Host hostage

Negotiating on behalf of a client today, hard-ass credit department guy on the other end of the phone says:

“Mate, what’s your hourly rate? Why don’t you whip out your wallet and we can fix this right away. Cheaper than the time you have wasted talking to me.”

I had to humour him.

“I like to believe that — like you — I’m good at my job. And that involves getting the right outcome for my client, end of story.”

“I can hear your wallet slipping out of your pocket” he says, with a cavalier smugness.

“Nice try”

“Well I will when you call me again tomorrow”

This guy is used to getting his way. The curious thing is that I was negotiating on behalf of a client whose bill is fully paid up. Their account has consistently been in good order for more than a decade. What our credit department friend was doing here was holding my customer to ransom, in order to recoup funds owed by a different account owner who is merely acquainted with my client. “Clearing this account”, he assured me, “will get your customer’s stuff working again right away.”

Naming and shaming

Now this is not a small, high-risk, fly-by-night company I’m talking about, this is Melbourne IT. To think that the credit department at Melbourne IT would allow such unconscionable conduct is not only surprising, I’m not even sure it’s legal. I have complained to the highest level I can get to in the company, but I don’t think that’s going to be enough.

Melbourne IT has been a sick company for a while, and WebCentral (the web hosting arm I deal with) has for the longest time been the bleeding rag that it stuffs into its wounds. WebCentral was a great company before it was sold off by its original owners. Having clung on for so long, I think it’s time to cut this one adrift. If you are considering hosting your website or email services with WebCentral, or any Melbourne IT company, do your research first.