Voice Out Yourself

Yrhost.com Hosting Nightmares on PHP upgrade

2007-04-25T22:54:00.000+10:00

Sorry for the lack of time to make a story out of this. It is very sad that we have to give up Pinoycp.com which the main purpose is to give a free classified listings for Mobile Phone enthusiasts. We are not monetizing on this website, only the first $100 that is yet to be mailed out by Google Adsense. We have to put pinoycp.com down because our hosting have upgraded PHP into version 5 without warning or notice for us to prepare. Below is a snip of the support ticket.

	Posted On: 13 Jun 2006 08:03 AM
Can you at least inform us, your customer, if you have upgraded something on the Server like php or mysql or whatever it is because right now 2 of our websites which are two of our regular and old clients are having problems without them doing anything.

	Posted On: 13 Jun 2006 12:10 PM
PHP is back to 4.4.2 Please check now. Thank You

	Posted On: 13 Jun 2006 12:17 PM
Thank you. We are now online and every domain is working well.

	Posted On: 21 Apr 2007 09:27 AM
One of our client website is already not functioning. Please check pinoycp.com. Your recent upgrade of PHP have affected their operations as it is a website serving auctions and trade and now it is done and we have filed this complaint before. Please do something about this.

	Posted On: 21 Apr 2007 09:34 AM
We have upgraded PHP to 5.1.6,Make sure you scripts is compatible with this version. your script may be old & It may be the reson of this error.

Posted On: 24 Apr 2007 11:56 AM

Is this the way to treat your long term client? Upgrade our script? If you know of Software Projects and the cost involve, you will think twice first before saying this statement. On the terms of agreement and fair practice, you cannot force us to change our system because of a PHP 5 upgrade because there are other solutions. You have existing clients. The website is now down for a couple of days, considering your actions, that is without sending a warning whatsoever so we can air our voice and take a planned action of migration. We are running a trading website. We cannot just twist and turn the code so it can run with PHP5, and we register on your service in PHP 4, it's called contract preservation which is a standard practice in business.

Please attend to this matter and have pinoycp.com back online.

Posted On: 24 Apr 2007 12:00 PM

Hello!

In a shared environment we have to use software and versios thats stable and secure. PHP 4 is no more secure and hence a upgrade is necessary. Latest PHP version is 5.2.1 but since stable version is 5.1.6 it updated to this version.

We are sorry we cannot go back to PHP 4 as its no more secure, if you still wish to have older version then you need to upgrade to a VPS or a dedicated server.

Let us know if you have any questions.

Posted On: 24 Apr 2007 12:05 PM

So why did you roll it back last time? And one more thing, why do you guys don't do planning. Let's say, inform us first 1 month before the upgrade. Then we can plan on our side. After 1 month, do the upgrade to PHP 5. I don't buy the idea of stability and security, as PHP4 is being maintained with the latest patch. Anyway, I hope you can warn your clients first before a sudden upgrade and just do things like that

	Posted On: 24 Apr 2007 12:32 PM
We have noted your suggestion and will announce first before undergoing major upgrade. last time we were able to roll back because latets version was not stable that time. However as of now PHP 5.1.6 is rock solid.

Posted On: 24 Apr 2007 12:39 PM

We know it is rock solid. BUt we don't have the resources and rock solid time to transform our software in an instant. That's why we have business people who do the business and the tech guys who do the tech bec if the world will solely be run by the tech guys, we do not think of the implication or effects of our action. I hope you don't experience the same faith as our website which is now doomed to not operate. Anyway, thank you and have a great day.

	Posted On: 24 Apr 2007 08:18 PM
To Whom It May Concern, What is the country where your company is legally based if ever a legal action will be presented. Thank you very much.

	Posted On: 25 Apr 2007 06:21 AM
Hi! We are a USA based company with offices in India and Spain. We understand its s major incovenience to you however in a shared environment we have to take into consideration other 100s of websites and also stability and security of server.

Should there be a disclosure of Google Adsense statistics that claim to be fraudulent?

2007-04-01T11:55:00.000+10:00

'We need to protect our detection systems' - Google Adsense

We have been operating pinoycp.com for almost 2 years using an opensource CMS phpwebsite and personal cash for hosting. We suddenly received an email from the Google Adsense team regarding invalid clicks generated from our website. As we review our statistics, we have seen that we have reached the $100 to be eligible for payment after two years of waiting. We are not monetizing on our website as it is free to serve the community and we are only operating through donation and goodwill.

And when asked for the supporting statistics, Google Adsense refused to turnover the data. We are wondering if we happen to be a big company like BMW Germany, would it change the situation?

Should there be a disclosure of Google Adsense statistics that claim to be fraudulent since Google is a public company?

