Web Hosting Scam Be Damned: Top 5 Questions You Must Ask About in a Host

Don't be the next victim of yet another web hosting scam, or misleading web hosting ad. Ask these simple, specific questions, and no host will be able to trick you. How is that, you ask?

Well, the way most hosts scam their customers is by one of two methods: making you buy into features that you either don't want or didn't know cost extra; and with "traps" - little technicalities that they rig across their system to snare an unsuspecting customer in.

Arm yourself with these five simple questions, and web hosting bliss will be yours. Or something like that.

• The Question: What customer service comes with The Plan [the one you chose]? And what premium service can I buy?

The Proper Answer: first, the premium service can't be much beyond The Plan. Anything more than getting bumped up in line a little [they answer faster], and you need to start looking elsewhere. Why? Because often the basic plan will be insufficient; you'll find yourself "having" to pay extra to get an accurate answer or needed help. The Plan should also come with at least a toll free tech support line [NOT a sales or "customer service" line] & ticketed email support; I also recommend chat support for those questions on the go, although it's not a requirement.

• The Question: What is your money back guarantee?

The Proper Answer: I recommend an insisting on an "anytime" or "whenever" [different terms for same service] money back guarantee. Why? Because a web host whose service is subpar, or a web host who's configured to scam you out of your money will not - and cannot - offer such a guarantee. The unscrupulous frauds and scammers are banking on getting you caught in their contractual netting, where you can't escape and are therefore forced to put up with their victimization.

A guarantee that allows you to leave at anytime is a dangerous prospect for the host - because they could lose the sale at anytime - and therefore makes the website hosting service always on their toes. This contrasts with the 30 day guarantee, where users of the overworked & less than honest will often find the service quality dramatically dropping once the final day has passed.

An anytime guarantee means that you can get back the money you paid for any unused hosting time - NOT the full price you paid [all hosts require at least one year up front]; these guarantees are usually coupled with a 30 day full price money back guarantee.

• The Question: Do you charge extra for domain name anonymity [where a whois search will not reveal your name]?

The Proper Answer: "Yes, we charge extra." Huh? - you wonder? Well, many web hosting cheats [including at least one big name in the industry] register your domain under their own company name, ostensibly to "protect" your anonymity, but then if you decide to sell it or change hosts, they insist on charging you a large fee because "it's under our name, so we own it". Not all internet hosting companies that offer standard anonymity do this; and charging extra is not a guarantee. But it makes it highly unlikely, in that it's not an institutionalized company scam - and trust me, you're much better off avoiding this one from the start.

I know one website operator whose host tried to sell him back his own domain for thousands of dollars, saying it was worth that because of all the work he had done promoting his site (!). Lesson: Buyer Beware.

• The Question: Do you offer unlimited upload/download bandwidth AND webspace?

The Proper Answer: Yes.

True, there are many technical questions you should ask [You can read more detail in "Oops! Web Hosting Scams Be-Gone: The Technical Questions You Forgot to Ask"], but I'm going to make it easy for you. Like the previous question regarding the anytime money back guarantee, this question serves as a benchmark: hosts that offer this, the most expensive and profitable feature, invariably offer all the other features you'll need. So ask one question instead of ten. Told you I'd make it easy.

• The Final Question: How much do you charge to transfer my domain to another host?

The Proper Answer: Nothing up to around $15 dollars. Anything more, run like they had ebola.

Yes, I've saved the best for last. Why? Because I can. Hosts that lace their service with hidden, exorbitant fees, always start with this one. It's practically their calling card. Why? Because making leaving very difficult to impossible is the first and most important step to a fee trap host.

For a quick overview of what to do and what to avoid, check out my Web Hosting Bullet Point Breakdown.

Or cut it short, and check out the Best Host anywhere - and this is from someone who weeds out scams, no less - here http://www.ipage.com. They are not just good on technical points, but they have the best customer service, the best price - $3.50! -and the most Free Stuff, including over $100 in free google/facebook ads. I spent over a month weeding out the scammers, and this one is definitely the best - check them out!!

Oh, wait - I forgot one more question. It's very critical. Here it is: ask your host - and carefully repeat this after me verbatim - "Will you feed my ice cream in bed every night and then give me a..." woops, nevermind, wrong subject.

OK, so we're done here! Yeah!! Now back to that ice cream...