Archive for the 'problems' Category

1and1 sucks

Published May 2nd, 2009 in fool me once, once bitten twice shy, poor service, customer support nightmare, blacklist, renewal scam, problems, bad registrars, 1and1 sucks and sucks. 2 Comments

1and1 is a domain registrar. I used them last year to register a novelty domain that now has a successful blog on it. I chose them because - at the time - their price was the best around. I intended to transfer the domain to my favourite registrar (GoDaddy) before it expired.

However about 10 months in I got an automated email from 1and1 saying they had just charged my credit card, I logged into the control panel and say that “Auto renew” or something similar was enabled, so I blamed myself for not turning that off previously, and for not cancelling the PayPal billing agreement.

However, a WHOIS showed that 1and1 hadn’t actually added another year to the expiration date. I emailled their customer support address and the responder, whom I assume is based in India, said, in a roundabout manner, that the extra year would only be added on the expiration date.

Now, if you know about domains, then you’ll realise the problem this creates. If I transfer the domain away, say today, then by the time that original expiration date comes around the domain will be with another registrar and 1and1 will get to keep my money, without having provided any service, that is what is known as 100% profit, good for them, but a textbook rip off for me.

Today I got an automated email from 1and1 reminding me to renew the domain. WTF they already took the money, sounds like my friend in India doesn’t know what he’s talking about. I have little time to bad registrars, and having encountered multiple problems the time has come to jump ship, and transfer the domain away. Yes, I’ll lose USD 8.88 approx, but it has to be done.

Goodbye 1and1 I will never use your services ever again, this was your a second chance.

Electronic Invoices

Published May 17th, 2007 in problems and uncategorized. 0 Comments

Years ago whenever you bought something of value you were given a receipt, or to use the business term an invoice.


An invoice is a document that shows the Name of item, Value of Item, Value Added Tax, Delivery Cost, and so on.


These days many companies are only providing electonic invoices. In the best case via a PDF or image which you can print, but in the worst case just as a thank you message “receipt” on a website.


If you are running a business this is a problem, as you should have an invoice to match every debit, and such an invoice should indicate how much VAT was paid. An example of a bad website is the Companies Registration Office, not only do they exercise poor email practice, they also provide only a “receipt” for access charges to filed documents. Who knows what the VAT rate is for this service? Continue reading ‘Electronic Invoices’

1and1.com Problems

Published May 2nd, 2007 in problems, sucks, registrar, domains and uncategorized. 1 Comment

1and1.com is a US based domain reseller that uses the ICANN registrar SCHLUND+PARTNER AG. They are selling the gTLDs of com,net,org,info for an amazing low USD 5.99.


That beats GoDaddys USD 9.17 - which is GoDaddys actual price, they might advertise something lower but in reality once you reach the checkout you’ll find they add the ICANN fee and your promotion code you were relying on won’t work.


So, a domain for USD 5.99, cool. I had to register one straight away! But yet today, two days after pressing the Submit button on my credit card details, the domain is not registered. For any other product that might be acceptable but not with domains, as while they are drinking coffee, or whatever they do in the 1and1 office, someone else could register the domain, at any second. A search reveals that 1and1 used to only accept customers from the US and UK, now they will accept customers from anywhere, but I guess that manually process the credit card numbers.


1and1 are thus added to my Registrar blacklist, where they join EasySpace. Continue reading ‘1and1.com Problems’

How not to handle email

Published August 22nd, 2006 in do not, egovernment, problems, sucks, irish government and uncategorized. 1 Comment

How not to handle email, an example of bad practice in the Irish Public Service.
The Driving Test Section, Department of Transport, Ireland looks like a very modern organisation embracing the internet.


On its FAQ page it says

Q. What happens if I must cancel my test appointment? A. It is imperative that you notify the Department as soon as possible. Another person, who will have been waiting for some time, will be able to take up your time slot. You can cancel by writing to Driver Testing Section, Department of Transport, Government Offices, Ballina, Co. Mayo, or by fax at (096) 24400, or by telephone during office hours LoCall 1890 40 60 40 or on the 24 hour, 7 day, cancellation service at (096) 24250. You can also cancel by email via this website. If you give at least 10 days notice and you have not previously cancelled more than one appointment on foot of this application your test fee will not be forfeited.


Note how they don’t give the email address though. When then mention writing they give the address, and when they mention phoning they give the number, but then they mention emailling they don’t give the address, after some browsing it appears to be DrivingTest@Transport.ie.


So you type a simple email, saying hello this is xyz, your ref 123, please cancel my test”, you press send, and think you are finished. But wait here comes the auto reply.

—–Original Message—–
From: Postmaster@environ.ie [mailto:Postmaster@environ.ie]On Behalf Of
DrivingTest
Sent: [removed]
To: [removed]
Subject: Re: [removed]

If your query relates to:

1. Receiving an acknowledgement of your application for a driving test, you should receive an acknowledgement letter by post within one week of applying for the driving test. This applies to both postal and internet applications.

2. Test cancellations and rescheduling, please use our automated phone service 1890 40 60 40 with options. You will receive written confirmation within 5 working days.

3. When you can expect your test to be scheduled, our average waiting time per region is:

· North Leinster………50 weeks
· South Leinster……..50 weeks
· West………………….27 weeks
· North West…………27 weeks
· South East………….37 weeks
· South West…………27 weeks

Waiting times for individual test centres are available on our web site www.drivingtest.ie or by calling 1890 40 60 40 and choosing option 3 when prompted.

4. Getting an early test appointment - Early test appointments can only be arranged if you require a full licence in connection with your work duties or if you are leaving the country for a period of at least 3 months and will require a full licence ahead of the trip. Proof of this requirement (a letter from your employer certifying that you need a full licence in order to carry out your employment duties or copies of tickets/booking of travel abroad) must be posted or faxed to this office. We will then prioritise your application.

5. Complaints - If you wish to make a formal complaint concerning a driving test, please write to the Customer Services Officer, Driver Testing Section, Department of Transport, Government Offices, Ballina, Co. Mayo.

6. Any other query, please phone a Customer Service Representative on 1890 40 60 40
…

To translate that fluff into english, the email says thanks for your email, we will never read it instead phone us. So the Department has an impressive letterhead, boasting multiple modes of communication, saying they have an email address, but in reality its a dead end. It’s like saying you have a phone number, but if anyone calls all they hear is a recorded message saying “Thanks for your call, to contact us write us a letter”! But hey, I hear you exclaim, I thought that drivingtest.ie was an egovernment site? Well it is but unfortunately while their is an impressive booking form, there is no contact form.

Continue reading ‘How not to handle email’

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