Below is the transcript of the conversation:

From: adsense-adclicks@google.com Google AdSense
To: ________@pinoycp.com
Date: Fri, 30 Mar 2007 11:14:11 +1000
Subject: Google AdSense Account Status

Hello _______ ______,

It has come to our attention that invalid clicks have been generated on
the Google ads on your site(s). In the future, we may adjust your
payment for any days during which invalid clicks occurred in order to
properly credit advertisers for any invalid activity.

As a reminder, any method of generating invalid clicks is strictly
prohibited. Invalid clicks include but are not limited to any clicks
that are generated through the use of robots, automated clicking tools,
manual clicks by a publisher on the publisher's own web pages, or a
publisher encouraging others to click on his ads.

If you are clicking on the ads on your web pages for testing purposes,
please note that clicking on your own ads or encouraging others to do
so for any reason is prohibited, due to the potential for inflation of
advertiser costs. Please be assured that there is no need to test the
ads on your site, as our specialists review all of our ads to ensure
that they meet Google's advertising standards.

If you would like to visit the destination of an ad to view its content
or to add it to your filter list, you can use the AdSense Preview Tool,
available here:

https://www.google.com/adsense/previewtool?hl=en_US

The Google AdSense preview tool is an addition to the right-click menu
for Windows Internet Explorer 6.x, allowing you to preview the ads that
may show on any web page. Clicks and impressions from the preview tool
are not applied to the advertiser's account. You can click through to
the target site without worrying about invalid clicks being generated
on your account, and without costing the advertiser for your test
clicks.

If you have any questions, please feel free to reply to this email. We
will be happy to help in any way we can.

Sincerely,

The Google Team

Our reply:

From: _______@pinoycp.com Pinoycp Contact
To: adsense-adclicks@google.com Google AdSense
Date: Fri, 30 Mar 2007 11:21:29 +1000
Subject: Re: Google AdSense Account Status

Hi,

Can we have the transcripts/statistics of these invalid clicks? Is
there a flag in the database that will issue invalid clicks report
because we are nearing the mere $100 for payment for over 2 years?
Please explain this as you are a public company and I think the
treatment should be equal in all levels whether I am a small bleep in
the web or a big advertiser.

I would like to inform you as well that I will post this conversation to

http://voiceoutyourself.blogspot.com/

I am looking forward for your response on this matter. Thank you.

Regards,

Google Adsense reply:

From: adsense-adclicks@google.com Google AdSense
To: ________@pinoycp.com
Date: Sun, 1 Apr 2007 07:02:02 +1000
Subject: Re: [#130263916]

Hi _______,

Thanks for your response. I understand that you'd like more information about the invalid activity we found on your account. However, because we have a need to protect our detection systems, we're unable to provide you with any details about your recent account activity. Thank you for your understanding.

The email you received is a service to let you know that we have detected clicks that we consider to be invalid, but we feel that these clicks can be avoided. A good way to ensure that you do not create invalid clicks is by reviewing and remaining in compliance with our Terms and Conditions and program policies:

https://www.google.com/adsense/terms
https://www.google.com/adsense/policies

In addition, you can review your site's traffic logs for suspicious activity and notify us with any findings at https://www.google.com/support/adsense/bin/request.py?contact=invalid_clicks_contact. This information can help us in resolving any issues, although as outlined in our Terms and Conditions, Google will use its sole discretion when determining instances of invalid clicks. For more information, please refer to the following Google search terms:

Webmaster resources
Website tracking and logging
Site traffic analysis

Lastly, you can find tips and guidelines for keeping your account in good standing by visiting our Help Center at https://www.google.com/support/adsense/bin/answer.py?answer=23921.

As a reminder, we cannot disclose any details about how our monitoring technology works or what specifics we found on your account. Please bear in mind that if we continue to detect invalid activity on your account, we may disable it to protect our advertisers.

Sincerely,

The Google AdSense Team

Apple Store Australia Delivery oddness -- RESOLVED

2007-01-12T10:51:00.000+11:00

This is my first purchased in an Apple Store being in IT for seven years now. Having been in the web since Perl is still the PHP.

I am so excited to receive a refurbished Ipod 20 Gb colour so I can play around with and for the main reason that I got hooked to TWIT podcast. I can't wait to lay my hands on this portable and load Podzilla and Rockbox on it.

Today, I have printed an authorization letter with date and my signature on it authorizing the Courier to leave deliveries under my name. I always do this for UPS, FedEx, Australia Post and a bunch of others and I always received the item. I even ordered an appliance worth $1,800 Australia dollar and they did accept my letter so I can have the item even if I am not around.

You see, I am a working commoner. I wake up 6:00 am in the morning and go home at 5:00pm. It's difficult for me to skip work just to have that refurbished Ipod that I bought for a mere $170 Australian dollar.

