Never, never never never use Afrihost for a VPS solution

[Fudzy]

This thread is getting perilously close to being defamatory and thus actionable. Context is always important, so my advice is: cool it, or say it elsewhere in MyBB.

What are you on about? Have you not seen the MWeb threads? You'd swear that Derek Hershaw had slept with some user's Mrs they way they go on.

 

[nand]

I accept that it's been a terrible experience for you, ghoti, but this thread is really not nice.

 

[Murmaider]

This thread is getting perilously close to being defamatory and thus actionable. Context is always important, so my advice is: cool it, or say it elsewhere in MyBB.

Just to put you in context, are you the same Arthur who used to sell the water cooling units for PC's?

 

[Arthur]

What are you on about? Have you not seen the MWeb threads? You'd swear that Derek Hershaw had slept with some user's Mrs they way they go on.

No, haven't trawled through that thread, I must confess. Just too tedious. But wherever they occur, accusations of contract breach, fraud, male fide, and theft are very serious indeed. Just sayin'.

 

[w1z4rd]

I accept that it's been a terrible experience for you, ghoti, but this thread is really not nice.

So you dont think users should be warned about a hosting liability to their business?

Hope to see you make the same complaints in threads where people complain about Vodacoms OOB.

And just so Afrimans on the same problem. The biggest problem is not the different rates that you get charged. While that is a problem the problem people have with Vodacom OOB shark is they cant put a cap on how much theyre ganna get charged for. IE, They get a virus and run up a 20k bill over night.

 

[AfriMan]

This morning I was in the old client area zone. Where I could cancel vps`s. During the course of the morning I changed to the new client area zone which I see shows your bandwidth usage clearly. How do I cancel a service in the new client area zone?

You can click on My Products > My Domains and click on the cancel button on each of your servers. This will advise you of the cancellation period (should be end of November)

 

[F1 Fan]

Im with Afri on this one. I've never not received a notification on any service I have used with them. You should have received a notification, ever consider your email account could have been a problem? There has been occasions (very few) where something is sent to me and it just never arrives. I think this thread is in bad taste.

You really can't complain about them not responding yet if you only sent it 4 hours ago.

Also, I think Afri response was clear and concise. They are quite clear on what they offer, and while more should be doe to keep you as a customer, I agree they shouldn't waive the cost and can also understand why they may feel hard done PR after a thread like this.

 

[RNJudas]

Well, if you "buy" a company for R50mil (for example).
You pay R10mil for it and say to them that you will pay that other R40mil to them if they hit key performance markers over a 5 year or 10 year period.

You then make the other company buy their product through you at a reasonable price (at the time).
You then take that other R40 mil, call it a marketing budget and subsidize your product which competes with the other company and offer it retail for far lower than the reasonable price which was given to the other company (contracts and stuff).

You have now forced the other company to have a higher cost than what you offer as retail, so a lot of the other companies subscribers move across to you, which makes it very difficult for the other company to get anywhere close to their performance markers and they are paying you above retail price for the product which they still have to resell.

At the end of the period, you have the majority of their customer base, they haven't hit their performance markers, so you don't have to pay out anything more and you gain the company for only R10mil instead of the original R50mil.

It's would be a very clever tactic, but it's probably just all in my head. </conspiracy theory>

Indeed, but it would also be a bit on the obvious side of things... but the question remains one of ethics I suppose... moral standpoints versus ruthless business practices...

If you ever open a topic of this nature do PM me. I would love to see how it goes. For now lets shy away from what seems derailment in the eyes of everyone else.

PS: Ghoti, so your keeping the support and contracts with Axxess?

 

[Murmaider]

Indeed, but it would also be a bit on the obvious side of things... but the question remains one of ethics I suppose... moral standpoints versus ruthless business practices...

If you ever open a topic of this nature do PM me. I would love to see how it goes. For now lets shy away from what seems derailment in the eyes of everyone else.

PS: Ghoti, so your keeping the support and contracts with Axxess?

