Best HTTP Status Code for a Redirect to a Service Suspension Page

Hi everybody,

We use a Squid Web Proxy Cache to forward suspended customers (based on
IP) to a service suspension page if they haven't paid their bill. If
they go to Google and are suspended they will receive a 301 Moved
Permanently and be forwarded to our page of damnation. This is probably
not the best status code.

Problem is when it comes to choosing the most appropriate HTTP response
code to send the client while keeping in mind that certain automated
programs may be attempting to retrieve the resource (such as IM clients,
SOAP, XML/RPC, etc).

What would the best status code be? I have narrowed down to the following:

503: Service unavailable. Mainly used if the server is overloaded or
undergoing maintenance. (This is strictly a server error.)

307: Temporary redirect (to content that is supposedly available at a
different URI).

403: Forbidden. The server understands the request but is refusing to
fulfil it. Authorisation will not help and the request should not be
repeated.

So, which is best in this situation?

Regards,

-- 
_Damien Bezborodow_
Applications Programmer

_Koala Telecom Pty Ltd_
Software Development
465 Morphett Street
Adelaide, SA 5000
Australia

Received on Wednesday, 28 March 2007 05:33:37 UTC