We've made this page plain on purpose. You can
print this and put it next to your computer as you search for a web host.
You may ask why we put a page up like this. Well its simple.
Every day we have people call here with some sort of problem caused by
their hosting company.
We've seen domains registered wrong They weren't provided a username and
password. We've had some who's files have just mysteriously disappeared.
Others that have been down for weeks. Some that are taken off line for
billing errors that are the hosting companies fault. On and on and on goes
the list of how hosting companies screw their customers and frankly we are
tired of seeing it happen. So even if you don't choose us, but you can
find your self one that is decent then maybe you won't have these
problems.
Now we aren't trying to scare you. We just want you to be aware and to
make an informed decision.
So Here's a few rules:
Rule 1: Size doesn't matter. What matters is reputation. In fact
the bigger the company the more they forget the meaning of customer
service.
Check the BBB. They will give you good feel for who's out there and who's
had problems. Even if it says they had problems but rectified it, I would
take that as a warning sign. They should have done the right thing in the
first place and waited until someone complained. Did you know that if you
researched the largest hosting companies, the majority have been kicked
out or have been kicked out in one city only to take out a membership in
another. if you are unsure. Look for BBB's reliability seal or call the
BBB.
Rule 2: Know all about what your
doing with your domain registration and know how to get back into your
account Treat this like keys to your house or the title to your vehicle.
Its that serious!!!!!! Wouldn't you hate to build your business only to
find out you don't own the name or don't have the authority change the
information.
Rule 3: Don't believe everything you read. Recently we found a site
that professed that they were objective judges of hosting companies and
worked in the industry and had no affiliation with any hosting company.
Guess what it was an affiliate site and they were being paid for every
site they referred to the hosting firm. Do a
whois
search on the company, see how old the domain is, if it was registered
last week be very suspicious that it is just a front for another company.
Find out who these people are before you do business with them and before
you give them a cent. Look for testimonials and see if these are real live
websites or just words typed in and attributed to Bob Smith or Bill Jones.
Even large computer manufacturers that offer hosting. Its actually someone
who purchased the right to use their name on their hosting product.
Resellers of less than stellar companies are all over the interent. Don't
be fooled.
Rule 4: Don't sign up just because your webmaster says so.
Again this goes back to know who you are doing business with. But we
have many sites that webmasters sign up and then vanish. Poof. They
register it to themselves, they own the domain and bam, they drop off the
face of planet and your name is no where to be found, giving you no
legal rights to a website that you bought and paid for. Make sure you know
who is hosting your domain and that your name is on the account with the
host and on the domain registration.. I would say that this rule has no
exception.
We have also prepared a check list for you
below to use as you do research on these companies. This truly is a buyer
beware industry. Yes there are some very good companies out there, big and
small. Just make sure you try to find them if you don't like what we have
to offer.
We can't stress enough that even if you choose another hosting company you
know the answers to these questions.
Click here for a
completed version for the ACTWD family of websites.
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