Manage Fasthosts

How to cancel fasthosts and protect your money back

What is fasthosts and why canadians are cancelling

Fasthosts is a UK-based web hosting provider offering shared hosting, virtual private servers (VPS), dedicated servers, email services, and website builders to customers across Canada and globally. The company publishes its own money-back guarantees-typically 30 days for most web and email hosting packages, and 60 days for eligible reseller products-alongside formal terms governing cancellations, refunds, and service operation.

Many Canadian customers sign up for Fasthosts expecting straightforward billing, but find themselves locked into long renewal cycles, automatic charges, or unclear cancellation processes. At Stopee, we hear from users who struggle to locate cancellation options in the control panel or receive delayed responses from support. Your frustration is valid, and cancelling doesn't have to be complicated.

Why you might want to cancel fasthosts

You may decide to cancel Fasthosts for several reasons: you've found a cheaper alternative, your website traffic has outgrown shared hosting and you need more resources, customer support hasn't met your expectations, or you've simply discovered better value elsewhere. Whatever your reason, you deserve a clear path to cancellation and a refund if you qualify.

Understanding your cancellation rights in canada

Canadian consumer protection law, including the Competition Act and provincial consumer protection legislation (such as Ontario's Consumer Protection Act), gives you the right to cancel digital services and seek refunds for unused portions of your subscription. Fasthosts must honor its published money-back guarantees and cannot apply deceptive practices to prevent you from cancelling. If Fasthosts refuses a legitimate refund claim, you can escalate to your provincial consumer protection authority or the Competition Bureau of Canada.

Fasthosts pricing and plan breakdown

Before you decide to cancel, review what you're paying and which plan you're on.

Current fasthosts plans and monthly costs

Should you stay or cancel

You should strongly consider cancelling Fasthosts if you're paying more than $5 per month for basic shared hosting, or if you can obtain the same features elsewhere for significantly less. You should also cancel if you've activated a service within the last 30 days (for shared hosting or email) or 60 days (for reseller plans) and haven't used it meaningfully-you may qualify for a full refund. Stay with Fasthosts only if the service meets your current needs and you're satisfied with response times and uptime.

How to cancel fasthosts step by step

Follow these clear steps to cancel your Fasthosts account and avoid common pitfalls.

Method 1: cancellation through the control panel

Most Fasthosts customers can cancel directly from their account dashboard, though not all services support self-service cancellation.

1. Log in to your Fasthosts account using your email and password.
   • Navigate to your account dashboard or "My Services" section.
   • Locate the service you wish to cancel (e.g., "Shared Hosting Account" or "VPS Server").
2. Look for a "Cancel" or "Manage" button next to the service name.
   • Click the button and follow the on-screen prompts.
   • If no cancellation option appears, the service may require manual cancellation via support (see Method 2).
3. Review the cancellation notice carefully.
   • Fasthosts will display your next renewal date and confirm whether you're eligible for a refund.
   • Take a screenshot or note the exact date shown.
4. Confirm your cancellation request.
   • Submit the cancellation form and wait for a confirmation email from Fasthosts.
   • Warning: Do not assume cancellation is complete until you receive written confirmation. Fasthosts' terms state that cancellation is "not deemed accepted until Fasthosts issues written confirmation."
5. Save all confirmation emails and reference numbers.
   • Store these in a dedicated folder-you'll need them if you need to claim a refund or escalate a dispute.

Method 2: cancellation via email or phone support

If you cannot cancel through the control panel (common for some VPS products), contact Fasthosts support directly.

1. Gather your account information before contacting support.
   • Write down your account email, account number, order number(s), and the name of the service you wish to cancel.
   • Note the date you activated the service (for refund eligibility purposes).
2. Send a cancellation email to Fasthosts support.
   • Use the support contact form on the Fasthosts website or send an email to their customer support address.
   • Write a clear subject line: "Cancellation Request for [Service Name] - Account [Your Account Number]"
   • Include all account identifiers and explicitly state your cancellation request.
3. Alternatively, call Fasthosts support during business hours.
   • Have your account details ready when you call.
   • Ask the support representative to confirm the cancellation date and any refund eligibility.
   • Request that they send you written confirmation by email immediately after the call.
4. Monitor your inbox for a confirmation email.
   • Fasthosts typically responds within 1 to 2 business days.
   • If you don't receive confirmation within 3 business days, follow up with another email or phone call.

Method 3: formal cancellation by registered mail

Pro tip: If you're cancelling close to a deadline, unsure whether phone or email has been received, or seeking maximum legal protection, send a formal registered letter with return receipt.

