12 Apr 08 Another GISOL Fraud Story
I signed up with Global Internet Solutions on 08/06/2003. I was drawn to GISOL’s advertisement of unlimited space, unlimited bandwidth, unlimited sites, and free domain. However, you do not advertise that the domain name will not be purchased in your name. So, like any other person that has a domain name, I came to rely on my personal name and other names I purchased for clients. The script on GISOL’s home page that says their $5.94 per month deal runs out in so many hours. However, that updates and the time changes. I purchased 5 domain names through them, before I figured out the truth; the names weren’t registered to me. I have made countless calls and wasted hours, because operators at GISOL said I could transfer the name, it was mine, and that I just had to contact sales. I called every department and when I called sales they told me to email sales. I’d talk to tech support and they’d tell me to contact sales. After finally getting a truthful response and finding out the bitter truth, I was told I could not move my domain names. I have stuck it out with GISOL for this reason and this reason alone. Support has sent me in circles and website uptime has been horrible.
Two of the domain names I purchased through GISOL were purchased on behalf of clients. One of them animalagents.com, whom decided they wanted someone else to work on the site. That was fine with me, but I had to change the DNS (Domain Name Server) of the website so the site could be served through a different hosting company. I ended up trying for three months to get the DNS of animalagents.com changed and a GISOL operator told me the only way to do it was to update my account. This required me to purchase 3 years in advance at $19.95 per month. I didn’t want to purchase 3 years in advance, but I was stuck with them and I did I didn’t want to anger my previous client. When I purchased the account, he refused to tell me the total for the three years (said he wasn’t authorized). He also wouldn’t let me use a credit card and he wouldn’t tell me the grand total, only the monthly rate. He said I had to void a check and give him my account information. I gulped and purchased the account. It was opened 5/24/07 for a total of $718.20. After months of agonizing the DNS of animalagents.com was finally changed.
A few months later the new person working on animalagents.com emailed and asked me to change the DNS again…no problem. I called Global Internet Solutions on October 11, 2007, a guy by the name of Chris answered and said that the previous account was done all wrong and that I should have opened up a different account. He said it would be cheaper than the previous account and they were running a huge promotion through MasterCard. He said the account is $29.95 per month and I would have to purchase three years, but their special made 20 of the months only $95.40. He also told me it was an instant rebate. I asked him what the total would be and he said $95.40. I said, “What about the other 16 months?” and he said, “It is only 20 months.” He also told me I could get a refund for the pro-rated amount of the previous account in 8 months. I gave him my credit card number and felt really uneasy. I felt as though he was trying to confuse me.
The next day, I got a very unprofessional looking certified letter in the mail saying GISOL charged my credit card $1,078.20. I broke down and cried. I didn’t understand why it was necessary for them to pay $5.21 to send out a receipt certified unless it was a poor attempt to cover their tracks.
I called Global Internet Solutions on 10/15/07 to try to find a resolution. I started to suspect that I was talking to the same person every time, but under a different name. I asked the operator (Alex) for Chris, but was given Adam. Adam said Chris could not answer because he had a family emergency. I had a very long conversation with Adam. I felt like I was being manipulated. During the conversation he also told me the upgrade was mandatory. I said that Chris told me there was an instant rebate. Adam said,” Yes, we “instantly” fill out the paperwork and you get the refund in 8 months.” I said that wasn’t what I was told. Then he told me they had a huge promotion with Master Card and that 20 of the months were $75.00. He then told me that in 8 months time I would receive a full refund of the $1,078. I didn’t believe it and I wasn’t sure what to say back, so that was the end of the conversation. During the conversation I complained about the certified envelope I received with the receipt. He said Authorize.net mailed it.
The next day 10/16/07, I called back. The operator had a fake Russian accent. He then transferred me to a person that said his name was Shawn and that his representative number was 57382. I told Shawn, I couldn’t afford to be out $1,078.00 for the next 8 months, I didn’t authorize the charge in the first place, and that I wanted my old account back. He said that wasn’t possible and that I talked to him yesterday and he explained it. I told him, “Yesterday your name was Adam.” I got in a pretty heavy argument with him. He said that the previous conversation was recorded and that he would contact a MasterCard representative to review the conversation while I was on the line with him. I heard another voice I had heard before (He sounded like the operator). The “MasterCard representative” who called himself “Josh” (rep. #4366) told me I was incorrect and that I was told I’d get a rebate in 8 months for the total amount. I was infuriated and felt helpless. He didn’t replay the previous conversation. I told them both that I would have never agreed to a charge of $1078.00. I asked the MasterCard representative how to get in contact with him through MasterCard and he said he was not permitted to give me that information.
