1and1 a big scam?

[PrimoTurbo]

A while ago I got the 1and1 6 month free deal and now they sent me an invoice by email and they want me to pay for the last several months with a credit card. I don’t even own a credit card and I had no idea you had to cancel the account after the 6 months. I went to the cancel form (which was hard to find) and they require me to mail or fax some form, which is a big hassle for me because I don’t feel like paying money to mail or fax something to them. I don’t even have a fax machine, and I have to do this in seven days or the account doesn’t cancel. Why would they need this anyway? Looks like they are making it as hard as possible and I never needed to sign anything in order to sign up, I did however receive some automated call.

I’ve heard they forward it to a collection agency, can they really force me to pay? The fee is under $30 USD. They have my name and phone number and part of my address, but other details like my postal code are incorrect and part of my address is not full.

Can they really do anything besides contact me? What would a collection agency do, they don’t even know my full identity…

Any suggestions or help? Can I just ignore them and tell them to leave me alone if they call?

[PrimoTurbo]

Hasn't anyone had the same issue with 1and1? The offer was posted here, what did you guys do? I really need some help.

[ainsane]

did you read the contract before agreeing to it? and maybe wait more than 16 minutes before expecting a reply...........

[PrimoTurbo]

No I didn't read it, I know I should have.

[ainsane]

No I didn't read it, I know I should have.

well then pay them the money, its most likely in the contract. just like if you dont cancel AOL after the free trial... they start billing u.

[HowEver]

No I didn't read it, I know I should have.

And have you read it now!?

[gon9925]

I can't belive you bumped your thread within 16mins.
There should be an auto ban for that.

Pay up, it's your own fault for not reading the contract.

[KennethToronto]

You get what you pay for? In this case, it was supposedly free. But I've had enough bad experiences with these companies.

Blah...I get my hosting from a small company. Decent price, decent package. I don't think they've had any downtime for the past year.

[PrimoTurbo]

I still haven't read it because I can't find it. I figured they will cancel the account after 6 months because I didn't enter any credit card details. How can they just charge me if they don't have my billing info? I've had a lot of hosts before this and none of them did something this stupid.

Also they sent me an email after the 6 months which said.

"To ensure a smooth upgrade, you will need to enter your credit card
details before the expiration date listed above. Just log in to your 1&1
Control Panel, access the 'My Account' page, then click 'User
Settings' > 'Credit Card Details'."

So wtf, they don't have my credit card details they can't just upgrade me to some $9.99 and expect me to pay after 3 months. It's such a hassle to cancel with them, they are a bunch of crooks.

[PrimoTurbo]

I can't belive you bumped your thread within 16mins.
There should be an auto ban for that.

Pay up, it's your own fault for not reading the contract.

And how exactly can I pay if I have no credit card, what the hell do they expect.

[ainsane]

And how exactly can I pay if I have no credit card, what the hell do they expect.

You can mail them a cheque or send an EMT. Read the contract next time before coming on here and crying about it. No one's to blame but yourself.

And how about instead of replying more than once in different messages... reply all in the same message.

[PrimoTurbo]

ainsane: My bad, I don't post here much. Sorry.

I just realized they want me to pay in the next 7 days for the next 3 months. Which basicly means I don't own them any money because I haven't used the service.

I've emailed them and used the online form and told them to cancel my account, I realize they can't do much at this point. They purposley made it hard for people to cancel an account so they can try to force them to pay, even if they forward this somewhere I doubt they will have much luck making me pay a head of time for a service I haven't yet used.

The site I had up was some crappy phpbb forum with like 3 people, using less then 25mb of bandwith a month, why would I pay to keep something like that up? I have deleted all the content from the site and just waiting what they have to say.

Also you can't send them any cheques, you need a credit card.

"Double click on the attached file to view the invoice and print out a hard-copy for your records. The amount shown will be debited from your credit card on file in the next 7 days. Please do NOT send us a check."

[P__S__2]

well then pay them the money, its most likely in the contract. just like if you dont cancel AOL after the free trial... they start billing u.


Ya i remember that a long time ago. I started to get billed for it. I didnt even use it.

[PrimoTurbo]

Ya i remember that a long time ago. I started to get billed for it. I didnt even use it.