When I asked the Courier company, they said that it is an Apple strict requirement that I should be there physically to sign the document. And I am a field person so a redirection will not work for me.

The argument pushing my teeth to grind my head off is the fact that I should be having the item today and I can work on it this weekend. And it did not happen because of this bloody rule by Apple Store Australia.

Apple Store Australia led me into the demise of waiting. I was wondering if this is the same with the other store around the globe.

I thought my first experience with Apple will be good. I was amazed by the keynote regarding the iPhone but having this bad experience will return me to my usual convenient place.

UPDATE:
I arrived home at 10:00pm after watching Happy Feet in Chatswood NSW to relieve myself of an earlier experience. To my surprise, my ipod is at my doorstep. I guess Apple Store in Australia is a bit more lenient. I am so happy, my sense, my feet and my ears.

Thank you Apple.

Relax ... Hush Puppies Australia

2006-10-30T16:21:00.000+11:00

Company: Hush Puppies
Web: http://www.hushpuppies.com.au
Category: Shoes
Online emai sent: Oct 28, 2006 9:54 AM

Subject: Enquiry for support

To Whom It May Concern,

I have owned pairs of Hush Puppies for about 6 years now. I really liked the ones with Relax sole and the ZeroG weight.

My concern from this letter is where do I buy a sole inserts for my shoes? The shoe is still very fine and everything is still intact. The only problem I am having is that the sole insert has been cracked and I no longer feel the convenience that I have experienced before. And sometimes it is annoying me.

I hope you can direct me to a store or a support company here in Sydney, Australia.

Looking forward for you kind response.

Yours faithfully,

ANZ Australia Customer Service: Aggressive on their advantage, Passive towards the customer

2006-08-03T12:04:00.000+10:00

As to this point, I have not receive any reply from the Senior Manager of the Cards Customer Services of ANZ Australia.

Are there any system aside from the 'Falcon' security?

Is there a friendly animal codename for a system that actually hear the side of the customers?

My suggestion would be ANZ Bank Beaver or ANZBB.

Beaver as your keeper, speak and be heard. We need the beaver, we need to restore the wetlands.

Now where is that reply I am waiting for.

Bing Lee: where everything is negotiable really --- RESOLVED

2006-06-15T21:29:00.000+10:00

Company: Bing Lee
Web: http://www.binglee.com.au/
Category: Appliance Store
Mail handed: Jun 15, 2006 10:00 AM

RESOLUTION
Refund received: Jun 15, 2006 21:00 PM

I arrived at the store at around 8 o'clock PM and the manager told me if I brought with me the LCD. Of course I give him the look and told him, "How can I bring it, I just came from the work and University?" So he bring out the box and test it on the LG computer LCD on display and received the 'out of range' error that I was having last night. Then he tested it using the 17" LG LCD tv and it worked, then he try it again on the Sony LCD and it did not worked with the connection problem this time.

He tried to offer me a replacement by choosing the one that sells for $299 and I told him that my budget is short because I have alloted my money on rent and some other things. Then he told me that I would have difficulty finding a digital HD box for $199. With a tone that has no emotion at all, I told him that I will just look for other option.

After a long testing and discussion with the manager, I finally get my refund of $199.00!

Good thing, this item is on 'special' and it's the cheapest among the Digital HD boxes that they have so he can't find a replacement with the same value. Now this recovered cash can then be put on just buying an HDTV card that will surely worked on my LCD and standard TV that only cost $99!

I will be looking for one tomorrow, just enough time before the most awaited World Cup 2006 match between Australia and Brazil that will be shown in the free air HDTV channel SBS.

ORIGINAL LETTER

June 15, 2006

To Whom It May Concern:

On my behalf, my wife will be returning the DGTEC HD Set Top Box DG-HD7710 because it is not compatible with my standard 19” Widescreen LCD with DVI and D-Sub input.

I have read all the documentation of your product and it has not stated specification for LCD so incompatibility issue is not a burden on the customer because in the first place I want to be informed but the salesperson and the documentation have lacked the details. I have tried all the settings combination for all the available resolutions and have strictly followed the usage documentation (being a technical person myself) but still it is not able to produce an output with my LCD.

Knowing your company as one of the best in customer service and my rights as a customer vested on me by the Australian Government, I would like to request a refund for this product.

From Consumers Online (http://www.consumersonline.gov.au/Content/ConsumerRights/Refunds.asp)
Do retailers have to give refunds?
Yes, if:

goods are faulty or they become faulty soon after buying them
goods are unfit for their purpose—which means they won't do what the consumer reasonably expected them to
goods don't match the retailer's description or sample
retailers have offered any voluntary, or extra, warranties or promises about refunds.

