So, Following my experiences with the world's worst host - Globat, we have started discussing a refund from my hosting. The email exchange is getting quite humourous, so I thought I'd share it with you all! I have removed the names for neutrality.
The posting of this article was delayed after the database went down AGAIN!
Remember: Never Use Globat For Hosting

[Message 1] From: Globat.com
Sent: Tuesday, April 29, 2008 11:14 PM
Subject: [Billing #FJN-16701-156]: Pro-rated Refund Calculation
Dear X,
Thank you for contacting Globat.com. Per your request, here's the computation of your would-be refund
if you cancel now:
from 2006-06-26 to 2008-04-29 = 23 used months
unused months of hosting = 13
sign up payment: $214.20 / 36 = $5.95 per month
pro rated refund = 13* 5.95 = $77.35 - $44.85 (domain registration for 3 years @ $14.95 per year) = $32.50
I have confirmed this calculation with our supervisor.
Should you have any further billing questions, please do not
hesitate to email us at billingdesk@globat.com
Regards,

Globat Billing Support
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[Reply 1] From: Me
On Wed, 30 Apr 2008 17:14:49 -0700,

It appears your calculation is incorrect. 23 months used, 13 months remaining. (I notice that the 7 free
months that I have been added in the past are missing - are they still on your system?)

$214.20 = initial payment.
$44.85 for domain registration.
$214.20 - 44.85 = 169.35
$169.35/36 = $4.70

$4.70*13 = $61.15 Therefore the pro-rata refund is $61.15. Please
confirm this with your supervisor. Regards,
--------------------------------------------
[Message 2] From: Globat.com

On Thu 1/05/08 6:11 PM,
Dear ,
Thank you for contacting Globat.com.
Please be advised that the $214.20 is for hosting only that's why
we
have to divide that from the time you signed up to the used months before subtracting the charge for the domain registration. The Free months are not included to your left months since it was given for free if you are to use them. The calculation I gave you is already correct.
Should you have any further billing questions, please do not hesitate to email us at billingdesk@globat.com Regards,

Globat Billing Support
--------------------------------------------
[Reply 2] From: Me
On Thu, 1 May 2008 16:46:36 -0700
Dear ,

Again - your calculation is INCORRECT. Please be advised that if the $214.20 is for hosting only, then there is no justifiable reason for you to deduct domain registration. Therefore the new calculation is;

$214.20 / 36 = $5.95
$5.95*13 = $77.35

Please confirm this calculation asap.
I realise that you are attempting to make calculations in Globat's favour, which is why my first calculation was a fair compromise. Do not claim to make a pro-rata refund when you do not. Again globat is attempting to cheat the customer. I shall of course publicise this scam too.
Regards,
------------------------------------------
[Message 3] From: Globat.com
On Fri 2/05/08 10:25 PM
Dear,
Thank you for contacting Globat.com.
I'm really very sorry but the computation that we have provided you is correct. We will need to deduct the domain registration fee because it is only free for as kong as you have your hosting your account with us. If you cancel your hosting account, we need to deduct the domain registration fee that we have pre-paid to our partner registrar because your domain name was already purchased and you already own the domain name until its expiration date. Also, the pro rated refund is only applicable to the original term of agreement, the free months are not included because it was given for free to extend your account's term so that you can use your account.
Should you have any further billing questions, please feel free to email us at billingdesk@globat.com and we will be happy to assist you.
Regards,
Globat Billing Support
-------------------------------------------
[Reply 3] From: Me
On Fri, 2 May 2008 23:00:33 -0700
Dear
Again, I must contend that your calculation is INCORRECT. By your own admission domain registration fee "is only free for as kong as you have your hosting account with us." I presume you mean 'long'. By deducting the full ammount you are therefore charging me for the "free" registration for the past 23 months. This is effectively adding a hidden charge after the event, and definitely contrary to your initial advertising. Ergo, if I move my hosting, I should only pay the remainder of the domain registration - otherwise it wasn't free.
23/36 * 44.85 = 28.65. If you add this to your original quotation you get $61.15. Which is funnily enough how I CORRECTLY calculated it originally.
I realise that Globat wishes to extract as many cents as possible out of their customers - their entire marketing campaign is about this. But to become an ethical organisation, I would suggest you expend more effort on improving your hosting reliability and customer service, and less on transparent scams such as this. Please confirm my calculation as soon as possible.

Regards,
------------------------------------------
[Message 4] From: Globat.com
On Sat 10/05/08 12:02 AM
Dear,

Thank you for contacting Globat.com.

I've gone ahead and forwarded this to our refund manager and the refund for 1 year of domain registration of $14.95 will be refunded to your account if ever you cancel your account. In short, we will no longer deduct the $14.95 charge to your possible $5.95 pro rated refund. Please call our cancellation line if you have already decided to cancel your account. This is the only effective way to cancel your account. Please call toll-free at 1-800-915-4090, between 9am and 5pm Pacific Standard Time, Monday through Friday. Also, to better help you, please make sure you have your domain name, username and password, and the last 4 digits of the credit card used to open the account.

Should you have any further billing questions, please feel free to email us at billingdesk@globat.com and we will be happy to assist you.

Regards,
-------------------------------------------
[Reply 4] From: Me
Dear ,
You seem to be quite capably missing the point! And are of course persisting in twisting the calculations in your favour. This email exchange is however getting entertaining to the point where I shall have to publish it to make other globat customers aware of the deception! While you haven't now provided an exact figure...
...it seems that you are now refunding me the domain registration fee for 1 year - rather than 2 years! I assume therefore that you are charging me for the "free" domain registration period (as 'kong' as I was with globat). Instead you are now giving me 1 year free - presumably the year to come when I wouldn't be hosting with globat?! Your logic is trully astounding! By the time you actually get around to giving me the correct figure, my hosting period will probably have concluded anyway!
With regards to your cancellation hotline - please remember that you do have international customers, so it isn't a toll free hotline, and it is only open while I sleep!
Some further information for you to use or ignore;
Re: 'Live Chat' with the billings desk. There is no indication as to what times it is open - certainly not in different timezones. When the billings desk is closed customers are asked to fill in the pre-conversation questions, before the window closes and nothing happens. This is bad design and easy to fix!
Have a nice day!