Exactly my problem here, so what ended up happening in your case? Did you follow the stupid cancel fax/mail/pay them or did you just ignore them?

[MtX]

Crap.. I did that one or three free year thing too.. I hope I dont get billed.. when and how do I cancel?

[PrimoTurbo]

Crap.. I did that one or three free year thing too.. I hope I dont get billed.. when and how do I cancel?

You need to go here https://cancel.1and1.com then login, select the package you want to cancel then you need to print out the last page, date and sign it then fax or mail it to them. Could they have made it any more of a hassle? I think you also need to cancel 30 days before the package ends, I'm telling you they are a bunch of crooks. Giving you what looks like a sweet offer for free and then making it hard to cancel and etc.

[MtX]

You need to go here https://cancel.1and1.com then login, select the package you want to cancel then you need to print out the last page, date and sign it then fax or mail it to them. Could they have made it any more of a hassle? I think you also need to cancel 30 days before the package ends, I'm telling you they are a bunch of crooks. Giving you what looks like a sweet offer for free and then making it hard to cancel and etc.

If only I can find out when I have to pay by.. I too dont have a cc.. What happens if you dont pay? Will they come to door and ask you for the money? I remember subscribing to Beckett Online Monthly Magazine (first one was free) and then they kept sending me a bill for the next few months. I'd receive an invoice every week. I just ignored them and they went away.

[x-batman]

haha I have the free three year thing too, but I used a fake/made up address for it, so they can contact whoever lives at 88 Hully Dr in Toronto lol

[PrimoTurbo]

MtX I have no idea what they will do, they could get a collection agency. This is why I posted this in the first place, I'm sure someone here has already had to deal with this.

x-batman: They have your phone #, all they need to do is a reverse phone look up if they really want to get your address. They don't send people to the door, they will probally call or send mail.

[x-batman]

MtX I have no idea what they will do, they could get a collection agency. This is why I posted this in the first place, I'm sure someone here has already had to deal with this.

x-batman: They have your phone #, all they need to do is a reverse phone look up if they really want to get your address. They don't send people to the door, they will probally call or send mail.


Well for that matter my phone number is fake too lol (well now it is that cell number is LONG gone), only thing real is my name and I dont think they will have a real easy time tracking me down with that

[x-batman]

Any idea on how to check how many months we have left? I just logged into the site. Does it expire this Jan 1st?

[Kinki]

I signed up the for the 3 year too. Just the other day I was trying to figure out when my 3 years was up.... i failed. They don't show the information on my account when I logged in. Anyone have a rough idea how long it's been since promotion? 2 years?

[PrimoTurbo]

No idea how to check, they sent me an email before it expired.

[x-batman]

Found the original thread:
http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/showthread.php?t=42234&highlight=1and1


Looks like it started on Sept 2003 ran until Dec 31st 2003, so Will expire Sept 2006 - Dec 31st 2006.

[haveblue]

Try calling their support line and explaining that you want to cancel your account.. make up some reason for not being able to send in the fax or mail, and say you just don't want the service anymore.. They have great support from what I've dealt with them.. Perhaps if you get pushy enough they'll just cancel it right there over the phone with you..

[P__S__2]

Exactly my problem here, so what ended up happening in your case? Did you follow the stupid cancel fax/mail/pay them or did you just ignore them?


It took a long time, but in the end I got my money back.

[synaptech]

I just stopped using their service about 8 months ago and assumed they'd just delete an inactive account. I haven't received any bills. After reading this I went back and found my account still active, but there are no invoices. Anyway I have gone through their cancellation procedsure now. Thanks for the info.

[PrimoTurbo]

I think I'll ignore it for now, I don't feel like dealing with them on the phone. If they email me anything more, I'll reply that I want cancel the service. I'm sure they will leave me alone after a while.

It took a long time, but in the end I got my money back.

What exactly did you do? Did they know your credit card? From what I understand they only send people after you if you have a credit card they took money off it and you did a charge back or whatever. Otherwise I don't see how they can keep people accountable if they can't identify them. A name, address and phone can't do much as they can easily be faked, plus a bunch of my details are incorrect for some reason.

[synaptech]

I think I'll ignore it for now, I don't feel like dealing with them on the phone. If they email me anything more, I'll reply that I want cancel the service. I'm sure they will leave me alone after a while.

