- 16
- Jan
DreamHost recently made a huge critical error. They billed all of their customers for 1 year in advance when performing software updates on their billing system. This caused their customer’s accounts to have anywhere from $200 to $700 withdrawn from their accounts. This could be a huge problem for DreamHost’s credibility all around.
First of all, they sent out an email to every one of their customers explaining that they have just been robbed and that the money will be refunded. They also blamed the guy thats responsible and linked to his image.
http://blog.dreamhost.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/11/josh2.jpg
To read the email sent to their customers check out:
http://www.dreamhoststatus.com/2008/01/15/billing-issues/
The fact alone that the image of the guy who DreamHost trusted to make critical billing software related duties, is a guy without a shirt and has not shaved in days, is mind boggling. It makes you wonder who is running their servers with your business on it. Its frightening to even think about it.
They took it a step further and joked about it on their blog.
There is a picture of homer simpson with a fat finger. DreamHost’s customers are now going to have to deal with their credit card company and explain DreamHost’s screw up, and all DreamHost can do is joke about it. I guess they think their customers are really stupid and the only way they can explain this massive screw up is with homer simpson. If you are running a professional business and the company you are trusting tries to joke about a major billing issue, do you think that will erase the fact that you now have to spend time dealing with banks. I am not a credit card professional but I think that credit card companies may contact the credit burros when you go over the credit limit. Even if it didn’t, not all people know that and may worry. People will now run legit charge backs on their credit cards.
Another downfall from this disaster is that people will then not trust DreamHost’s Automated billing system. They will set it on manual payment and this will make it harder for DreamHost to collect funds.
I personally never used their services, but I read some horror stories online. Its amazing that they even had that many customers when your advertising campaign is a fat kid sleeping on the couch. Is their admins fat kids sleeping on couches.
http://blog.dreamhost.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/dh8.JPG
There are much better companies out there. I was amazed by this guy going on and on about them:
http://www.upstartblogger.com/why-dreamhost-sucks
If you are with DreamHost, I would recommend saving yourself some problematic issues, and some headaches by just getting your refund and leave.
I usually do not write negative posts, but this issue is too big to ignore it. It is just my opinion. Check out the their blog and look at all their pissed off customers.
January 16th, 2008 at 8:16 pm
Hi,
Well that’s the worst I’ve ever seen from a hosting company. Making jokes about the issue! I would run with a backup of my site asap from that place.
February 6th, 2008 at 9:14 pm
Totally agree with you. I had Dreamhost for a few months, and the service was bad. I mean, the customer portal had some good features for a Shared Hosting solution, however, the overall experience was bad.
They have also had several other “issues” along the line, and every last one they joked about it on their blog. I don’t understand how they keep business flowing when they #@$#@@ their customers like that. It’s almost like laughing at their customer in the face, as if their customers will forget what just happened.