As soon as the charge showed up on my card I called MasterCard to dispute it and cancelled my credit card to prevent anymore-fraudulent charges. I also asked the MasterCard operator if there were any promotions being run through Global Internet Solutions. He said all the promotions were listed on the MasterCard website. I scoured the promotions and didn’t find anything related to Global Internet Solutions. I cancelled my Global Internet Solutions account. My previous websites now have messages that say account for domain has been suspended. I no longer have 5 domain names animalagents.com, julie-fisher.com, corrientecattle.com, and equestriansource.com, juliefishermusic.com and impactdigitaldesign.com. I’ve relied heavily on julie-fisher.com. It is where my online digital design portfolio was. I have to replace all of my business cards because they listed that domain. They refuse to give my names back. I have contacted other hosting companies that purchase names on behalf of the client and were told they don’t keep the name for themselves; they purchase it in the clients’ name. I feel taken advantage of, tricked, defeated, and manipulated and they have damaged my reputation as a web designer with two of my clients.
I have reported them to IC3 and the Better Business Bureau. I found out GISOL has a rating of “F” with the Better Business Bureau. Since my ordeal I have searched the Internet for stories about GISOL and have found countless forums and website related to fraud and manipulation. Many of the stories were the same as mine and were even disputing the same credit card charge. They draw people in with promises of 100% uptime, low monthly fees, and unlimited bandwidth. However, they shadily do not disclose that every domain you purchase is registered to them, they register it under the company. When GISOL calls to ask for more money and tells you that you have to change your account, your back is against the wall because you’ve already spent time and money promoting your website. I am amazed that they are still operating. I hope more people that have been defrauded will pursue legal action on some level.
They owe me for the pro-rated time of $625.72 from the previous account, the $1078.20, which was unlawfully charged to me, and the remainder of the time left on my 5 domain names, which at $35.00 per year comes out to $475.00. There are also other charges I don’t believe were refunded for which I am still searching for statements.
After I couldn’t get my money back through the credit card company, I received an email from GISOl saying my account (that I officially closed) has been re-opened. I emailed them and said they have no right to re-open my account. I am also unable to login. One of the websites is up when it should not be and I do not have access to delete it. Because, the domain unfortunately does not belong to me and I officially canceled my account through their online form, I consider it theft of intellectual property. I had deleted everything of mine from their server before I canceled the account. GISOL does not answer any of my phone calls or emails. Their deception never fails to surprise me.
I went to small claims court and no one from GISOL showed up. I still had to present my case. It was very difficult to explain my situation. The judge didn’t understand what web hosting is. Anyways, she took all my info to review and I should know by mail. I wish everyone that has been scammed by GISOL, that is able too…would take them to court. Complaining online isn’t enough.
12 Apr 08 Unofficial American Express Policy regarding Gisol?
It has been suggested on Raoul’s site that American Express (Amex) has an unofficial policy regarding Gisol:
Due to the number of complaints/chargebacks/disputes that customers of Global Internet Solution’s customers have made in the past, Amex have placed Gisol on a “blacklist” known as the “Automatic Chargeback Program”.
What this means is that Amex will automatically refund their customers if they make a complaint about a transaction made with Gisol, without the need of any evidence.
This seems to make sense as I have seen many posts on other sites that Gisol have said they no longer accept American Express. Possibly, a few assumptions have been made regarding this sort of statement by others, and me in a previous post.
What “AMEX Info” says does make sense:
For this reason, GISOL no longer accepts AMEX cards since for them it does not make financial sense to spend time defrauding the customer if the customer wins every time.
Please read “AMEX Info’s” original comment.
Who “AMEX Info” is, and how true this is, we do not know, but it does seem to make sense. It may also make sense that American Express will NOT do business with Gisol, and this is an attempt to put us “off the scent”?
All I can suggest is if you previously paid by American Express, and have since been ripped off using a different card, contact Amex about the original charge and try to get that refunded.
Please let us know if this is successful.
AMEX Info’s response April 15th 2008:
If you call AMEX merchant services at 800-528-5200, navigate through the system and get to an agent, and then ask for the chargeback department, they can tell you more about the automatic chargeback program.
Many non-reputable internet businesses are on the program just by virtue of the industry type because they are classified as high risk, but companies that prove themselves to be reliable (low chargeback percentage) get removed, while those that aren’t on the program and receive many chargebacks get blacklisted. It’s pretty clear that with their current business practices, GISOL isn’t ever getting removed.
My earlier statement about how easy it is for a customer to get their money back was an oversimplification meant to make a point, but the process is considerably easier and faster for the customer than it is with other credit cards. After an automatic chargeback is initiated, the money is returned to the customer first, then the company has a chance to make a rebuttal, not the other way around. The company is held to a higher burden of proof that they actually provided a service and GISOL’s tactics of falsifying such evidence wouldn’t work.
If any GISOL ex-customers who used AMEX when it was accepted are reading, have you not received 100% of your money back through AMEX? What were the circumstances?
If “AMEX Info” is reading this, please contact us. I created a temporary email address. It is 080411temp[at]report-gisol[dot]com. I will have to close it after 2 weeks from today, due to spambots picking it up. Otherwise, please use our normal contact form. All correspondence is confidential.
