Lycos Web Hosting (Europe)

Door_knockers_will_die

I have a problem with Lycos (Europe) who have apparently ceased to exist.
For a few years I have had a web site hosted with Lycos, and the annual fee was around £75 this year. Two months after paying this by credit card, Lycos e.mailed to say they were pulling out of this market. They had arranged for all their customers to switch to STRATO (also based in Germany), and several promises were made. So I followed the advice. There was supposed to be 3 months free, no money taken until everything was transfered, and a refund from Lycos would then be credited to my card.
What actually happened was that Strato immediately took my money, there was no free 3 months, and because the process was not automatic, as promised, all sorts of things went wrong - most importantly the domain name couldn't be released without paying £11.50 to Nominet, and before that happened Lycos just dumped the web site losing vital information.
Now... five months later, there has been no refund from Lycos and they have apparently disappeared. I believe they are owned by DAUM in South Korea, Neither they or Lycos USA have any e.mail addresses on their web sites.
I can't reclaim from my credit card as the transaction was under £100. Strato aren't interested, they just seem to have all this dumped on them. Basically I have just been ripped off for around £60.
Has anyone any ideas.? Is there a Consumer Direct in Germany ? Are there any regulators for Web Hosting ? I suspect this may be a £££million fraud

mc33033

Door_knockers_will_die wrote: »

I can't reclaim from my credit card as the transaction was under £100.

Not under S75 CCA 1974, but if it was a visa or mastercard credit card and within the last 120 days ask your bank to do a chargeback on the transaction.

Door_knockers_will_die wrote: »

Has anyone any ideas.? Is there a Consumer Direct in Germany ?

Yes, the people to speak with are the http://www.ukecc.net/ - UK European Consumer Centre who deal with inter european issues like this.

Door_knockers_will_die

Thanks very much for the reply.
Unfortunately it is now over 120days since I paid.
I will certainly have a look at ukecc.net - Thanks.

I found an e.mail address for Daum Corp - one to report internal company fraud, but I gave it a go, and received a reply directing me to Lycos Europe's web site (which I have tried many times) and informing me that - Quote -
Daum is not assigned by any liabilities from LE relating to pre-transition activities.

Door_knockers_will_die

Finally had an e.mail from Lycos 6 days ago asking for my bank details for an International money transfer. problem with this is I suspect the bank charges may take up more than half the refund, and I don't suppose Lycos will be paying these.

I asked if they would reimburse my credit card, as was the original intention. I had a reply within minutes said they could no longer do this as they company had closed down. So they do read e.mails !!!
I reluctantly sent my bank details, but no refund as yet. Not happy about having supplied this info to a (closed) company I do not trust. Will this ever end ?