Can I sue Godaddy for displaying false statement on my website?

Discussion in 'Legal Issues' started by Bigchief, Oct 23, 2009.

  1. #1
    Hey guys,
    I am having problem understanding why Godaddy is putting a false content on my site saying "This page is hosted free, courtesy of GoDaddy.com®
    Copyright © 2009 GoDaddy.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved." I am paying $4.99 a month for their economy hosting plan, and I also use Website Tonight to build my website. Each time I contact their support team they always give me irrelevant answers.

    Since I'm using Website Tonight which they claim is free; Godaddy displays their ad banner at the top of my web page... including this content at the bottom of the ad "This page is hosted free, courtesy of GoDaddy.com® Copyright © 2009 GoDaddy.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved."

    Although I don't know much about the whole website building thing... but I'm quite sure that it is wrong for Godaddy to claim that they're hosting my website for free when I'm being charged $4.99 a month, and they are very prompt when it comes to taking money from you.

    After contacting their support team, the only option they're giving me is to upgrade my website tonight in order to remove the ads or I should cancel my hosting account. I have been thinking about filing a law suit against them for this action, but I need some clarification on what to do about the situation. Your responses are gladly appreciated, thanks.
     
    Bigchief, Oct 23, 2009 IP
  2. pctutorialsonline

    pctutorialsonline Peon

    Messages:
    43
    Likes Received:
    0
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #2
    I don't think its worth it buddy. Just change hosting providers. A good one for that matter.
     
    pctutorialsonline, Oct 23, 2009 IP
  3. hostlonestar

    hostlonestar Peon

    Messages:
    1,514
    Likes Received:
    50
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #3
    Have you read their ToS? More than likely you can't. And why would you bother? You'd get a few hundred bucks out of it and spend tens of thousands.
     
    hostlonestar, Oct 23, 2009 IP
  4. Dave Zan

    Dave Zan Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    2,320
    Likes Received:
    121
    Best Answers:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    115
    #4
    Goes to show that some people are just too damn lawsuit-happy.

    Read your agreement as lonestar said. Suing them will cost you, and you have
    zero guarantees you'll win.

    OTOH, is your domain name attached to your hosting account with them? That
    often happens when your hosting control panel doesn't have the domain in it.

    Assuming it's attached, you might want to put some content in your hosting.
     
    Dave Zan, Oct 23, 2009 IP
  5. pubdomainshost.com

    pubdomainshost.com Peon

    Messages:
    1,277
    Likes Received:
    21
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #5
    It would be premature to make a 'guess' and give you advice to file a case. From my experience i can tell you a few things about hosting and website tonight accounts.
    a. You get a free hosting account with every domain you purchase EVEN IF you have purchased hosting. If you have not utilized the hosting account and opted to use the credit for free hosting account - GoDaddy has every right to display the banners (attached with free hosting) and thus not liable for any action.
    b. You need to use your domain - with the hosting account you purchased @ $4.99 / month and 'create your own content'. GoDaddy will not display any banners on content you put on your paid hosting account.

    Hope this helps!
     
    pubdomainshost.com, Oct 23, 2009 IP
  6. goliath

    goliath Active Member

    Messages:
    308
    Likes Received:
    11
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    60
    #6
    yeah you're paying for hosting then using free web site tonight.

    Web site tonight uses it's own hsoting it's a separate service. If you're happy with the web site from web site tonight then cancel the hosting plan (tell them you did not understand and ask politely for a refund, they may help you if you are not a jerk) and upgrade the web site tonight account instead.

    In america, you can sue someone becuase you're confused. It's just not usually profitable for you to do that.
     
    goliath, Oct 24, 2009 IP
  7. wildogre

    wildogre Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    1,018
    Likes Received:
    8
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    128
    #7
    You should check out the terms of economy may be it include such a term. Moreover contact directly to godaddy team they can help you better in this regard.
     
    wildogre, Oct 24, 2009 IP
  8. ractors

    ractors Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    1,979
    Likes Received:
    14
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    140
    #8
    they are correct. You paid for hosting not for website tonight. Hosting and website tonight both are different.

    cancel that free website tonight and point domain to their hosting account then those aid will be disappear.