Yeah, and my theory is probably derailed, but I agree, this is a debate for another day, in another topic.

 

[nand]

So you dont think users should be warned about a hosting liability to their business?

Hope to see you make the same complaints in threads where people complain about Vodacoms OOB.

And just so Afrimans on the same problem. The biggest problem is not the different rates that you get charged. While that is a problem the problem people have with Vodacom OOB shark is they cant put a cap on how much theyre ganna get charged for. IE, They get a virus and run up a 20k bill over night.

Again, as AfriMan has explained before, this is not OOB. It's overusage, deal with it. Afrihost's prices are indicated when signing up, and the R3.50/GB has a clear as daylight clause: "Quoted prices are applicable to new signups hosted at MTN data centres."
And I'm also going to reiterate what others have said - it's not sane business practice to cut a server from the network when they have reached their bandiwidth limit.

 

[w1z4rd]

Indeed, but it would also be a bit on the obvious side of things... but the question remains one of ethics I suppose... moral standpoints versus ruthless business practices...

If you ever open a topic of this nature do PM me. I would love to see how it goes. For now lets shy away from what seems derailment in the eyes of everyone else.

PS: Ghoti, so your keeping the support and contracts with Axxess?

Keeping the 60k a month uncapped accounts I have with axxess at axxess. These is even after one of their competitors offered me 50% off for 2 months if I move. Have cancelled all my services with Afrihost.

 

[AfriMan]

So you dont think users should be warned about a hosting liability to their business?

Hope to see you make the same complaints in threads where people complain about Vodacoms OOB.

And just so Afrimans on the same problem. The biggest problem is not the different rates that you get charged. While that is a problem the problem people have with Vodacom OOB shark is they cant put a cap on how much theyre ganna get charged for. IE, They get a virus and run up a 20k bill over night.

Again, with the information you provided I don't see any evidence that there was a virus or malicious activity or that you logged such an issue with us. However, again, protecting your server is your responsibility and we maintain the network and the hardware. Unless you got a virus from our data network, if your traffic infects your server, we have no way of knowing if your traffic has increased due to a promotion or your business taking off or malware running off your server.

I still think these are very different applications and scenarios. I can't think of any major business who would want their services suspended if they hit a web traffic limit - and we are in a position to say that the majority of our clients would be very upset if we implemented something like this. While you may not want more data on your phone for push notifications - having no online presence can kill your business. It really makes no sense to compare the two at all.

 

[RNJudas]

Keeping the 60k a month uncapped accounts I have with axxess at axxess. These is even after one of their competitors offered me 50% off for 2 months if I move. Have cancelled all my services with Afrihost.

I think thats wise bud. Do not derail your other practices with Axxess on account of their affiliation to Afroman. As troubling as this all maybe I think the jest of what your saying as warning as well escapes many whom are responding to this thread. Most of all its almost tragic to see the lack of resolve or even dedication. If you are in the know and you know the pitfalls and shortcomings of the tech... why not advise the clients.... just for another buck?


But I digress, we do not live in a perfect worldz.

 

[Fudzy]

Are clients allowed to opt out of OOB when signing up?

 

[w1z4rd]

Again, as AfriMan has explained before, this is not OOB. It's overusage, deal with it.

OOB has a lot to do with over usage.....

When people post on this forum to complain about Vodacom... the biggest complaint is not because they were paying R1 now its R2. They get upset that they get a 20k bill because they could not hard cap that over usage. Its the common theme for just about everyone. In fact if you paid attention to those complaints you would see people begging for a hard cap option.

Afrihost's prices are indicated when signing up, and the R3.50/GB has a clear as daylight clause: "Quoted prices are applicable to new signups hosted at MTN data centres."
And I'm also going to reiterate what others have said - it's not sane business practice to cut a server from the network when they have reached their bandiwidth limit.

Sorry, its not sane when you are reselling or have shared hosting. Perhaps if you are a tiny user with one or two clients that always have to be on... then yeah its fine. If they were so above aboard and not Vodacom like... then why not give the option to hard cap.

