and then after a month decide to return it as you no longer want it, do you think they will refund you for the TV, no as your contract was to purchase the TV for their price, if its not faulty then that your fault .

same if you purchase an annual magazine subscription and after a month you decide its no good to you, you wont get any refund back as you accepted their terms when you made the payment.

How can you compare a TV to a monthly subscription service. Sheesh

An you can cancel some mag subscriptions and get a refund. For example http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html/ref=hp_rel_topic?ie=UTF8&nodeId=201125810

More red herrings

 

[easyhostmedia]

How can you compare a TV to a monthly subscription service. Sheesh

An you can cancel some mag subscriptions and get a refund. For example http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html/ref=hp_rel_topic?ie=UTF8&nodeId=201125810

More red herrings

learn to read, i said annual mag subscription.

its all basically the same principle as you agree to pay for a service for an annual fee and then cancel before the end of the service.

your the one that thinks everyone should run their business the way you say

 

[Collabora]

Since you've changed the discussion to refunding magazine subscriptions. You are wrong again:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=1341459482&pf_rd_i=602324

learn to read, i said annual mag subscription.

I never seen a mag subscription that is invoiced month-to-month

This is the problem with your analogies. You extend their characteristics into areas that don't apply. Then when the analogy fails, you blame the original characteristic. Your arguments are full of red herrings and straw men. If you want to take this to a magazine or tv forum, I'll meet you there.

 

[easyhostmedia]

I never seen a mag subscription that is invoiced month-to-month

but when you take out ANNUAL hosting this is paid ANNUAL the same and an ANNUAL magazine subscription in the fact once the MBG period passed you are NOT entitled to any refund.

when was amazon the only magazine supplier?

so why should everyone run their business they way you tell then too?

 

[Collabora]

There you go again. At one point you claim there are no such magazine refunds, then when I show one (where there are dozens more) you change your tune to fit your erroneous posts. Again, this isn't about magazines anyway, even though your claims about that product contradicts the publisher's claims.

Don't blame me if your own analogy works against you. I am the one asking we don't use any

 

[Collabora]

Depends, a $3 vps for something like DNS or mail, then it is yearly.Anything important = Monthly, I do not wan't to tie into something if it goes wrong.

Monthly as of right now, but obviously if you are optimistic and believe you will need a year, than most likely it will be cheaper to purchase a whole year instead of monthly.

I like pay pay monthly dealing with a server or a reseller account. Mainly due to the fact because they host may have downtime

Monthly payment will be more fexible. As you can change your plan or setting anytime.

I normally pay a month or two monthly and then pay Annually if I feel their a good company. If by the end of 2 months, I'm not comfortable with the company, I move on.

i would prefer to pay monthly because if the web host is not good i can always go to another provider without going through the trouble of getting a refund etc.

Definitely pay monthly, makes far more sense than yearly, as it gives you the freedom to use a different host if you want.

i also prefer paying monthly although annual hosting plans are cheaper. but i like the flexibility about monthly plans

I prefer paying monthly and never go with yearly. You'll never know what can happen.

Never pay yearly if you are just starting with a service.

It is recommendable that you subscribe to a monthly plan for the first 3-6 months then if you are happy with the service then you can start subscribing for the yearly (or even 5 year) contract so you can avail of discount.

Usually pay monthly just incase I don't need it after few months or so

I prefer monthly payment contract. It allows me more flexibility, if something goes bad again and again with the same provider, I can easily switch

Judging by policies described earlier by some hosts, is it no wonder customers above are afraid to pay in advance in exchange for a discount?

But have no fear there are hosts out there that will not keep the money you gave them for hosting not received. Look for hosts that will at least refund you the advanced payment for unused hosting minus the regular charge for hosting used

Example: Suppose you would $10/mo for hosting, or $8.00/mo if paid one year in advance (first payment is $96.00). If you cancel after 3 months, the refund will then be based on the monthly rate. Thus the refund you would get is $96-$30 = $66.

This way you get the advantages of discount, and if you change your mind, you only pay what you would have anyway. Does this not offer the most fairness and flexibility in you web host?

 

[Lamb Host]

I've always preferred monthly. It's too difficult to budget for annual services throughout the year. It's just easier to go monthly.

Same goes for our pricing. We offer annual pricing but prefer monthly. I'm not sure why some hosts put so much emphasis on paying annually. Monthly billing makes accounting a lot easier.

 

[Artashes]

I get both of your points, gentlemen, but I think you are just arguing about two different philosophies in handling refunds. Neither of the approaches are incorrect. But the ability to cancel service after the MBG in case it falls apart or doesn't live up to my expectations in any way provides a lot more flexibility and comfort. Personally, I would rather much go with a host that understands this and wouldn't want to wage war with annoyed customers.

So at the end of the day, it is just a matter of choice of how you run your business.

a MBG is relevant as if they signed up agreeing to a MBG (which is usually within TOS and stated on a hosts website) then after the MBG period they are not entitled to any refund, it is a moral issue if a host refunds, but then why have a MBG in the first place if you are not going to stick to it.

There is, however, another factor at play. Suppose I sign up for 1 year, I get 1 month MBG. Then, after a month, legally speaking, I am out of luck if I wanted to get a refund just because I trusted a company to deliver. I signed a contract, so it makes such terms legal. However, as a customer, I am also stuck with you running the show as you please. The service may decline, staff can be rude, etc - then what?

Your analogy with products like TVs also do not work. You are comparing a service-based industry, directly depended on your performance throughout the life of a contract to a product. A TV isn't going to be rude to me, it can only break down, in which case a warranty is there to fix things. Certainly I can't bring back a TV outside the MBG period just because I don't like it (even though some retailers practice a lifetime return policy, such as Bed, Bath & Beyond).

PS: By the way, in Canada (I assume the United Kingdom isn't far different), there is such a thing as the law. Anything a Civil Code would cover is considered public order, which you simply can't contract against it. In other words, I can sign a paper with you that I waive all my rights as a human being, no claims to your company, as long as you deliver. Then if you disappoint, I can still win my case if you fail. Whether my claim at that time is reasonable or fair - that's up the judge to decide, not you or me. You could try and waive the signed contract all you want, it isn't going to be looked at in court if it breaks the civil liberties that everyone enjoys.

so why should everyone run their business they way you tell then too?

Please note that he is not telling people how to run their business. He is only sharing how he runs his.

 

[easyhostmedia]

Yes in the UK we can consumer laws (Sales of goods/services act, distance selling regulations) but these do not apply to b2b, then their is the unfair contract act.

This is 1 reason when we started we had our TOS/AUP/Privacy policy checked by trading standard to make sure it complied with current legislation, if we want to make any amendments we have these checked before we publish them.

As our plans are monthly only (apart from tiny shared) we offer the min. allowed MBG by UK laws and that is 7 days, which must be offered if selling to consumers