I have been with VolumeDrive for three months now and was quite happy until today... Here is what happened. One of the sites I have is llfk.com which is a short url redirection service. One idiot created a short url and used it in mass mailing. So, this morning my entire server was taken down due to the multiple spam complaints. I contacted VolumeDrive and explained that I cannot take the responsibility for actions of the users and it looked like the explanation was accepted. I was promised that the server will be taken back online shortly (this was around 11am). At around 3pm I sent an email asking why the server was still not online. There was no answer to that email..... I emailed four times since then and never got a reply. This is really unprofessional and their behavior turned me from being a loyal customer into the one who is looking around for places where I could host my sites.... Am I overreacting? Thanks.
No, you are not overreacting unfortunately... If the DEDICATED server is STILL down and without a RESPONSE saying they are working on it or they are trying to get it up but there is a problem or something, that would be atleast something, but to not e-mail you a response at all when you have a dedicated server is horrible Best of luck :\
imo you should wait for atleast 24 hrs. Though it seems a bit unprofessional to me, but atleast one thing is good that they have accepted your explanation.
Thank you folks for responding. I am glad to hear that I am not overreacting. The server is still offline and I they did not send me an explanation of why. sray: why do you think I should wait for at least 24 hours? the case is clear, it was not me who was spamming.... what do they need 24 hours for?
There could be a couple things that may effect how long it gets you back online. If they run their business away from the datacenter or the sublease from someone else who the servers down, those issues could prolong getting your server back online. At Maximum it should be no longer then 24 hours, if it is my suggestions start looking for another provider.
I am aware of that. The problem is that nothing is wrong with the server and no accounts hosted on the server were involved in sending spam. VolumeDrive were all too eager to shut me down without figuring out what the problem was. Also, why did they shut down the entire server and not just an affected account? It is 8:41AM eastern time, the server is still down. Anyone can recommend me where I can get a reliable dedicated hosting? Thanks.
By the way, if dedicated servers means you have the full authority for the servers. At the first place you should change the email contact in your WHM control panel. As all the complaint email will be sent to you not the company. I'm using a dedicated server hosting which are cheap and good. I subscribe the fully managed server admin but I have the full authority. The company is nearby the datacenter and if anything happen they will go there as fast as 1 hour turn around time. Do you have backup anyway? Do you subscribe by monthly or annually basis? If monthly it is the time for you to move and shop for the other dedicated hosting. I will move to the new dedicated server hosting next month, April. If you like to replace me, then tell me. I can help.
Thanks for your response pipsbank. Yes, I have the full authority over the server and I did replace the email address with mine. I do have the backup but it is on their FTP server, so I'd have to get it from there first Why are you leaving the current hosting? What is the server specs? Mine: 2GB RAM Dual 64bit CPU 125GB HD 3,000GB of data on 100MB port or unlimited on 10MB port CPANEL (unmanaged hosting) I am paying 87$ per month. Thanks.
You state above a service offered on your server was involved in spamming = a very good reason to shut you off. Providers can be shut down themselves if they do not stop spam, they can also be fined. What you wish or want them to do is also not the way most dedicated providers work.
Thanks for the explanation; I really do not know much about how they work... But this would also mean that any web site/server can be easily shut down by mass mailing to one of the availiable on the Internet email lists and having the "site to shut down" listed in the body of the message... wow, nice blackmailing technique
Not really blackmailing, if you spam you get shut down, it's pretty simple. Many dedi's will also charge you huge administration fees. When using such services on a server you really need to find a provider that will not be as anal about it. Some are worse than others I've had similar things happen to me, one server I was running had proxies and I got the axe, moved it to another provider and was promised it would be ok yet they cancelled me a few months later without even telling me why. That one took over a week before I even heard back from them!
It is at VolumeDrive.com. Before I signed up, I searched the Internet for reviews/complaints and did not find any major reported issues. And, as I said in one of my previous posts, I was quite happy for about 3 months
Thanks to everyone who responded and gave me an advice. My server is back online now. I suspended the short url service and I am not sure I will want to have it running again...
If the url service can bring you money just continue of doing it. Banned the person of sending the mass email. by the way, try backup your files and database on daily basis. i suspect the person who sent the mass mail is just someone who wants to see you collapse. dont worry, apologize to the server provider, and request for a new IP address. it seems your old IP address have been blacklisted by some ISP in other country. be careful next time. by the way your server is really cheap. i want to change to a cheaper solution as most of the revenue will go to the server's fee. good luck dear