1and1 is a domain registrar. I used them last year to register a novelty domain that now has a successful blog on it. I chose them because - at the time - their price was the best around. I intended to transfer the domain to my favourite registrar (GoDaddy) before it expired.
However about 10 months in I got an automated email from 1and1 saying they had just charged my credit card, I logged into the control panel and say that “Auto renew” or something similar was enabled, so I blamed myself for not turning that off previously, and for not cancelling the PayPal billing agreement.
However, a WHOIS showed that 1and1 hadn’t actually added another year to the expiration date. I emailled their customer support address and the responder, whom I assume is based in India, said, in a roundabout manner, that the extra year would only be added on the expiration date.
Now, if you know about domains, then you’ll realise the problem this creates. If I transfer the domain away, say today, then by the time that original expiration date comes around the domain will be with another registrar and 1and1 will get to keep my money, without having provided any service, that is what is known as 100% profit, good for them, but a textbook rip off for me.
Today I got an automated email from 1and1 reminding me to renew the domain. WTF they already took the money, sounds like my friend in India doesn’t know what he’s talking about. I have little time to bad registrars, and having encountered multiple problems the time has come to jump ship, and transfer the domain away. Yes, I’ll lose USD 8.88 approx, but it has to be done.
Goodbye 1and1 I will never use your services ever again, this was your a second chance.
1and1 Internet has an F rating with the Pennsylvania Better Business Bureau
BBB Rating
Based on BBB files, this business has a BBB Rating of F. This is their lowest rating possible
Reasons for this rating include:
• Number of complaints filed against business
• Failure to respond to complaints filed against business
• Number of complaints filed against business that were unresolved
• Overall complaint history with BBB
• BBB Rating Scale
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1and1 is the worst hosting company I have EVER dealt. I own a web design company that I have had for over 11 years. I started using 1and1 and the hosting was okay for about a year. Then, the server went down. It didn’t go down for just a few hours, it was down for 6 days! They couldn’t provide any help whatsoever. Then, I moved as many sites as I could to another company, but about 10 sites remained. I figured it was a new server and I woulnd’t have to deal with problems for a while. Then, the server went down AGAIN about 6 months later. Not only were the sites down for ANOTHER 7 DAYS, but they lost all data from back ups.. Now, I have to find all of the files for the 10 clients and contact people that worked on the sites to get updates. I WOULD NEVER EVER EVER EVER EVER RECOMMEND USING THIS COMPANY - 1and1 is horrible and the worst hosting experience I’ve ever had.
Hostgator and Lunarpages are the best in this space..