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Ovh - dedicated server - us - beware

Posted by nickbsd, 11-01-2016, 12:16 PM
Hey guys-- I wanted to post a thread to the forum to give a heads up for anyone contemplating on purchasing services with OVH. BEWARE - If you purchase a dedicated server YOU CANNOT receive a refund.. at all.. PERIOD. I just recently purchased a dedicated server. Installed the OS using the OVH template system, logged in a performed some bandwidth tests. What I found was horrible speeds to my client servers. I had high hopes of using OVH services because I've heard a lot of good reviews stating their service is reputable and reliable.. After literally (4) hours of testing the backbone network was not adequate for my needs so I requested to cancel the server and OVH is refusing to work with me.. What kind of company offers a system without allowing the user to test? There's no way for me to tell prior to purchasing the server. Sure I can test my home bandwidth using their test URL's but I still don't have the ability to test from the server I'm purchasing. Wanted to give anyone a heads up. They offer 0 refunds for US folks.. period..
Posted by HostXNow_Chris, 11-01-2016, 12:20 PM
Care to share those bandwidth tests with us!?
Posted by mhostingin, 11-01-2016, 12:22 PM
read there term and condition of refund.
Posted by Postbox, 11-01-2016, 12:41 PM
That's common to a lot of providers, it's not specific or unique to OVH. Did you start out with one of their one week trials (which isn't common to a lot of providers)?
Posted by SenseiSteve, 11-01-2016, 01:32 PM
I don't know what OVH's policy is regarding cancellations and refunds, but I'm sure it's covered in their TOS. You have a point about testing but it is what it is. I don't think this is much different even cross industry. If I take my car to the shop, they want $115 just to hook up their diagnostic machine to my car, without ever performing any repairs. If I sign up with cable TV service, they're not going to let me test their programming and then allow me to ask for a refund. If I yell loud enough, they might pro-rate my charges. Thanks for the heads up.
Posted by RDO Servers, 11-01-2016, 01:36 PM
What were the results of your bandwidth tests. If the results were in line with what you ordered and what is specified in their TOS, then you are limited to their refund policy. (i.e. Product says 1Gbps ports, TOS guarantees min 250Mbps, your test were > 250Mbps) If the results were less then guaranteed, then you might have a leg to stand on if you can prove that you were provided with something sub-par to what you ordered and what they guarantee.
Posted by AcheronMedia-VK, 11-01-2016, 06:23 PM
Once you install the OS, there's no money back. I've been bitten by it. It's in the Terms. However, OVH does have the ability to get a server for one week (paid) and then cancel or continue monthly.
Posted by Andei, 11-01-2016, 07:07 PM
Nowhere on their site it says that you're entitled to a refund, so why would you just assume you were, by default? Also, what does the fact that you're an US citizen have to do with this? Furthermore I've been an OVH client for a year now and have had zero issues regarding bandwidth, their network is quite good. Exhibit A: Last but not least, as mentioned earlier in this thread, this is quite common when it comes to dedicated servers (not providing refunds). I don't think I've seen too many providers issuing refunds for servers.
Posted by net, 11-02-2016, 01:09 AM
This should have been your best bet if you want to test it.
Posted by Srv24x7, 11-02-2016, 02:50 AM
Hi, I guess if you were just testing, you should have asked for bandwidth test or could contact them initially to get this checked. Did you ask them for a test download link to test the bandwidth on their network or so before purchasing? I think they also offer a test for 1 week but that is also paid one, as they also provide some servers for 1 week..
Posted by AndriusPetkus, 11-02-2016, 03:41 AM
Still discussing all the time about the same things with OVH. Did you search for reviews before you order? yes, they do not provide refunds and everybody knows that.
Posted by SF2k16, 11-02-2016, 12:01 PM
Not many providers offer a refund or a trial. I have only encountered 3 providers that offer a trial, one didn't even present the offer on their website, but they did grant a trial after contacting the sales directly so I would always give it a try and ask. The other two can be found with a simple google search.
Posted by alldedicatedserver, 11-02-2016, 12:16 PM
you can always file a complaint/chargeback with your cc provider/paypal
Posted by ilovetheheat, 11-02-2016, 12:30 PM
What were the results of your bandwidth tests?
Posted by alanwoo, 11-02-2016, 10:55 PM
From all the dedicated server provider that I encounter, no one is offering a refund, maybe if you can share which provider offering refund ?
Posted by JSCL, 11-03-2016, 04:19 AM
I don't think that Speedtest is really applicable in this circumstance, so hardly an exhibit, It's basically an internal network test. OVH>OVH.
Posted by Andei, 11-03-2016, 04:32 AM
Fair point, let's try NY then:
Posted by AcheronMedia-VK, 11-03-2016, 05:42 AM
Hetzner does and I think the consumer protection law in Germany requires a 14 day no-questions-asked refund policy. I also had good experience with Leaseweb, I don't remember the details but I cancelled an order two days later and they refunded. Speaking of which, I wonder what will happen to OVH's policy when/if they come to Germany...
