I have used bizhosting.com as a website host for over 6 years. During the process of an annual renewal 18 months ago, I somehow came into contact with Catalog.com. I spoke with a customer service representative who acknowledged Catalog.com was the parent company of bizhosting.com — a complete fabrication as I'd later discover.
When the renewal period came around again — as yet none the wiser — I renewed with Catalog.com. A week later I received a bill from bizhosting.com — for my renewal on my real website. After contacting bizhosting.com, I finally was able to discern the nature of my dilemna.
I immediately contacted Catalog.com, gave them my story and was hopeful to receive a refund of my renewal since it had only been a week and I'd never utilized a single part of their service. Unfortunately, even after exchanging emails with Bob Krull, the CEO of Catalog.com, I was nowhere near getting any kind of refund. I was even told by Bob Krull they had no agent for service of process — something I thought every corporation had.
This incident is reminiscient of the old "slam" days when fly-by-night long distance phone companies would takeover an individuals long distance service and stick them with an outrageous bill. It actually took an act of Congress to stop this practice. While I'd like to keep our Federal government's mitts out of internet governence, what recourse does an average consumer have in an instance like this?
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