Internet Fraud, Post Traumatic Stress and Feeling Powerless Against Bullies
Posted: Saturday, February 18, 2012
by Jennifer Stewart
Stepping out of History
A couple of years ago, I signed up with 1and1.com, a hosting company. Just over $6 a month to host more domains than I needed. The deal was that they would bill every 6 months in advance and I had to agree to a stop order on my Paypal account but if at any point I wanted to cancel I could, by logging and clicking “cancel my account”.
Last year I decided I was never going to use that hosting company so I logged into my account and clicked the magic words. Alas that there was a problem with security and I was told to call a number in the US. I tried it and was told no such number exists. I sent 1and1.com admin an email explaining my predicament.
I received a reply saying I had to cancel through the same telephone number! This happened a couple of times, and I eventually gave up and left it. The next time I was billed, I emailed again saying I was cancelling my account and did not want to be billed again. I got billed again. In September I tried to cancel again, and went through the same rigmarole. This time I demanded that I not be billed again and my email was rude.
They sent me another number to call. But it was busy all the time. Then I got an invoice; they were about to bill me again. Rage. Blind fury. Scabs from my bankruptcy ripped off. They can do what they want with me. I sent off another angry rude email, threatening to expose them to CNN and BBC if they didn’t cancel my account, demanding that they not bill me again.
Having told me for more than 6 months that it couldn’t be done online, they did it for me. Online. Without me doing anything. So much for their protestations about the importance of security. I logged in, and the status of my account read “CANCELLED”. I emailed them thanking them and asking for email confirmation. Relief. I’m not powerless.
Next day $41 went out of my Paypal account and I got an email saying they sent me a confirmation email (lies) but I didn’t click the link in it. I tried to log into my account but it was blocked. Volcanic, stifling rage. I can’t breathe. Heart in overdrive. I accused them of fraud and said I would notify CNN, Richard Quest, BBC, and the Internet Crime Complaint Center, (a collaboration between the FBI and White Collar Crime in the US). I demanded my money back.
I got an email saying my account had been cancelled. The next day I received an invoice for another $41. Unbelievable. But I wasn’t just angry, my sense of powerlessness was terrifying. If I refuse to pay will they come and get me? My bankruptcy fear all over again.
I emptied my Paypal account – I had $50 in it – and asked Paypal to investigate. Within a day they called me and blocked 1and1 from billing me again. Then I spoke to their fraud division, who said they would get my original $41 back. Today I see that 1and1 paid me back. I can’t explain what it felt like to have someone take my side and protect me.
There was a time when bullies like 1and1 overwhelmed me and drove me into the ground. Never again. But it was a wakeup call. I’m still vulnerable inside. Post traumatic stress takes a long time to get over.
I received a reply saying I had to cancel through the same telephone number! This happened a couple of times, and I eventually gave up and left it. The next time I was billed, I emailed again saying I was cancelling my account and did not want to be billed again. I got billed again. In September I tried to cancel again, and went through the same rigmarole. This time I demanded that I not be billed again and my email was rude.
They sent me another number to call. But it was busy all the time. Then I got an invoice; they were about to bill me again. Rage. Blind fury. Scabs from my bankruptcy ripped off. They can do what they want with me. I sent off another angry rude email, threatening to expose them to CNN and BBC if they didn’t cancel my account, demanding that they not bill me again.
Having told me for more than 6 months that it couldn’t be done online, they did it for me. Online. Without me doing anything. So much for their protestations about the importance of security. I logged in, and the status of my account read “CANCELLED”. I emailed them thanking them and asking for email confirmation. Relief. I’m not powerless.
Next day $41 went out of my Paypal account and I got an email saying they sent me a confirmation email (lies) but I didn’t click the link in it. I tried to log into my account but it was blocked. Volcanic, stifling rage. I can’t breathe. Heart in overdrive. I accused them of fraud and said I would notify CNN, Richard Quest, BBC, and the Internet Crime Complaint Center, (a collaboration between the FBI and White Collar Crime in the US). I demanded my money back.
I got an email saying my account had been cancelled. The next day I received an invoice for another $41. Unbelievable. But I wasn’t just angry, my sense of powerlessness was terrifying. If I refuse to pay will they come and get me? My bankruptcy fear all over again.
I emptied my Paypal account – I had $50 in it – and asked Paypal to investigate. Within a day they called me and blocked 1and1 from billing me again. Then I spoke to their fraud division, who said they would get my original $41 back. Today I see that 1and1 paid me back. I can’t explain what it felt like to have someone take my side and protect me.
There was a time when bullies like 1and1 overwhelmed me and drove me into the ground. Never again. But it was a wakeup call. I’m still vulnerable inside. Post traumatic stress takes a long time to get over.
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Top-level comments on this article: (6 total)I once, no, twice, experienced such internet billing scam because of my application for a domain and their so-called hosting system. I can relate to your predicament. Frustrated, angry and helpless when they emailed me to say they had charged me for the next payment and the next payment without any notice and I found it useless. We are on the losing side as far as hosting is concerned especially when we decided to give up the whole thing. To cancel it takes effort and time . I don't need any now.
I see that you should be happy to use Wordpress, Jennifer.Sorry to hear you had the same experience, Hilda.
Yes, I use Wordpress, but I've also discovered that you can get your own domain through blogger, so I've just got one. They give you templates (not as many as Wordpress, but it's fine) and you can customise them. Google hosts the domain for you, for $15 a year! Actually Wordpress does it too.
So it's bye bye ruthless hosting companies!!Good luck to you, Jennifer.
I would have been so angry, I would have been speechless. Ah, the internet is filled with people taking advantage of you - especially writers! Glad you got your money back, though!
I was speechless at first, Fran, then I had a good temper tantrum and said all manner of unrepeatable things and felt a lot better - but I felt best when I got that money back! The internet is scary, can't trust anybody.
Hi Jennifer.
What a horrible experience! I can sympathize. I would probably have been losing sleep over it to boot. I'm glad to hear that Paypal got it straightened out for you. And it IS good to know that they will go to bat for you.
Hope it's all smooth sailing for you from now on. (Oooh! I use a lot of metaphors didn't I. :))
Hugs,
DianneThanks, Dianne. Well, I'm going to be more careful from now on, no signing up for anything with anybody who wants a monthly commitment. As for the metaphors, I like them!
That's one of the scariest monsters of internet buying- one that needs to be killed. You were lucky to find that knight in shining armor to come to your rescue- even if you did have to fight to find it- sometimes they don't even exist to be found, and we must resort to the bottom line and change our card number to prevent further theft. You thought it may exist- went in search of it, and found it! Congratulations on your tenacity and success. Always EllaThanks, Ella. I'm just glad I didn't have to be ulitimately punished to learn my lesson.
Glad you got your problem solved by Pay Pal.Thanks, Elle. I was so impressed with their prompt and effective service.
You write it in a beautiful manner.
You are lucky to know what to do, There are many people who are victims of such companies and don't know what happens to them or what to doThanks Abolghasem. You're right; so many innocent people get victimised in this way, it makes me so angry.
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