1. Prepare your cancellation letter.
   • Address the letter to Fasthosts' registered office address (see final section).
   • Include your full name, account email, account number, and the service(s) you're cancelling.
   • State the effective cancellation date you request.
   • Include a request for any applicable refund with reference to the money-back guarantee period.
   • Request written confirmation of receipt and cancellation.
2. Send the letter by registered mail with return receipt (also called "proof of delivery").
   • Visit Canada Post and request "Registered Mail" with tracking.
   • Keep your receipt and tracking number permanently-this is your proof of timely notice.
   • The return receipt confirms that Fasthosts received your letter.
3. Wait for Fasthosts to acknowledge receipt and confirm cancellation.
   • Allow 5 to 7 business days for delivery and processing.
   • Fasthosts should respond with written confirmation within 10 business days of receipt.
4. Retain all documentation.
   • Keep the registered mail receipt, return receipt, a copy of your cancellation letter, and Fasthosts' response in a safe place.
   • This documentation protects you if Fasthosts later disputes your cancellation or refuses to refund.

Cancellation timing and notice requirements

Fasthosts requires advance notice before your service renews, and the timing is strict.

How much notice do you need to give

You must submit your cancellation notice at least 30 days before your next renewal date if you're cancelling a standard shared hosting or email service. For reseller plans, check your agreement-some require 30 days, others up to 60 days. If you fail to provide 30 days' notice, Fasthosts may charge you for the next renewal period and require a separate cancellation request thereafter.

Pro tip: Log into your Fasthosts account right now and note your renewal date. Set a calendar reminder for 35 days before that date so you submit cancellation notice with a comfortable buffer. This prevents accidental auto-renewal charges.

What happens if you miss the deadline

If you submit your cancellation notice fewer than 30 days before renewal, Fasthosts may process the renewal charge first. You then have two options: request a refund within the money-back guarantee period (if eligible), or accept the charge and cancel immediately for the following renewal cycle. At Stopee, we recommend acting fast-contact support immediately if you've missed the 30-day window and request a refund as a goodwill gesture.

Will you get a refund from fasthosts

Refund eligibility depends on Fasthosts' published guarantees and how long you've owned the service.

Money-back guarantee periods

Fasthosts offers a 30-day money-back guarantee for most web hosting and email hosting packages if you request cancellation within 30 days of your initial order date. This is a one-time guarantee per account, and domain registration fees are excluded (domain fees are non-refundable). Eligible reseller customers qualify for a 60-day reseller guarantee under the same terms.

Outside these windows, Fasthosts' general terms classify most fees as non-refundable. However, Fasthosts may offer pro-rata refunds (a partial refund for unused service time) if Fasthosts cancels the service for reasons other than your breach of contract.

How to claim your refund

1. Check your service activation date.
   • Log into your Fasthosts account and navigate to "Order History" or "My Services."
   • Confirm that you're within 30 days (or 60 days for reseller plans) of the order date.
2. Request the refund in writing within the guarantee period.
   • Send an email to Fasthosts support with the subject "Money-Back Guarantee Refund Request - Account [Your Account Number]."
   • Reference the 30-day (or 60-day) money-back guarantee and your order date.
   • Request a full refund to your original payment method.
3. Provide proof of payment and order information.
   • Attach a copy of your order confirmation email or invoice.
   • Include your account number and the service name.
4. Track the refund status.
   • Fasthosts typically processes refunds within 5 to 10 business days.
   • Check your bank or credit card account to confirm the refund has posted.
   • If the refund doesn't appear within 14 days, follow up with support.

What you won't get refunded

Domain registration fees are permanently non-refundable, even within the money-back guarantee period. If you registered a domain with Fasthosts, you'll lose that fee. Some add-on services (e.g., SSL certificates, backup add-ons) may also be non-refundable. Always clarify what's included and excluded before requesting a refund.

What happens after you cancel

Cancellation doesn't end instantly-understand what to expect in the weeks after you submit your request.

Service access and data backup

After Fasthosts confirms your cancellation, your service will run until the end of the paid period or the agreed termination date. Access to your hosting control panel, email accounts, and website files may be removed on or shortly after the termination date. You must back up all your data, website files, email archives, and databases before the service stops-Fasthosts won't provide access after termination.

Warning: If you need to transfer your website to a new host, do this immediately after cancelling. Download all files via FTP or your control panel, export any databases, and save email archives. Once access is removed, you cannot retrieve this data from Fasthosts.

Domain registration and renewal

Domain registrations are treated separately from hosting services. If you registered a domain through Fasthosts, that domain may continue to auto-renew even after your hosting service is cancelled. You must explicitly cancel or transfer your domain registration to another registrar if you don't want Fasthosts to charge you renewal fees. Log into your account and check your domain settings-set your domain to not auto-renew or transfer it away before the next renewal date.