Retailers are not allowed to:

refuse to refund the full price of defective goods
make a false or misleading representation about a consumer's right to a refund
refuse to provide a refund for goods just because consumers don't have a receipt, provided they have other satisfactory proof of purchase
limit the time in which a consumer can make a claim, within reason.

I am looking forward for your response and prompt resolution to this issue.

Sincerely,

KDC
http://voiceoutyourself.blogspot.com/

A shiny new Oral-B AdvancePower 950 TX

2006-06-15T21:17:00.000+10:00

I have work today that's why I can't reap what I sow. That's why my wife was the one to exchange this new shiny electric toothbrush from Coles Hornsby, NSW.

No hassle whatsoever. The staff at Coles was very accommodating.

Braun Oral-B AdvancePower 900 TX keeps on going and going --- RESOLVED

2006-06-12T22:40:00.000+10:00

Company: Oral-B Laboratories
Web: http://www.oralb.com
Category: Health Care

Online form lodged: Jun 12, 2006 22:00 PM

RESOLUTION
Email received: Jun 13, 2006 1:44 PM

Thank you for contacting Braun Australia via our international website.

Your comments were indeed of concern to us, as all our products go through a rigorous quality control procedure to ensure their excellence. We offer a two year warranty on all our products.

Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience caused.

There are two options available to you.

a) If you have a copy of your receipt , you can return the unit to the place of purchase and they will replace it for you with a new one.

b) Otherwise, you can send it, using the freepost address below, to our Key Service Centre:

J.A. Appliance Sales & Service
17-19 Hossack Avenue
Reply Paid 9
P O Box 105
Moreland Vic 3058

J.A. Appliances will send you out a new unit. (Please include a copy of these emails when you forward the product.)

If you have any further queries, please do not hesitate to contact me on our Freecall line 1800 641 820.

Regards
Jennifer McKenzie
Consumer & After-Sales Supervisor
Gillette Australia Pty Ltd

ORIGINAL LETTER

Gillette Australia Pty. Ltd.

Scoresby, 5 Caribbean Drive
Vic 3179 Scoresby

13 June 10, 2006

To Whom It May Concern:

I am writing this complaint on the product:

Braun Oral-B AdvancePower 900 TX

It has been one month of good experience with your toothbrush as it made our teeth clean though the noise coming out of it is a bit annoying. Since your product has a timer that automatically shut it off after 2 minutes of operation, the sound became bearable.

But this week has been horrible as the toothbrush suddenly malfunction because it will not turn off though the corresponding button has been pressed already. It will keep on running and the ‘sound’ has become a very annoying noise. The device will stop from running if I plug it back to its holder and that charger station must be plugged in all the time at the power outlet consuming a share of electrical bill.

There are good reasons why I purchased your product for around my hard earned $50:

It will be a good investment because I don’t have to change toothbrush regularly as I only need to buy a bristle replacement
I will have a totally clean teeth because it will worked properly according to its specification
It will be easy to use and will not demand any configuration or special installation

I am writing you in advance and will inform you that this letter will be posted on my online blog and let other people see this information and hopefully they will find this useful as reference for their future experience with your company.

I am looking forward for your response and prompt resolution to this issue.

Sincerely,

KDC
http://voiceoutyourself.blogspot.com

ANZ datamining

2006-06-12T19:55:00.000+10:00

Company: ANZ
Web: http://www.anz.com.au
Category: Bank

Snail Mail sent: June 13, 2006 20:00 PM

MS purposedly blanked out
Senior Manager
Cards Customer Services

13 June 10, 2006

Dear purposedly blanked out

First and foremost, I think you need to improve the way your system handle its data mining policy as it leave a faithful customer like me in mere frustration and unhappy experience.

This is in relation to the letter dated 02 June 2006 regarding the disapproval of my application:

Card Type: ANZ LOW RATE MASTERCARD

Your Ref: purposedly blanked out

Every time that there is a high activity in my savings account, I receive a letter from your company stating that I can apply for a credit card and twice I am denied. Your method is very misleading as you even type my name on the application form. From the last application, you have included there that the parameter of approval is the annual salary and my salary even though I am only working as part time is way beyond your requirement.

It is my right to be treated fairly as your legal customer. I have written you this letter to inform you that I will post this ‘customer experience’ online so other can read it and comment on it. This is my way of sharing information to the community so they will be empowered with whatever value they can find in this letter.

I suggest you make modifications on your system that handles this automated way of sending invites that will just frustrate a future customer. I know I am included in the purchasing population and my voice even that small can be heard by people by using a lot of channels. I have friends, affiliations and future ventures in this country that requires a financial service like yours that’s why I am very concerned.

I am looking forward for your response and serious consideration of this issue.

Sincerely,

KDC
http://voiceoutyourself.blogspot.com