Worst Web Hosting experience?

Tim asks: "I have just come through an experience with a web hosting company. Basically, a script on the server was compromised, because of incorrect security settings on the server, and used as a zombie phishing mailer script. My account was suspended for phishing, and through the course of several tickets, it was made clear that I had nothing to do with the phishing. Still throughout the entire ordeal, they refused to give me any of my files, saying that they could not be released now, or ever for 'legal evidence reasons.' So, here I am without a database (I should have backed up!), and without several files I was working on. What is your worst web hosting experience, and how have you dealt with it?"

1and1

[irc.goatse.cx troll]

1and1 (I'm not going to link them as it would help their pagerank) is HORRIBLE. They offer a free webhosting trial (easy signup, just need to give a phone number so they can call you to verify), but then when the trials over, they force you to go out of your way to cancel or they start billing. Of course canceling involves printing out a form, filling it all in & signing it, then faxing it to their offices (on a fax number that most of the time is busy or out of service). Then a few months later they'll try and send a collection agency after you.
Avoid them at all costs. They also go as '1und1' in germany, and oneandone in the uk I believe.

I realize you mean well,

[Inoshiro]

but instead of being a main-page link(wank)er, link to the permalink for the entry [textfiles.com] -- without that link, your "topical" link will be useless (in fact, it already is, since I had to scroll around to find the anecdote in question!).

Re:1and1

[zhiwenchong]

Well they seemed to have changed their procedures.
http://faq.1and1.com/miscellaneous/1.html [1and1.com]

Cancellation can be done online now.

Re:Typical ISP behaviour

[lux55]

Renewal protection is a common service that ensures nobody else can register your domain name should it expire for an additional X number of days. This is not cyber-terrorism, it's a nice-to-have feature.

Exactly - web hosting is a "market for lemons"

[DavidNWelton]

I wrote about the economics (as I understand them) of the market for web hosting, and why it's a market with problems:

http://www.dedasys.com/articles/webhosting_market_ lemons.html [dedasys.com]

In short, you're right - anyone can get set up, and it's difficult to tell which ones are any good before signing up!

Re:1and1

[Anonymous Coward]

>The only reason that I would have got such a letter is that 1and1 sent them my address

when you register a domain your contact information is added to a public whois database for when someone needs to be contacted about that domain. it's very easy for marketers to mine this for people to send information to. doesn't have anything to do with service since every single registrar does this.