Why would they leave you alone? For everymonth of delay they'll happily continue charging you.

[PrimoTurbo]

Why would they leave you alone? For everymonth of delay they'll happily continue charging you.

I think they close the account if you can't make the first payment, they can't just continue to charge you like that when you emailed them telling you want to cancel. Plus they don't know who you really are, what are they going to do phone me? They have no way to correctly identify me with out a credit card.

The reason why I freaked out a little is because I thought already used the 3 months and I already own them the money. But I acctually need to pay them now in order to use the 3 months which means that I have to pay before I get the service. How can you even agree to a contract when they can't correctly identify you, like I said some of my details aren't even correct.

[P__S__2]

I think I'll ignore it for now, I don't feel like dealing with them on the phone. If they email me anything more, I'll reply that I want cancel the service. I'm sure they will leave me alone after a while.



What exactly did you do? Did they know your credit card? From what I understand they only send people after you if you have a credit card they took money off it and you did a charge back or whatever. Otherwise I don't see how they can keep people accountable if they can't identify them. A name, address and phone can't do much as they can easily be faked, plus a bunch of my details are incorrect for some reason.


I entered my dads check account info like an idiot, and i started to get billed monthly, im not sure what my dad did, but he got his money back in his account. It looks like they were taking money out of his credit card but im not sure how they did that since i only gave them his check info.

[PrimoTurbo]

That's exactly what I thought, however it is odd they charged his credit card if they only had his bank info. I'm sure it would probally be some law violation. Can you ask your dad how he got rid of them?

[sportsfan99]

I think they close the account if you can't make the first payment, they can't just continue to charge you like that when you emailed them telling you want to cancel. Plus they don't know who you really are, what are they going to do phone me? They have no way to correctly identify me with out a credit card.

The reason why I freaked out a little is because I thought already used the 3 months and I already own them the money. But I acctually need to pay them now in order to use the 3 months which means that I have to pay before I get the service. How can you even agree to a contract when they can't correctly identify you, like I said some of my details aren't even correct.

They will not let it guy they will keep going after you untill they get there cash.If you did not fill the details out correct that is fraud and you could be in deep for that alone.

[PrimoTurbo]

Let's see them try then, my details were correct for the most part looks like there is a couple of mistakes.

[sportsfan99]

You do know they can trakc you down very easy it will not be hard for them.

[PrimoTurbo]

Yes I know it's not hard, but they can't do much. They can harass me with an email or phonecalls into paying $30 USD for the next 3 months of service I haven't even used, or they can ignore it.

They cannot take it to court because the amount is too low and they would obviously waste more time. They cannot use any evidence since they don't have any. Plus I currently don't have any website up and I'm not using any of the services or bandwith.

Online forms or agreements are a joke anyway, no court will even look at an agreement made over the internet. How many people incorrectly fill out a online form? You have to be stupid to provide 100% accurate information online, because chances are someone may steal your identify. Plus they are based in the UK & US and I'm in Canada.

So I ask you, do u really think someone will waste time on this? I highly doubt it and I would be suprised if they do anything more then a phonecall or an email. They are at fault for not allowing people to cancel an account online and tricking people with these offers. They should force people to use a credit card if they expect them to pay, because I know most people wouldn't sign up then.

[mlerner]

Meh i'm in the same situation. I don't care if it goes to a collection agency, I gave them my cell number which has no balance on it and if they send me a letter i'll just write "RETURN TO SENDER - NOT PAYING" I didn't agree to pay anything so i'm not legally liable for it.

[P__S__2]

That's exactly what I thought, however it is odd they charged his credit card if they only had his bank info. I'm sure it would probally be some law violation. Can you ask your dad how he got rid of them?

He said he called them and explained the situation to them and they said the money will be back in his account within the next couple of weeks.

[PrimoTurbo]

My guess is that they wont even bother with it, lock your account and forget about it. They need your credit card to correctly get your details, I have no idea how a collection agency would be able to process anything with out that anyway.

If you search google 1&1 have another tricky scam with the domain renewals, they auto-renew everything and force you to pay. Since you need your cc for domains they pass it to a collection agency if you don't.

[P__S__2]

I see, well it seems they kept there word the money was back in his account within a couple of weeks. Were done with that now.

