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FSIT.com / FSIT.ch -- Swiss fraud -- Beware
--- in short ---
I have to buy VPS servers all over the world, and I’ve never run into a provider like this one before.
What happened in summary:
* They sell VPSs with blacklisted IPs
* Refuse to change the IP
* They get offended by such requests: delete your server, and close your account without a refund
* They break their own Terms and even Swiss laws
--- in detail ---
I bought a VPS at FSIT (Swiss provider) and got a blacklisted IP. Usually, providers either change IPs or refund (no one has refused yet). Or even transfer to another DC.
FSIT looking-glass shows clean IPs, but in reality, they hand out the worst ones they have.
First reply I got from FSIT
We don't offer an IP swap service, nor have we advertised this anywhere. Therefore, an IP swap cannot be performed.
Mit freundlichen Grüssen
I checked their Terms - fsit.com/images/pdf/AGB.pdf
They must provide me a service in the best of my interests
Term 1.3 – FSIT “verpflichtet sich zur sorgfältigen Besorgung der Dienstleistungen im Interesse des Kunden.”
This translates as
"undertakes to provide the services carefully in the interest of the customer."
A blacklisted IP creates an immediate functional disruption. They obviously did not provide a service in my interests.
Term 1.10 Vertragsdauer / Kündigung Immediate termination is allowed for “grobe Pflichtverletzung … unzumutbar.”
Term 1.3 in additional doc – A server is deemed accepted only when it “can be fully used and there are no longer any operational defects.”
Then I asked a refund.
Apparently, the support guy is the company’s director. Chairman of the Board of Directors working on tickets...ok.
He got offended by this request, deleted my server, and tried to intimidate. Said he’d refund only if I send a passport scan plus a utility bill.
That’s illegal under Swiss data-protection law*. I paid by PayPal (not crypto), and the company isn’t a bank, exchange, or FINMA-regulated entity, so they have no legal basis to demand those documents. Also, their Terms have no such clause.
When I pointed this out, he blocked my whole account 
*Also, interesting, he may misunderstand Swiss laws. I put it to the end FYI.
Under Swiss data-protection rules, document requests must be justified and proportionate. A VPS host who already has the PayPal transaction has very weak grounds to demand full KYC documents.
What FSID said
“Under Swiss law – including the Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA, Art. 2 para. 3) – service providers who accept or process virtual currencies are subject to customer-identification duties. FSIT therefore has to see your passport and a utility bill.”
Why it is inaccurate
Merchants that merely accept crypto as payment for their own goods or services are not classed as ‘financial intermediaries’ under Art. 2 para. 3 AMLA. FINMA’s own guidance and multiple legal commentaries make this explicit.
AMLA due-diligence duties do hit crypto-exchanges, brokers, custodians, payment-service providers, etc. – but not hosting companies that just take Bitcoin instead of Visa.
If FSIT really were an AML-obliged “financial intermediary,” it would have to (a) join a FINMA-recognised Self-Regulatory Organisation (SRO) and (b) appear in the public SRO register. No entry for “FSIT AG” is visible. (You can verify via FINMA’s SRO-member search.)
Bottom line: their AML justification is misplaced.
There is no Swiss statute that bars a merchant from sending money back unless they first hold a passport scan. PayPal already tracks the source account; sending the credit to the same PayPal transaction fully satisfies traceability.
After I asked why they needed my documents if I paid with PayPal (not crypto), they simply blocked my account without any refund. And never answered why they, generally, need docs if I paid via PayPal.
Comments
All I can say is provider never advertised a clean ip. Did you contact them prior whether they will meet your requirements of a clean IP?
Some providers choose to do something about it, others don't. Nothing wrong.
Was there any issue with the service apart from the IP?
I am not sure if blacklisted IP address counts as operational defect, I mean, unless they offer service like hosted email, why would it be counted as operational defect?
Not defending them however, just curious about your opinion on quote.
IPs they provide for tests are clean, but they are sourced from another clean netblock.
Also, they have zero tolerance to spam.
In reality, IPs for vps are flagged. People spammed like crazy.
If you request to move IP to the clean netblcok, or refund, you get ban of account, vps is deleted.
I honestly don't understand all the trouble.
From the perspective of FSIT, simply giving him a new IP address would have saved time and trouble for both parties, not to mention, it would have resulted in better customer feedback.
That being said, I was customer of them until about a year ago and can't say anything bad about them.
Quality was not outstanding, but not awful either. It's okay.
Same for my experience with the service.
I don't think there is a generally accepted definition of "blacklisted IP". How exactly do you define "blacklisted IP" and "clean IP"?