Posted by swiftnoc, 11-03-2016, 03:14 PM
You do understand a chargeback under such conditions is fraudulent correct? why would you advice such a thing? what company do you represent? your signature does imply you offer dedicated servers or going to offer it in the near future. Do you want to make trouble for established competition and their clients here? Last edited by swiftnoc; 11-03-2016 at 03:17 PM.
Posted by Hosting4Real, 11-03-2016, 04:44 PM
You can actually test their bandwidth in advance, they offer a speed test website: http://bhs.proof.ovh.net/ http://gra.proof.ovh.net/ http://rbx.proof.ovh.net/ http://sbg.proof.ovh.net/ They also allow doing iperf tests (you can find the URLs on their wiki), so you can do both upstream and downstream tests to and from their network. You could also go on WHT, ask if anyone have a server in X datacenter, that can host X file(s) so you can test download speeds from your clients network. There's *so* many possibilities. They even offer servers for 1 week: https://www.ovh.ie/dedicated_servers...eek-rental.xml Then you can test the network performance for *just* 23.99 euro - and worst case you lose 23.99 euro. Sometimes I'm surprised about the cheapness of people. You take a chance, sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. You started to use the server, they have a refund policy, if you read that *before* you buy, you'd also know they won't do refunds (in most cases) on their already super affordable servers.
Posted by alldedicatedserver, 11-03-2016, 05:34 PM
File a complaint/chargeback for service you ordered but not as described is not a fraudulent, the cc provider/paypal all has a processes to help consumer to communicate with the seller during complains. It then up to the cc provider/paypal to make decision if the complain is valid or not. every consumer has the right to file a complain, I think it is better that OVH response to this case themselves. thank you
Posted by Andei, 11-03-2016, 05:51 PM
There's a big difference between "The product I was given isn't the same as described on the site when I bought it" and "I don't like the product I was given". OP's case is clearly the second one and it has no grounds for a chargeback/dispute. Quoting OP: OP clearly had issues between his OVH server and his client's servers, which doesn't mean it's specifically an OVH's issue, it might very well be an issue outside OVH's network and outside of their reach for a possible fix. Considering my personal experience has been great, bandwidth-wise, I'd say it's the latter one. In this case, how is a chargeback a constructive way of going forward?... It's not.
Posted by swiftnoc, 11-04-2016, 07:08 AM
I agree that a Paypal complaint is not fraudulent, however in this scenario Paypal will always side with the provider - so it makes no sense to even try. Not to mention that such tactics will get you listed in Fraudrecord pretty quick, making it less likely that reputable providers want to deal with you in the future. Making a chargeback in this scenario *IS* definitely fraud. Its called friendly fraud but in fact, is not so friendly at all. More details on https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chargeback_fraud Chargeback fraud leads to higher prices for other, legitimate customers as well. The whole system of making chargebacks in Credit Cards is outdated, as banks always side with customers and execute the chargeback, while in fact this makes the customer commit fraud if the chargeback was made on unreasonable or not legal grounds.
Posted by Prager-IT, 11-06-2016, 01:33 PM
You should have asked whether OVH offers refunds before test driving the server at their expense. OVH is also not known for great customer support. A company with great support would probably have offered a partial refund.
Posted by Hosting4Real, 11-07-2016, 03:45 AM
Why would a company that has done nothing wrong, give refunds? To satisfy the customer for making a purchase that he didn't think through?
Posted by Kost, 11-07-2016, 04:30 AM
Refund must be done in case the company has done something wrong, if not, why should it refund?
Posted by Prager-IT, 11-07-2016, 04:35 AM
I don't think clients sign up just for kicks and giggles. If both sides give a little both sides can walk away amicably which in my opinion would have been a far better outcome instead of hanging on to every last cent.
Posted by IonicHost, 11-08-2016, 07:24 AM
People think 500-600mbps on a Gbps line is good. You're missing out on a whole 400-500mbps. (Obviously you wouldn't get this) that shows their network is becoming saturated. Think, you're sharing about half if your bandwidth with another server. You pay for 1Gbps.
Posted by AndriusPetkus, 11-08-2016, 07:27 AM
Ask any colocation provider for 1Gbps unlimited/unmetered and you will be surprised about the price you get. If you think that bandwidth is free, think one more time.
Posted by IonicHost, 11-08-2016, 07:29 AM
I'd like to point out, I never said bandwidth is free. Its extremely expensive, thank you very much.
Posted by Andei, 11-08-2016, 07:29 AM
Does it say anywhere that it's a dedicated 1Gbps line? I don't think so... they guarantee 250Mbps or 500Mbps (depending on which server you're getting)... So, yeah, getting 500-600 on a guaranteed 250 is good.
Posted by AndriusPetkus, 11-08-2016, 07:35 AM
By the way, what is the dedicated bandwidth? For example: Provider have 10 upstream providers x 10Gbps ( Total 100Gbps ) and hosting 10000 servers in data center. Each server has 1Gbps. So where is a dedicated traffic? Each server get's a 10 providers traffic mix ( depends on routing ). If provider wants to host 10k servers with 1GBps, it should have 10TBPS? Have you ever seen something like that? Dedicated traffic exists? Stop dreaming about that.

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