Dataflame - www.dataflame.com Review

Good Points
Actual hosting service went ok for the first year. O.K. I only have small database and bandwidth requirements.

Bad Points
Cancellation terms. READ CAREFULLY, this has to be illegal.

General Comments
I have had terrible trouble with Dataflame's (www.Dataflame.com) cancellation procedure. The problem with Dataflame.co.uk is stopping them from billing you for additional services. They will not give refunds. They even have the cheek to say they will credit against additional hosting. Duh!

I'm trying to cancel additional service. I don't want more!



I've been trapped by a very under hand procedure.



Renewal - you get a 14 day invoice notice for the next 12 months. When you finally track down any information on cancellation of service you will find you need to give 21 days advance notice.



The best I can manage is to cancel 22 days in advance for my account to be terminated on the soonest Monday from that date.



Cancellation form quote...



"All fields on this form are compulsory. Any incorrect fields, will result in your account NOT being cancelled.



Your account will be closed on Monday on completion of this form. If you wish this to be cancelled at a later time your must fill in this form at a later date. There are no exceptions to this."



Terms quote...



"Customers can cancel service any time but must give twenty one (21) days notice before the next billing period is due. All cancellations must be received via the cancellation form, located at - http://www.dataflame.co.uk/cancellation.html Phone requests will not constitute acceptance of any cancellation. Cancellations will be processed by our staff every Monday, and the account will then be removed from the server."



They refuse to accept other written requests for cancellation.

I'm getting the heavies on to it as we speak. I think they rely on people thinking that the defrauded amounts are too small to warrant getting professional legal assistance. First stop, Credit Card Company If your credit card company don't value you get a Solicitor.



Take a look at the small print yourself.



Don't say I didn't warn you.



I have other hosting packages with dataflame.co.uk that will end early 2005. I have prepared myself for the loss of 3 weeks paid hosting on each of those accounts. I will not get burnt again.



Oh and if you find yourself trapped, transfer your email and site to a new hosting and get the DNS transfered to show that no service was used after your legal expiry date. Document these procedures.