[sportsfan99]

You seem to be int the dark about what they can do.Companys don't care if you owe then $5000 or $10.00 they will hunt you down like a dog and make life afull for you.And it will affect your credit.

[felix]

Thanks for the heads up. Need to cancel mine ASAP. What a bunch of scammers.

[sportsfan99]

There not scammers its how companys work.

[coldWater]

i got the 3 years free hosting from them also.........and i also signed up another domain with them, after the domain expired, they renew it without letting me know(they emailed me the bill and charged my credit card).......it was only a few dollars and i liked the domain name anyway, so i just let it go...........but now after reading this thread, i need to check my 3 years free hosting thing........

[second2none]

You need to pay up... a contract is a contract. By putting false info in your initial sign up signifies you obviously were only looking for a freebie and not to do business with them.

[PrimoTurbo]

There not scammers its how companys work.

A lot of companies have some tricky policies but this a little ridiculous. For a domain very little companies will renew one automatically unless you tell them to or specify that you want this done before hand in some settings or something. 1and1 doesn’t tell you anything, they just renew it. Yes there is a setting to change this but this is a bit suspicious and you actually have to go and look for it. If you do a charge back they will hunt you down with a collection agency.

Also if you want to cancel you have to pay money to send them a fax or mail? Read some of the stuff on google, many people report that there fax or mail gets lost for some odd reason and they can’t cancel or that it takes ages before it gets to them. Why would a respectable company set something up like this, it’s only to trick you into joining so then they can force the money out of you and make it hard for you cancel. Someone people might have extra money so they will ignore it and then realize after a while they are paying $10 a month for something they are not even using.

Also my account got upgrades after the 6 free months to a Linux business account which is $10, what the hell? Why not the $5 one? My account wasn’t even using 15mb of space and less then 25mb of bandwidth a month. They also force you to pay 3 months ahead, which is stupid.

[PrimoTurbo]

You need to pay up... a contract is a contract. By putting false info in your initial sign up signifies you obviously were only looking for a freebie and not to do business with them.

Thing is I don't recall signing any physical contract and I'm not sure how much "I agree" button holds up in court. Hey I never said I put false info, I said I found some mistakes later which I don't recall making. Probally due to fast typing, they also cannot expect to hold a contract with someone online who has not provided any valuable verification. (credit card, driver licence) What the hell are they thinking, I'm quite certain they can only threaten me now but I guess I'll wait and see. If I end up paying someone because of this then I will make sure to convince people not to do business with them again.

[MtX]

Yep time to cancel mine too. Not like I use it much anyways.

[canuck_fan]

pay up.

[sportsfan99]

Thing is I don't recall signing any physical contract and I'm not sure how much "I agree" button holds up in court. Hey I never said I put false info, I said I found some mistakes later which I don't recall making. Probally due to fast typing, they also cannot expect to hold a contract with someone online who has not provided any valuable verification. (credit card, driver licence) What the hell are they thinking, I'm quite certain they can only threaten me now but I guess I'll wait and see. If I end up paying someone because of this then I will make sure to convince people not to do business with them again.


I Agree will hold up in court.The fact here is you really don't seem to understand how things work.

[felix]

There not scammers its how companys work.
yup, it's how scamming companies work.


And copied from Z's posts ...

Feel like you were right or maybe been a victim of false advertising?

1st - Remain calm, don't get angry / upset.

2nd - Take down as much information as possible. (names, location, time)

3rd - Report to the agencies listed below:

Better Business Bureaus - "Locate a Canadian BBB"
http://www.canadiancouncilbbb.ca/

Competition Bureau Canada
http://www.competitionbureau.gc.ca/

Canadian Consumer Information Gateway
http://consumerinformation.ca/

CTV - "OLSEN on Your Side"
http://www.bcctv.ca/olsen.jsp

[Zainrizvi]

Is this also applicable for the 1and1 6 month free hosting deal? :(

[PrimoTurbo]

Good news! After a bunch of emails to the billing department, they resolved the billing issues and canceled my account with out the need of mailing or faxing them.

I guess they are not as bad as I thought they were, however I still question the current "official" cancellation policies and the auto renewing and billing for domains.

I also suspect they would not have done anything to me if I didn’t email them, I think they only go after people who do charge backs with their credit card. I’m just glad it’s over with.