Automatic renewals should stop

After cancellation confirmation, Fasthosts should stop automatic renewal charges. However, verify this by checking your billing settings in the control panel or requesting a confirmation email from support. Retain your cancellation confirmation email as evidence-if Fasthosts charges you after cancellation, this email proves the company should have stopped billing.

Common mistakes when cancelling fasthosts

Cancelling can feel stressful, especially if you're juggling multiple services or worried about data loss. Here are the pitfalls we see most often at Stopee.

Mistake 1: assuming cancellation without written confirmation

Many customers submit a cancellation request through the control panel and assume it's done. Fasthosts' terms explicitly state that cancellation is "not deemed accepted until Fasthosts issues written confirmation." If you don't have a confirmation email, you don't have proof of cancellation. Always wait for written confirmation before considering the service cancelled.

Mistake 2: missing the 30-day notice deadline

You must submit cancellation at least 30 days before your renewal date. If you wait until day 31, Fasthosts will process the renewal charge first. Prevent this by setting a calendar reminder for 35 days before renewal and submitting your cancellation request immediately.

Mistake 3: not requesting a refund within the guarantee period

If you're eligible for a 30-day money-back refund, you must request it in writing within 30 days of your order date. Requesting it on day 31 may be denied. Act fast and submit your refund request with your order date clearly stated.

Mistake 4: forgetting to back up your website data

Once your hosting service is terminated, you cannot access your files, databases, or email archives through Fasthosts. If you haven't downloaded everything beforehand, you lose it permanently. Back up your data at least 7 days before your service ends.

Mistake 5: ignoring domain auto-renewal

Your domain registration may continue to renew even after hosting cancellation. If you don't want to keep the domain, disable auto-renewal or transfer it to another registrar before the next renewal date. Check your domain settings in the Fasthosts control panel immediately after cancelling hosting.

Cancellation checklist for fasthosts

Use this checklist to ensure you've covered every step and avoided costly oversights.

When to escalate your cancellation

If Fasthosts refuses to cancel your service, ignores your cancellation request, or denies a refund you believe you qualify for, escalate immediately.

Escalation steps in canada

1. Request a supervisor or escalation within Fasthosts.
   • Reply to your support email or call and explicitly ask to speak with a supervisor or account manager.
   • Explain that you've submitted a cancellation request and are unhappy with the response (or lack thereof).
   • Give Fasthosts one final opportunity to resolve the issue within 5 business days.
2. File a complaint with your provincial consumer protection authority.
   • If Fasthosts doesn't resolve the issue, contact your provincial consumer protection agency (e.g., Service Ontario for Ontario, Consumer Protection BC for British Columbia).
   • Provide your cancellation request dates, service details, and all confirmation emails as evidence.
3. Report the issue to the Competition Bureau of Canada if the company is using deceptive practices.
   • The Competition Bureau investigates unfair business practices, including making cancellation deliberately difficult or refusing refunds that violate published guarantees.
   • File a report online at canada.ca/competition.
4. Use a credit card chargeback as a last resort.
   • If Fasthosts continues to charge you after cancellation, contact your bank or credit card issuer and request a chargeback for unauthorized charges.
   • Provide your cancellation confirmation email as proof that you cancelled the service.

Key takeaways and final steps

Cancelling Fasthosts is straightforward if you follow the steps in order, verify each stage with written confirmation, and act before your renewal date. You have consumer rights in Canada-Fasthosts must honor its money-back guarantees, stop auto-renewal after cancellation, and allow you to access your data before termination.

The cleanest path forward: (1) back up your data immediately, (2) submit cancellation at least 30 days before renewal with a clear written record, (3) wait for confirmation email, (4) request a refund in writing if within 30 days, and (5) verify that auto-renewal has stopped 7 days after your cancellation date.

If you're unsure about your next steps or Fasthosts refuses to cooperate, Stopee has helped thousands of consumers cancel subscriptions and recover refunds they were entitled to. Visit Stopee at stopee.com for additional guides, escalation templates, and consumer-friendly resources. Stopee is your partner in navigating the fine print and protecting your money. When cancellation gets complex, Stopee guides you through every option.

Fasthosts contact and mailing address

If you choose to cancel by registered mail or escalate a dispute, use this address:

Fasthosts Internet Limited
Registered Office: Fasthosts House
107 Baker Street
London, England
United Kingdom

For support inquiries and cancellation requests within Canada, visit the Fasthosts website contact page or use the support form in your account dashboard. Phone and email support are typically available Monday through Friday during UK business hours, which may overlap with morning and afternoon hours in Canadian time zones.