Aussie HQ's slogan is: Making the web work for you.
But they are not making my website at www.davidcohen.com.au work for me.
I was late paying $189 for a year's hosting, from May 13 2010 to May 12 next year.
Go to the naughty corner, David!
I do not have a credit card, yet the company sent me an email every day from 29 April asking for $189 payment.
Someone from Aussie HQ called, and when I told them I didn't have a credit card they sent me a different invoice.
On May 27 the $10 late fee was added to the invoice: Aussie HQ employee Cathie Barnes said the $10 was automatically generated and "covers the added expense for administration time that is expended when replying to the related emails
and re activating the service."
Ten dollars for sending email! And Aussie HQ have not re-activated the service yet! If I pay my $10, will I have to pay another $10 for that?
My pitiful pleadings to waive the $10 had no effect on Cathie.
"While I sympathise with your predicament I can't refund the late fee," she said.
"I'm not able to waive your Late Payment fee, I'm very sorry.
"Once we have received payment of this late fee, your account will be reactivated."
Just as annoying as adding a $10 late fee to the invoice is Aussie Hq's habit of emailing this with every email:
"This message is being sent to you because a member of our team (Cathie Barnes - Accounts Team Lead) believes that your issue is now resolved.
"If you wish to re-open this ticket because you believe that your issue has not been resolved or for any other reason, please reply to this email. The ticket will be re-opened and the information you provide will be added to the ticket.
"We are always interested in hearing feedback from our customers and would appreciate you taking a moment to rate your experience (and optionally refer your ticket to management for review) at..."
What do you think? Should I pay the $10 late fee?
Or should I ask for the $189 to be returned and take my business elsewhere?
I asked Cathie to send me the contract I signed, but she sent me this link instead:
http://www.aussiehq.com.au/terms
There's this:
10.2 If you exceed our fourteen day credit terms, you will be charged an $11.00 late payment fee.
But was I on credit terms?
It's a puzzle!
