1and1.com draconian billing practices

I do not recommend 1and1.com web hosting

I selected 1and1 to host one of my websites back in 2005 (I have 6 websites). The sign up was fairly easy and to the best of my knowledge the service was ok. Now 2 1/2 years later they turn my website off and sent my account to a collection agency.

The website that was hosted with 1and1 is not a real busy site and I didn't update it but a few times a year. In August 2007 1and1 attempts to charge my credit card for the next service period. With 1and1 you pay in advance for their service. My credit card on file had expired and the charges were denied by my bank. 

Understand that some of my troubles with 1and1 are my fault. I failed to check the status on a website that I update infrequently. I failed to check my email (I was on vacation). And I failed to update my credit card info with 1and1.

In 1and1's business strategy of screw the customer and lets squeeze every last dime from them while we still can. They turned my website off and sent my account to a collection agency (after only 30 days). Now I can understand them turning off my website for non-payment. But sending my account to a collection agency for non-payment of future services is draconian and unacceptable. None of my other web hosting companies are as tyrannical.

Now to make matters worst, I have to pay an additional $19 collection fee on top of my normal charges to get my account and website back on the web. Plus my website was down for 2 months while I snail mail back and forth with the collection agency.

Customer service in non-existence at 1and1. When I returned from vacation and checked my email, I saw a notice on non-payment. I immediately logged onto my 1and1 account and updated my credit card information. Then emailed 1and1 billing department asking to have my website put back online ASAP. They replied that my account had been turned over to a collection agency and that I would have to deal with the agency.

1and1 really knows how to treat a customer. I called customer service and ask to pay this bill and get my site back online. I asked why I was not notified in writing before going to collections. I complained about the $19 fee. There answer to all my questions was that I agreed to their "Terms of Service agreement" when I signed up. They were unwilling to accept my payment and said that I needed to deal with the agency.

My biggest complaint with 1and1 is the lack of customer service. Their unwillingness to help me get my website back online is unacceptable customer service. My web site was down for 2 months. Can your business survive without a website for 2 months??? I have moved my business to another web hosting company. Therefore, my recommendation is to stay away from 1and1.com.

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I had basically the same thing. I requested they cancel my account. They continued to bill my card. I requested it again. They sent me to collections. I paid it. They went ahead and placed a black mark on my credit report that I hadn't paid it. NOW WHAT!?!? That is the only black mark on my credit report and it solely due to their ridiculous billing practices.

Grant

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I can report exactly the same kind of treatment from the 1&1 location of the original poster. 1&1 are shonks, thieves and crooks, AVOID 1&1 like the plaque, they are truly attrocious in every aspect of business. Do a Google search for "1&1 complaints" and see the result!

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I had exactly the same experience with 1and1. I too moved my business elsewhere, it's not worth supporting people who do business like this.