I can understand it. I'd guess about 60% of IP change requests come from customers who are getting deliberately blocked by their country (e.g. Turkmenistan, China) and a chunk of the 40% are people looking to send spam. Not everyone of course but enough to mean you need to be cautious.
If there's a blacklist problem with Microsoft, public rbls etc the host should work to resolve the problem, but I don't think an IP change is something that should be expected.
The host probably should have offered to try to resolve the blacklisting issue and if the customer didn't want to wait, let them go with a prorata refund (or full refund if eligible). Easier for everyone that way.
rbls, outlook S3140, etc
So are you planning to run a mailserver on their VPS and being on rbls and outlook s1340 affects you?
All change it
Tried hundreds of providers - all without problems. Some even transfer to other locations. Moreover, there is no need to transfer here - just kill the server and create a new one.
I always ask them to just kill it
to save time for the hosters, because some transfer even empty vps.
Of course, why do I need it?
Yeah I am asking why do you need it? The TOS states strict usage limits about email service.
So, perhaps clearly stating them that you need a clean IP as you plan to use the service as email server might helped.
But at this point, this bridge is burnt. Either annoy them more to get your money, or try your chances with Paypal chargeback.
Edit: It seems they are in the business for 12 years, I doubt calling them fraud due to dirty IP is fair.
Well... yes, but what's the exact threshold for a "clean IP" and a "blacklisted IP"?
The new reality is that you will nowadays very likely get some shade of grey, as there just aren't any completely unused IPs anywhere.
And, of course, while some might think about mail use, others might think about blacklisted for web scraping use...
You've got one perspective on this -- as a customer. I have been on the provider side of this for 15 years or thereabouts.
There are a lot of genuine reasons not to change an assigned IP address. It isn't a solution to blacklisting problems. Ultimately the reason for being blacklisted needs resolved and then the rbls, Microsoft etc need chased afterwards.
If that doesn't get done, your newly assigned address would likely be impacted in some way through neighbour reputation.
That "blacklisted IP" caught my attention. Unless for sending emails, how would a "blacklisted IP" affect the server?
I did not check web accessibility. Maybe also blocked. In this case, you will not visit Google, Youtube, etc. Google search will return like "your netblock is blocked".
Ok, web scraping is an uncommon use for a VPS. But email is essential, such as for your websites.
A good practice is to open on request, it doesn't save, but reduces spam significantly.
I think it's because the company's CEO is answering tickets and it's hurting him. It's rare that a director can handle support and not become rude.
It's a really tiny company. Calling him "director" or "member of the board", might be technically correct, but gives the wrong impression.
He is doing the majority of the actual work. Tickets, Server installation & configuration etc.
OP, why do you need 1000s of VPS with different providers for sending email?
Do. you have a website?
Where was this mentioned?
They only mention they get VPS' from around the world and they may send email from them, there isn't anything inherently wrong with that, but the way you're putting it sounds more like an accusation.
Mail Sending , 3rd API call, Google Index, ISP route block, Company firewall block, etc
I need IP from different countries to bypass local restrictions for mail delivery and comply with local regulations.
I have software that checks netblocks and determines whether there are flagged ones and what is the chance to get them. But here I did not do this, I relied on the provided IPs for testing.
Well, that's what he calls himself on LinkedIn - Director of Directors
In general, such a person should not be allowed into support, like an instructor from a gym should not do surgical operations.
more than 80% of networks are not suitable
including your clouvider
it is ok, you're not offering that
I tried it, all locations, it is blocked in google search + shadow ban in gmail. Maybe something has changed now
Time to change title of the post.
There doesn't seem to be any fraud.
@gulf is entitled to get a clean ip without checking with provider on usecase
I mean, he suspended the account without a clear reason and denied a proper refund.
That sounds like fraud to me.
IPs for tests were clean, however, after the order, I received IPs from their worst netblocks
After I asked to move the server to a clean netblock, the owner of hosting was offended and blocked account, removed the server without refund.
He said that he would return the money only after I provide passport and a scan of the utility bill with the name
He referred to non-existent rules in Switzerland, which I double-checked and they do not apply to him.
Me not from eu. So don't have any idea on laws. But purely from ip change there isn't a hint of fraud.
As for refund if that's not correct ask feom provider its a different ball game
Did you read initial message?
I'm not saying that the problem is in changing the IP.
The person tried to mislead and not return the money. Switzerland, by the way, is not part of the EU and there are even stricter rules for collecting personal data. They may violate Swiss laws
Learned something new
If you feel local laws are violated is there any agency (like FTC in USA) you can reach out to and file an official complaint? LeT may not be the best place to seek remediation.
Good luck!
I assume OP just did a chargeback via PayPal?