9web and VentraIP Business Practices

A small web provider 9Web advertised a number hosting services a year ago. One of them was a low cost yearly plan $12 / year assured to stay that way for the lifetime of your account.

In April 2015 9Web was purchased by the VentraIP, a much bigger web provider. Statement by VentraIP promised that Any existing hosting service with 9web will be transition and migrated to a VentraIP Australia equivalent plan and “Generally, you will be moved to the same, if not cheaper, monthly priced plan.”

However, at the end of their billing period with 9Web migrated customers are given an invoice of $4.95 a month, which is almost 5 times more expensive than 9Web offering ($12 a year vs $59.40 a year) with take it or leave attitude.

Do you think it is acceptable way to do business by 9Web? To me it feels that those promises were made to lure customers and knowing in advance that business model was not sustainable and services would not be provided for long.

Would you say that VentraIP with its statements is creating a misleading impression to the customers that they will be getting same service for same money where in practice they don’t?

Poll Options

  • 7
    VentraIP should stick with 9Web pricing and its own promises
  • 3
    VentraIP statement and new pricing is fair

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Comments

  • I can't find it, but I'm 99% certain that VentraIP said later on that they would not honour the original plans from 9web.

  • Have you asked them if they will honour it? Are they also now billing you by the month or still for the full year?

    I got my web hosting with that deal as well (or similar). When I renewed with VentraIP it was the same price but less GB included on the server for emails. I just rang them and they made it the same as the original one without a problem.

    • I did ask them and got told off. It is per month.

      • How did you "get told off"

        • Nothing they can do about it. Pay or move.

  • +1

    They didn't honor mine either and i was very disappointed. I moved to zuver their sister company when a promotion was on for a pretty reasonable price (for the first year). I tried to get a discount but they would not budge. I still have 7 domains with them unfortunately and can't change until renewal or I get hit with even more fees.

  • -1

    I understand that you do not like it, but VentraIP is offering (surely) better service and better on-time than old company.

    Say, XYZ lodge (no-star) has been acquired by 3-star or 5-star hotel chain, they surely increase the price of their regular monthly customers after initial term is over.

    But their advertisement by Store Representative says "This deal is for the lifetime of your account!", if you have this in writing, you can go to Consumer Affairs. See what they think.

    • 9web was just a reseller of "established web hosting companies", so not like there will be noticeable difference, just different packaging.

    • +2

      but VentraIP is offering (surely) better service and better on-time than old company.

      Lol. 9Web were onselling VentraIP's service. They literally had a multi-hosting account with VentraIP. If you checked the DNS at the time it showed VentraIP, not 9Web.

      This deal is for the lifetime of your account!", if you have this in writing, you can go to Consumer Affairs.

      Lol again. OP's account with 9Web has been closed. As in its life has come to an end. They kept their promise :)

  • You may want to post this as well to http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum/116
    You'll get a reply from the Angelo himself, pretty sure he's not an ozbargainer…

  • Zuver's 90% off is still working, might give them a go.

    • +1

      Yep - same.

      Can't stand it when companies offer incredible deals "for life" then close down or are acquired (and thus deal nullified) within a year or two. Not surprised, but still ticked off about it.

    • Well, zuver appears to be not much of value, luring with cheap hosting and then saying they don't allow 3rd party SSL, please buy from us for $50 and more. Guess, that's the reason their SSL FAQ is empty. Any suggestions?

      • Did you contact Zuver and get that response directly? Reason I ask is because last year I chatted with a Zuver CSR and they reluctantly agreed to allow me a 3rd party SSL. They said that they prefer to sell their own product but if a customer comes with their own SSL then they will accept it.

        I don't think Let's Encrypt SSL's are accepted by Zuver or VentraIP yet, but a paid Commodo should be fine.

        • Yes, I did actually send them paid comodo certificate with all the stuff required to set it up, they said they cannot do 3rd party ones. They told me to move back to VentraIP, lol.

        • @JetBombat: Bummer. Thanks for the heads up. Guess they have changed their policy in the past 12 months.

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