I am a IT idiot, only know the simple MS word and email sending, receiving. I just embarked on the journey of setting up my online beauty shop. As Ive spent most of my capital on stocking my beauty products, I cant afford to hire a Local Professional web company to do the whole ecommerce website for me.
So I browsed thru the internet to look for companies who provides affordable web hosting and free website builder tools. After reading up the introduction websites of Blue host, Monster Host and iPage, I decided to subcribe to iPAGE ON 29 March 2010.
On iPAGE's main web site, they stressed that they do not tie up customers like other companies do and that "You Have 30 Days Moneyback Guarantee, 100% if cancel within 30days"
iPAGE stressed that their website builder is easy to build. Thus I felt safe to trust them. Though they state that their monthly web hosting fee is US$3.50, however after I follow their sign in procedure account, it has so many more add on services apart from the basic hosting plan.
These plans dont seem optional as its auto added into my 'cart'. My cart shows the following:
1) iPAGE web hosting package US$42/yr
2) Simply Local Search - $39.95/yr
3) SiteLock Plus - $12.95/yr
4) Site backup & restore $12.95/yr
5) Submit Net- Basic Submission $9.95/yr
6) Domain Privacy - $8.99/yr
Total Payable amount is US$126.79
I initially chose to pay thru PAYPAL but iPAGE prompted me that if I pay thru PAYPAL and not by creditcard directly, then my account will only be activated few days later!
Without other options as I need to have my website running., I paid using credit card details directly. After my domain account is activated, I found that iPAGE website building tool is very confusing and difficult for me.
I called their chatline help hoping they could assist me but the operator replied that they only help settle technical issues, if i need website design/help, he can refer me to their professional designers at a charge! :(
After 10 torturing hours and still unable to understand iPAGE's web tools, I decided to cancel my account with iPAGE and to hire a local web company (in Singapore) to do everything for me.
I called up iPAGE chatline on 30Mar 2010 and did the cancellation. I was told by the operator then, that there is a non refundable fee of US$15, as a charge for registering my domain name (I can get to keep my domain name), and the rest of the charges will be refunded to me.
The next day 31 March, I received a confirmation email from iPAGE that my a/c is terminated and that all webfiles related to my a/c is closed, no further charges will be imposed!
Now, I just received my creditcard bill and iPAGE has billed me a total of US$126.79 on 29 Mar, credited back US$27 on 31 March, I am still liable to pay iPAGE US$99.79!!
I contacted their billing department and they denied all and keep stressing that all is stated clearly on their "Terms and Conditions" (which I didnt even get to read that during the course of signing up)
They said they will only refund hosting fees. If thats the case, then how can they misled unknowing innocent consumers that we are always assured of :
1) 30 Days Moneyback Guarantee, 100% refund if cancelled within 30days?
2) Will not tie up customers. Then why is the charge per year rather than per month?
3) I cancelled my a/c in less than 24hours and I dont and will not get to use any of
their add-on services, how can iPAGE charge me and make me accountable
for those charges??
I feel really ripped and robbed in broad daylight by a US Company, I plead the help from all relevant authorities in US, who can lend me a helping hand to assist me with this case. Awaiting for your kind reply. Thank you for your time and attention.