Simply put dont use them, I have only been with them for 3 weeks and i am on complaint number 6! Although i have had not issues with their technology (this is mainly because i have not gotten far enough with my website to know if there is anything wrong, they have billed me incorrectly 2 times now and on the second time i was told that I even though they did not set up the account correctly I have to cancel the entire package, receive a penalty charge (of up the 80% of the entire fees) and set it up again but by doing this i can not get my domain name again, and i have to repay all the set up charges. These fees will = more then the error! Thus i am completely screwed. Hopefully i can at bad mouth them enough to stop some people using them.

Also I signed up for one MS based package and all though their advertisements say it comes with X, Y and Z. It is only the fine print that notes that it does not come with Y and Z and the same one under the linux, So if you dont listen to me and go with this company read the fine print, (which must be downloaded and read or mailed to you. not available to read on line.)., They only have call centres in india, and not very helpful people anyway as they can only tell you what is on the check list in front of them, nor do they really care..

GRRR I hate this kinda cr*p service..

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2000 Africa Twin
http://two-up-ona-twin.blogspot.com

Far be it for me to be defending big companies, especially after my run in with Visa yesterday but that's not been my experience with 1&1. I've been hosting my two business websites, a few "vanity" sites and my e mail with them for nearly four years without any trouble at all for a fiver a month.

Things must have changed though because the last time I had to call them (about 3yrs ago) with an e mail problem it was definitely to a UK call centre.

Having written this now I'll probably find it's all gone wrong when I switch on the computer tomorrow!

Our company website is hosted on 1&1 and we've had no hassle. I don't think my pet Geek has ever needed to approach them for support though. Maybe that's where they fall down.

I know two people/companies who have lost their domains trying to exit 1&1.

I have worked in the ISP business, and what tends to happen is development is done building systems to create your account, register your domain, provide you with storage space, etc, etc. But it stops there. There is no infrastructure to help customers migrate away from the company, because that doesn't make the ISP money. And margins are tight. Consequently, when something goes not-quite-right, there's nothing in place to deal with it except a poorly paid and under-trained scapegoat.

This sounds about right!
Update.. After getting a friend (a QC) to lend me some letter head, upon which i point out to them that a their 60 day money back guarantee means that they can not charge me for the cancellation as i have not had the package even near to that long (I would not have even know this if they had not forced me to read all the fine print). Their response was: "We have agreed as a gesture that any charges that have already been raised would be cancel so that you get the offer and the correct package." AS A GESTURE! Knowing that they have broken thier own contracts obligations.. nice gesture.. Well i have dont it all now.. So I will keep you informed if this "Gesture" happens or not; I have cancelled one package, signed up with an other. Lost one domain was able to save an other.. so lets see..

I still say stay away though.

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2000 Africa Twin
http://two-up-ona-twin.blogspot.com

I have been with 1&1 now for a few years, and have several domins hosted with them, with out any problems at all.

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