I'd like to tell You a short story about my experience with Steadfast.net hosting, and maybe ask for advice.
I've been using Steadfast.net shared hosting since 18th June 2008, never really had a chance to complain. I liked the fact that I knew what I got, I could easily change my plan and the few times I needed customer service it was quick and excellent. Well, up until few days ago.
Without any prior information and notification, on 28th of October I got a mail informing me, that from now on, shared hosting will be maintained by Fluid Hosting, as they sold their shared hosting operations to them. The exact wording:
I’ll get right to the point: Steadfast Networks is selling its entire shared hosting operation to Fluid Hosting effective immediately.
Mail received: 2010-10-28 01:06
I didn't like the fact that, without first informing me, a pretty long lasting client in my opinion (well, for me two and almost half of a year is rather long), they do so serious stuff. But ok, that was just another reason for me to finally close my account, since I wasn't using it for some time anyway.
With that in my mind I proceeded to get my money transfered back to me and then cancel the account. Unfortunately two problems happened.
The first one, the very light one compared to the other, there is something called Balance on your account on steadfast. I always thought that it shows the current amount of money you have transferred to the account which you can use for anything you want or get it back. But, the thing is, whenever you change hosting plan, the amount is updated... by a wrong amount. Instead of $230 (which is displayed on my Balance) I SHOULD be eligible to circa $80. Fine, I can live with that. But I am not going to see the money, you see!
I did some mailing between Fluid Hosting staff and Steadfast billing staff. Apparently, Fluid Hosting can't refund me the money, because they haven't even got it (as I paid it to steadfast, half a year ago), and Steadfast apparently CAN NOT refund me because I am no longer their Customer! This is the exact wording of a message I got from Fluid Hosting CEO:
Unfortunately at this moment, we will not be able to issue refund. Steadfast has confirmed that they will not do refund and we are not in any position to refund you for the money that we have never received in the first place. However, even though we have never received your payment, we are still committed to provide you the service you already paid for. [...]
Unfortunately, however, we will not be able to give any refund.
I can't really blame Fluid, since I can feel their situation, and it seems as if they did what they could. But I do feel cheated by Steadfast, dang it, it might be just $80, but it is still money rightfully belonging to me. Damn it, not only I, but now imagine anybody else who decided to withdraw from their hosting because of the owner changing! It's double win for them - money from selling service and money from never-going-to-happen refunds!
The point is: If you were considering getting steadfast as your host, take into account this situation and think twice.
Now the big question I have (aside from my need to tell you this story) is: what the funk am I supposed to do know.
I have 2.2 month of additional free service for being a long standing customer, and due to the situation I was also offered one additional free month from Fluid, but dang, I don't need it. I haven't been using this hosting since August. I can't (and don't want) to take this to court because A) it's ridiculously low amount of money; B) I am from Poland and they are from Chicago;
I know I can just gulp this money and live on, but... It is irritating!
I am terribly sorry if this isn't a place where one should inquire about this things, but that's the best I could think of. Thank for your time.
To be fair, I just got my refund actually, it seems that Steadfast decided to provide refunds for a limited time (mayhap too many unsatisfied users?).
As for the actual question, I thought it was fairly obvious from the words Now the big question I have is: what the funk am I supposed to do know. though maybe lack of question mark could've been misleading. What should I do now, considering the situation? But since the problem has been fixed, the question is not needed anymore. Thanks anyway, for your time.
