A Blog for BAD Web Hosts & Registrars

[DCtheWriter]

I'm thinking about posting an online blog similar to that for the one for AIT.com (called aitsucks.com) for registrar Aplus.net (names4ever.com) and my problems with them (see the other threads in my name on this site for more info). I could link to it from my journalists sig line saying "Looking for a good web host and domain name registrar? Here who to AVOID." I mean, I used to be a freelance writing scams reporter so I think I could create a VERY interesting blog....

I really think we need a central place to discuss BAD web hosts and registrars. Does anyone know of already existing sites for this purpose? What do you think of this idea?

[tresfun]

My personal opinion is that every host or service provider at some point will provide unsettling service to a few of their customers - its the law of averages. Do you really need to waste more of your already unrecoverable time that you have spent with this host by dedicating a blog to it? Or should you put your time and energies into finding a better host out there and actually querying their support, checking response times from sales and support, looking at their knowledge base, level of competency on relevant services to you like ecommerce and SEO advice.

Yes there are other sites out there like webhostingtalk - you can search for any company and you'll always find negative reviews on them.

[DCtheWriter]

Thank you for sharing but MY personal opinion is that if a web host has done this kind of thing to one person, it has probably done it to others. In fact, I've "wasted my unrecoverable time" visiting other sites, many of which DON'T have a vested stake in helping the web hosts they endorse maintain a positive image like TopHosts.com does, and found multiple complaints about this ONE web host. I've also been emailed by people who have been burned by Aplus.net who don't know what to do.

Moreover, as an investigative business journalist, this is hardly a waste of time for me. It could end up being a class action lawsuit alleging violation of CA's UCL that, at least, California business publications will be interested in running stories about. A blog will help me ferret out sources, including other victims of this kind of behavior as well as experts in this area (there are some you know). So, all your comment has done is challenged me to do MORE not less to stop this practice.

Finally, I HATE when I'm patronized by someone saying, "Now, now, this is no big deal. So, you've been embarassed, humiliated, disrespected and inconvenienced by this practice. And, well, your money has been stolen from you, as have the rights to use the URLs YOU created. And, yes, you may have lost business by marketing your business under URLs you can no longer use all because of some proud customer service reps whose egos were a bit bruised when you excercised your right to recover money they tried to steal from you. But, why bother? They won. You lost." To that I say, not so fast.

I have the time and resources to pursue this and I am doing just that. So find someone else to convince they are wasting their time fighting something that is WRONG and ILLEGAL. It may take a little longer to win the war but win I WILL.

[John L]

I agree. Our current provider is providing, at best, an unresponsive service. I am not talking about one incident. Every week the their mail server either goes down or has some other problem. I have called. I have e-mailed. I have faxed. They still have not responded to a previous problem over 2 weeks ago. We are held hostage until we switch web/mail hosts. For our company, there are some extra concerns in switching, too.

I am the IT manager; I can not afford to make a switch to an unreliable company. If we have as many problems with the next company as we have with M6, it could put us out of business. A problem or complaint here or there is going to happen, but problems about every week and response time that takes weeks is extremely unacceptable. I can't imagine a worse provider, but I can not take a chance on one that is 1/2 as bad. I did not choose this provider, but I must make a good choice when move on.

JML
IT Manager

[glockster]

Regarding the bad hosting and bad registrars. One thing I have noticed about 3essentials.com, names4ever.com, aplus.net or whatever named'jour that it is very difficult to get any answers or assitance.

After 12 years in the development industry I find these people to be almost as derelict and shady as quik internet or lunarpages, which were also lacking the customer service and honest caring for many of my clients. They were sued and lost.

Currently, I have a pending domain transfer (which now must be reinitiated)which 3essentials is hosting. They deferred responsibility of registrars to names4ever.com which ironically redirects to http://domains.aplus.net/. Looks like their name certainly was not forever or they screwed so many people they needed to change their domain name forever since they were sued uner that very name!

Last night I did a search for lawsuits + names4ever + aplus + 3essentials etc.. from Google. I found an abundance of unfavorable posts and some that were most likely from people involved with these companies trying for damage-control. I came to this forum and joined. Perhaps the weight of these post will help management recognize people will post unfavorable threads if they are treated poorly.

Twelve years and 130+ happy clients... I give great customer service, price points, and answer my phone and email. Gee I wonder why my business is stable and people refer me consistently. I have held clients and continue to do more work for them since 1997.

Perhaps aplus and companies like them can try a bit harder to teach their representatives to be more inclined to assist clients rather than duck lawsuits, we will be suing them in the very near future.

[booyacasha]

AIT.com IS TERRIBLE - I hosted through this company when I was 16 and seventeen. When I told them to cancel my account they never did. Then they tried say I owed them $250 - because I previously bought three months at that rate, so they have the right by contract to charge me that again. Contract? I was a minor. So then I try to transfer the domain I own and they won't give me the authorization code. They have even changed the WHOIS status of the site to say that they own it. These people are just great! So now I reported them to the Better Business Bur and I'm waiting for a response. They will probably try to sue me now that I'm 18, but I shouldn't have to pay for service I never received. Especially since I was a minor. If anyone wants to keep clear of any hosting company it is this one... I'm asking anyone who wants to show support and get my site back up to call AIT and request the fees for account # 3270479381 be dropped. Let's get my site back up on the web! The number to call can be found at AIT.com

[eliroos]

I recently had a bad expierence with AIT and I agree with you. We need to find a site for bad web hosts. I did however finally find one that is awsome. They probably have the best customer service I have found around. http://www.barakhosting.com

[deskjetta]

Originally Posted by DCtheWriter

I'm thinking about posting an online blog similar to that for the one for AIT.com (called aitsucks.com) for registrar Aplus.net (names4ever.com) and my problems with them (see the other threads in my name on this site for more info). I could link to it from my journalists sig line saying "Looking for a good web host and domain name registrar? Here who to AVOID." I mean, I used to be a freelance writing scams reporter so I think I could create a VERY interesting blog....

I really think we need a central place to discuss BAD web hosts and registrars. Does anyone know of already existing sites for this purpose? What do you think of this idea?

Despite it being about 3 years ago the last post was written, I still didn't find a page where all BAD WEB HOSTERS can be placed. Here comes a very bad web host: FREEWEBDOT.DOT

[azoundria]

There are a growing number of consumers who will check out the negative reputation of corporations before accepting a product or service. These provide a good summary of the worst case scenarios that may be encountered. Pretty much every host is bound to have someone dissatisfied at some point or another - at the very least because of miscommunication or accidents.

Some hosts become blind to their clients or customers. They stop caring, or become corrupted by their newfound power. Some never cared and are just good at advertising. It is these hosts that should be avoided - and blogging / public criticism is really the only effective tool available to the consumer.