Billing email problems

[Cassie]

Have you guys got problems or is it my fault again?

I sent 2 emails to billing@webhosting.uk.com and they both bounced back as undeliverable.

This message was created automatically by mail delivery software.
A message that you sent could not be delivered to one or more of its
recipients. This is a permanent error. The following address(es) failed:
pipe to |/home/sup/public_html/cerberus-2.649.Linux-2.4.18-3smp /home/sup/config.xml FATAL /home/sup/public_html/cerberus.log
generated by billing@supportdepartment.net
(ultimately generated from billing@webhosting.uk.com)
The following text was generated during the delivery attempt:
------ pipe to |/home/sup/public_html/cerberus-2.649.Linux-2.4.18-3smp /home/sup/config.xml FATAL /home/sup/public_html/cerberus.log
generated by billing@supportdepartment.net
(ultimately generated from billing@webhosting.uk.com) ------
cfile_pipe()::write(): No space left on device
------ This is a copy of the message, including all the headers. ------

The reason I was sending the emails is because you keep sending me emails saying you are going to suspend my hosting due to non payment. I cancelled this hosting and have an email from you stating that it had been cancelled. I have since had 3 more emails saying you want payment. As it appears I can't email you then PLEASE will you talk to each other !!

[sysadmin]

Hi Cassie

I doubt it being a temporary issue with their mail servers. which seem to be sorted out. Can you give a try now ?

[Cassie]

I eventually got an apology for sending out 3 demands for money AFTER I had cancelled the hosting - but no explanation that made any sense.

Now they have done me over again WITHOUT telling me again.

They have apparently disabled all catchalls on the server my hosting is on without warning. No explanation why and I have been sitting waiting for ages for chat to get back to me with why.

As I have stated on many occasions to tech sup and on here - because of my own silliness when I set up all my websites 8 years ago - I need catchall because I can't remember all the email variations I used. The hoster I was with then had no problem with catchall. In fact before last week neither did webuk. I have already moved one of my hostings - it looks like I will have to bite the bullet and move the others although that will be hard as they have forums on them.

Wrote all this and checked some emails while waiting for chat to come back to me........

[Administrator]

Hi Cassie,

Our system admins disable catchall if they see any sort of dictionary attack on any of our shared servers. You should consider a VPS or some other hosting provider if you need catchall for your domains.

[patwoods]

I've just had catchalls disabled on my reseller account also with no warning. I always set up my customers with catchalls. Now they're all phoning me saying no-one's receiving any email. I contacted support on the live chat but was basically completely stonewalled by the guy. I've only joined Webhosting recently and until today was pretty impresssed with the service. Now, however it looks like it could be time to move on. Not Impressed

[Cassie]

Looks like I'm not the only one needing catchall. I am sure I am missing lots of emails because of this.

In fact I got a letter from BT a while ago - I had forgot I used bt@ for my emails to them and they wanted to know why all the emails to me were being bounced back. They also discontinued my paperless billing and charged me more for my bill because of this. They sorted it out quickly and refunded me the extra but it was a hassle I could have done without. All caused by this problem caused by this hoster.

I have already moved some of my hosting and had some elsewhere already. Both places have no problem with catchall. I haven't moved the other hostings I have here as they include forums which I don't have the expertise to move. Therefore I am stuck with missing emails.

[patwoods]

Cassie,

I'm sitting here fuming. I can't believe they'd just switch off a service without any warning whatsoever. now I know there's more than one way to skin a cat and emails can be configured in different ways, but that's not the point. My reputation with my customers is now damaged and like yourself, it's easy to find another provider but then you've got to move everything over.... Grrrrr!!

[Cassie]

Unfortunately it's not the first time - they also switched off Front Page Extensions without letting anyone know - not even an email. There is a thread about it somewhere....

I get stick all the while on here for complaining so watch your back

[patwoods]

I'm sure they'll start to get the message when people get so hacked off that they go their biggest competitors...

[Administrator]

Originally Posted by patwoods

I'm sure they'll start to get the message when people get so hacked off that they go their biggest competitors...

Hi Patrick,

Our Windows System Admins had to disable catchall service on the windows server hosting your account due to dictionary attack. I'm not sure when we can turn on catchall option again on the server hosting your account, but there seems no permanent solution to control dictionary attacks on windows servers.

Linux Servers have many options to control dictionary attacks, but there are limitations on windows servers. I will request you to contact your customers and tell them to manually setup forwarders as catchall will not exist for long time even on Linux Servers.

More than 50% customers keep catchall enabled on shared hosting servers, but hardly 5% customers use it. there's no way for us to figure out who needs it and who doesn't. We can't send notification to all customers about this change as 95% of customers have nothing to do with catchall.