This is what I find quite funny,

Chances are you more than likely owe them that $17, the same happens with host gator. You want your site back, simple pay what you should have done in the first place, then when they un-suspend your site, simply take a backup and move on.

Host Gator (US) does this exact same thing. I personally don't think its that bad and I would love to see what bentink has to say regarding this.