Backup, backup, BACKUP!!
You never know when you'll be cut off from your forum message base by a
dishonest or incompetent host. And even the best host is no guarantee
against database corruption. Your message database is a valuable
resource, perhaps your most valuable resource, and you should back it up
on a regular basis and maintain several generations of backups. The hard
drive on our dedicated server recently suffered a slow death, failing
gradually over about a 24-hour period; corrupting our Forum database and
the multiple generations of Forum backups we kept on the server itself,
among many other files; and overwriting good copies with corrupted ones
on our server's backup drive. If we hadn't had a backup from the day
before on our home PC we would have lost the entire Forum database!
When you inquire about a host on a forum and everyone
tells you the host you're considering has a terrible reputation,
regardless of the high quality of their website and good prices on their
hosting packages, HEED THE WARNINGS! You are being warned off by your
peers who have made the same mistake you're about to, and you ignore
them at your peril. On several occasions we have seen people say that a
host/package is simply too good/cheap to walk away from, even after
every comment about the host was negative. Then they come back a few
weeks later complaining that they got ripped off. Well, you were warned!
DON'T nickel-and-dime
yourself into a problem you should have seen coming! All too many
webmasters choose a hosting company based on saving $5.00- $15.00 per
month, then scream that their $1,000/day e-commerce site is being ruined
by their $15/month host. If you pay 50 cents a day, don't expect more
than 50 cents worth of service!! It's infinitely better to spend more
money for a reliable host than to spend hundreds of dollars worth of
your time dealing with a host you know you shouldn't have signed up with
in the first place. To say nothing of the aggravation.
Document everything.
Save all the e-mail you send to, and receive from, your host so you have
a record of any agreements they make with you. If you make a special
arrangement with your host you should get a signed contract BEFORE you
pay, as we just did with our new host. It protects both of you, and your
host should have no objections: indeed, our new host initiated the
process.
Be sure you keep some HARD information on the location
of your host, including a street address, phone number, the name of the
owner, etc. Do a whois on your host and print out that page, and keep it
in a safe place.
If service is poor or starts to deteriorate,
it will not get any better,
and sitting on your hands waiting for it to improve is a waste of your
time and an invitation for trouble. But remember what happened to us --
move first, complain later.
Be prepared to move at a moment's notice by keeping
ALL website files
up-to-date on your home computer and maintaining current backups of your
forum message base at home as well. This includes keeping a separate
file of the e-mail addresses of your forum participants, if possible, so
you can inform them in the event of a problem that forces you offline.
If you have a legitimate claim against a host, it is
VERY IMPORTANT that you report them to the Attorney General and Better
Business Bureau of their state. We know of one case where the AG of
Texas helped a webmaster get a refund from her former host. The BBB now
has a Consumer Complaint Form that will be forwarded to the appropriate
BBB office, if you want to register your complaint online. The Federal
Trade Commission's Department of Consumer Protection is also tracking
complaints of internet fraud, so if you believe your host is engaging in
fraudulent activity report them to the FTC as well. The FTC recently
took action against the owner of two hosting companies after numerous
complaints.
If you don't complain, no one will know about your
host, and nothing will be done to stop them. The FTC has an online
complaint form, a toll-free number for registering complaints:
1-877-FTC-HELP (382-4357); or send your complaint by snail-mail to the
Federal Trade Commission, CRC-240, Washington, D.C. 20580. These
measures may not do you
any good, but will help others who check with the AG or BBB before
signing up with your former host. You can also try filing a complaint
with WebAssured.com, formerly the Web Assurance Bureau. Is your host
located in the UK? See the Office of Fair Trading website for
information on how to proceed with a complaint.
And finally, don't be afraid to move -- we promise you
that every move gets a little easier. <grim smile>
web site hosting
