I have decided to start some sort of a hate campaign against 1&1 or Oneandone.

I know they've already registered the domain www.ihateoneandone.com/net, oneandonereview.com, oneandonesucks.com (just in case you get any ideas)... Wouldn't be surprised if they also took www.oneandonesuck.com but hey ho, there's always the UK and other country variants... As for .COM, how about ih8oneandone.com? Oh the list could go on but how sad of a company to have to register domains that could be used negatively against it (isn't that "domain-hogging")...

What's the problem?
In October 2009, I realised that 1&1 charged me ~£60 per quarter (every 3 months) for their business package (1 domain name, 20Mb webspace, 2 MySQL databases on a Linux server). This is the same price as my hostgator account per year. 1&1 used to only provide me with 2 databases, a few hundred meg space for a website. Sounds great you say?

Not really. Oneandone used to block my IP when I would try to work on a website because apparently I uploaded/changed more files than average users, so rather than a developer, they saw me as a hacker... Of all my hosts, not only can most people hack websites housed on 1&1 servers (as I experienced) but I learnt how to do this too using their stupid ass website.

Unlike Hostgator who was giving me unlimited space with unlimited databases for less than a fiver a month. Note the price difference. I obviously asked for my package to be downgraded to a "Domain Name Registration" package (where I would only pay the registrars domain name fees). Their advice is to login to their website and use their "switch package" feature... Sorry folks! I'm a webdeveloper, I'm familiar with automation and analysing all interfaces from the inside out but I can guarantee this feature does not work for you. If you're a customer try it right now but don't be surprised if Oneandone refuse to downgrade you.

Herein lies the problem
Oneandone are notorious for their poor customer service. They boast that they are the most used virtual hosts, but they're the only ones saying that. They boast best customer satisfaction... (you get the picture).

My most recent communication

Hello again 1&1,

The time has come again to have my yearly rant at your poor customer service and the obvious disregard you have to any of your customer's requests.

If you're a new staff member of the faceless corporation that is oneandone, let me be brief and bring you up to speed. I kindly asked you to downgrade my package back in October 2009 after years of having problems with your service (since 2007); we're April 2011.

The UK branch obviously rides on the success of the US branch as I have never met a soul (online or otherwise) who has anything positive to say about your company.

As far as I'm concerned, you have never provided me with the service I have paid for, even through your bailiff letters and charges. Once the bailiff fee was paid, you proceeded as if nothing happened and charged me the same £60 per quarter (more expensive then ALL my other hosts). Your most recent communication now advises that these charges will be going up and that I am to pay for a package that I have a) not requested, b) declined / rejected c) attempted to cancel roughly every quarter for the past 2 years!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have attached all the e-mails where I begged you to downgrade the package to just a DOMAIN NAME PACKAGE instead of a full on "Business Package"! You rely on a feature of your website to save your asses and like all silver bullets, you assume it will always work. I tried using your website and it's like smashing your head into a brick wall. I tried to downgrade the package and your system reported an error in my details. I tried to correct any old information but yet again, your rubbish interface is about as good as your customer service. You don't answer phone calls very well so don't suggest another deadline to phone.

Every customer, every client, every blog I write, every forum I post to, I say "In my professional opinion, I advise all developers to avoid 1&1 like the plague". I am not alone and will instead continue my endeavours with teams dedicated to the demise of 1&1! I will be transferring my domains at the end of this month.

Sincerely

Joe
www.joellipman.com

Want to share your disagreements with Oneandone.co.uk, Oneandone.com, 1and1.com, Ihateoneandone.com, and any company associated with them? Leave a comment below, I plan to merge every complaint into a single website that every customer will see everytime they try to join oneandone.

In case you didn't realise
Oneandone feature at the bottom of all 7 virtual hosts I have used over the past 6 years. And I've had some shockers who went into administration and decided not to tell their customers... Wow!

Other People's Rants

• oneandone proves they are as deaf as a post
• 1&1 internet UK complaints - The worst web host in the world?
• 1and1SucksAss
• 1&1 are a disgrace
• Carl Hendy's 1&1 review
• Review Centre gives 0.9 out of 5 stars from 74 reviews

Cost Breakdown
Sounds cheap? It isn't...

Company	Charges per year	Service Provided
1&1	£8.99	1 .com domain
1&1	£252.43	UK domain + 20 Gb Webspace + 2 MySQL databases

< Prev		Next >