Before picking a host, beware of these top web hosting scams that defraud people everyday, from unfulfilled web hosting services, to web hosting domain-name traps, to credit card scams – to other methods that take advantage of your trust and unawareness.
Scams are not just “let me take your money and run”, but also include the time and energy – draining agony surrounding a website that won’t work, customer service that is unresponsive or useless, unauthorized “extra” charges, and the like.
In all cases, you lose – whether money or time, or just the ongoing pain of seeing your efforts come to naught – and in all cases you are scammed, in that these web hosts promise you one thing to take your money, but then don’t give what they promised.
So what are the scams?
- Bait and switch: this is where the company promises one cheap price for everything, and then after you pay you discover that basic, critical services are “extra”.
Examples: Uploads/Downloads – after a little usage, your host tells you that your site isn’t viewable without payment. Why? Well, there is a limited amount of information that can be downloaded [viewed], and your host made that limit very small, taking advantage of your lack of expertise. Other features: webspace, number of emails, tech support [often extra, or only the “premium” service actually works].
How to avoid: Ask point blank about specific features and whether they are included. Points like max allowed upload/download bandwidth, number of emails allowed with account, & what kind of tech support is included. You can learn more about this in my article “Avoid Web Hosting Horrors: What you must ask about in a Host”.
- Fake Reviews: These are sites that pretend to be impartial reviews of hosting plans, while in fact they are surreptitiously promoting one or more hosts, often by rigging the “reviews” to make the paying host come out on top.
Beware that some of these sites will promote a web host with very good features and price, which is actually a front for a scam or disreputable company.
How to avoid? Take everything with a bucket of salt. If you must, use the hosting review sites to familiarize yourself with different plans and sites, but nothing more.
- Domain Name Trapping: this is where you register your domain name with the host, but if you decide to leave them later on they refuse to allow you to keep the domain without paying a large fee, saying that since its registered under their name, they own it.
How to avoid? Insist on having your domain [yourname.com] registered under your name, not the hosting company’s. Are you a newbie?
OK, here’s a trick to figuring this one out nice and easy: ask if they charge extra to have your domain registered anonymously.
If they do, then your domain will be at your name. Otherwise, tell them you don’t want it to be anonymous; you wan it in your name [unless you want anonymity].
If all this seems too much for you, avoid headaches later on and just buy your domain from the beginning. Use the free domain a few hosts provide for a pet project, for example.
- Credit Card Scams & Unauthorized Charges: Outright credit card number stealing scams are rare, although not unheard of. If you do your basic homework, and don’t pick a host on price alone, that shouldn’t be a problem.
Unauthorized charges are, however, more prevalent, even with certain big companies. This scam will often involve the host telling you that you clicked on or requested some feature that you didn’t, and that either it can’t be cancelled, or there is an exorbitant fee associated with doing so.
How to avoid? If you have an American Express credit card, use it. And do your homework. Regardless, don’t hesitate to call your credit card company asap. When you speak to them, be clear and don’t sound hesitant or unsure. Tell them that such and such charge is fraudulent and unauthorized, and you want it cancelled immediately. If you are point blank about the charge being fraudulent [use the term] they will usually reverse it within 24 hours.
Bottom line when picking a host is this: get a recommendation from someone who has real experience, not just a superficial user. Do your homework – check out the host, compare plans, get educated. Keep in mind that customer service comes before price. And if possible, find a host that allows you to cancel anytime.
Remember, it’s your money. Don’t let anyone pressure you.
Good luck with your hosting search!