    This is little confusion with hosting and website tonight.
     
    ractors, Oct 24, 2009 IP
  9. DubDubDubDot

    DubDubDubDot Peon

    Messages:
    458
    Likes Received:
    13
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #9
    Forget about your preposterous lawsuit. Go work at McDonalds instead..... and read some web development tutorials so that you don't have to use page generators.
     
    DubDubDubDot, Oct 24, 2009 IP
  10. Bigchief

    Bigchief Peon

    Messages:
    19
    Likes Received:
    0
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #10
    Thanks guys for the responses. Godaddy is so confusing, I just noticed that I have been paying for a hosting account that I never used or even setup. The few times I contacted Godaddy's support team about why I have such false statement on my web page when I'm paying $4.99 monthly, they always told me to upgrade my website tonight and I won't see any more ads. Instead of them telling me that I am not yet using the hosting account I'm paying for... they always gave me irrelevant solutions.
    I just canceled the website tonight account today, and also requesting for a refund or credit for all the previous monthly charges.

    P.S- About 4 months ago, when I canceled my credit card on file. Godaddy use to display a reminder that the hosting for my website will expire if I don't provide a valid card to continue the billing. So, before the last few days of the expiration, I then renewed my hosting with paypal instead. Why are they so confusing and tricky? all because they want to make money? Where's the loyalty to their customers? I just don't get it.
     
    Bigchief, Oct 24, 2009 IP
  11. instant87

    instant87 Active Member

    Messages:
    626
    Likes Received:
    7
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    80
    #11
    Don't use godaddy as a web host. Use a hosting company that is 100% dedicated to hosting... the most popular and well-liked is HostGator.
     
    instant87, Oct 24, 2009 IP
  12. averyz

    averyz Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    1,228
    Likes Received:
    167
    Best Answers:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    115
    #12
    Godaddy sucks.

    But what would you say your damages were? You can’t really say they messed up a free site they let me use now I am out a free site.
     
    averyz, Oct 24, 2009 IP
  13. DubDubDubDot

    DubDubDubDot Peon

    Messages:
    458
    Likes Received:
    13
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #13
    The OP said he is new, so GoDaddy hosting is still fine. Especially since it is $5 month to month.
     
    DubDubDubDot, Oct 24, 2009 IP
  14. RectangleMan

    RectangleMan Notable Member

    Messages:
    2,825
    Likes Received:
    132
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    210
    #14
    Why not exert your right as a dissatisfied customer and get new hosting? Seems to make more sense than suing and to be honest. You won't sue and it's likely their TOS is airtight anyways.

    For $5 a month you can get a better host anyways.
     
    RectangleMan, Oct 25, 2009 IP
  15. YugoSlavac

    YugoSlavac Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    1,345
    Likes Received:
    15
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    105
    #15
    Are you honestly going to sue somebody because they have a banner or text saying that they're hosting your website? How about this, since you think that you can sue everybody, start your own web hosting company and host your own damn domains and websites, idiot.

    Yugo,
    :)
     
    YugoSlavac, Oct 25, 2009 IP
  16. elvis00

    elvis00 Peon

    Messages:
    33
    Likes Received:
    0
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #16
    Of course you can sue them but i think it would not be worth it after the TOS.
     
    elvis00, Oct 25, 2009 IP
  17. WebsterContent

    WebsterContent Peon

    Messages:
    1,154
    Likes Received:
    10
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #17
    Sue them for your $5. You have no damages. Sure, hire a lawyer for a couple grand, waste GoDaddy's time, and maybe, if you get lucky, you'll get a gumball out of it.
     
    WebsterContent, Oct 25, 2009 IP