Hostgator Web Hosting Service

Here's my first victim: Hostgator

I've used a total of nine domains on this host, and I am really happy with it.

The only thing that was annoying was the first time I had a past due balance. The reason was that I changed credit cards, but forgot to update the info on my billing account. Of course when it reaches a past due status, the account is suspended. No brainer there.

Now, this wasn't the annoying part, that came afterwards. I updated the information, and paid my complete balance. Afterwards, I tried to access my account. However, the login stated that my username didn't exist. So, figuring the payment might take a while to reach their systems, I gave it up to a week. After a week though, it still didn't work.

So I contacted their customer service, via Live Chat. The person I spoke to checked the account on their end, and said it was working fine. I was told to try again, which I did in a serpate window, but still the same result. The support tech said that they would reset it on their end, and to try again after 24-48 hours. To be on the safe side, I waited the full 48 hours before I tried again. Still the same though, which is quite frustrating to say the least.

Once again, I contacted Host Gator through Live Chat. The person I had this time sent me an e-mail with instructions to reset the log-in info on my end, which was quite easy. It only took a couple minutes, but it worked. I was able to use my original log-in info as well. After that, I asked why this happened in the first place, but the technician didn't know why themselves, just assumed it was a bug on their system.

So besides that incident, I adore their hosting service. I've been with them for almost 3 years. As far as I'm aware, my sites have never been down...well, except for that incident.

Hostgator is recommended (not just by me, but a lot of people) as one of the best hosting companies on the net. Google search "Hostgator reviews" to see for yourself.

My overall rating: * * * * *

Yahoo! Web Hosting

Oh, the Evilness that is: Yahoo! Web Hosting

This was actually my very first web hosting service, ever. At the time I used this, which was back in early 2009, I had built a website for a local rock band. The domain was also brought from Yahoo at that time. I chose Yahoo because I needed the software to be as user friendly as possible, particularly for someone who isn't familiar with maintaining a website (never mind not knowing how to use a computer, unless it's to play the preloaded games, or check e-mail). After the the site was completed and uploaded, I gave all the information to my client, so they would be able to access the site's controls and update the site all they wanted.

Uploading time on their server was a bit slow for my tastes, it was okay. However, what got my client to leave them after only a couple of months was the formatting. After creating the layout they wanted, or even when they edited and uploaded one of my own formats, for some reason the formatting never stayed the same. Since my client just wanted to add some new content with the same theme as the site itself, they became frustrated that it wasn't working for them.

Before asking me for help, they tried Yahoo's customer service. Customer service was terrible however. They responded to e-mail inquiries with canned responses, the Live Chat people made you feel like a complete idiot while also being unhelpful, and telephone support was a myth.

When they contacted me, I tried reformatting the whole site again, but it seemed to be a bug in their systems. So I tried customer support next, but like before, it failed miserably. My client (who's also a good friend of mine) was fed up and dropped the whole site, deciding it wasn't worth the headache.

A few weeks after that, we decided on Blogger. Free blog with easy builder, why not? Now my client's obsessed with updating their blog constantly with pictures and videos of their concerts, as well as talking about the band member's antics whenever they're on the road.

Back on topic, the experience was horrible. Remember though, this was in 2009. I've been hearing they've improved their software, but that's about it. The customer service is still horrible, I know this from another incident last month. I believe this is their biggest problem, which is why my overall rating is still the same as it was before.

My overall rating on Yahoo! Web Hosting: *