If you have one site that makes a fortune then yes, you dont want a cap, but 90% of websites dont make a fortune. Theyre just there to give basic information about XYZ small to medium business. They get hacked all the time. They are a liability. Do you think those 90% of people would prefer they got hard capped or do you think they want their brochure website costing them 3k?

 

[RNJudas]

Again, with the information you provided I don't see any evidence that there was a virus or malicious activity or that you logged such an issue with us. However, again, protecting your server is your responsibility and we maintain the network and the hardware. Unless you got a virus from our data network, if your traffic infects your server, we have no way of knowing if your traffic has increased due to a promotion or your business taking off or malware running off your server.

I still think these are very different applications and scenarios. I can't think of any major business who would want their services suspended if they hit a web traffic limit - and we are in a position to say that the majority of our clients would be very upset if we implemented something like this. While you may not want more data on your phone for push notifications - having no online presence can kill your business. It really makes no sense to compare the two at all.

Thats almost ironic. Most of all I fail to see why a company like Afrihost has no-one dedicated to notice such trends and advise their clients or even make a possible up-sale to avoid such pitfalls and penalties. Are you simply saying that nothing will be learnt from this entire ordeal? I mean theres a good idea. Contact your clients who are running over use and advise them of it. Upsale and offer them a better deal. Dont just slam down the bill.

 

[w1z4rd]

Again, with the information you provided I don't see any evidence that there was a virus or malicious activity or that you logged such an issue with us. However, again, protecting your server is your responsibility and we maintain the network and the hardware. Unless you got a virus from our data network, if your traffic infects your server, we have no way of knowing if your traffic has increased due to a promotion or your business taking off or malware running off your server.

I get your point. Vodacom say the exact same thing about their users who go out of bundle. An end user often gets a virus, they go OOB, run a big bill because it it was so much over usage at high tariffs. Vodacom just tells them its their responsibility etc etc. Exact same excuses. THe client is responsible for the PC. Its their problem, etc. And no, Vodacom refuses to give clients the option of a hard cap to protect themselves from viruses.

I still think these are very different applications and scenarios. I can't think of any major business who would want their services suspended if they hit a web traffic limit l.

The majority of companies are SME`s. Most websites are SME "brochure" style websites with some information on their services and products. You telling me they would rather have a 3k bill than an option to a hard cap? Dont believe you for a second.

If you are a large web business or a huge company (and they are the minority of websites) then yeah, what you say has some merit.

 

[w1z4rd]

Are clients allowed to opt out of OOB when signing up?

No there is no option to opt out or set a cap.

 

[nand]

OOB has a lot to do with over usage.....

When people post on this forum to complain about Vodacom... the biggest complain is not because they were paying R1 now its R2. They get upset that they get a 20k bill because they could not hard cap that over usage. Its the common theme for just about everyone. In fact if you paid attention to those complaints you would see people begging for a hard cap option.




Sorry, its not sane when you are reselling or have shared hosting. Perhaps if you are a tiny user with one or two client that always have to be on... then yeah its fine. If they were so above aboard and not Vodacom like... then why not give the option to hard cap.

I have a Top-Up contract from Vodacom. I choose it because I have a data-intensive phone and am well aware of the OOB rates on Vodacom. If however I had a business, and needed a reliable(OOB-capable) way of communicating with my customers I would have gotten an appropriate contract.

Seriosuly though, you host clients' websites(etc.). It's then your responsibility to also monitor the traffic procuded by your customers.

 

[w1z4rd]

I have a Top-Up contract from Vodacom.

Afrihost dont give you that billing option. Its OOB or GTFO

Seriosuly though, you host clients' websites(etc.). It's then your responsibility to also monitor the traffic procuded by your customers.

No, I resold a VPS. I give my clients privacy so I do not login as root to check what they are up to. Had I known I would get a 3k bill and notifications would just stop I might have chosen a different provider. Hindsight is a perfect science.