People, I just want to warn everybody about Mocha Host. Are they serious???

After I have paid with PayPal for a VPS hosting, they asked me for a color copy document or credit card photo quality color copy.... FRONT and BACK... is this true? Or are they kidding??

Here their email and think by yourselves if this is a serious company where you can deposit all your data.

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Hello!~

We are excited to receive your order and appreciate your new business!

We are required to verify each order before it is being activated in order to improve our server security and provide better service to our clients.

In order for us to activate your account please provide us with one of the following documents (we will activate your account as soon as we receive the requested information)

• A color photo quality copy of the account holders identification (passport/government-issued photo ID which must include English if ID is from a non-native English speaking country).
• A color photo quality copy of the credit card used on the account (front and back, Middle digits can be blacked out as well as cardholder security code on the back)

Please e-mail your ID to: billing@mochahost.com, or FAX a copy to: 1.408.351.0116

Please Note: The purpose of this request is solely to verify your account billing confirmation. Any information sent is kept confidential and secure.

We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your business!

We are looking forward servicing your account.

Thank you!~

MochaHost - Billing Department Manager
~ The Online Central


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Common practice among some web hosting companies to protect themselves from fraud. I am not sure why you are taking the request so painfully, they are not doing anything illegal.

In years past we required similar type documentation including signatures etc. When it comes to fraud, the only way to easily win a case with Visa/MasterCard is to have a signature on file. In their case they're going another route which is to say that they have a copy of the card and that it's not just a web order only. This helps again when it comes to fraud.

This is standard practice with many companies. For our dedicated servers in some of the centers that we lease through, they have our information on file too. When it comes to granting Shell access on servers, many hosts use this procedure too.

It's not really out of the norm to have this kind of requirement, but there are many companies that don't go this route. Personally, I wouldn't hold this against them as long as I'm getting the service that I paid for. Just like using a credit card in a store, I show my ID - this is no different.

How much does your hosting package cost? This is not an uncommon practice but it is not typical to bother getting a signature for a $3 hosting account. We only request signatures from our customers if the order is over $50

Very common practice, honestly. As others have stated, it's not normal to ask for that extra info when paying for $3/mo hosting plans, though.

They even ask you to blackout the numbers on your credit card, so you should have nothing to worry about. It's simply for fraud prevention purposes.

Fraud is such a huge problem that I have to agree with everyone else here. And yes in answer to your title ... it does appear that Mocha Host is a serious company.

Yes, here too, we often require documentation, though usually only when the first card we run doesn't go through, or for some other reason we suspect fraud. Though, there have been periods of time that have been particularly problematic where we have required it more often, even for some smaller purchases (not as low as $3 though). But yeah, if it isn't fraud on your part, it shouldn't be too big of a deal to provide the documentation they require.

Hello!

I think you should look this thread:
Stay Far From MochaHost

i read many bad reviews about them

I can't find anything wrong with their request. As Artashes said, that's a common practice among various companies.

Paypal is a cruel payment platform for sellers and verification gives us peace of mind.

Next time use their credit card payment system and not paypal this lets them know your genuine.

But as for Mocha Host i have had heaps of issues and have never received proper technical support more excuses.

Yes, that is pretty standard, many if not most of the dedicated hosting companies require some form of ID etc as the OP lead off with. Here are a couple of thoughts. 1. it is a PIA. 2. It does protect everyone involved. 3. It only takes a few seconds to get the info over.