Post by UnhappyUser on Mar 20, 2017 19:32:39 GMT -8
Forum URL: ournewworld.freeforums.net/forum
I know this will not do any good considering the unhelpful, canned response I received from the abuse department, but I am going to vent as an unsatisfied customer. I have lost all faith in PBs after two of my boards have been taken down without warning or reason. Yes, I am well aware of the all-encompassing 25(a) AKA 'We deleted your board because mess you'.
It was a private board designed for only two people to correspond while the other was serving overseas. It was better than email because it gave us a chance to add special touches like a shoutbox to drop little 'thinking of you' notes and organizing our love letters and correspondence by boards for posterity.
The first time our board was shut down, we assumed it was due to some sexual content in our correspondence. I say assumed because good luck getting any specific reason explained to you. PB sent us a notice to take down two posts, and we complied. However, our board was then deleted shortly thereafter. So, that is why we assumed it was due to that. We were left frustrated at the poor level of assistance and the harshness from PBs, but we assumed we only had ourselves to blame.
We then made a new board and used it strictly for casual correspondence, to share our days, to tell each other good morning, and to discuss daily life while separated by half the planet. We walked on eggshells to make sure everything was proper. There was no mention whatsoever of anything risque, illegal, related to hate speech, harassment, or anything else. Just two people trying to stay in touch. We were dumbfounded when our new board was taken down again today.
When contacting the abuse department to inquire as to why or to see what we could do to retrieve our memories, this was the extent of their unhelpful reply:
Tell me something I didn't already know. Yes, PBs has 100% right to cancel us because they don't like the way I tie my shoes, but it still is a horrible business practice that shows no respect towards the customer.
I feel like a patron in a restaurant where the manager came over and told us to leave and that they reserve the right to refuse service to anyone. When I say that we were only sitting here minding our own business and asking what the problem is, all I get told by the manager is "BECAUSE WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO REFUSE SERVICE TO ANYONE". And that's all.
So, while I understand that they have that right to terminate anyone for any reason, it is still a very unprofessional way of handling things - especially when all T&Cs were complied with and I personally appealed and inquired to them directly. Sadly, after Googling this problem, I see this is pretty common and communities with thousands of regular members have had the rugged pulled from under them for no reason and were left with no recourse.
I will certainly never be using PBs in the future and will be warning anyone who values the material on their online community to stay away. It's far too much of a risk of having your work removed without warning, or worse - without reason.
Thank you for reading. Or not. Either way, I feel better having typed this out. We lost precious memories and love letters due to something arbitrary and unfair. Live and learn. We've already moved on to hosting our own private board on our own.
I know this will not do any good considering the unhelpful, canned response I received from the abuse department, but I am going to vent as an unsatisfied customer. I have lost all faith in PBs after two of my boards have been taken down without warning or reason. Yes, I am well aware of the all-encompassing 25(a) AKA 'We deleted your board because mess you'.
It was a private board designed for only two people to correspond while the other was serving overseas. It was better than email because it gave us a chance to add special touches like a shoutbox to drop little 'thinking of you' notes and organizing our love letters and correspondence by boards for posterity.
The first time our board was shut down, we assumed it was due to some sexual content in our correspondence. I say assumed because good luck getting any specific reason explained to you. PB sent us a notice to take down two posts, and we complied. However, our board was then deleted shortly thereafter. So, that is why we assumed it was due to that. We were left frustrated at the poor level of assistance and the harshness from PBs, but we assumed we only had ourselves to blame.
We then made a new board and used it strictly for casual correspondence, to share our days, to tell each other good morning, and to discuss daily life while separated by half the planet. We walked on eggshells to make sure everything was proper. There was no mention whatsoever of anything risque, illegal, related to hate speech, harassment, or anything else. Just two people trying to stay in touch. We were dumbfounded when our new board was taken down again today.
When contacting the abuse department to inquire as to why or to see what we could do to retrieve our memories, this was the extent of their unhelpful reply:
Hello,
ProBoards has exercised its right to terminate service to this forum per section 25(a) of the Terms of Service. For more information about ProBoards' policies, please see our Terms of Service and Community Guidelines:
Terms of Service: www.proboards.com/tos
Community Guidelines: www.proboards.com/community_guidelines
ProBoards has exercised its right to terminate service to this forum per section 25(a) of the Terms of Service. For more information about ProBoards' policies, please see our Terms of Service and Community Guidelines:
Terms of Service: www.proboards.com/tos
Community Guidelines: www.proboards.com/community_guidelines
Tell me something I didn't already know. Yes, PBs has 100% right to cancel us because they don't like the way I tie my shoes, but it still is a horrible business practice that shows no respect towards the customer.
I feel like a patron in a restaurant where the manager came over and told us to leave and that they reserve the right to refuse service to anyone. When I say that we were only sitting here minding our own business and asking what the problem is, all I get told by the manager is "BECAUSE WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO REFUSE SERVICE TO ANYONE". And that's all.
So, while I understand that they have that right to terminate anyone for any reason, it is still a very unprofessional way of handling things - especially when all T&Cs were complied with and I personally appealed and inquired to them directly. Sadly, after Googling this problem, I see this is pretty common and communities with thousands of regular members have had the rugged pulled from under them for no reason and were left with no recourse.
I will certainly never be using PBs in the future and will be warning anyone who values the material on their online community to stay away. It's far too much of a risk of having your work removed without warning, or worse - without reason.
Thank you for reading. Or not. Either way, I feel better having typed this out. We lost precious memories and love letters due to something arbitrary and unfair. Live and learn. We've already moved on to hosting our own private board on our own.
